The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-15
FIGHTERS COLUMN.

One of the biggest jokes of the present
boxing season is that champion lightweight
Joe Cans has retired and conferred his title
on George Memsic, who recently fought
him a twenty-round contest. So long as
Cans dabbles with crap, plays the bang
tails and follows his latest diversion, an
expensive automobile. there is little fear
that he will forsake the ring. 1t is not
likely that the great Baltimore fighter will
upset the tradition of the ring. He Is al
most sure to go the route of all other
pugilistic champions-retire when he has
ex-champion p~refixed to his name as a
tighter. The ring has It's allurements and
Cans is not immune. At present he is in
comfortable circumstances financially. But
his careless methods in handling a roll of
money indicate but one result-another
fight to replenish his exchequer.
1t is really the story of professional
pugilists who reach the top. They either
squander their money or are beaten and
forced into retirement. 1t is the story CT
Dempsey, McArliffe, Sullivan, Dixon,
Corbett aud Fitzsimmons, although two of
the number, Corbett and Sullivan, had
sufficient business aeumen 20 gather in tine
dollars after being defeated. Jeffries is the
only American champion who retired I'M
defeated in the past quarter century. Ply
steal condition forced him to forsake the
ring and it is a grave question whether the
big b~oilermaker will ever train again, even
for such a fabulous purse as $4,000.
= q
AS for Cans comforting his title on
Memsic, it is too ridiculous toy consider.
Memsic was born In a town which breeds
good lightweights, S~treator, ILL.,, but he
is scarcely better than a fourth rater. He
was beaten in six rounds by Battling Nell
son, lost to Honey Melody In six rounds,
knocked out by Jimmy Gardner In three
rounds and was even beaten by INK Rus
sell in a ten-round bout last year in Indian
apolis. Comforting the championship little
on a man of Memsic's ability is rs much of
a joke as Gans's retirement.
q =
If the sports are to take the champions
declaration seriously, there is one man who
aspires for the title, is eager to light for it
and deserves the chance. That man is Jack
Blackburn. To be sure. he is a mulatto,
and there Is a natural aversion to negroes
holding the title. but like George Dixon and
the late Peter Jackson, he is intelligent.
modest and a credit to the ring. far more
so than many white fighters who strut
about labeled "the tough" Blackburn is q
natural lightweight. He has gone down the
line and met light, weller, middle and even
h~eavyweights to prove his prowess with
the gloves. He made Jimmy Gardner look
like a novice in twelve rounds in a Boston
ring, breaking the latter's nose. He has
bested Sam Langford, Larry Temple.
George Gunther. Jack williams, Billy
Burke and Fred Bradley, all middleweights.
and has fought Champion Cans three times,
one ffteen-round bout and two of six
rounds. III each instance he was giving as
good as he received when the final bell
rang. Mike Donovan, a husky middle
weight. of Rochester, N. Y, who has been
knocking his men out in one. two. three
order. drove all the boxers to cover except
ling Blackburn, and the latter has agreed
to meet the New York State champion
even at the great handicap of weight.
Blackburn is the logical successor of Cans,
and counterfeiters must step out Of the
way.
Young Erne has tainted Willie Fitz-
gerald into a fight. The latter has agreed
TO fight the pride of the National Club
stable at 1888 pounds. Fitzgerald says Erne
Is due for a lacing. If the Rays Ferry
lightweight does not show the white
feather the bout should BE a hummer.
The fickleness OF the sporting public was
never better illustrated than on Friday
night at the Industrial Club, in Philadel-
phia. Tn crowd around the ringside was
an intelligent, critical class of men, and
vet when Jack O'Brien climbed on the
stage TO make a speech, the cheers
tn hisses. His confession of
committing errors and his subsequent
apology set pretty we'll with the crowd.
but when he undertook to beIittle the
press of the county by saying that he
had been m%isquoted. he was practically
driven from the stage. O'Brien is crafty
and cunning. but he has a defective mem
ory. Inc reports of his miserable fake in
Los Angeles and his other shady contests
We're sent broadcast throughout the coun-
Try over his own signature. 1t is now
rumpred that he participated in the har-
vest which the news syndicate reaped. 1t
will be a long while before the Quaker
who are on the level.
William Webster. of Roseville. is trying
out a new gun. Yesterday he went down