The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-07
JOE THOMAS CLAIMS
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Welterweight Title Is Practi-
cally Undecided, and Hangs
in Balance.
DOUBTFUL IF CLAIMANTS
CAN REACH WEIGHT
Gardner and Cans Are the Only
Real 142-POund Men
Today.
Tribune Special Sporting Service.

Tribune Special Sporting Service.
NEW YORK, July 6.-The United
States is practically without welter-
| weight champion, Notwithstanding the
| fact that Joe Thomas Of California
claims the title. The title has really
lapsed because no fighter of prominence
can make the weight, viz, 14s pounds.
The alleged champions who have
claimed it since the days when Joe
"alcott was supreme in the class have
outgrown the weight. The limit, l45
pounds, set for the match between Joa
Thomas and Mike Sullivan, which was
TO nave been fought in Denver and later
IN san Francisco, is almost conclusive
PROOF that one or the other, possibly
ootn or these men, cannot get down
TO the weight of 142 pounds. There has,
OF course, always been question
possessor of the title. Though both
beat "Honey" Melody there is no
when they did so. Thomas insists tsat
In their first meeting in Massachusetts
when he knocked out Melody he was
under l42, but he did not weigh in pub.
nnciy, nor before any reliable club of.
hclal. If fighters refuse to weigh in
before unbiased witnesses. who is there
TO admit that their claims are valid
a rev weeks ago Young Erne and
Johnny Summers fought under an agree
ment that provided that each must
weigh, $50 pounds at clock. They
say they did SO; but nobody except
their managers saw them. Why, then,
should anyone accept the statement that
they fought at the weight
Cans Real Champion.
Joe Thomas and his manager. Harry
Foley, insist that Melody was more
than 145 when he beat Walcott. Yet
claiming that Thomas made l42 when
he defeated Melody, they claim the
title 1t IS apparent that If Melody
ever did rightfully hold the title he is
now over the weight. And it is like
wise apparent that he can be beaten by
a half-dozen Of the lightweights if he
could get down to even l45 pounds. His
claims are, consequently. ridiculous.
Then as 10 Thomas, No one who has
seen him believes that he can make 142.
While IN New York after the bout in
Philadelphia with Melody he weighed
at least l6o. Although his manager
made many. offers to fight and posted
checks as forfeits, none of the offers
were to meet real welterweights.
There was time when Mike Sulli-
van could get under LAP, as, for in
stance, when he fought Joe Cans in San
! iaASioCop UuI lueTe are reasons TO be-
leve that he cannot do so now. The
n-round match with Thomas that was
20 be given in Denver was to be at
l45, and in Denver it is easier. on ac-
,ount of the altitude, to reduce than
anywhere else IN the country. Again.
when he beat Melody in Los Angeles
he weight was 145. It Is doubtful If
lie has been below 142 for long time.
Of the other men who have claimed
o be able to make weight, such as Will
10 Lewis, Tommy Sullivan and Harry
lewis, little need be said. Willie Lewis
low admits that las is his best, while
larry Lewis and Tommy Sullivan don t
cunt. There are really only two good
len IN the class-Jlmmy Gardner and
oe Cans. Gardner can do 135. Cans
id l3S in the Nelson fight
"Can he do it again?' was asked
{ fight expert who saw him re-
emily in Baltimore.
eff he does he will blow away in
reeze, was the answer. "Every man
no saw that fight knows that Cans
ad weakened himself SO much that he
as not in condition and could not hit
oes anyone believe that Nelson could
ave stood the blows had Cans been in
But while Cans insists that he is the
ghtweight champion there is a fine op-
,rtunity for now welterweight.
hough Jimmy Gardner is good he
on stand in the way of a man who
is championship class.