Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-15
PREMIER BOXERS
NEXT BIG CARD
.ATTELL AND WELSH TO MEET
IN TEN DAYS
BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE
WORLD is AT STAKE
Intense Interest Aroused in Battle Be-
tween Little PugiIlstic Kings Be-
cause of Their SuperatiVe
Cleverness and Speed
BY JAY DAVIDSON

Two great pugilistic battles are to
be fought in the Vernon ring within
a month and in each an undisputed
world champion will be one of the
principals, although only one title viii
be at stake. Despite the attractiVeness
of the middleweight championship bat
tie between Billy Papke and Hugo
Kelly, that is scheduled over the
| twenty -five-round route for the second
week in December, local fans are show
ing an equal degree of interest in the
non championship affair, q fifteen
round bout between Abe Attell, undis-
/ puted featherweight king, and Freddie
| Welsh. equally as undisputed in the
| possession of the light and welter
championship of England. This bout
is to be fought out Thanksgiving eve.
! Interest in the Attell- Welsh scra p
| is accounted for in the fact that it Will
| bring together the greatest boxer the
world ever knew, big or little. and his
most formidable rival for this honor,
although in a heavier division. While
Attell is acknowledged as the cleverest
and speediest boxer in any class of
today, Welsh is recognized as the
speediest and cleVerest boxer in the
| lightweight division. And they are so
nearly even on the score of cleVerness
and speed that the fans anticipate the
prettiest boxing exhibition that ever
was staged anywhere, not even except
| ing the Corbett-M Mccoy scrap. 1t really
involves the boxing championship of
! the world.
Boxing, as an art of defense and
| offense will be illustrated in all its
phases and by a pair of the most able
exponents of the art. They are so
superlatively clever and fast that the
matter of five or elk pounds in actual
weight is not regarded as being a mat
ter of any importance to either, and
while it is bound to be handicap in at
least a small degree for Attell, this has
been equalized in a measure by short
ening the route by ten rounds.
The class involved in the battle is
so great and the prospects for highly
exciting and interesting exhibition are
so good that 1t is expected that many
of those who otherwise would not at
tend a boxing show will witness this
bout 1t will be so extraordinary in
merit and as an entertainment that 1t
will have a peculiar attraction, not only
for the general run of fans. but for
the general public as well. 1t will be
a battle undoubtedly, in which no
blood will be spilled and no cut or
bruised faces will be exhibited. and
there will be nothing of an offensive
or displeasing nature in so far as the
conduct or appearance of the princi-
pals is concerned.
The local sporting public finds this
battle a subject upon which it can sep
arate into factions for discussion and
there are ample reasons in justifica-
ton of the contention of either faction.
Many figure that Attell, by reason Of
his more extended experience and
practical application of his cleVerness,
speed and generalship, will be able to
win from Welsh with greatest ease
On the other hand, there are as many,
almost, who fail to figure where Attell
will be able TO defeat Welsh at the
weights, holding that there is little or
nothing upon which to base a choice
between them in a battle at even
weights, while the difference of five or
six pounds in favor of Welsh should
constitute serious handicap for Attell
The view of the fans in general is
given an excellent illustration in the
result of the opening betting that has
begun already. The bettors have made
the odds money talle-your- pick
and considerable betting has been re-
ported at these odds. 1t is doubtful
If these odds will vary to any extent
during the remaining days preceding
the fight. Both boys are popular and
and each has a faction back of him
that will bet until black in the face,
so there is a good prospect that there
will be plenty of money on both sides
of the question until the fight actually
starts.
Both boys are in active training for
the battle of wits and fists and are
performing as strenuous stunts every
day as they would do if training for
fight with a formidable challenger
for their titles. Each realizes that he
is to be put to the supreme test of en-
durance in the matter of speed and
stiffness and that in such a battle,
where cleverness and speed are the
prime factors, perfect condition must
be attained so that every piece of the
human machinery will work in perfect
unison and accord with the brain that
is directing the battle. Much depends
upon the result, and it is of vast i'm
| portance to each. Defeat for Attell
would not affect his title, but it would
affect his prestige in degree that he
| does not desire. Welsh cannon afford
| to be defeated by a lighter battler be-
| cause il would affect his prestige more
materially than it would affect Abe.
The feat of getting these little whirl-
winds to sign up for a fifteen~round
scrap is the source of much proud con-
/ temptation by Baron Long, and he de-
serves to think well of himself for
his success in the negotiations. While
it is a highly desirable match, no other
promoter had considered it possible of
| arrangement, and hence, never had
! attempted it. Long went after the
match because it looked attractive to
him and the fates dealt him a winning
hand when he started out to close up
with the boys. The match is being
I widely discussed in the sporting press
in other portions of the world and is
attracting much notice and giving much
advertising space to Los Angeles.
Should Teach Best Impulses
NtNV WORK. Nov 14-Snealxine q I