The Washington herald., 1908-01-12
NEWS AND COMMENT HOME AND ABROAD IN WORLD OF SPORT

or 13s-pound division. Ever since Jack
McAuliffe retired. In 1894, and George La
vinge claimed and successfully defended
the title, there has been turmoil OF dis
pute and contention as 10 the holder OF
the title, how K was won, and the quail
fications of the man who held IT, As a
plain matter OF fact, Young Griffo won
the title fairly and squarely from Jack
McAulife at Coney Island on August q.
1892. The marvelously clever Australian
beat McAuliffe to standstill, and at the
close of ten rounds, to which the bout
was limited, Griffo had Won by city
block.
For some reason however. the referee
decided that McAuliffe had won, and so
his title was safe, but the decision was a
great injustice TO Griffo. No sooner had
Griffo drlfted away than the sturdy La
vigne hove in sight.
Lavlgne was invincible TIL 1888. when a
rather liberal use Of exhilirating liquids
reduced his vigor to such a point that he
lost the championship to Frank Erne. Of
Buffalo, a clever boxer, but light hitter.
Erne held on 10 the title for three years.
when, against his own judgment he was
induced 10 make a match with Joe Cans.
who had lOomed up as one of the most
dangerous men In tho lightweight di-
vision. The contest took place at Fort
Erie. across the river from Erne's home at
Buffalo and was the shortest champion
ship fight on record With the first blow
struck by Cans in the opening round he
reached Ernes Jaw and put him down and
out. The weight was 1876 pounds at p.
m, which weight was dictated by ETne,
the champion. and Immediately there
arose a roar to the effect that Cans was
not the champion because he had not
beaten Erne at 133 ringslde. Il was as
serted that Cans could not do 135
pounds, and the clamor continued till the
negro made 13l 1-2 pounds in his battle
with Nelson. Now the yelping has sub
sided and II is generally conceded that
Cans is the lightweight champion Of the
world, in spite OF the fact that the negro
once tried to make a present of the title
to George Memsic, and later switched TO
Packey Mcfarland. Cans Is the greatest
man Of his weight In the ring and has
twice knocked out the present welter-
weight champion, Mike Twin Sullivan.
AtteH Is Leader.
The feather-welght class. Of which Abe
developed a great deal Of strife similar to
that Of the lightweight division. Cal
Mccarthy Is the earliest feather-WeIght
champion. and it was from him in 1881
that George Dixon, who died last week
won the title. beating Mccarthy in TWEEN
ty-two rounds at Troy. Little Choco-
late" held on 10 the title for nine years,
finally succumbing TO the rushing Ne
Govern at the Broadway Athletic Club in
eight round, on January 9, 1900. The bat
tie was fought at rs pounds ringside,
which, Of course, was not 81 accordance
with the alleged 10 pounds ringside. but
no one ever questioned MCGOvern's right
to the title Of feather-welght champion.
Terry held the honOrs for less than a
year, for on November ., 1901. he met his
Waterloo at the hands Of Young C0Tbett.
who put the champion away In two
rounds al Hartford. Conn. The weight
was l28 pounds ar 10 a. m. the men en-
tering the ring at p m. In three years
CoTbett outgrew the feather-weight class
was full-fedged lightweight, and
fought light-welghts lie met defeat al
the hands of Jimmy Britt and Battling
Nelson and was put out Of the running
McGOyern also was too heavy Tor TIE
feathers and he also got into the light
weight division.
IN this contingency Abe Attell. who had
been beating his men with regularity
claimed the title In 1865, and has since
defended il with great success. There is
one blot on Attell's record. and that is d
five-rOund Knockout at the hands Of
Tommy Sullivan in 1904, which was sup
plemented with a draw OF six rounds or
September q last in Alton. But there {:
a general impression that II the two iner
are ever matched for a journey Attel
will triumph.
frankie Neil was the last bantam
champion Of An erica, but he has grow
into the feather-weight class, and III,
other bantams. OF which there are scv
eral good ones, do not seem to be able &
get matches. AS a result there Is NJ
bantam champion at this time