The Washington herald., 1908-06-21

strong favorite. He~seems TO have his
man outclassed. and unless Nelson can
get In a wild swing fail to see where he
/ has much chance 10 trouble the veteran.
! OF course. a younger and stronger man
who is hard 20 hurt IS always dangerous.
I But Cans is such a master Of ring tactics
that I think the old fox of the ring ought
to make a better showing even than in
the last long go.
/ Mcfarland and Welsh put up a neat
/ bout at Milwaukee. But I believe McFar-
/ land has improved so much since then
/ that this go VIII be a different PROPOSE
ton.
Welsh boxes IN the old. stereotyped
| British style-straight left. right counter
and all that sort Of thing But he has
/ picked up one leaf from the American
/ books by learning 10 counter rapidly and
10 use footwork - the ring.
WeIsh's style Faulty.
/ II he had spent the time side-stepping
against Mcfarland that he did IN fancy
dancing about the ring he would have i'm
proved his chances. He attempted the
bobbing up and down which Abe Attell
thinks so much Of. and only succeeded in
tiring himself
Moreover Welsh has one fault with his
counters-he lands too high on his oppo-
nents head. I noticed that most Of the
counters which he landed in the bout
wherein ] happened 10 be the third man IN
the ring. struck Packey too high on the
head 20 be effective. McFarland's crouch
ing style helped him here But even If he
had adopted "a more erect position I think
~ -F. 4
the head TO be effective.
/ Philadelphia Jack O'Brien caught a bit
tougher opponent than he figured on when
he met Jack Blackburn at Philadelphia
Although the COlored sCrapper was four
I teen pounds the lighter OF the pair, his
ability 10 bore In and land with both
hands caused O'BTien 10 hop about AT "A
| respectful distance and 70 use his foot
work 90 the best advantage.
So far, have seen no criticism OF any
of O'Brien's recent battles. and I am in
clined TO think all his work is on the
level these days. Blackburn certainly
went after him in hard enough fashion.
and the bout seems to have been fast
throughout
Il is "a shame that O'Brien, with his ma
tive ability % box. should have let him
self follow the course that he did, as he
1 personally admits ~of fixing bouts in
advance. HE bouts with Jack CTwinl
Sullivan. Kid Carter. and Mike Shreck in
ST Louis were undoubtedly on the level
He himself has cast aSpersions on the
match wherein he beat Fitzsimmons. He
has declared that an understanding" ex-
listed before they entered the ring. How
ever that may be. Jack certainly has
the science OF a boxer. and IL IS 10 be
regretted that he did not keep his rec
ord clear throughout.
Their private agreements did not af-
feet either Tommy Burns or OBrien
financially. as both have made a great
deal OF money since. But IL was a hard
blow for the game 10 have IL announced
that what al first looked like a hard
bout between the pair was really a stern
chase. when Burns abandoned his agree
ment at Los Angeles and went in to
lick his opponent
Big Purse for NetcheI.
Jimmy Conroth. who Will soon be
back at his native town Of san Fran
cisco. says that he knows Burns will
meet Ketchel il suitable inducements are
offered InaSmUCh as Coffroth intends tC
hang UP a big purse While bidding tor
the match. it seems likely that the pair
Will get together.
The next bout al the COffTOth Club Will
be between Cans and Nelson. hut Jimmy
would like to send Ketchel against
some good man out there. He may try
10 obtain Hugo Kelly az an opponent tc
Stanley in the near future. KetcheTs
victory over Papke has increased his
drawing power in all parts Of the coun-
try. and he should be able 10 pack the
arena wherever he is sent
Battling Nelson has not yet returned
TO san Francisco 10 start training for his
bout with Cans. but is expected q
come back from Portland in the near
future. Although both men can be re-
lied upon to enter the ring in good shape
these training methods would have beer
considered rank heresy a decade ago
Fifteen or sixteen years ago they would
have been an actual setback 70 any bout
When Corbett and Sullivan met IN 1892
Sullivan spent weeks IN training, and
every move was heralded. Corbett spent
the greater part OF the summer at AS
bury Park
Nowadays prolonged training Of the
sort is not regarded as so essential. and
IT must be said that the men generally
show up in good shape after each con
test-better possibly than after the old.
time bouts.