The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-31
Great Colored Fighters
Before the Public
Today
LANGFORD'S RECORD

At the present time there are
three great colored fighters before
the public, Jack Blackburn, light
weight or more correctly welter-
weight; Sam Langford, light heavy
weight; and Jack" Johnson, heavy
weight champion. OF the three fight
ers Sam Langford without a doubt,
stands off very prominently and he
has many admirers who think he is
the superior of Johnson as a fighter
Langford certainly has great
record and has beaten all of the mid
dleweights and the light heavy
weights in the country whom he has
met in the arena. His conquering Jim
Flynn a few days ago in less than
one round came as a surprise to all
and since beating Flynn in such de-
cisive style says that he is ready to
meet any fighter in the world with
the possible exception of Jack
Johnson, who now holds the worlds
championship. Sam" was expected
to win from Flynn but it was thought
that the bout would at least last ten
rounds.
If Stanley Ketchel is as wise as
he is thought to be, he will draw
the color line on Langford. Sam
weighs in the neighborhood of l7O
pounds although it has been claimed
that he can train down to the mid
dleweight-158 pounds-but chances
are that it would be impossible for
him to do Ketchel a short time ago
announced that he was willing TO
meet Langford in bout at San Fran
cisco in the near future, but since
the Flynn match 1t is not likely that
Ketchel will be 50 anxious. Lang
ford is a tremendous hitter and be-
sides he is clever. He is big enough
to fight any heavyweight and that is
where he belongs.
Abe Attell is talking of going to
Australia to look for fights, claim
ing that he does not get fair treat
ment in this country. If that is the
case Abe has no one TO blame but
himself. But it is strange that he
should go so far away as Australia
when there is a great deal more
money here for him to meet a couple
of featherweights. Both the Los An
offered big money for him to meet
either Jem Driscoll or Owen Moran,
both English featherweights and
claimants of the featherweight title
of England.
The New Orleans club offered him
good money to meet any one of four
men the club might name, all under
126 pounds, but Abe refused. Dris
coll has made a wonderful showing
in this country and Attell probably
does not like his game. Moran,
whom the English papers recognize
as the featherweight champion, ha
twice fought Attell to standstill and
is anxious to have a longer fight, bur
Abe does not fancy over twenty-five
rounds. Abe can get all the matches
here he can take care of without go
ing to Australia.
Freddie Welsh the English light
weight champion, has been matched
to meet Jimmy Burns George Mem
sic) at Los Angeles in the near future
after which he expects to return to
England where he will engage in
battle there for the championship of
that country. Freddie will meet a
very sturdy youngster In Burns and
boy with a good left jab, but in a
twenty-round battle the English lad
should be able to outpoint the Chica-
go boy. "Packy" Mcfarland expects
to be in Los Angeles soon and wants
to get after Welsh, but Freddie says
there will be nothing doing for
"Packy" unless he makes 1873 pounds
ringside, which is the legitimate light
weight limit.
In the meantime Welsh has been
offered a big purse to meet Young
Erne of Philadelphia at New Orleans
some time in January and should he
defeat Burns he might change his
mind about first going TO England and
take on Erne. Erne has offered to
make 1873 pounds ringside for Welsh
and says he will give Mcfarland a
side bet of $4,000 if "Packy" will
make 1873 ringside for him. Battling
Nelson wants all the aspirants to
the title to have an elimination con-
test and he will meet the final win
ner. Bat" has stated that he will
give the preference to Welsh and un-
less Mcfarland agrees to make ring
side weight for Welsh there is little
chance of "Packy' getting a match
with the "Battler."
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