Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-09-05
SHORTENDER IS
MUCH FANCIED
PAPKE Is GAINING FRIENDS
EVERY HOUR
kEWANEE BOY GIVEN A GOOD
CHANCE TO WIN TITLE
Shows That He Also Has Punch and
CIeverness to Land 1t, and Dis
proves Odds Laid Against
His Hopes

Thousands of dollars will change
hands in Los Angeles next Monday
evening after Stanley Ketchel and
Billy Papke have finished their middle
weight championship fight, and the
local money will be only a drop IN the
bucket as compared with the thous-
ands of dollars that will be Wagereo on
the result throughout the United
States. 1t will be the greatest betting
fight ever staged In Los Angeles, ana
no shortender in local fight ever re-
ceived the support in the betting thaI
will be accorded Papke.
There is no denying that Papke has
gained hundreds of supporters IN the
south since he began to train at ven
ice, and although there were few VINO
would bet on him when he began train
ing, there now are many who Will trail
with the shortender. and in this num-
Der are many of the big bettors OF the
southland. There is a reason LOT TINS
change in sentiment.
1t is probable that the chief cause OF
the change Is to be found in the tact
that the southern fans have seen potn
fighters in training and have FORMED
opinions of their own by comparing
the possibilities of each in a grueling,
smuggling fight that is sure to result
when these great gladiators meet al
Vernon. Ketchel was made favorlte
on dope, as he deserves to be, and be-
cause he has such a terrific wallop IN
either hand. Papke, however, has won
the fans by his showings in training,
and since he has proved that he also
has a punch that will win If he can
land it and is cleverer than ketchel,
the fans cannot figure him out of 1t at
the odds laid against his chances.
Were Ketchel a 10 to Z or favorlte
the bulk of public money would go to
his support, but at the longer odds
many of the fans prefer the Snort
ender
While they will weigh in Monday
noon at or below 1873 pounds, Papke
seems to be larger and heavier than
KetGhel, and he impresses the rams
with the idea that he will be stronger
than Ketchel at the weight. Ketchel
will have nothing on the KeWanee boy
in confidence, and while the latter will
fight a heady, careful battle all the
way, he has undeniable confidence In
his own punch and asserts without
any attempt at boasting that II he
lands it squarely once he will not ask
for a second wallop to win the scrap.
Both scrappers now are in condition
that would justify them in knocking
off work, and neither will have any
difficulty in making the weight, but
they will work tomorrow afternoon IN
their training camps principally to
please the fans, who are expected to
attend the workouts by the thousand
and to keep up interest in the scrap.
The latter reason does not seem to be
much of an item, however, as no fight
that ever was arranged for Los An
geles has stirred up the enthusiasm
and interest that this one has aroused,
and 1t will be quite surprise If there
is a vacant seat in the open air pa
vilion when the gong sends them on
their way.
Manager T. T.. Jones has been with
Papke throughout his training and has
directed the Kewanee boy in all his
workouts. Jones is an astute manager
and a trainer who knows his business,
and his confidence In the ability of
Papke to win the championship is I'M
limited. He will bet heavily that his
boy wins, and his confidence Is
strengthened in the knowledge that
Papke will go into the ring strong and
assured in his own mind that he will
defeat the champion by the knockout
route, Jones is a business man, and
when he says he did not bring Papke
across the continent to get the short
end Of the purse his words carry
weight.
Jeffries and party Of friends visited
the Papke camp yesterday, but the big
boy did not talk over the rules or the