The San Francisco call., 1909-01-28
KETCHEL IS READY
TO DEPART FOR
THIS CITY
Referee or Referees for TOmOr-
row Nights Fights Still
Unnamed
By william J. SIattery

Stanley Ketchel viii be numbered
among the fghting celebrities within
the confines Of the city in a few days
more. Manager willis Britt is lone
some With so many thousands Of miles
between his middle weight cham
pion and himself, AID in order TO re-
heve the strain be has decided to
beckon the champion westward once
more With Ketchel on the Job it is
more than likely thac things along pu-
giistic row viii commence to liVen up
Z bit
Ketchel is none too keen for the
vaudeville life, nor IS Britt at all anX-
sous that his fighter should continue TO
make q hero out OF himself without
using I've ounce gloves. But what is
Retchel going 10 90 here2 This is the
question that is being passed up and
down the line. Wait and see, appears
70 be the only logical answer. Britt
must have an object in giving his
champion the long distance Office, for
he would not TOSS so much carfare
away without a chance for a comeback
You know what ] said" is the way
Willis puts it "ketchel will fight any
man in the world and ! do1t bar one
of them. Certainly LangfOrd is in
ciuded IN nay broad and sweeping state
menL But I DO not have TO hurry. Let
l-angford get busy and beat somebody
else first Let him show US something
The best he has ever done here was TO
20 q round. This does not prove that
he is great lighter
But nobody has as Yet been selected
10 fulhll the Washington's birthday
cate which Jim Cohroth has hanging
over his head. This is causing the pro-
mOLer lot OF trouble and uneasiness,
and unless he acts quickly it is fore
gone conclusion that he viii not act at
all next month. for COmrOth is not a
promoter who makes his matches at
The eleventh hour. as others in the same
a a. af les q Il
The only bad feature about Wash
ingt0u's birthday is the uncertainty Of
the weather The sun may shine, and
then again the rain may pour. This
probably is the principal reason that
Britt is none too anxious to match
ketchel for that date. He believes that
champion should not pit himself
against the elements in addition to a
formidable dispenser Of wallops-
Lercari is still a few laps behind in
The referee game. and thus far he has
failed 10 pick the third man or the
third men for tomorrow nights ring
engagements He wants Jack Welsh.
but whether or not Jack wants the
that he viii insist upon a delegation
Of the Interested parties waiting upon
him.
II Welsh is selected to referee the
main event another man will be named
10 officiate in the remaining two bouts.
But in tire event that Welsh declines.
tlltli- says A@-AEdIA+ LAlE laSk OF IdSSlIl =
upon al three mills viii fail upon the
shoulders of one individual, and this
one. further AYERS Lercari. Will be
chosen some time this afternoon, if
not sooner.
The fights give promise of plenty of
action. and from present indications
taeT VIII draw a big crowd 10 Dream =
land rink. The betting last night was
10 TO in favor Of Powell over Harri-
son and like odds prevailing in the
walsh Reagan setto. with Walsh on
the long end Of II. COrnett and Mus
tain are selling at even money.
All the lighters are reported to be
training hard most of them doing their
stunts at the Cornell club in Golden
cate avenue. AS none of them is COM
PEELED TO make weight there viii be no
Ing weakened from strenuous work at
the last minute. The fights viii start
early. so tho fans viii not be compelled
10 bring mattresses.
Advices from the east convey the
good news that Battling Nelson will
grace our city with his presence soon.
The champion lightweight has about
got tired Of the grind in the anti
10 tear at some likely man Of his own
weight He realizes that as soon as
ne puts in an appearance things will
beEln 10 brighten UP here.
The Battler has not told anybo6v
about his plans. nor has he even sug-
gested the name Of anybody he would
like 10 fight. but he has wired Willis
sufficient TO convince all that the fur
VIII ny soon. IT is about time for
some promoter to unearth a sufta HE
opponent for the champion