The San Francisco call., 1909-01-06
LERCARI SEEKS TO
MATCH LANGFORD
AND HART.
Promoter Wires the Lemon
Heavy Weight to Make Haste
and Come to This City
By w. J. SIaffery

Promoter Charley Lercari is not to
be denied the privilege of putting at
least one star on his pugilistic stage
this month, even if the aforesaid star
must trot out alongside one of the old
boys whose memory is his sole redeem
ing trait. The star which Lercari has
in mind is Sam Langford and the sec
ond person is none other than our old
friend, Marvin Hart, many times a near
champion, and for brief period. a
champion by the grace of the retire
ment of James J. Jeffries.
Lerearl fully explained to all his
friends that he would not attempt to
pay Mr.. Harts carrare from the blue
grass state of Kentucky to California
were 1t not for the fact that matches in
san Francisco are at present nearly as
scarce as snowballs around the equa-
tor. be also explained that he would
rather have one headliner on his bill OF
fare than a couple of du0s.
The happy idea struck the promoter
last evening. and he Immediately wired
Hart at Louisville to come on and get
ready as quickly as possible. Will
hart accept is the next question. Does
anybody who follows the game of fisti-
big Kentuckian overlooked a single
betE be Is always ready to take ad-
vantage of every offer but he never
guarantees the boys what sort of a
showing he will make in the ring
Langford will be only too delighted
10 accommodate Lercari and warm uI
on Hart. His manager, Joe Woodman
smiiingly accepted the offer of Lercari
last night. In fact, it came as a sort
OF godsend to the big Boston black
who was figuring on an idle month OF
II. wandering arounc the streets
Nalnly seeking an opponent Of any size
or any hue.
The matter of weight does not
bother the negro; He probably viii
weigh something like 160 pounds if he
ever gets into the ring with Hart. The
latter is big, strapping fellow who
always nights at something like 1S5 OF
lSO pounds. Hart never pretended tC
be anything but a heavyweight since
he began fghung several years ago.
Ihe last time that Hart showed in
this city was on the night of March
IA. 1903, when he was given a decision
over Jack Johnson at old Woodward
pavilion by Alex Greggains, who ref
creed the mill. Although Hart won
his record, for the fight was as farcica1
a one as this city ever knew.
But Greggalns was very good to the
big hentuckian, and. from the way
Things went. he could hardly have lost
except through a knockout. johnson
did not show spirit enough to knocE
out flock of sausages that night anc
came in for a terrible Kissing from
those who were stung for the price o1
admission. Let US hope that Hart viii
give a better account of himself in the
event that he goes TO work for Lercari
Word comes from the east that Stan
ley hetchel will abandon the ring fol
some time and accept a call to appear
before the footlights on the big cir
cults east of Chicago. The story goei
that Ketchel has an immense offer I,
show for ten weeks ana that he has dc
cided TO pass up the ring and collee
! the easy money which is alleged Il
I have been guaranteed him.
But at the same time, his manager
Joe O'Connor. insists that the cham
pion Will come out In the open within
the nex9 month or two and fight, pro
vided he (O'ConnOr) says the word /
looks like a well muddled affair al
around and probably nobody will know
what the layout is till Ketchel take
some definite action himself.