Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-23
M'CAREY OFFERS
KETCHfL $4,000
PROPOSES TEN-R0UND CON-
TEST WITH LANGFORD
MATCH Is PLANNED FOR ELks
WEEK AT MAUD
Negroes Consent Has Been Obtained
and Promoter Awaits Word from
Mlddleweight Champion.
Bout Would Draw

Manager Tom McCarey of the Paci-
fic Athletic club last night wired stan
ley Ketchel an offer of $4,000 to meet
Sam Langford, the negro light-heavy-
weight, before the club at Maud juno
ticn in a ten-round contest, to be held
during the week of July H., in connec-
ton with the festivities of Elks' week.
The offer for the match was tele-
graphed Willus Britt, manager of
Ketchel, in New York, and an answer
is expected today. This match is one
of the best drawing cards which could
be framed up at this time, for the de-
mand for the meeting between these
two contenders has been SO strong that
II would bring out big gathering.
That McCarey is willing to make q
bid of $1,000 a round for ketchels ser
vices alone speaks for the Importance
OF the match, and is the best evidence
that 1t is top-notch card, for the
shrewd local fight magnate has been in
the game long enough to judge to a
nicely the value of a battle as pertains
to the box office, as well as its popu-
larity.
Sam Langford, according to word re-
ceived yesterday from New York, sailed
for London to meet Ian Hague, cham
pion of England, before the National
Sporting club of London next May.
This match, however. would interfere
in no way with that planned by Nc
Carey, for Langford would have ample
time in which TO make the return trip
and enter a long period of preparation
for the Ketchel contest. McCarey al
ready holds Langford's agreement to
fight, and the only hitch in the way of
the match is Ketchels possible refusal
to meet the wonderful colored boxer.
That Ketchel has consistently side
stepped Langford Is the belief of every
fight fan, but with pressure brought on
him to engage Sam and settle all dis
puted points as to their supremacy, 1t
is possible that the middlewelght cham
pion will see the light and sign articles.
II he refuses this offer, the inference
will be plain that he dares not take Il
chance of beating at the hands of the
black ring demon. The Johnson Ketch-
ell fight being all but off, owing to
Jeffries' recent announcement, there
should be little to stand in the way of
the match At ten rounds the battle
would probably be one of the fastest
and fiercest ever seen In local ring
AS for its drawing power, that is too
obvious for consideration.
Burns May Fight Here
Tommy Burns has practically bound
himself to appear before McCarey's
club when he climbs between the ropes
again, and should the Ketchel-Lang-
ford battle be held McCarey will make
the little Canuck an offer 20 fight the
winner Burns is getting $3.50 a week
touring in vaudeville in the interior OF
Australia. but as soon as his contract
runs out he will be open to engage
ments, and he may be seen here in ac-
ton about next September.
Jeffries-Johnson Match
Although no news regarding any late
developments in the Jeffries-J Johnson
situation has sifted through-and Nc
Carey wants 1t understood that he is
not at present making an active bid for
the match-his offer to JEFF of $4,000
for his end, win, lose, or draw, as re-
newed when Jeffries finally came out OF
his long silence, still stands. There are
many months intervening before the
fight gets into the business stage. and
there will be any amount of dickering
for the privilege of holding the great
contest McCarey is prepared to make
attractive offers to the big fellows, but
is willing to lie back and await devel-
opments. At present there seems to be
no reason why the fight could not come
to Los Angeles. jim having more than
once spoken out loud his preference for
his home town.