The San Francisco call., 1909-12-20

Il is the duty OF the municipal oth'
conducted
There are plenty Of good matches in
sight If the men who are to handle the
game viii only go ahead and sign them
up. Outside Of the Jenries-Johnson
match. which has been a deep mystery
from its inception. there are numerous
others that the fans would like TO see.
Fighters viii always go on if they are
approached from the proper channel by
The proper persons
Staring US right in the face are
Battling Nelson and Freddie Welsh
and Ad Wolgast Nelson can be
matched with either the British hght-
weight champion or the tearing little
German from Milwaukee in the event
that some legitimate promoter from
san Francisco viii 90 ahead and turn
the trick This one would help make
Queensberry ring history.
Welsh is over in England IohdlN
waiting word from some promoter 10
make him an offer for bout with the
Battler But thus far nobody has come
10 the bat Wolgast is right on ms
toes. eag ger and anxious TO get at Mel
son just as soon as somebody gives
him the favorable Office. But ne mas
waited in vain and the first thing we
know he VIII be heading his way Tor
Europe.
Then there is Ketchel and Papke.
This is another great contest that can
be arranged for the trouble or sign
ing the men UP. Ketchel has been
shouting his WILLINGNESS TO knock
Papke's head off and Papke had peeh
telling how easy it viii be for him TO
beat Ketchel, yet none Of the pro-
m0ters have made any oYertures 10
the lighters.
The fgRt game in san francisco
proper was a joke last year, II was
even worse Here. in the only city IN
The United States where 20 round con-
tests can be brought OF with proht'
we were handed second rate bouts
nearly every month"; Only one or
ganization, the Mission club, gave the
fans what was due them. The other
two clubs dished up q lot Of warmed
over. CHEAP attractions that might have
passed as fair preliminary events. IN
this way interest was steadily killed on
If this sort Of thing continues Tor
another year there viii be no hghtlnS
game in san Francisco. The only ire
nreserver that the sport had last year
was Jim Conroth's Colma club Though
handicapped by reason Of his Isolation
down in san Mateo county, Coffroth
made a success of the game. he
staged biz attractions. drew big gates
and made a smau sized fortune lot
himself besides boosting the game all
over the civilized world And the ma
5or;tv Of the san Francisco promoters
STOOD around and booked worn out at
fractions that COnrOth would not even
consider. 80
If the game can be promoted with
success in san Mateo county there IS
no reason why it VIII not go IN the
heart OF san Francisco, which has the
g f.1 crr1r n
way. save for the distance. Our munic-
fnsl legislation VIII stand for fights Of
but 20 rounds duration, but this is
. long enough for any Of us. Few fights
should be extended any further
Thus st viii be seen that the falling
OF Of class in boxing here is not due
SO much TO the lack Of the boxers
or their unwillingness TO help the
game along but TO the promoters who
have not shown the ability or the de-
termination to make good matches
Unless some suitable inducements are
offered the men Of the ring it can not
be expected that they viii flock in here
and 20 down on their knees to the
fans and beg for chance TO display
their prowess- The game should be
regulated.
san Francisco should have a high
class fstic exhibition every month. If
fl can not get the best then IT may as
vel make up its mind to do without
the game entirely. 1t seems a shame
to think that such men as Gunboat
smith and Jack Burns are to be
palmed of here as a main event this
month when champions are lying
around idle, simply because they have
not been induced 10 come out and
fght Just look at the interest dis
played here over the Powell-W olgast
match last month This only goes to
in san Francisco II it is but given the
chance it deserves.
Now it's up to the supervisors to see
that fight permits are given to men
who know the fight game and who
win conduct il as il should be con
Quoted. The future Of great sport
depends upon their actions. The public
ttactions and it's aDout time for the
bush game to be killed off here.
Stanley Ketchel viii start on his trip
arodnd the world this morning. He
viii go direct to his home in Grand
Rapids. Mich, and after a months stay
with relatives viii 90 to New York. TO
take a steamer for spain. and after
q sight seeing trip through Europe, he
win embark for Australia.
Ketchel goes to the land Of the kan
garOo under contract to fight three
men for Promoter Hugh Mcintosh. His
first opponent viii be Bill Lange, after
which he viii take on our old friend,
Bill Squires, and if he is successful,
he viii be pitted against Bob Fitz-
simmons. IN the event that he beats
ritz. Ketchel VIII top OF his work with
q bout witch Tommy Burns.
Ketchel expects 10 be gone from the
United states for at least two years and
proba bly, three or four. 1t all de-
pends upon how he fares in his fights
lie has a royal chance to get lot Of
money in Australia in the event that
he makes good. and he viii not have
10 be very good to beat Squires, Lange
and FItzsimnions. Burns VIII give
him a hard fight.
OF course Ketchel win take his big
L. !. -. L. IL