Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-07-25
NEAR-CHAMPlONS
READY FOR BOUTS
CLASSY FIGHTERS GATHER IN
ANGEL CITY
PROSPECTS GOOD FOR FAST
CARDS AT MAUD
Phil Brock, Harry Baker and Frank
Plcato Have Returned to Fold.
WoIgast VIII Leave Today
for Short Trip

with a half dozen near-champions of
the lighter division of the ring at pres
ent in Los Angeles, prospects were
never brighter for a busy summer for
the Pacific Athletic club, and a num-
Der of interesting fistic programs for
the fight followers. It has been many
a long month since such an array of
fstic talent has foregathered in the
Angel city, ana the boys who have ar
rived here in the last week have done
much to inject a certain amount of ex-
pectant ginger into the mitt affairs
locally.
Among the lads who are known from
coast to coast there are three or four
who stand above the remainder. These
boys are Phil Brock. Harry Baker and
the great little Brewer sensation,
Adolph Wolgast. Though Wolgast
leaves today for the east, via San
Francisco, his absence will be only in
the nature of a furlough from the
southern city, which he now claims as
his home. Wolgast and his manager,
Tom Jones, are enamored of Los An
geles and will settle here for long
stay after their return 1t is here that
the lightweight championship battle is
expected to take place, and it is here
that Ad will make his headquarters.
Brock Has improved
In the lists of good little fighters now
awaiting the call of the fans Phil Brock
stands out in relief The CleVelander
is presenting himself to his former adj
mirers in better condition than ever
before. He is hard as nails, full of the
vim and energy so necessary to sue
cessful contender in the bruising game
and is anxious to get back into the
ring and against a good boy demcNs=
strate that he is a different Brock
from the boy who was beaten by poor
condition more than anything else in
the last few battles he had In Los
Angeles.
Freddie Welsh, who cut Phil to rib
bons in the Vernon arena last year,
met him again several months ago in
Boston, in a twelve-round go, and at
the end of the battle Freddie walked
over to Brock and told him he was
not the same man whom he had de-
feated in Los Angeles. Phil is faster,
cleverer and tougher and it would be
a pleasure to the fans to see him in
action.
Harry Baker, the third of the classy
trio, is anxious to set an opportunity
to appear before the Los Angeles
fans. Baker has made a sensational
showing in the east and returns ready
to fight any featherweight in the
world.
McGinty Has Three
Under the wing of Tom McGinty,
who came here with Brock, are also
gathered Baker and little Jimmy
Austin, which gives him a regular
stable. Baker attached himself to the
McGinty camp shortly after his ar
rival here, and yesterday Jimmy Aus
tin announced himself the latest fol-
lower of the Cleveland manager Nc
Ginty is putting these three boys
through the stiffest course of training
they ever tackled. 1t is early to bed
and early to rise these days for Brock, !
Baker and Austin, and they are cared
for like thOrOughbreds. McGinty is a
thorough believer in conditioning his
men carefully before permitting them
to start training for fight. One of
the first rules he laid down when
joining his camp was that Harry stS"ald
lay aside all ideas of fighting for a
month or so and acquire regular
habits, eating and sleeping at stated
hours, and taking his amusements in a
systematic manner.
Picato on Hand
Frank Picato. the local lightweight
who has fought himself up into the
near championship class by sheer per
sistence and faithful effort, IS also
numbered in "our midst" The local
boy has been consistently making
good and it is probable that he will
receive a match at Maud Junction.
With this material at hand the pros
poets are good for several unusually
attractive cards this summer and
early fall, and at ten rounds these
men should give the fans a number Of
WhirlWind contests.