Evening star., 1909-08-29
INTERESTING FIGHT
LETTERFR0M GOTHAM
Bill Blunt Compares the AbiI-
ity of KetcheL and
Langford.
By Bill Blunt.

in the betting. Today opinions have
changed, and when these two finally do
shake hands it will be found there will
be but little difference in the odds either
way. And this in the face of Ketchers
rather Indifferent showing against Papke
month or more ago. II either man is
firm favorite over the other, 1t will be
because his supporters have larger bank
rolls-a mere preponderance of money. Re-
gardless of how a battle between them
might result today, it looks like an even
money proposition and take your pick.
Langford's admirers smile when a fight
between them is mentioned; look wise,
nod the head knowingly and put up two
fingers. sometimes three. This means
they figure Sam to win in two or perhaps
three rounds. If you ask ketchel man
Is too game for him He'll break Lang
ford's heart before they have gone very
far" There is one point upon which all
sides agree. If Langford can't win In
ten to one shot. Even Sans strongest
admirers say he will have to win in a
hurry If at all. It's rather a hard one to
pick and will keep the boys guessing for
true.
1t is when you compare the men care
fully that it is so hard to say who is the
better man. Everything considered, they
are about as near equal as two men could
be-before the fight. The battle itself
may tell a far different story. This is
the way many Of the closer students dope
it out. Langford is the trickier and more
scientific. ketchel is faster and presum-
ably the gamer. The latter statement is
based on I-angford's bouts with Jack
Johnson and Joe Jeanette. With jeanette
at Lawrence, Mass, he stopped In six
rounds when he could have continued.
Nobody ever heard OF Ketchel chucking
it while he was conscious. With john
Coz, 21y,'t ctr ht1f ho
didn't give evidence that he possessed
that bulldog tenacity" the descriptive
writer's are so fond of featuring every
time they wish to make plain that man
bouts Langford so far outclassed his OPP
ponents his gameness was not put to the
acid test. AS regards the other i'm
portant characteristics that go to make
but little difference between Ketchel and
Langford. Both are hitters of the most
terrific type. Either can win with one
punch II it reaches a vulnerable spot
Both weigh the same. Both are powerful
and can absorb a world of punishment
Either can take punch without wincing
that would send the ordinary man to the
land of nod. In point of experience, each
has been fighting about seven years. Bar
ring lucky punch on either side, they
should put up as wicked fight as has
been witnessed in this section since the
famous Lavigne-Walcott battle at Mas
peth fourteen years ago. In fact, it re-
minds the boys of that bout in many
respects. Pretty nearly every time a
Ketchel-Langford contest is mentioned
somebody will cut in with a remark to
that effect.
The Driscoll-Moran bout, while it should
result In one of the prettest contests
imaginable means much more to the Eng
lish sportsmen than it does to the fans
on this side. as certain American fight
promoters would have found out to their
ho1 1,4{~~ =,
accepted One promoter offered $4,000,
and. 1t is stated on excellent authority
another one rendered $4,000. Had the
latter's bid been accepted he would have
had an enormous loss staring him in the
face. A fight in this country between
Driscoll and Moran wouldn't have drawn
twenty thousand at the gate. or within a
mile of it, even IL held under the most
auspicious conditions. In an international
match wherein one of the contestants Is
an American there is certain element
OF pride or rivalry or patriotism, or some
thing that is attractive, and makes it
draw well at the gate, but a fight in this
country between two foreigners. nevaire
The best evidence they wouldn't draw
the larger figure Is shown by the fact
that neither Moran or Driscoll. and both
were very popular in this country, ever
drew that much when pitted against the
best boys America could trot out. So
where would two Englishmen get Off?
Wow. WOW, barked the jack rabbit Only
once did either Moran or Driscoll draw
anywhere near banner gate. The lat
ter and Abe Attell pulled in $4,000, and
then 1t had everything in its favor. The
fight had been discussed in the papers
for weeks; 1t was held in the heart of
New York odty. and in one of the pref
tiest and most finely appointed clubhouses
the eye ever rested upon. It's a good
job for the American promoters they
didn't grab the coming bout at the fig
ures quoted.
1t Is seldom one family turns out two
such capable boxers as Abe and Monte
Attell. When Monte was beaten by Owen
Moran in this city upon the Englishman's
first visit to this country it was thought
he wouldn't do. He was so badly out
classed there didn't appear to be much
hope for him. But he kept on plugging
away, took his beatings like little major
when they came along. and gradually
worked his way to the top Of the heap
Today. New Workers are anxious to see
him perform against McGovern. Coster.
Goldman. Wagner or any of the little
eastern cracks, and he Is sure of good
house the first time he starts in the east.
HIS latest victory over Percy Cove, the
human slat, was some performance
When Cove was fighting hereabouts he
always had a hard time getting on match
es. They seemed to be afraid of him. and
eaiO Ae1Se Shal SiiiiIHy bc OTTeSI ana his
conferee, Ben Rosenthal stood ready at
all times to back him for a thousand
bills in real money against anybody his
weight, didn't help matters along any.
LOOKS like Monte has great chance of
winning the bantam championship
About every twenty minutes fresh Of
fer for the proposed Jeffries-Johnson con-
test is announced. jeff will not return
from Europe until October 1, and until
he does. nothing definite can be done.
When 1t comes time to pick the battle
ground he will have lot to say John
son may be champion according to ring
usage, but public sentiment is with JEFF
fries and SO long as he Is halfway fair
In his demands, he will have the support
of the sporting clans. At this writing,
California and Nevada have the jump on
other competitors. Finish contests have
been held in both states and that is what
johnson come together, forty-five rounds
or more. Coffroth is hot after the bout
for his Colma arena and will no doubt
prove a stubborn contender when the
time for the real bidding is at hand.
The bids SO far made public impress one
as "stall' bids-like when there is a
newspaper voting contest for the hand
soonest fireman or the most daring motor
man The supporters of the contenders
hold back their coupons until the last
day. then dump them on a truck and
send in about thirty tons to the contest
editor. The bona fide bidding for the
fight hasn't started When Coffroth, Nc
Carey, Mcintosh, Nevada and a few 9TH
ers start in earnest, there will be some
fun, with undoubtedly the largest purse
ever given for fight