Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
DESPERATE BOUT
IS IN PROSPECT
MEMSIC AND PICAT0 HAVE
MUCH AT STAKE
SURVIVAL OF FITTEST WILL BE
REAL ISSUE
Crack Lightweiehts Meet Tuesday
Night in Ten=Round Scrap for
Recognition as Future
Title Contenders
BY JAY DAVIDSON

There is considerably more involved
in the ten-rOund fight Tuesday night
between George Memsic and Frank Pi-
cato than appears by casual cOnSidera-
tion. 1t will be a highly interesting
affair all the way because both boys
are clever sluggers, but the real inter-
est in the bout arises in the fact that
it amounts practically to a tryout for
both boys. Memsic, once regarded as
the only real contender for the light
weight championship, will have the op-
portunity to show him cleverness,
speed, generalship and punch, and
prove during the ten rounds whether he
really is the same old fighter who once
enthuSed the fans every time he
stepped in the ring. Picato will have
the opportunity of showing whatever
class he possesses, and must demon
strate in this battle whether he is of
that classy caliber that goes to make a
champion.
Strangely enough, despite the good
showing that Memsic made in his
sprinting bout with Freddie Welsh,
there is a large army of fans who de-
lieve that Picato will trim him, and do
it decisively. Picato has done every
thing asked Of him since he began his
fighting career, with two exceptions.
Charlie Anslinger got a decision over
him, but Picato wiped this out in de-
Montana Kid stopped him at San Pedro,
but all who witnessed the bout say that
it was a lucky punch that did the work
and at time when Picato was winning
easily. 1 saw that fight and know that
this is fair statement of facts.
Picato has the wallop to stop Mem
sic if he is good enough to get it over.
He has proved to be an excellent gen
eral in the ring with boys Of inferior
class and usually has found it easy to
get over the sleep producer. But when
he stacks up against boy of the class,
speed, cleverness, courage and punch
ing ability Of Memsic it will be a much
more difficult task for him to win, as
he surely will find after he gets in the
ring. Then will come the real test Of
his class.
Memsic must decisively defeat Pi-
cato to prove beyond doubt that he has
regained his oldtime form and is to be
considered a contender for the light
weight title. He maintains that he is
faster than ever, has even better
punch than when he was fighting at
his best form two years ago and that
he is entitled to consideration as
championship possibility If so he
must prove it in this fight. Picato is
not a runaway fighter although he is
clever and a good general and Memsic
Will nave dIIlp10 OppOI W pIONO
his superiority, if it exists.
One pleasing prospect that the fans
are pointing out is that it will be a
fight from the tap Of the gong in the
first round and that there will be plenty
of excitement and lots of climaxes,
with the very good prospect that it will
end before the scheduled limit. Both
boys dote on their punching ability
courage and class and these essentials
will be pittcd~ against each other in a
survival of the fittest. On this ac-
count it will be a desperate battle all
the way and both boys will try to en-
phasize his claim for recognition by
scoring a knockout.
An excellent preliminary card has
been arranged to go with it. Fred
COrbett and Kid Tex will furnish a
ten-round and semi-windup at 12S
pounds, Johnny Hugo and Young Tur-
ner will step four rounds, the Hoosier
Kid and Mike Fusco will go the same
distance and Chester Moss and Charlie
Butler will open the show over the
sprint route.