Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-25
WEIGHTS FIGURE
IN ALL RING Goes
NO AUTHORITATIVE RULES ON
SUBJECT AND PRECEDENT is
ONLY GUIDANCE.
CHAMPIONS HAVE EDGE
They Boost Old Notches II tie To
Their Advantage-spicy
Table For tho Real
Fight Fans.
CHAMPIONS HAVE EDGE.


fighters of the lesser weights than
James ]. Jeffries and Jack Johnson
has been due to the matter OF how
much the principals tip the scales. "A
match we'll made is half won," Is an
axiom closely followed by managers OF
pugilists, and, as result, they usually
exert themselves to secure an adj
vantage in the matter OF weight. II a
boxer can be brought into the ring at
weight which prevents him from
fighting at his best 1t amount to a
heavy handicap, so that 1t has been
the aim of many managers to arrange
a match with view of weakening OPP
ponents.
The strongest exemplihcation OF
these tactics was in the fights between
Joe Cans and Battling Nelson. Al
though Cans was the lightweight
champion, he was so eager for the
financial returns assured by fight
with the Dane that he permitted Nell
son to dictate 1873 pounds, ringside,
the men to wear trunks and shoes on
the scales. This brought Cans into
the ring sat 131 pounds, weight at
which the Baltimore negro was unable
tionable II Cans i'll health at the pres
ent time was not due directly to the
weakening effects Of his preparation
for both scraps with the Battler.
Champions Fix the Weights.
1t Is comparatively easy for boxers
and their managers to haggle over the
weight question, for the reason that
no authoritative rules on the subject
exist, and the only guidance LIS pre-
cedent. But even precedent is fire.
quently ignored by title holders, who
fix the weight at figure favorable to
themselves. In several instances when
champions have outgrown class they
have set the weight notch close up to
the limit OF the class above.
Terry McGovern did this in the
featherweight division when he fought
Young Corbett at 1875 pounds, and, aft
er the mill, setting up the claim that
he had not lost his featherweight
title, as the weight was above 122
pounds, the accepted limit In this
country. McGovern, by the way, was
victim of sharp practice when he
met the late George Dixon, from
whom he won the featherweight cham
pionship Tom O'Rouke, Dixon's man
ager. thinking that McGovern would
be very strong at 1872 pounds, set the
weight at 118 pounds, ringside. Bat
McGovern happened to be strong
enough at that weight to beat the
little colored fighter into state OF
submission.
Breezy Table for Fight Fans.
In view Of the fact that precedent
is the only factor in fixing the weights
the poundage at which the champions
in the different classes have defended
their titles will prove interesting to
students of pugilistic form. They are
as follows:
Bantam class-Jimmy Barry at los
to lis pounds; Terry McGovern, l16:
Harry Forbes, 116; frankie Neil, 116;
Jimmy Walsh 116; Johnny Coulon l16.
International bouts-McGovern Pal
mer. Neil-Bowker, Evans-Bowker and
Walsh-Stanley, all of 116. Coulon's
claim without basis and precedent
overwhelming in favor Of 116.
Featherweight Classical Mccarthy,
lis; Dixon, 115, 118 and 1872; McGov'
ern, 122 to 1876; Atell 1922 to 126. Ma
jority of bouts at 122.
Lightweight class-Jack McAuline,
1873 to 1873; Kid Lavigne 133 to 135 at
8 p. M. at which weight he lost his
title to Frank Erne. Joe Cans won
the title at 1876 and lost 1t to Nelson
at 1917; Nelson, 1919 to 1873 ring
side, losing his title to Ad Wolgast
at the latter figure. Precedent IA.
vors 1873.
welterweight class Tommy Ryan
142 to 145; Mysterious Billy Smith,
145; Matty Matthews, LAP; Rube
Ferns, 145; Joe Walcott, 145; Dixie
Kid, 142. Precedent favors 145. Honey
Melody claimed title, but Dixie Kid
beat Walcott on the coast In 1905
prior to the latter's defeat by Melody
Middleweight class--Jack Dempsey
1874; Bob Fitzsimmons. 1854 to 1913;
Tommy Ryan, 1913; Stanley Ketchel
1853. Precedent favors 1853. Sam Lang
ford considered the best man in this
class and ready to fight Ketchel f.
the title.
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l M~.xL>.s Ap.oe;skian