Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-25
SIX coNTENnea8 NOW
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prepcsed Bout n Next: Few Wsel<s' Will Elininats 6onss,

tie chance for argument as to where the championship of that class belong ed, but with the Boston Tar Baby ad- mitfedly unable to make the weikht now and Stanley Ketchel dead there is 9 tangle to be unravfled. 1f the plans of the promoters go through all right, it looks as if this might be strengthened out some in the next month or so. The crown left by the Wolverine has mar rowed down to six-Billy Papke, Frank Klaus, Hugo Kelly, Dave Smith of Australia. Jack (TWin) Sullivan and Harry Lewis.
 So far as Sullivan is concerned he is lowers of the game. and the same is true of Dave Smith. even though the antipodean is credited with victory on a foul over Billy Papke. Papke's g win effectively retires Smith to the rear Willie Lewis was relegated to the rear by Frank Klaus at the Fair mont A. c. few weeks ago. and al- though Harry Lewis. now in Paris. has claimed the middleweight cham piOnShip of the world and has added that he is ready to defend the title against all corners, he is not regarded seriously in America. His offer to take on Sam Langford is regarded as the biggest kind of a joke. The Su1livans from Montana-Jack and Dan-may cause some trouble, but they are not yet regarded among the topnotchers.
 Papke, kIaus or Kelly.
 Billy Papke's stock went down con siderably when it was announced that he had been defeated by Dave Smith and outpointed by Cyclone Johnny Thompson. It was said that Papke was outc1assed by Smith last month up to the time that the foul was com mitted, but later reports do not bear out the original stories. Papke'g vic- tory, at any rate. puts him back in the running, and he. Klaus, Kelly look like the best men amongsa the 156 pounders. In all probability, when the final determination of the title is reached, one of this trio will hold the championship.
 With his glory retrieved by his re- cent victory. PRpke will undoubtedly make hurried exit from Australia for America to engage in some fights here. light was turned strongly on the other two members of the leading trio Frank Klaus and Hugo Kelly--and he will be in line to take on one Of the pair when ha returns. Klaus work in recent bouts makes his chances loom weights, but Hugo Kelly has made claim to the title and announces his willingness to defend 1t against all corners.
 Kelly is going to be accommodated. And 1t now looks as if his first bout with either make him or break him as a prospective champion. He was orig inally slated to take on Jim Smith of Westchester in . tryout bout before the Fairmont A. c. last week, but Smith could not come within seven pounds of the mfddieweight limit, and Kelly promptly called the bout off. Nothing but middleweiahts is Kelly's ell d7{w nut <.f ft11g oxy Kelly has practically been matched to fight Frank K1aus, and the bout will take place within the next three weeks. If fought in New York tho distance will be 10 rounds, and it Boston it will be 12, and the wtnnsr will be generally middleweight division. A bout between the winner of this bout and Papke will decide the championship.
 . For the last four years the struggle for the middleweight title has been keen. It has been a see-saw affair since Tommy Ryan put aside the gloves for the farm. That was in 1907, when Ryan officially retired, and after box ing six rounds with Hugo Kelly at Rochester. N. Y., handed over the. title to the Chicagoan. Kelly did not have much success as a. champion in fact, he did better in the ring before Ryan turned over tho championship to him.
 
 coming into prominence and gaining a reputation for himself by his quick knockouts. Up to this time he fought only second and third raters.
 Papke's Loop -the- Loop.
 Tom Jones. who Is now handling Ad Wolgast, was then managing .Papke and he obtained match with Kelly for the title. Itewas fought in Milwau- kee and Papke. who was lighting his first important battle was In excellent shape. The fight took place Dec. 30 and Papke received a draw, using most effectively his famous loop the loop" punch. They were rematched fol March 16. 1908, in Milwaukee, and Papke won by good margin. The Dutchman proclaimed himself cham pion and lasted less than year at the head of the division. After losing a 1( round bout to Ketchel at Milwaukee ir June, 1908. Papke knocked Ketchel out at Vernon, Cal, three months later But Ketchei came back on Nov. 2e o1 the same year and knocked Papke out in II rounds at Colma, Cal From that time until his death Ketchel was re- garded as the champion.
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