The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-09-13

: Length of Fight-Ten rounds,
in twenty-four foot ring.
Rules-Marquis of Queensbarry.
= .........
Milwaukee, Wis, Sept. 13.-With
the ten-round battle between Ad
Wolgast and Packey Mcfarland only
two days away, the followers of the
fighting game are beginning to smoke
up strong to this attraction. 1t will
be the first championship affair that
this section of the country has seen
in years, and with the title at stake
the fans expect to see more than
they generally see in a short clash
Both Wolgast and Mcfarland
ceased their heavy work of training
today and will indulge only in light
exercise until the timekeeper's sig
nal calls them into the ring. Friday
afternoon at O'Clock, according to
the articles of agreement, they are
to tip the beam at 1873 pounds, the
lightweight limit.
Each fighter expressed himself to-
day as certain of victory, and the
consensus of opinion of fight follow
ers presages contest that will make
i'm h ct0 Thn foil 81
pion Wolgast appear to share his con-
tidence. The Chicago crowd, how
ever, can see nothing but the stock
yards fighter. Most of them assert
Mcfarland should be the top favorite
in the betting. They contend that
Packey will overshadow the Cadillac
boy in ten rounds and earn a decisive
verdict, even if one will not be given.
The general view Of the conserva-
tive critics is that the affair will be
an even go, and that it will lead to
longer mill to be- staged on the Pa
cific coast. To them it does not seem
possible that Mcfarland will knock
out the champion in ten rounds, nor
do they regard it as likely that VOL
CAST will make Packey take the count.
The lightweight. pugilistic cham
pionship, for which Wolgast and Nc
Farland are to battle, has been an op-
en- and much disputed title since the
adoption of the Marquis of Queens
berry rules. Jack McAuliffe and Joe
Cans were about the only claimants
to the title whose superiority was un
questioned.
McAuliffe showed his first cham
pionship form when he knocked out
Billy Frazier in Fl rounds at Boston,
October 20, 1886, in contest adver-
tised as for the lightweight cham
pionship. McAuliffe won the cham
pionship of Canada also, and clinched
his claim to the title when he
knocked out Harry Gilmore at Law
renee, Mass, in % rounds in 1887.
Then came the famous internation-
al contest between McAuliffe and Jim
Carney at Revere, Mass, November
16, 1887. The fight went IA rounds
and was declared draw. The men,
orable 64-round draw with Billy My
err at North Judson, ILL.,, February 10,
1889, was McAuliffe's next important
championship contest.
In 1890 McAuliffe went to San
Francisco and on March FL Of that
year he fought Jimmy Carroll there,
winning in AZ rounds. After defeat
ing Austin Gibbons in six rounds,
September II, 1891, at Hoboken, N.
j., McAuliffe did not defend his title
again until September 5, 1892, when
he knocked out Billy Myer at New
Orleans in Is rounds.
McAuliffe was never beaten for the
title. At big benefit given for him
in New York in 1896 he spared six
round with "Kid' Lavigne and form
ally turned over the title to the Mich
igan boy. Lavigne won the cham
pionship of England June 1 of that
year by knocking out Jim Burge in
London in II rounds. Lavigne was
then admitted to be champion light
weight of the world, and he held the
title until July 3, 1899, when he lost
a decision to Frank Erne in 20 rounds
at Buffalo.
Erne held the championship three
years, losing it when Joe Cans
knocked him out in one round at
Fort Erie May 10, 1902, acquiring
the title that was not wrested from
him uitil he met Battling Nelson at
San Francisco July 4, 1908. Nelson
knocked out the colored boy in the
seventeenth round Nelson retained
the title until his second battle with
Wolgast, which took place at Rich
mond, CAL, February 20 of last year.
Wolgast won in the fortieth round,
Referee Eddie Smith stopping the
fight Wolgast was given credit for
a knockout. Since then the present
champion has defended his title
against "Knockout'' Brown, George
Memsic, zone Round" Hogag,-~Fran-
kie Burns, Owen Moran and several
fighters of minor note.