Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-08-18

class of men who will pay good prices
to witness a good contest. The con-
ditions, however, are similar to base
ball that is when New York is strong
for baseball it is pretty good sign
that the rest of the country follows,
and so it is with boxing. With the
fistic game legalized in New York
state. it should prove a good boom to
the game all over the country, and it
will not be surprising to see other
states fall in line and legalize the
sport, where the bouts are limited to
not more than ten rounds. In the
meantime, let US hope that the New
York promoters will not try and kill
the goose that laid the golden egg,
the same as was done when the
Horton law was in vogue.
Matt Wells, the English lightweight
champion, who came over Ito this
country under the management of
George Mcdonald with the express
object of getting on with Al Wolgast
or Packey Mcfarland is very much
put out because he has got to lay
around until the two American stars
get ready for him. From a real box
ing standpoint there is no doubt that
Wells is the man who should be
favored with bout with Wolgast, for
the reason that he is the legitimate
champion of Great Britain and has the
right to demand a contest for the
worlds title. He should get first
call over Freddy WEIGH, whom he de-
feated for the championship of Great
Britain, but in this case he has been
sidetracked as Wolgast has practi.
cally arranged match with WEIGH,
for Thanksgiving day at Los Angeles.
Wells claims that he can make the
same weight that Mcfarland is max
ing for Wolgast, for their match Sept.
ID in Milwaukee. and if necessary he
can do even lower weight. He is at
the point where he says he will force
Wolgast into a match or make him
give up the title. The only way he
could do this would be to post sub
stantial forfeit for a contest and
leave the same up for six months:
the same as Jake Kilrain did with
John l.. Sullivan, twenty years ago.
The public. however, did not recog-
nize Kilrain, and it is 100 to l shot
they would not recognize Wells as
world champion unless he should &C.
tual.y beat the Michigan boy in a ring
battle. There is no reason, however,
why Wells should not be given recog.
milton and it is hoped that he will get
what he is looking for after Wolgast
and Mcfarland have had their ten.
round go.
1t is problem to understand why
the New York sports should install
AID Wolgast two to one favorite over
Packey Mcfarland in their ten round
no decision contest, to be held in Mil.
waukee September Is. Both boys
have boxed in New York city, and
from the newspaper accounts of the
contest, Mcfarland was considered
the biggest favorite of the two and
was also picked to defeat Wolgast in
any kind of a contest up to twenty
rounds. Probably the decisive victory
Wolgast scored against Owen Moran
has changed the minds of the sport.
ing men. But why one battle should
bring about such a change is haru to
understand. There is no doubt that
Wolgast is wonderful little fighter,
and IN long contest he would natur.
ally rule favorite over any opponent
put against him, but to make him a
two to one favorite in a short bout
where no decision is given, it seems
uncalled for. 1t is admitted on all
sides that Mcfarland is one of the
cleverest boxers in the country today.
for it takes mighty clever boxer to
outpoint Freddy Welch, and that is
what Mcfarland did in England But,
despite this fact, Wplgast is given
the call. OF course these betting pro.
positions will be left to newspaper
decisions, and there will be oil kinds
of arguments as to who 10 right. for
unless one of the men has . decided
advantage there will be all kinds OF