El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-24
P|CATE IS PICKED
As 4 POSSIBLE
WHITE HOPE
Naughton Saw Him Fight in
Australia and Says He
Is Good.
tBy W. ~. Naughtonl

fBy ". ~. Naughton).
Sydney. Australia, June 24.-In the
stadium at Rushcutter's hay. an arena
made famous by the Jack Johnson
Tommy Burns fight for the worlds
championship. and saw Frank Picato,
California lightweight, engaged in
his hrst contest on Australian SOIL
Picato had for an opponent q sturdy
fellow named Arthur Douglas. who
halls from South Africa and who
claimed TO be Of Boer origin.
Douglas is almost as durable as Bat
ting Nelson used to be. He stood up
for 20 rounds and in every round he
received enough punishment to satisfy
anyone who is not proud Of his pow
ers of assimilation and eager to dis
play them. Further than that Douglas
spuTtec several times when least ex-
pected and caused waves of excitement
TO roll across the crowd that gathered
In the roo7ess pavilion.
Bout Was Fast and Clever.
But Picato, who was most anxious
to win his opening contest in Kangaroo
land. was thoroughly on his mettIe
and gained the verdict after a bout
that was voted one of the cleverest,
fercest and fastest seen in the stadium
IN many months.
Picato outweighed Douglas several
pounds. scaling 40 to the South Afri-
cans 1913 and for this reason there Is
an inclination to favor the Douglas de-
nand for. q return match at more even
weights. The promoters. however, seem
to think that from the brilliant man
ner in which Picato won his spurs, he
is entitled to be matched with the
Australian lightweight champion. Hugh
Michigan.
The latter is Melbourne boy and
is considered the best of his weight
that has developed in this country in a
long time. I have gathered from one
of the Sydney sporting editors that
Michigan is a particularly clever boxer
of the Jem Mace school and that his
method Of handling himself brings
back visions Of Peter jackson.
Picato willing.
Il looks indeed as If in sending
Picatc against Michigan, the Californian
Is being forced into tiptop company too
soon. but Picato Is willing enough to
put himself to the test. It is highly
probable, however, that the Picato-
Michigan bout viii hang FIRE for some
little time and that the Los Angelan
VIII secure a couple of minor matches
IN the meanwhile.
It must be said that Australia has
not very formidable array of ring
men at the present time. In a former
letter I referred to Colin Bell, the fell |
low who was picked up by Larry Foley
and dropped again after he had suf-
fered defeat at the hands Of q COM
parative unknown Bell is now listed
among the blasted hopes and the opin-
Jon entertained Of him is that he
hasn't the remotest chance Of punching
his way to fame.
II 4o71 -
the Sydney Referee" Australia's fore
most boxing expert who attended the |
Johnson-J effries fight at Reno. for his
paper he had the following to say: +
Most Of Australia's boxers are self
taught and though at least as good |
physically as the best the country ever
produced. they are not, with few ex-
ceptions within long way of the /
standard Peter Jackson, Critic, George /
Dawson and others reached.
THE most skillful men are Dave
Smith. light heavyweight; Frank |
Thorn. who fights strong at 80 i
pounds: Billy Elliott and Frank F'itz- |
john, featherweights. They know the I
skill Of the game and would probably |
shape well against the best in the /
world
The featherweight champion Of
Australia-Joe Russell-is a powerful |
laQ at MS weight ana ne EaS CONSIDER
able skill as well as heaps Of pluck /
There are several good men coming |
on and any amount Of excellent ma /
teriaI, but II requires moulding.
There are no really good tutors, Of
the class TO which Peter Jackson and |
Larry Foley belonged in Australia /
Young Hfll,' boy boxer of 116 pounds I
looks a real conner. He has already
won several battles and shows i'm
provement every time. Percy Hale, a
young light heavyweight, standing six |
feet two inches and hailing from the
football ranks. looks likely to reach /
championship form. He has so far done /
well: all that has been asked of him
IN fact. Another in the same class is
Larry Foran, a fine. big youngster of i
great strength and pluck, who has a
strong facial resemblance TO Tommy /
Burns There is whole army of mod
crates throughout the country"