The Washington times., 1911-09-13
Both Lightweights Are
Ready for Battle That
Will Decide Title

MILWAUKEE, Sept. I3.-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 tie country has seen in years, and
with the title at stake the fans expect
to see more action 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 signal calls them into
the ring. Friday afternoon at O'Clock,
according to the articles of agreenPnt,
they are to tip the beam at l33 pounds,
the lightweight limit.
Each fighter expressed himself today
as certain of victory, and the consensus
of opinion of fight followers presages
O contest that will make ring history.
The followers OF Champion Wolgast ap-
pear to share his confidence. The Chi
caRo crowd, however, can see nothing
but the stockyards' fighter. Most CT
them assert Mcfarland should be the
top favorite in the betting. They con-
fend 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 conservative
critics is that the affair will be an
even go, and that 1t will lead to
longer mill to be staged on the Pacific
coast. To them 1t does not seem possi-
BILE that Mcfarland will knock out the
champion in ten rounds, nor do they re-
gard II as likely that Wolgast will make
Packey take the count.
The lightweight pugilistic champion
ship, for which Wolgast and Mcfarland
are to battle. has been an open and
much disputed title since the adoption
OF the Marquis of Queensberry rules.
Jack McAuliffe and Joe Cans were
about the only claimants to the title
whose superiority was unquestioned.
McAuliffe showed his first champion
snip form when he knocked out Billy
Frazier in twenty-one rounds at Boston
october g, 1886, in contest advertised
as for the lightweight championship.
McAulifre won the championship Of
Canada also and clinched his claim to
the title when he knocked out Harry
Gilmore at Lawrence, Mass, in twenty
eight rounds in 1887.
Then came the famous international
contest between McAuliffe and Jim Car
The fight went seventy-four rounds, and
was declared draw. The memorable
sixty-four round draw with Billy Myer
at North Judson, ILL.,, February 13, 1889.
was McAuliffe's next important cham
In 1890 McAuliffe went to San Fran
cisco, and on March 81 of that year he
fought Jimmy Carroll there, winning in
forty-seven rounds. After defeating
Austin Gibbons in six rounds, September
IL, 1891, at Hoboken, N. j., McAuliffe
did not defend his title again until Sep
tember 8, 1882, when he knocked out
Billy Myer at New Orleans in fifteen
rounds.
McAuIiffe was never beaten for the
title. At big benefit given for him in
New York in 1896 he spared six rounds
with kid" Lavigne and formally
turned over the title to the Michigan
hoy. Lavigne won the championship of
England June l of that year by knock
ing out Jim Burke in London in seven
teen rounds. Lavigne was then admit
ted to be champion lightweight Of the
world, and he held the title until July
9. 1899. when. he lost a decision to Frank
Erne in twenty rounds at Buffalo.
Erne held the championship three
wears, losing II when Joe Cans knocked
him out in one round at Fort Erie Nav
13. 1902 acquiring the title that was not
wrested from him until he met Battling
Nelson at San Francisco July 4, 1903.
Nelson knocked out the colored boy in
the seventeenth round. Nelson retained
the title until his second battle with
wolgast. which took place at Richmond.
Cal, February % Of last year. Wolgast
won in the fortieth round, Referee Ed
die 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, "One-Round" Hogan,
Frsnkie Burns. Owen Moran, and sew
eral fighters Of minor note.