The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-30
tBy James j. Corbett. Former Heav''
weight Champion of the Worldly
(Special to The Farmer.)

weight Champion of the Worldly
Especial to The Farmer.)
New York, Dec. 30.-The passing
Of the Frawley law placing profes.
sional boxing on a legal basis In this
state was the one important pugl-
listic happening of the passing year.
Outside of that 1911 could exit with
out so much as murmur OF protest
from fight fans.
A glance over the ring records OF
the last twelve months will show that
nothing really startling or In the line
as championship titles and their own
,ers go we stand on the same footing
of a year ago.
Jack johnson is still at the head
of the heavy weight division and out
classes the aspirants. at least the
white ones. AID Wolga1t, though con-
Salescing from an operation, Is the
undisputed champion of the light
weights. Abe Attelf has the feather
weight title nailed fast to the walls
of his houdoir. Johnny Coulon is
given credit for being the best of the
bantams, but has not been seen in
the ring for a good many months.
The middle-weight division boasts
of number of good men, but affairs
are in chaotic state and the cham
riorship problem apparently diffic 1T
of solution. 1t would be some task
to pick out one man from that bunch
of scrappers, and label him cham
pfon." McGoorty, klaus, ~Houck. Dill
on and half dozen others lay claim
to superiority. An elimination series
pear essential to the finad adJn1ica-
ton of Claims in this class.
There is no such thing as sone man
rule among the welter-weights. There
is not much likely material to collect
from either. Mike Gibbons looks
- xryfva
tournament and hold it gainst all
corners, from what he has shown
New Workers. There are several
western welters who say they will
make Mike look like three plugged
dimes when the opportunity arrives.
AS these lads have not performed
hereab outs I am not qua flied to pa SIS
on their assertions. I will say, though.
that if any one of them can tie the
can to Gibbons, he win have my vote
for the championship thing.
If, Jack johnson Is tn be relieved OF
his crown in the nes future it will
be one Of his own complexion who
turns the trick. But If Jack takes
care Of his physical being he should
be able to- successfully defend the
lite even against such formidable
.challengers as Jeanette, McVey and
Langford.
There are numbers of promising
light, feather and bantam-weights.
. In fact many might be said Ito have
arrived already. and titles In these
classes are liable to change owner
\ ship at any time. AID Wolgast may
not be the same sturdy youth of his
, incorporation days; Abe Attell Is
not growing any younger; and Jchn-
ny Coulon will have his work cut out
defending the bantam honors from
the dozen or more classy little men
! who are camping on his trail.
That professional boxing Is sport
| the people want and patronize libsr-
] ally will be shown in the official re-
port of the New York State Athletic
Commission soon to be presented to
the Legislature. The Commissioners
| have accomplished a great deal of
been under their supervision, and the
facts and figures they will lay before
the Lawmakers will go far to put the
\ Quietus ON the plans of the "profes-
sional reformers'' to repeal the Fraw-
| ley bill.
Jack Johnson's physical appear
ance is said to have furni he'd big
surprise to the reporters who met the
champion the day of his arrival from
| Europe Many went to the pier pre-
| pared to see the big smoke" wheel
| ed out In an invalid's chair, and great
was their establishment to discover
that the cables had been kidding us
regarding his condition.
Jack declared he never had any
' intention Of retiring and Is ready on
short notice to meet all comers--un-
der certain conditions. The "condi-
! TONS are that the party of the first
part, Mr.. J. Arthur Johnson), be