Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21
PUBL|C'S LOYALTY
SHOWN IN GOTHAM
tx. o." Favored PugiIistic
j. Son, Soon Loses Popular
ity in New York.
NOW OUT OF RUNNING,
RATED SECOND CLASS
Some Time Ago Considered
Coming Champion, Fans
Display Change of
Sentiment.
By James J. Corbett.
Special Dispatch to The star.

= kACl SE, y. l., May 2U.-laik
about the loyalty of the sporting public
Well. its the same in New York as
elsewhere While a boxer is winging
along and bringing home first money
every time he starts his admirers and
boosters are legion. but-the first set
back and how quickly sentiment
changes,
Let us take the case OF little X. 0.
Brown. y few short weeks ago he was
Gothams pride, and choice for the
lightweight stakes. He was the coming
champion beyond doubt if We could be-
lieve what we read in the metropolitan
papers Fighting last year for the first
limo Professionalism was then a feath-
erweight-as he is only a kid in years
Brown became great favorite right from
tire jump His Willingness 10 mix and
apparent anxiety to dc something every
minute Of the time he was in the ring
made hit with the faded fans. So &C
customed We're Manhattanites to the
ClincherS and stallers that anything in
the way of a change was most welcome.
Brown happened along at the psychology
ical moment His style was crude. but
that was offset by eager and ardent
desire TO administer a maximum quantity
Of punishment to his opponent within the
minimum OF time. HUSging and wrestling
were not in his repertoire; he wanted TO
fight all the time. and, believe me. the
BOYS mode was an agreeable variation
from the stuff that was at that time be-
ing dished out to the public and labeled
boxing exhibitions between experts.
Brown Gains Popularity.
So il happened that the youngster
sprang right into the front Of ia
voritism, and when he followed it up
with a hairline victory over Tommy
Murphy and two bouts with Champion
Wolgast, in which the newspapers award
ed the decision 10 the East Slider. there
was nothing TO II. Brown was hailed as
q champion by the overenthusiastfc and
always tickle public. 1t was only a ques-
ton of waiting for a match with the
champion over longer route, and then,
for the first time in many long year,
New Workers could boast a champion
boxer.
But the bubble was burst week or so
ago, and by one OF the boys former vic
,irns-one Tommy Murphy. And now the
X. o. person is getting all that is COM
ing TO him, and little bit more. From
the greatest in his class, overnight he
became a dub-again, 10 quote some OF
the impresSionable critics. In fact, the
few who were inclined to look upon the
hoy as rather mediocre and consider him
a bit lucky in catching boys of the Muir
ply and Wolsast types when they were
not in the best of form are now the only
ones to give the little fellow the credit
due him for past performances. And l
number myself among the latter. / have
never figured Brown TO be star per-
former, and do not think he can be made
into one unless started all over again
and taught a different style of boxing
from his present awkward and immature
method. Murphy. in condition. as he
was the other night, made show Of
him, and IL is sad TO contemplate what
ha IN 10
Dutchman in a ten-round contest with
either Freddy Welsh O. Packey McFar-
land.
*. o." Out of Running.
At any rate, Browns showing in the
Murphy bout puts him out of the running
for the present, as Harlem Tommy is
far short of the championship standard
Murphy is not so good a boy as he was
and is on the down grade. He has been
unfortunate with his health and for the
last two years a victim of malaria, which
has interfered not inconsiderabiv with
his training. Mcfarland recently gave
US line on how far Tommy has gone
back and how much he lacks OF measur-
ing up 10 the championship class.
Ad Wolgast boxes frankie Burns a
twenty-round bout IN San Francisco one
week from today, and the latter's stand
ing in the lightweight ranks will be
coast he is regarded g. much better man
than One Round" Hogan, who came
east TO set the world on fire but was
foolshly sent after the champion. Burns
must be made of a better quality than
Hogan 10 expect TO last the route with
Wolgast. The latter Is at his best form
now, and. barring another accident TO the
twice-broken arm, ought to dispose of
Frankie's ambition well inside the limit
unless the little Californian shows mar
vicious Improvement.
Owen Moran follows Burns, according
to the champions booking, and the melee
is carded To go the fun distance Of forty
five rounds IL necessary. A victory for
Burns would necessarily change the pro-
gram, but / really cannot figure where
Ad should have cause for worry over the
result OF the match with the ambitious
Frisco youngster. The champion is too
toGSh g bird for a novice to trim Pos
sioly little later for frankie, but not
just now.