The evening times., 1911-08-10

deal OF interest.
Begin ct Top.
Casting aside for the time being
this talk Of the middlewelghts, 1t
might be asked what we have in the
various classes. Let US begin on
the top shelf and take some inspec.
tion o. tho goods In the pugilistic
shop. ~ \,
m. the ranks of the heavyweights
what have: we? Aside from Jack
johnson there is not q man lighting
who can anyways compare with the
men who were furnishing interest to
the fight fans some ten years ago.
Some people call Jim Corbett an ov-
errated man. All we'll and good,
but were he the same Jim .Corbett
today as he was the afternoon he
stepped into the ring at Jacksonville,
Fla, to meet Charley Mitchell, he
could walk through the ranks of the
present heavyweights like a police
man bullied at home through the
ranks of suffragist meeting.
We have no light heavies that can
compare with fighters of the type Of
Joe Choynski and we have no welter-
weights of the sterling fighting abil-
fty Of Joe Walcott or Mysterious
Billy Smith. Wolgast is great
fighter, using the present standards
of judgment, but it is very doubtful
If he will ever be anything like the
great fighter that the late Joe Cans
was. z
There surely is no featherweight
Of the stamp Of Terry McGovern,
though in the bantamweight class
Johnny Coulon will compare very fa-
vorably, according to the best in
formed, with the great bantam fight
ers. Of the past.
| It Is the limited round engagement
and the more easy fights for the men
in the business of fighting that is
making the poor crop of pugilists Of
the present age. There are some
shrewd boys in the game purely for
the money these days, and they re-
alize that If they win on points they
are going to last just that much
longer and are. going to be in the
path Of money until they can col
lect q bundle.
Just as the scientific business man
of today is conserving his energies
and planning his work ahead SO as
to save competence; just as the
prudent farmer is obeying the man
dates Of the advocate of conserva-
ton and Is outstanding the energy Of
the soil, so has the fighter turned his
ear to business and has taken to
avoiding punishment as much as pos
sible and prolonging his years Of
usefulness in the ring,
| We are in an era Of progress. To-
day is the most material age in the
history of America. The great and
mighty dollar is making more noise
at the present time than Billy Bryan
i or Teddy Roosevelt eins,the sheyday Of
their careers. Most5nsapIe-are after
the money: and you wflf lid that the
fighters with the most industry are
| the ones that are after it the hard
est and are taking every means to
protect themselves.
For that reason we, have not some
Of the greatest fighters Of the past.
A really good fighter stands out In
prominence. BILLY Papke is, when he
Is, right. a great fighter, and he: IL
the greatest in and outer In the
game. II he is right he can clean
up all of the present crop Of middle
weights and make light of the job.
On the other hand, ii he has one of
those of days, Johnny Thompson is
liable to give him another lacing.
You will find that there will be
very little interest in the middle
weight tournament, and should any
one attempt to- get up tournament
for the determination of the best
heavyweight in the business. you
would discover likewise that the in
terest in the matter had gone out to
get a drink, for the whole matter is
awfully dry.
Scan the pugilistic horizon. and you
will ind about two or three good
matches In sight. Look too long and
you will find the Joke affair OF Bonn
bardiers Wells and Jack Johnson.
Some of these days some great
fighters may spring up: let, US all
hope that the spring act will not be
unduH delayed.
Investing in another mans pros
poets is a good way for the other man
to get rich.
When woman has to- spend a
good deal Of her time mending the
|childron'a clothes s1,a IA ant to neg