El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-23
WHO FALLS HEIR
TO CHAMPIONSHIP
Two Fight Titles May Drop
to Someone by
Default
CBy W. W. Naughton.)

san Francisco, Calf. Dec. 23.-What
becomes of a pugilistic championship
when the holder of it retires vOluntar-
lily, or through accident or i'll health?
This question has been up for dis
cussiOn a good many times recently
NANNY JnIOugu jack Johnson aDan-
comment of prize ring pursuits and Al
Wolgast's attack of appendicitis.
Some authorities claim that In any
of the cases cited, the title reverts 10
the previous holder. If the argument
is valid and Wolgast's operation means
permanent disaolement, battling Nelson
would be justified in usurping the
lightweight premiership.
1t is not believed for a moment that
WOlgast will be out of the harness for
more than a few months, however, ana
for that matter even those who enter
tain grave doubts as to whether AZ
VIII he able 10 defend ais Iaureis are
quite satisfied to Shelve further dis
cussiOn until they hear how Wolgast
progresses. There is time enough TO
cross a bridge when you come to It,
and there will be time enough to tax
of the disposal of the lightweight
crown when it definitely appears that
WOlgaSt has no further use for It.
JOhnsOn's Case Different.
In JOhnsOn's case il is different JACK
keeps saying that he is out of the game
for good and there is good reason for
wondering who will be the next 10 wear
the heavyweight mantle.
If it should be decided that the man
who held the championship before
Johnson is best entitled to it, the
average person would have to think
twice before deciding who really IS the
man.
Johnson was regarded as the cham
Dion after he defeated. Tommy Burns
IN Australia, but, IN the opinion OF the
majority Burns never had perfect
right to call himself champion OF the
world.
Jeffries undeniably was champion
when he retired After he decided 10
fight Johnson, the "bOilermaker' let 1t
be known that he still considered him
self the king of heavies. His stand was
upheld too, by numbers of critics, and
when Jeffries entered the ring at
Reno he tried to persuade himself that
he was defending his old-time title
rather than trying to Wrest 1t from
the negro.
As things went. it matters little what
Jeffries thought of it. What would puz-
zle US all to decide right now is VINO
should JOhnson's title revert TO, JeI-
fries or Tommy Burns?
Luckily we do not have to decide, for
neither man Graves the distinction. JeI-
fries would not accept the champion
ship If it were handed to MIN on
golden salver, while Tommy Burns fas
become fat and lame and is more IN
terested I'm selling gents furnishings IN
his Calgary store than botherlng ABOUT
prize ring complications
But what is to become of the title
asks some one.
Corbett Says McVea.
The answer has been supplied by W.
+. Corbett. the noted Australian box
ing critic He declares that sam NC
Yea is the heavyweight champion OF
the world and that he gained his title
through default on Iohnsons part
Here is COrbetts argument;
If Jack Johnson really retired. the
worlds championship crown VIII go 10
sam McVea, It is decided by sporting
Tsn- hot n
circumstances which I shall presently
refer to the title must pass as stated
1T is provided and allowed, in the
event Of a champion Withdrawing from
his field Of action. the title held by him
shall revert to the Immediately previous
holder. should he still be a going con-
cern. as it were, but this rule cannot
operate in connection with Jack john
sons mantle. and if it did, there would
be no rightful claimant, as the man
Tommy BuTns) from whom the famous
black wrested the distinction. is now
out OF the game.
Jack Johnson covenanted with HuVh
D. Mcintosh as the promoter and sam
AicVea to meet the latter at the Sydney
stadium on December "a next Tor me
heavyweight championship Of the
world and the agreement was duly
signed, sealed and delivered. If this
compact is not adhered to then the
Johnson's default. It should be Nc
Yeas whether the other man gave II
up or not were Johnson an absentee on
the date and from the place fixed
The above argument is good and
sound, too. If Johnson and McVea really
signed articles to box in Sydney on
certain date for the worlds champion
ship. But what Of It? A championship
that isn't gained by hard fighting never
brings much grist to the mill.
In this connection II looks as though
Bill" COrbett's line Of reasoning could
be made to apply to WOlgast's case in
4 20 "a
Welsh's advantage But, first Of all, it
would have to be decided that Wolgast
defaulted to Welsh. Ad certainly signed
to box Freddie for the worlds cham
pionship at Vernon on Thanksgiving
day and failed to live up to his con-
tract and. If you can prove Sam Nc
Yea is worlds champion by. that kind
of logic, you will have TO admit that
Wolgast's title.