Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10
DECISIONS WOULD BE BEST
IN NEW YORK BOXING BOUTS
Fight Fans in Gotham Disguised Over the
Different Opinions Expressed by
Newspaper Critics.

these highpri guys | know a doctor
down on the Bowery who will call it the
galloping consumption for two-case
note
However. there was recently one bat
tle," if it may be dignifed by that name.
that brought about unanimity among the
critics. l refer to the Abe A-tell-Patsey
Kline contest. Last summer Kline caught
the featherweight champion out of shape
and made good showing. Possibly he
took himself too seriously after that.
The other night he couldn't have hit
Abe with the prov rbial handful of shot;
the latter was at his best, and that means
he stands alone in his class. 1t was d
remarkable display of skill and clevernesS
, that Abe gave us. Kline showed he had
a wallop He showed it-that'S all he did
with il. Every time he aimed the punch
at Abe the little Hebrew master beat it
with one of his own Kline reminded me
of weak batter swinging at one of Ma
thewsons fadeaways.
Jack Johnson is still in the retiring"
business Haven't heard much from the
ebony boy of late Joining the Masons
his last bid for publicity. No telling.
though. he may pull some new stuff any
day. He Is long overdue.
l presume that just long as the
champion will have us understand he has
quit the ring forever and ever We may
as well look the ground over and see
what kind of talent there is in Slght from
which must select his successor.
On cold dope, past performances ana
all the other methods Of doing the Sher-
lock Holmes deduction, stunts the disky
fighters loom up much more dangerous
looking than the palefaces. Even with
johnson on the retired list it is no cinch
that the chapionshIp crown can be wres-
ted from the Philippians in the near
future.
Sam Iangford is one stumbling block in
the path of the aspiring whites. Joe jean
nette is hurdle number two, and II many
experts are to be believed he Is even
tougher proposition than the tar baby.
Joe tells me, if you will take his word
for it, he made Sambo beat 1t to Austria
liza and that he alone is the logical sue
cessor to Mstah Johnsing. And difficulty
number three tSam McVeyb is certainly
a refractory person when he pulls on
rair of five ounce gloves.
What have the whites to offer in oppo-
sition to the claims of the colOred men?
Al Kaufman and Jim Flynn are the only
ones who have been put through the flre
and both have been found wanting. Flynn
in his bouts with Johnson and Langford
and Big AL in his most recent startling
form reversal against this same FLYNN.
Between Kaufman and Flynn 1T stands
an even thing. Another contest should
prove conclusively the better man. There
would be no chance for excuses OF poor
condition. etc, such as We're offered IN
evidence after their last meeting. The
winner could then box Joe Jeanette. the
only member of the colored quartet in this
country at present. and the result would
give us at least an mixing of where we
stand on the heavyweight question
OF the newcomers Tom Kennedy and Al
PalZer have shown the best. carr Nor
ris has not made a Favorable impression
i'm his eastern starts. Jim FLYNN handed
the large westerner an unmerciful beat
ing The Geyer match was no test at all
Morris will shortly have another trial
when he meets Kennedy in ten-round
bout Palzer, too, will be sent against
harder and more experienced game in Al
Kaufman. These bouts may help simplify
matters. though ten rounds are rather
short for big, slow-going fellows. How
ever must have patience and hope for
the best Rome was not built In a day.
Bonn badier Wells, the English heavy
weight will be over here the first of the
year if nothing happens 1t is to be hoped
that his mission is to fight and not to
practice the art of high finance. He can
make a nice pot OF money on this side
provided he is willing to do business on a
fair and equitable basis: II not, he had
better stay at home
When Matt Wells was in New York
the first time he was preliminary fight
err; he returned with the prestige of Eng
lands lightweight title secured by d vic
tory over the clever Fred Welsh. OF a
sudden his demands for the big end of
purses grew until the limit was only the
blue sky. Result was that Matt Went
home poorer by many. thousands than he
had confidently expected.
Speaking of Matt. the cable tells us he
is very sick man, and it likely will be
months before he is able to box again.
1t was understood locally that Wells had
been signed to meet Packey Mcfarland
about the first of the year. Some sort of
hoodoO hangs about the match making of
these lightweight headliners. Looked a
cinch they would hook up last fall. but
something prevented 1t is thought that
Matt or his managers conditioner the
English champ out of the match. Now
comes Wells Illness.
With both the American and English
lightweight champions in dry dock for
repairs the titles will be carefully packed
away for the winter Champion AID is
recovering rapidly from the effects OF the
operation that removed his appendix,
which is good news indeed although
there is little chance of him figuring in
championship contest for six months
or more. Packey Mcfarland, too is laid