Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-07
By 7. S. Andrews.
Special Dispatch to The star

Special Dispatch to The star
MILWAUKEE. Wis, August What
right has Billy Papke. the Illinois Thun-
tc-to,t 10 dictate what the weight shall
be for the mi11leweights of the world to
battle in championship contests? Since
the death of Stanley ketchel, who was
the recognized worlds champion. Billy
Papke has been given the best claim to
the title by most sporting writer's, and it
was the opinion of the writer that the
kewanee boy had the best claim, but
nevertheless he was not supreme. and he
has no right to say what the weight shall
be- 1t is different proposition from the
mix-up some of the lightweights are hav-
ing, for the reason that AID Wolgast is
secure at present in his claim to the title
and he has something to fall back on in
his claim through the actions of Battling
Nelson when he fought the late Joe
Cans for the championship. and of others
ahead of them. There is Just as much
reason In the claim OF Packey Mcfarland
and Matt Wells. the English champion,
that the lightweight championship scale
should be raised to 135 pounds as for
Papke to say the middleweight limit must
De raised from los pounds TO 16O at
CLOCK, the recognized weight for Great
Britain. And at the same time honestly
believe the lightweight limit would be bet
ter at LBS and the middleweight at 16O
than under the present conditions, be-
cause then it would bring about uni
form scale of weights for practically all
the world, the only difference then be-
ing IL the featherweight and bantam
classes. which is not great. Papke is not
any niddleweights ready and willing
- battle with him for the championship,
and they have right to demand matches
Tor the chance. Papke gave Ketchel his
hardest nights and was always recognized
as next to the great middeweght, but
he suffered e defeat at til hands of
Johnny Thompson, the Sycamore Cyclone
in far-aVay Australia, losing the decision
IN twenty-round contest. The claim
has been made that Papke was not in
shape at that time. but if that was the
case he had 10 one but himself to blame,
and the Cyclone was fortunate to catch
MN as such time Papke on that oc-
casion weis over the stipulated 15S
pounds by considerable while Johnny
weighed under the limit.
Afterward Papke went to England and
oefeated jim Sullivan. the English cham
pion, AT the English weight limit-ID
pounds at o clock-a weight that lust
suited Billy nicely, and that is why he
now wants to raise the American limit TO
that standard. If all the rest Of the
American middleveights were to agree TO
raise the limit then ii would he fine and
dandy. as Battling Nelson would say
and We would. at least. have one weight
10 correspond with the English scale, but
the otE er fellows should be given Voice
III thu matter. Let them take vote on
the question, and have the majority vote
rule. That would settle the matter and
have the promoters of the country put
their stamps Of approval on the same The
West Side Athletic Club Of New Orleans
is trying to bring about a solution of the
question by holding an elimination tour
nament for the middleweights. inviting
all Of any class to enter and to have the
men in the semf-fnal meet Papke for the
championship of the world, for he all
ready has the British title. Several good
man have entered the tourney. and if
there are no breakers It is possible that
Thompson ard Papke will clash before
the winter sets In. Look out for Bob
Mona. the Milwaukee bear, In the tour
ney. He may upset the calculations of
some-Eddie McGoorty. Frank Klaus,
Frank Mantell. ]. CTwIn) Sullivan. Jim
my Gardner. Harry and Willie Lewis,
Tony Caponi, Jim Flynn Cat 100 pounds),
Leo Houck. Jack Dillon, Buck Grouse,
Hugo Kelly. Jimmy Clabby, Jim Sullivan
Marcel MORGAN of France and others OF
the lot Frank Klaus seems to have about
the best claim outside of Hugo Kelly and
Thompson, but there are others coming
fast, among them Moha and McGoorty
who are liable to upset all dope. There is
no denying that John Thompson is tough
and IL will take some one with a good
wallop TO beat him, and make him un-
derstand he is beaten, for he never
knows enough 70 stop until he cannot go
farther.
The featherweight tournament which
the New Orleans club is arranging for
the fall and winter in addition TO the mid
deweight contests, has stirred up a fine
bunch of arguments among the little fell
lows. and promises to result in some red
hot bouts at the Crescent city. All the
feathers in the business are looking for
Abe Attell's scalp. the impression being
general that Abe is about through with
his title II the foxy Able is in any kind
of condition he is liable to take to the
arena again and make some of the as
pirants take to the woods but at that
there are some husky youths in the list
chasing him. Among the most danger
Gus is Jose Rivers, the Mexican, who. like
his brother Mexican of some years ago
Aure3io Harrara-has a punch as hard
as most lightweights. Then there is
Johnny Kilbane OF Cleveland. Ohio, who
claims he will deliver the goods, and
Tommy Dixon of Kansas City. who
Jimmy Hurst, his manager. says. fought
Rivers to standstill, and lost on a fou
that should not have been called. Mat,
Smith makes the same claim for Patsy
Kline Of New York, while Jimmy John.
ston says Joe Coster will come back ant
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