Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-11
BY TOM S. ANDREWS.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. December IL
What Is the matter with all the cham
pion boxers of late? Are they more
subject to the ills. especially appendi-
citis, than the ordinary boxer. or does IT
just happen to be coincidence that sew
eral of them are laid up at about the
same time?
Ad Wolgast, the lightweight champion
of the world, is not the only champion
who has the heightened complaint. While
AID is recuperating at Los Angeles
Sammy Kellar, who lays claim to the
title in England, is also recovering from
appendicitis in London. having been oper-
ated on just on the eve of his battle with
Sid Smith for the championship. The
French champion. Marcel Moreau. was
also threatened with the same complaint.
and it is not long since that Dave Smith.
the Australian champion, was operated
on, also Les O'Donnell, the crack mid
dleweight of the antipodes. Jack Red
nond. the Milwaukee lightweight. was a
bit cut w. hut has fully recovered.
1t has been fortunate for most OF the
boxers. however, that they have been IN
good physical condition at the time OF
being stricken down. and that has helped
wonderfully to pull them through safely.
And still some of the timid ones say
boxing is not a good. healthy exercise.
On top Of Ad Wolgast's illness comes a
report from England that Matt Wells, the
British lightweight champion, has been
taken to the hospital for an operation
and that it will be three months before
he will be able to box again. This vii
interfere with the plans of the New fork
promoters, who had hoped to bring the
British champion and Wolgast together
in ten-round contest. Terms had prac-
TO- hoo
arranged to come back to the states with
his manager, George Mcdonald, in three
weeks time, but Wolgast's sudden illness
stopped all proceedings. and right on the
heels of the champions trouble comes the
Jinx after Matt. This will leave the field
clear for a time for Packey Mcfarland
and Freddy Welsh. which is again a pc
culiar incident, Welsh being the next
man in England to Wells. while McF'ar-
land is considered next to Wolgast here
| by the fans.
A great deal has been said and written
about the failure Of both Freddy Welsh
and Packey Mcfarland to qualify as real
contenders. for the crown of Champion
Wolgast. 1t is said that Mcfarland has
| no punch and that Welsh cannot hit hard
enough to even put dent into WolgaSts
skin. 1t is true that Freddy failed 10
stop Willie Richie, the San Francisco
boy, inside the twenty rounds, but it may
not be generally known that Welsh took
| on Richie at catchweights and that the
Frisco boy weighed just eight pounds more
than the EngliShman. or, in other words.
scaled at 141 against 1873 for Welsh
Richie was in the best of shape, having
trained for several weeks with McFar-
land and others, SO that it was no novice
against the clever Freddy, nor an un-
trained youth. At that Welsh stood toe to
toe with Richie at times and slugged
something he seldom does in a contest,
but at the end he had big margin over
Richie. according to the Los Angeles pa
pers at hand. The fact that both Tom
McCarey and Jimmy Coffroth want Welsh
for a big attraction proves that he must
have made a good showing. Against VOL
CAST the Englishman would have had a
harder hitter to face. it is true. but Their
the chances are that Freddy would have
adopted different tactics, too.
AS for Mcfarland not putting Harlem
Tommy Murphy away, it might be men
ioned that AID Wolgast battered away Al
ed to knock him off his feet for the coun
| Of ten. Nelson was not clever blocker
| like Murphy, so there should be no grea
surprise because Packy failed to stop hin
| inside the twenty rounds. What II Knock
out Brown did stop Murphy in on,
| round, or rather one minute. Brown wa,
credited with having the best OF AID VOL
| CAST in two ten-rOund bouts. but no on,
believes that he would stand chanc'
| against the champion in long contest
| 1t is different to get full force blow to
clever man like Murphy than to bate
some boxer who has no skill and doe
not know how to block or keep out o
distance. Mcfarland can hit all right
but doubt whether he will ever be abb
| to be at his best when making 1873 pounds
at 3 or O'Clock. Packy has the class al
right and showed it against Murphy, ever
i though he failed to knock him out.
With all the mix-upS among the light
NJ re ha nr1acfinY InnQrnonCf
minds of the fans is whether Wolgas
| will be himself when ne RECEIVERS from TIL
effects of the operation. 1t will be a
least six months before he can get int
the ring again in any kind OF shape, anc
it may be longer: it all depends upon thu
results or after effects of the cutting. AC
will retain the championship just the
same. as any champion has six months
grace before taking up the defense Of hi:
title, according to boxing rules. and the