The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-24
Nj YEA CHOSEN AS
KING OF HEAv|ES
Australian Writer Figures That
Hc Biological Successor
of Johnson.
RETAINS HIS TITLE
Friends Of Michigan Wildcat Will
Await His Recovery, ana
Then Decide.

What becomes of pugilistic champ
ionship when the holder Of /, rctires
Voluntarily. or through accident or
i'll hcaIth2
THIS question has been UP for dig
cussion a good many times recently,
mainly through Jack Johnson.s aban-
nohmont OF prize ring pursuits and
Al. WolSasts attack on appendicitis.
some authorities claim tina In any OF
TIC cases cited. the title reyerts to the
previous holder. II the argument is
valid and Woigast's operation means
PcfHianent diss Element. Battling Mel
aon would be Justified In usurping the
lightweight premiership. !
II is not believed for moment that
WoiSast Will be out of tile harness for
more than n few months. however. and
ior tbat innttcr even those who enter
tam grave doubts as to whether Ad.
VIII be able 10 defend his laureIs are
quite satisfied to SLEEVE further dis
cusston until they hear how Woigast
progresses. There Is time enough 10
cross a bridge when you come tout,
and there wtll be time enough 20 talk
OF the disposal of the lightweight
crown when IL definitely appears that
"oisaat mas no further use for IT.
Sun ConJcctuHng.
- "oiihSoSi CdSC IL Is different.
Jack Keeps saying that he is ou, of
the game for good and there is good
reason for wondering who viii be the
next to wear the heavyweight mantle.
II II should be decided tina, the man
who held the championship before
Johnson Is best entitled 10 II. the
average person would have to think
twice before deciding who really ts the
man.
Johnson was regarded as The champ
ION after he defeated Tommy Burns in
Australia. but. in the opinion OF Tho
minority, Burns never had a right 10
can himself champion OF the world.
icfrics undeniably was champion
when he retired. After he decided 10
hght Johnson, the "Boilermakcr' lei
~ be known that he still considered
himself the king OF the heavies. Ills
stand was upheld. too. by numbers of
cridcs, and when Jeffries entered the
rang at Reno he tried to persuade
..I that he was defending his old
umc utle rather than trying TO wrest
II from the negro.
as things went, 1t matters little what
JeHries thought OF It, What womb
puzzle us all to decide right now is
VINO should Johnson's title revert to.
ferries or Tommy Burns?
LUCKILY we do not have to decide
LOT ncther man Graves the distinction
1en,ies would not accept the champ
lonship II 1t We're handed to him on
solden salvcr, while Tommy Burns has
Income Tat and lame and is more In
tcrested in selling gents. furnishings
In his Calgary store than bothering
about prize ring complications.
But what Is to become OF the title?
esks some one
snn Meyea Champion.
= ine answer has been supplied by w.
r.. Corbett, the noted Australian box
ing critic, lie declares that Sam Nc
Yea is tho heavyweight champion OF
the world, and that he gained his title
through default on Johnson's part,
Here is Corbet"s argument:
If Jack Johnson really retired. the
worlds championship crown will go 10
sam McVea. II is decided by sport
ing law long since enacted that In the
circumstances which I shall presently
REFER TO. the title must pass as stat
ed. 49,
1T Is provided and allowed that. In