Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03
By 7. S. Andrews.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF Inc stat
MILWAUKEE, September l. 1911.
Has AID Wolsast the recognized Ameri-
can lightweight champion, a legitimate
claim TO the worlds lightweight cham
pionship?
The above question was put to me
few DAYS ago in a letter received from
a we'll known sporting man of San Fran
cisco. In his letter the gentleman in
question said, DO YOU consider Wolgast
the champion of the world? II SO. please
give your reasons. My understanding Is
that a worlds champion must defeat the
challengers in his class of all countries
The question is one that will naturally
create a great deal of discussion, and the
general impression among boxing fans
would no doubt be that Wolgast Is the
worlds champion, because he defeated
Battling Nelson. who previously held
that title. However, when you get right
down to cold facts, Wolgast cannot be
credited with holding the worlds title.
for the reason that he has not defeated
| the champion of Great Britain. who
gained his title since Battling Nelson was
at the head of the list.
Freddy Welsh was conceded the cham
pionship Of Great Britain a year or so
the title by Matt Wells This naturally
brought a champion into the field
as far as Great Britain was concerned
and until Wolgast defeats the recognized
champion of that country. he cannot well
| claim the championship of the world
America is big country and has taken
the lead in boxing affairs which was
formerly held by England. but that is
no reason why man of this country
just because he happens to hold the title
mere. should be considered q ,,h a nj ion
of the world. Not only should a boxer
In order TO mold a worlds championship
win over the champion of Great Britain
pat also defeat the best lightweight that
Australia can produce, and also France
Tor those countries are certainly entitled
10 recognition from a boxing standpoint.
While France has no lightweight at the
present time to be compared to either
England or America, still the time is COM
ing when that country will have rep
resentative worthy of recognition. Aus
tralia has very fine lightweight in
contest with the representative Of either
England or America, should he desire
TO put forth his claim. OF course IL is a
hard matter for a champion to meet all
chailengers. especially when they are 50
far from the country in which he hap
pens to be- and 1t Is only fair to the
champion that these same challengers
should be compelled to go to the country
where the title Is held. and throw down
the gauntlet in the proper form.
No one viii deny that AID Wolgast is
considered the best lightweight in the
world at this time, but that is no reason
why he should not recognize the legti-
mate champion of any other country and
give him a Battle il he goes about 1t in
the right way. Wolgast met Owen Moran
of England in battle advertised as
worlds championship affair but 1t could
not be classed such for the reason
hat ia i kn.lI 81 11x
ship of Great Britain, and therefore could
not contest for the title. Neither could
Freddy Welsh, another English boxer
who has been after Wolgast. The only
legitimate claimant at the present time
To worlds championship match with
Wolgast is Matt Wells OF England, and
he has as much right TO style himself a
worlds champion as Wolgast, although
the boxing public would not recognize him
10 the same extent as Wolgast, for the
reason that the latter deciSively defeated
Battling Nelson. who was recognized as
a worlds title holder. Matt Wells is in
this country at the present time trying
To get on match with Wolgast for the
title. and he should be given the prefer
encc over all others by Wolgast, for then
il he should defeat the British cham
pion he would have a legitimate claim
TO the worlds title. Ii is contest that
VIII attract 4 great deal of attention
and II the little fellow wants to have a
real claim TO the worlds title he had bet
ter arrange match with the Britisher
and settle the dispute in the proper way.
The same applies to the middleweight
situation, whereby Billy Papke and
Johnny Thompson both claimed the title
If il was not for the fact that Papke
had lost decision to Johnny Thompson
he would have a very good claim to the
worlds championship. as he defeated
the champions of both England and Aus
tralia. 1t is up to Papke. however, to
wipe out the Thompson defeat and then
tackle Frank Klaus. who is claimant
to the American title.
The story sent out from England a fauy