The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-12
MATTY BALDWIN SHOWS
 CHAMPIONSHIP GLASS
Life History of Massachusetts Boy Who Has Never Been Knocked Out.


 The greatest event in boxing circles is the winning of the heavyweight championship of the world. All other contests at other weights yield in i'm portance to this. But if we look for the second most important event, we will have to go down the scale through the light heavyweight, mid down to the lightweight ranks before we find it. There seems to be some |. thing in this contest among the little men which appeals to the popular idea Of sport more than similar contests at any other weight, except, as we have seen, in the very highest.
 Since the passing of Battling Nell son, there has been chaotic state of affairs in the lightweight division. Ad WOlgast, the present champion, is by far the most prominent figure. The supremacy which he has won, how struggle, and it is still contested by number of likely candidates
 ' Among this number, the most prom inent by reason of his past achieve ments and recent showing, is Matty Baldwin. The Charlestown, Mass, box CT has proved his right to be consid- cred a logical contender for light weight honors. He has had more box ing experience than the present cham pion, is fully as game, and can stand s,s great an amount of punishment. He has won the decision over such consistent performers as Owen Moran, and has tied in a twelve-round con- test with the champion himself.
 Matty's first public appearance was at smoke talk in South Boston, where he~boxed three rounds with a little fellow named Mills at the time local bantamweight champion. Mat ty did fairly we'll, but as he says, "I knew none of the fine points of the game, and only succeeded in stopping every thing fthat came my way with either my jaw or my nose. In fact, the only thing I had in my favor at that time was strength and my abil- ity. to stand punishment"
 While running the elevator, a boxer who had had one or two bouts used to come into the building where Mat ty worked. Hearing that he could box a little. Baldwin used to look at the fellow with pride, for he had seen his name in the paper, and concluded if he was good enough to have his name in print, he must be a wonder. friendly, and used to spar a little. One day, the blows were harder than us- ual, and finally Matty grew angry, pushed down the lever, and sent the elevator to the top floor. There the preliminary exercise was finished in strenuous fashion. There were re- peated rings on the bell, from people on the ground floor who wanted to go up in the elevator, but Matty was far too busy to mind little things like that. The rings kept coming faster and faster, however, so he decided he must finish the scrap which he did with a final hard blow that sent his down in the elevator, feeling, as he, ex- | nraQcaA if "Tikn Hhanninn '
 After that Baldwin was a local fa- vorite, and succeeded by making fre- quent excursions to the top floor in proving his supremacy over every of flee boy, or other member of the of- fee force who cared to contest that point.
 Matty's first real bout occurred shortly after this event. It was stag ed in a cellar, was ten-round bout, and was held under the auspices of a local boys club. The purse was $100, divided in the ratio of 40 per cent. to boxers. The managers share accord ing to the agreement was to go for rub-down and tape for the hands. The admission was fixed at the nominal price of ten cents. The referee throughout the contest smoked a T D pipe: Unlike other fighters, according to the stories, Matty did not give his purse to his mother, but used it to buy ice cream instead.
 Matty was sixteen years old when he made his first important match This was contest with a colored boy named Javis Javis was managed by the now-famous Sam Langford. Mat ty states that Langford came to him before the contest with advice, which he offered him, accompanied with his best wishes. The advice was that Matty for the two days prior to the fight should drink all the water he possibly could. Drink buckets and buckets" Langford said.
 Matty took the advice, not knowing that Langford was managing Javis, and gave him the advice hoping to in lure him. Nevertheless, in spite of this water cure, winch Baldwin fol- owed strictly to the letter, he won the fight, and knocked out his oppon- ent. Those at the ring said then that f he would be good and go home, they would have his name in the paDers