Norwich bulletin., 1912-08-10
JOHNNY KILBANE AFRAID
 TO MEET REAL CLASS.
Featherweieht Champion Looking for
 Short Bouts with Mediocre Men.

Johnny Ikilbane has given the sport ing world many a laugh since he ac- quired the featherweight title. but his challenge to Ad Wolgast is certainly the funniest thing the Cleveland Streak has ever put over, according to c. F. Eyton.
 Johnny probably has made himself the most unpopular boy that ever held a championship principally through his unwillingness to risk his laurels against a man of merit.
 He will box any boy of mediocre ability six or ten rounds in any kind of weather, but when a man of class tries to land him he claims tits too hot" or that fellow weighs too much"
 Personally he is a little gentleman, a clean living, good hammered youth. and, judging him from this angle. admire him greatly and believe him to be a credit to the boxing game.
 But judging him as a worlds cham pion, which is impersonal, he is the worst kind of a frost. not because he hasn't the talent, as he is one of the most scientific boxers we have ever had, but because he is afraid to take an honest chance. and this fact ex- plains his unpopularity.
 The patrons of boxing demand that a champion, when he is in good health defend his title occasionally, and this Kilbane refuses to do.
 Johnny makes excuse after excuse until the public has come to think that Kilbane obtained his title only by being lucky enough to catch At tell out of condition, and at a time when Abe believed he had a tapioca.
 The Cleveland lads actions have led most people to believe that they will see Attell growing a long gray beard before he gets a return match.
 Promoter McCarey has kept the wires hot lately trying to get Xiii bane to agree to meet either Attell or Harry Thomas, but without effect.
 Suddenly Kilbane breaks into print with a challenge to Wolgast. Now why does Johnny want to meet a boy out of his class when he refuses to prove that he is the peer of all the 1922 pounders?
 It is because Kilbane realizes thac the wonderful little Dutchman is a very sick boy, and that If he could coax him into a match in his present miserable condition he might outpoint hm, under practically the same con- ditions that he outDointed Attell, and gain lot of additional cash and glory.
 Should Ad win it would not agect Johnny's precious title and he could escape by saying that lightweight had beaten him. If Johnny is spoil ing for match with some 139-pound boy where he would not have to risk his championship he can talk bust ness with either Rivers, Mandot or Ritchie.
 Any one of these boys would accom- modate the featherweight, but John ny realizes that they are in the best of health, hence his challenge reads Wolgast only.
 l recall immediately after his fuke win over Rivers when Johnny posi- lively refused to box Joe again unless the latter made 122 pounds for him, The Mexican offered all kinds of in ducements, but without effect. You couldn't pull Kilbane into the ring with Rivers again with a team of mules.
 If Johnny wants to prove his right to call himself champion let him meet Harry Thomas who is just spelling for a chance with him at the feather weight limit.
 Let Johnny show himself master of the 122-pound field before he tries to break into the class above him.