Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-21
BY 7. s. ANDREWS.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, May 21.-The re-
turn to this country of Cyclone Johnny
Thompson from Australia has started
anew the controversy over the middle
weight question. Since the death of
Stanley Ketchel the title has been
claimed by a dozen different middle
weights, and even now there is no rec
ognized holder Of the American cham
pionship. Billy Papke was the man
credited with being the successor of
Ketchel. but his showing in Australia and
his subsequent defeat by Johnny Thomp-
son put him out of the running. Papke
is really the champion of Great Britain,
having defeated Jim Sullivan for the title
in battle a year ago. but not at the
American weight limit When Johnny
Thompson met and defeated Papke in
Australia he made the legitimate middle
weight limit 15S pounds ringside, while
Papke was overweight. Therefore Thomp-
son has a right to lay claim to the title
Later Johnny was given the worst of a
ten-round newspaper decision in New
York against Frank Klaus, but as there
was no decision permitted, it could not
be considered in the nature of a cham
pionship fight and should not be so con-
strued. Klaus simply took advantage of
the situation, but he refused to meet
Thompson in long fight at New Or
leans. Thompson thereupon went TO AUS
tralia for the summer season and had
four battles, all of them against men
much heavier than himself, men who
were really heavyweights. Now he is
back and wants to meet any middle
weight in the country for the title at
the middleweight limit of Us pounds,
either ringside or at , o'clock, as he IA
vors the O'Clock weighing.
Eddie McGoorty is the one boy who
has a strong claim to the championship,
stronger than Klaus, and a bout between
Thompson and McGoorty would go
long way toward settling the dispute as
TO who is champion. Buck Grouse, Leo
Houck, Jack Dillon and Bob Moha have
right to be considered, too. and when
Jimmy Clabby returns he will no doubt
give up the welterweight class and go
into the middle, which will add one
more contender for the crown. However.
ten-round bouts are not the kind of con-
tests to settle championships. and if
there is to be an American middleweight
champion, one who will be recognized as
such. let the fighters sign up for twenty
round battles. and then We can have de-
clSlve results and not newspaper deci-
sonS which are very unsatisfactory AT
best. Let McGoorty. Klaus and Thomp-
son fight it out between themselves. and
have the winner declared American cham
of the challengers, such as have been
named above. Then we can send a real
champion over to France and England to
battle for the worlds title, but at pres
ent we have no right to claim the worlds
middleweight championship.
Don't be surprised if Hugh Mcintosh,
the Australian promoter, comes to the
states and gets into the boxing game in
New York." remarked Cyclone Johnny
Thompson on his arrival here the other
day from the antipodeS. Il had a long
talk with Mr.. Mcintosh just before l left
for home,' continued Johnny, and judg-
ing from his converse ton he has been
New York city writing him to come over
and open up big club. These men
hardly know him except from reputa
ton. but they seem to feel that he would
be a big help to the game there. the
same as he was in London and France.
Mr.. Mcintosh told me that he did not
want to butt into the other mans game,
but that if these gentlemen really meant
business and wanted him to join in the
game, why he might take a fiier, and
that lie he did he would not think of
handling anything but the biggest match
es in sight. l would really like to see
him come over. for he is a fine fellow
and would not hesitate to take a chance
in staging a big match. He has the
nerve and that is what counts. / want
to say, too, that / was never treated
fairer by promoter in all my experience
in the game. / offered to let Mcintosh
break my contract and go home as there
were not men of my class for me TO meet,
but he did not do it,
"He paid me my full guarantee and lost
over 81 600 on my contract. and then told
me l could return home without filing in
the last of the matches. He did it like
man, and then wished me success at
home, which is. more than / have had
from many here. He also offered me
another contract for next season, and IL
possible 1 will go back. for l like the
and the trip. My entire family
was with me, and all of them enjoyed it.
Langford and McVea were thee big cards
over there also Jimmy Clabby. and they
all made big money. Jimmy was great
favorite, and they want him back again
next season, and I think Jeems wants to
return. He is certainly fighting like a
champion and will soon be in the middle
weight class. The clean-break rules were
bad for me, as all my fighting is usually
done in the clinches or at close range,
while Clabby was at home under those
rules, being clever either at long or close
range. You can say for me that ] am
here again to defend the middleweight
title, as / certainly won il when / beat
Papke, and any one can get a match
with me over the twenty-round route for
the championship l will not sidestep