The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-05-04
coReETT THINKS woIoAsT WILL
BEAT RIVERS.
former heavyweight Champion Com
ments On n Two Biggest Fights
Staged for Summer.
BY JAMES J.. coR1ETT,
Former HesVyweisht Champion Of the
World.

"Orio.
We've got TO hand il TO lack Curley
the enterprising young man employed
in promoting the Johnson-Flynn
match. He is entitled TO a blue rib
bon for that stick-to-itiveness that re-
fuses 10 admit defeat. no matter how
rough the going. The fight now looks
like a sure thing for the Fourth of
July. and Los Vegas is the town that
lands the prize 60 championship con
test of recent years.
In the face ~ the hardest knocks a
proposition of the sort ever
ed, Curley proceeded on the even
tenor OF his way. and. with the aid OF
a friendly Legislature has at last To-
Gated a site for the fracas. Apparently
all distractions have been removed
and Jack has nothing to do until to-
morrow to quote the eminent T.
Aloysius Dorgan. except to slip the
sum OF thirty and some few odd thou
sand bones into the massive mitt OF
the champion. For Il Is TO be pre-
sumed hat Johnson will insist upon
the cash in advance. as is his preroga-
tive under the agreement.
| have enjoyed Jack Curley's friend
ship for some time and am one OF
the greatest admirers Of his genius
for successful promotion of athletic
affairs. and am also an adherent of
the Pueblo scrapper. Jim Flynn. in
whom | recognize an earnest. " ing
and powerful, II no clever. exponent
of professional pugilism. Needless 20
say. il would afford me much pleasure
TO boost" the proposed exhibition TO
80. F,11 .~e.-s vh.N 49, -,,a.av aHa-v
as a contributor 20 boxing literature
would permit could ! see in the affair
any thing that looked like a good
sporting proposition. As il is. the
match to me looks as uneven and
unequal as could be figured with the
aid OF a dope book.
Johnson and Flynn met once be
fore. and the contest was only an
exercise gallop for the smoke. The
disparity in the skill Of the men was
plainly patent. sam Langford has
twice placed the Pueblo mar hors de
combat within the last two or three
years: Al Kaufman has the credit OF
a *. o." as we'll as defeat in two bat.
ties with Johnson's challenger. In
answer TO all this Curley asserts
Flynn Is a much improved man. and
that the champion has greatly deteri-
GRATED during two years Of idleness.
Jack could not very we'll say any
thing to the contrary in view Of the
fact that he Is financing the match
and is Flynn's manager. He will
have a hard time bringing patrons Of
the sport 10 his way OF thinking.
Should Johnson he licked. the pic
lures would prove a gold mine. but
the other way about the promoter
facse a deficit OF vast proportions
But Curley is a good gambler and
willing 10 take the long chance.
Since Ad Wolgast signed 10 box Joe
Rivers he has been numerically
grilled by a dozen or more rivals.
each Of whom advances claims as the
logical" contender for the title. The
fact remains. however. that very few
OF the -133-pounders expressed any
great desire 20 meet the champion
prior 20 the closing Of the Rivers
match.
! rather fancy the majority OF the
gang is we'll satisfied TO let Rivers be
the goat. Notwithstanding an the
buster and even though Ad r. n
doubtful quantity To- the eyes OF many
experts since his sick spell Recent.
Iy had q chat with a well known spe.
ciaIist BOO regard 20 the Woigast mat
ter. and in answer 20 my query about
The after effect an operation Tor ap-
pendicitis would have. he replied that
the champions youth and unusually
rugged constitution would stand him
IN rooI stead. hut that 49, a rule tho
entire system Of a patient experience
n shock that is dIHrult fo overcome
On 'fo record ~ Tho matched pair
there '- nothing fo suggest anything
but ar rs-r uIr for W0IEtaf Sf'I