Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

- Vi .hHcilCd, VII ue-
>xHHA. fend his title from
...-.a..- the attack OF little
frankie Burns. the Jerseyite. without
doubt the classiest boy in the division
that the east has produced Of late
l know nothing Of Coulon from per-
sonal observation, but Burns IS no
stranger to me In the ring have seen
him box the best bantams Of New York
and vicinity. and he usually won by
clean margin. As to science and clever
ness. l can't figure where Coulon can
have anything on him; Burns is a very
fast and skillful boy. They tell me john
NY Is not alone handy with the gloves.
but is also very hard hitter. 1t may he
in punching he excels frankie, for tho
latter does not pack a dangerous wallop.
or at least not in those bouts have seen.
The stage setting for the piece de re-
sistance Of the week is u be Los An5e-
les. and the day and date Thursday, Feb
ruary -; the principals. Abe Attcll and
Johnny kilbane, and the featherweight
championship at stake.
l have been requested by dozens OF
fight followers to give my opinion as 10
the probable outcome Of this battle. Never
having had the pleasure of seeing kilbans
in action, this Is an exceedingly hard
proposition. I have all along regarded
Johnny as "knocker-out," q sort OF Ad
Wolgast. His win" from Joe Rivers
gave me that impression. In recent talk
tests fans who claim to know tell ms
kflbane is a very clever boy and a brainv
fighter, his style Of milling being adapted
to suit the occasion
1t is a hard fight to dope. One con-
testant is on the decline. there In no
question OF that. and the other a
conner" AS rule the latter class is
the one to string with, but this fight is
an exception. Attell il not the wonderful
kid he was two or three years ago. His
fight with Knockout Brown proved that
much. OF course, he was not i'm the best
of condition. but the old-time Attell need
ed only a hair cut and q shave to beat q
boy Of the Brown variety.
If Kilbane elects to mako II a test Of
cleverness Attell should win. No boy
of his weight can, to my mind. beat the
champion at that style of game. II Will
take a strong. hard-hitting. aggressive
fighter to wear Abe down-one who will
give him no time to rest up and who will
be boring in every second. Attell has
got to the stage where he can't stand
much of the rough work, and Kilbane's
cue is to fight on that line throughout.
But It must he borne in mind that the
champion is not '.all in by any means.
devoting himself to the right sort OF
work for this bout will bring to the ring
a pretty good sample OF the champion
at his best. Abe has been such an In
consistent performer, and in recent years
shown such startling reversals Of form
on divers occasions, that II Is not safe to
predict that no is through" for he's
liable to spring surprise party at any
time.
Were / behind Kilbane he would light
nn fha a QRreSSiTa from fine NJ the
bell. To stand of and try to outlook At
tell would be making the latter a present
of the contest. Abe is veteran who
knows every in and out OF the game. To
beat him Kilbane will hayc to bring
into play his natural advantages Of youth
and strength, and fight every inch of the
way. II he can weather the storm OF
Abe's punches for few rounds and has
time he has an excellent chance OF being
returned fcatherweight champion.
The managers OF the Fmpire Club OF
New York city claim to have signed Bonn
barber Wells. the English champion. to
box Carl Morris at their club the latter
part Of March. Tom ORourkc, Al Pal
GERS mentor. poohpoohs the suggestion
that any other fighter Is TO have nrst
chance at the Briton.
I am informed that Eddie Graney. Jim
Coffroth's rival, has cabied Wells a propo-
sition to box Palzer in San Francisco the
Fourth Of July. Graney has obtained
o. Rourke's consent for PalZer. The oner
to the Bombardier includes training and
expenses and big slice or
purse.
Just which Yankee "hope" lands MI.
Wells time alone will tell In the mean
time. a match between Morris and Pal
ger would interest the public a great deal
more. Both men appear anxious to pox,
and it is UP to their managers to come TO
an understanding. Time enough Tor Inc
English champion later on.
Tom Kennedy also wants a crack at
Morris. In Il manly letter to the public
Tom admits defeat in the recent bout
with the Oklaf1oman, but contends he
was not In the best Of shape and urges a
return match. Tom argues that inasmuch
as he was awarded popular decision
over Palzer IN their las, meeting. and
that the latter is regarded white
hope possibility. 4: would appear that
he (kennedy) must figure somewhere In
the shuttle.
I for one would like Ia see Kennedy
tackle Morris again. Tom surely DID rot
whatever the reason. As ] said then. he
had apparently forgotten everything he
knew, and his sorry exhibition was G.s-
tinct shock to his friends ana admirers.
footwork that evening he i.roha bly, would
have beaten the big ;eilnw don kno .
what Ike matter aith Tom. b::. ae
certainly did not run to Term.
The sudden death OF Gus Puhl,n,
Known in his Gays of activity in the
squared circle as the Akron giant"
was a distinct shock to sporting msn
everywhere. Gus was always a credit
to the profession: an honest and capable
fighter. who always kept faith with him.
self and the public. 1t has been said
that he fell short, Of the championship
standard. but 1t must be remembered he
was cotemporary with such great ex-
ponents Of pugilism as Jeffries Tin his
prince. Fftzsimmons, Sharkeys Kid Nc
Coy and Peter Maher, and to have rank
Cd wall up among men Of this class pays
tribute to hiS skill. His many admirable
Qualetias - = man and the record Of his