Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-09
TOMMY ANDREWS REVIEWS THE
McGOORTY-G GIBBONS SCRAP
Claims Eddie Should Have Had Decision
Over Mike, Although the Mix
Up Was Unsatisfactory.

der the circumstances it might be a good
thing for the game if the limit were rails
ed and made to conform with the light
weight limit in other countries, which is
1875 pounds An effort has been made for
the past ten years to have a uniform
scale Of weights adopted by the various
countries, but without success. Now 1t
may be brought about by the new cham
limit to suit his own fancy it will mean
that it will go to where the British and
French weights are already placed. also
the Australian. And this fact brings to
mind another issue-that OF worlds
champion. Wolgast has always claimed
the worlds title. but he really had no
honest claim to it. Looking at this mat
ter in broad light. Freddy Welsh. the
new British champion, has equal claims
to the worlds title. Wolgast never de-
for the worlds title. nor for that matter
did Battling Nelson, so that Richie can
only be considered American champion.
Should Richie want to tilt the weight
it would meet the approval of the Brit
ish. French and Australian boxing
critics, for that is just where they stand
on it now. Practically all the promoters
in the states are against ringside weigh
ing, and If the limit is changed it would
be a good idea at the same time to
change the weighing time from ringside
to or o'clock the day Of the contest.
If this were done it would bring about q
uniform weight for the lightweight class,
at least.
Following the defeat of AID Wolgast by
Willie Richie come challenges from all
sides to the new champion, and the pro-
mOterS are breaking their necks trying
to get some of the choice matches in
sight. The best match of the whole lot
seems to have been passed by in the ex-
element, and that is between Joe Rivers
and Wolgast. The fans do not forget the
remarkable fight between Rivers and
Wogast when the latter won on an al
legged foul or knockout, and the fact that
Rivers defeated Joe Mandot, who was
considered next in line to WOlgast, would
make the Rivers-WOlgast fight almost as
interesting as one between the champion
and Rivers. 1t would set at rest the
claims by the two men, in their former
battle. and would bring the winner into
the limeight for another championship
contest with Richie. 1t is not likely that
Richie will give Wolgast another chance
at the title for some time to come. as his
manager, Billy Nolan. is too wise for
that. He will make hay while the sun
shines. the same as he did when he
handled Battling Nelson. In the mean
Oring for matches with the new cham
pion among them Packey Mcfarland.
Jack Britton. Joe Mandot and Freddy
Welsh. Packey Mcfarland has done the
TiSnt tHlHS anu al Inc FlSut tlilc ny
coming out in a signed statement to the
effect that he considers Richie the best
boy in the country today at 1873 pounds.
which he has demonstrated he can make
Packey also states that in his opinion
Richie had Wolgast beaten when the
foul was committed. He now asks that
Richie agree to meet him at 1876 pounds
instead of 1873 ringsde. as the American
weight calls for. Britton would also like
to match up with Richie on the same
terms.
1t is evident from reports abroad that
Frank Klaus, the Pittsburgh middle
weight, has not been anxious for matches
the past few months. According to re-
ports received here the Pirate boxer has
been offered good matches, but for some
unknown reason has declined them. Per-
haps the money is not large enough, but
there must be something besides that. for
ting more money than they could pos
sibly get for similar bouts In America.
Papke has gone to London In an effort
to land match with Bombardier Wells.
the British champion, for he realizes that
it will draw big money, but Wells is not
very anxious for a match there just now,
as he believes he can get more money In
New York with one of the American
Papke and Klaus were
Leon See in Paris, but they declined it. |
asking for $4,000 That is why Papke
was matched with Barnard, the French
Now Klaus is trying to
beat Papke to a match with Wells over
the ten-round route, but there is not much !
chance of it going through at present. |
Another match between the middle