The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-04
He FEARS a FOUL
But Wolgast Talks Loudly Of
'Busting" a PhenOm.
Believes Mexican Thinks He Is
Weak From Operation.

Los Angeles. July 4.-sSarbed in the
old clothes which have borne the
brunt of his training siege in noun
tain and valley, Ad Wolgast. champion
of the worlds light weigh pugilist
division, spent the morning hours to-
day at ease in his training camp with
in sight of the big Vernon arena,
where nearly 2,O00 men struggled
for the privilege of seeing him defend
his title this afternoon against Joe
Rivers the young Los angeles Mexi-
can Rivers, a faint pink showing un-
der his Swarthy- com Dtexion' and his
eyes aglow with anticipation, remain
ed at his quarters at Venice until an
hour before the gong Nas scheduled
to sound shortly after O'Clock this
afternoon. If he won. he said, he
would be the first of tae Latin race
to achieve the championship status in
pugilism and he fully appreciated the
distinction.
The formaIity of welghing-in was
delayed until the little fighting men
arrived at the arena, after the last
preliminary.
Each one came in big automobile
crowded with seconds. pailholders.
towel swingers, advisers. official and
volunteer, and other camp followers.
Wolgast was examined this morning
by several physicians and surgeons, all
of whom stated that the wound made
in his groin when he was operated
upon last September would cause no
trouble today. The champion, how
ever, said he expected Rivers to play
for this supposedly weak spot and
told Referee Jack Welch of San Fran
CISCO to watch the Mexican closely
and see that he did not hit foul in his
anxiety to reach the tender spot"
WoIgast Sees "Busted Phenom."
This is the first fight of any con-
sequence" said Wolgast, Il have had
since the night 1 went to the hospital
the night before the sche@~led battle
with Freddie Welch last September
This Mexican would not have dared TO
fight me if it was not for the fact that
he believed the operation weakened
me- But I want to say now that this
fight won't go twelve rounds and that
they will take this young 'greaser, out
of the ring a busted phenomenon.
Many others evidently held the
same belief as the odds shortly before
ring time were still quoted at 10 to 8.
Today's battle is the first Rivers has
fought in the lightweight division. A
few months ago he milled twice with
the spidery Johnny Kilbane, the
featherweight timeholder, at less than
122 pounds. But today his shoulders
are as broad as teamster's; his arms
comparable to a blaeksmiths and he
weighed only five ounces less than the
lightweight limit short time after
breakfast.
The championship battle in prospect
brought out of Los Angeles an army of
men, Eight thousand SO 'Seats-the
bargain counter division of the arena
were thrown on sale at 10:30 o'clock
and If Wolgast had been so minded he
could have seen himself and Rivers
multiplied a thousand fold in the strug-
Cling tf1rong, milling and fighting to get
up to the ticket sellers. Long before
the hour of 10, the throngs of Fourth CT
July excitement seekers began to gather
before the fight barn and they made Il
charge of the ticket booths as soon as
Promoter Tom McCarey's men made
their appearance. All of Vernon's po-
lice were required to hold them in
check It was estimated that Nc
Carey had gathered in more than
$50, 900 before the first preliminary boys
entered the ring at 1:30 o'clock.
Sportsmen of prominence Srom I'll