The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-26
HEWANTSTOFIGHT
Abe Atten Whines About Deci-
sion and Asks Chance
Kilbane Says He viii Not Fight
Before Labor Day.

Los Angeles. Cal. Feb. 26.-Abe At
tell. the dethroned featherweight
champion is setting in motion his
campaign for a return match with
Johnny Kilbane, who stripped him OF
the championship at Vernon on
Washington's birthday In order to
induce the Cleveland wizard to give
him chance to reclaim his title, At
tell offers an aggregate of S25,0OO in
side BETS and says he is going to camp
on Kilbsne's trail until he gets the re-
turn match CT dies of old age in the
effort.
Abe naturally regards the referees
decision as unfair, and claims the
worst he should have had was draw
lie argues the fight was too close for
an Cnfavorable decision to the cham
pion.
I want return match. and am en-
t.-ieG to it." said the former champion
featherwcsght. Il gave Kilbane a $e-
turn match and lost my title to him.
Common fairness cOmpels him to give
me first call. A Fourth of July match
between us would break all records in
attendance
Il viii bet him $1,000 on the side if
he wants it, and Jim Jerr1es and Ad
Wolgast will bet $4,000 each. If he
is q champion iii fact, a return match
with me would net him a fortune
Jim Jeffries believes Referee Eyton's
decision was fair one, but he be-
Heves Atten did not fight his real bat
tie. He is willing to bet $4,000 that
Abe would whip Kilbane in return
match
WoIgast Sore over Losses.
Ad WoIgast, the heaviest loser on
Attell criticises the decision and says
Abe should have been given the YER
dict At the same time he says tina I
1t was the poorest championship hght
he ever saw and that he knows Attell
can do much better, and is willing to
bet $4,000 that Abe would win re-
turn match.
Kilbane put in the day after the
fight resting at Venice and planning
for the future. He is not disposed to
put on the gloves again before Labor
i.Atteu looks like any other chal-
lenser to me- said I<ilbane- L will
fight him again if satisfactory terms
can be made and a club will offer
ssAs far as that S25, 600 bet is con
cerned. I think it will be snapped up
IN short order by my Cleveland friends
If Atten and I meet again
Il have gone through the ellmlna-
ton series and whipped the champion
I feel that I should be permitted to
take rest and gather some OF the
championship money before being
forced into the ring again to defend
the title. That is my present plan
Afterward I will talk business with
any featherweight in the world
The Losers Are Wondering.
1.-The cold gray dawn OF the morning
after found the Los Angeles sporting
world with an aching head. The men
who used their hank rolls to eat up
every dollar Of Kilbane support, giving
as much as 10 to on Able Attell to
rout the Cleveland colt, we're reaching
for the bromo settler and shouting for
cracked ice
Not since Billy Papke, a repudiated
short-ender Knocked out the then
middleweight champion, Stanley
Ketchel, in this same vernon ring mas
the public been given such jolt or
surprise. 49,
told you So thing to the limit A few
of Atteu's hackers admit that they
should have known better, but the
majority of them are still palming
their hot foreh eads and wondering
how it all happened.
Referee Eyton's decision met with
the universal approval of the public.
Kilbane beat Atteu to every trick
known to the profession. He was the
veterans master from the opening bell
until the sixtfeth second of the final
round.
Abe shows No Gameness-
AtteH awoke with an lex after his
name and bad, very bad taste in ms
mouth In defeat the former title
holder does not put UP the game front
that would be expected from a man
who. in his time. has whipped an army
AtteH makes the bad break of att
lacking Eyton's decision. He is quot
ed to the effect that he was robbed
and also that he was bullied into ac-
cepting Eyton as referee Neither
statement will receive consideration
The patient is doing as we'll as
could be expected" was Manager jim
nv Dunn's laughing statement as he
brought Johnny kilbane. the new
worlds featherweight champion, down
to the Spring street headquarters OF
the Pacific Athletic club
Kilbane. flooded with theatrical Of
vearied from having his two hands
shaken by enthusiastic admirers, bears
the honors modestly, and the Cleve-
land champion is going to be one OF
the most popular titleholders that ever
reigned.
Kilbane's right eye shows a bad cut
where he was butted by Attell's head.
and his left optic is blackened as the
result of a legitimate blow. These are
the only marks of battle in evidence
q OF r TEAM ON LAST TRIP.