The Detroit times., 1912-02-21
Cleveland Writer Thinks That
Age Will Have Told Its
Tale on Able
KILBANE WILL BE STRONG
Question in Tomorrow's Bout Is,
Can Johnny Equal
Abe's Wits?
BY ]. p. oARvEY.

pions must come and champions must
go. Consistent with this order OF
things, one is coming and one IL
going tomorrow, when the two great
est featherweights in the world meet
IN the historic fistic arena al Vernon
Cal. Abe Attell, while noble little
performer and the best OF his time,
cannot go on forever. No champion
ever was able to, and the peerless
Hebrew, his wonderful accomplish
Ments Notwithstanding, cannot be ex-
pected TO upset the precedent Set by
the physical makeup OF man. Like
he rest OF the lighting leaders CT
various decades, he must bow 10 the
inevitable.
Abe Attell, next Tuesday, will be
20 years old. He must combat a6e
AS well as the splendid assault OF the
Youth from Cleveland. Can he sue
cessfully cope with both? III he can
and does, the boxing fraternity must
again admit the genius OF the veteran.
AZ Il has been forced TO do SO many
times In the past, and accept his mas
terry as a thing unassailable, Tor an
other long period OF months, or until
the further advance OF time makes
nroads upon his strength For II AT
tell defeats kilbane he must indeed
have his head about him and he must
call upon the last ounce OF general
ship and ring craft that II years OF
experience have given him. There
fore, II Abe wins, IL will be because
lie is the better scientist, using his
art rather than his strength, TO gain
him the victory.
That is the whole problem in this
contest--the doubt as TO Alters phys
ical powers, whether they have SUI
fered by the march of time and the
uncertainty that Kilbane's artistry
will be a match for the cleverness Oh
the Hebrew champion. Attel, as we
know, has led the featherweigats LOT
-the-past eight years. He ID conslu-
cred supreme in his class and his aDil'
ity TO meet and defeat men OF an
sizes up TO 1875 pounds further gives
him favor with the sporting pubic
On the other hand, Kilbane has yet
10 prove mis- ability. OF course his
Cleveland followers know his capabil
inv. but the country at large does not.
His knowledge of boxing and It's III
rricacies is only three years and
half old. Whether or not he has al
vanced sufficiently in that time In the
science OF the game to warrant a po-
sition alongside Attell, is open 10
question.
Kilbane has climbed rapidly He
has been an apt student And he mas
applied himself diligently to the TASK
OF learning all the ins and outs or box
ing from the simple left jab up to the
faculty Of figuring the Weaknesses OF
an opponent. Nature supplied him
with an abundance or talent. He has
always been fast OF foot, quick 10
think and quick to act. Careful STUDY
has taught him how 20 hit how 20 pro-
tect himself, how and where TO use
his speed. Johnny is undeniably
finished all-around boxer, whose heart
is Young. But will his craft be equal
10 the craft OF Attell?
That's where the battle will be
fought in--in the respective brains OF
KIlbane and Attell. The brain OF the
latter carries all the tricks OF the
game. More than decade OF expert
ence has rendered him expert in YER
satility. IL one style fails, II the open
ing he wants Kilbane TO fall fnto does
not present itself, Abe will try for a
different kind OF an opening. KilbaDe
Will be doing his own bluffing, WILDE
playing for his own favorite punch.
Ii will be battle of'strategy. In every
round, with the champion and the as
pirant, each devoting his concentrated
attention TO outguessing the other.
One little slip, one triAiRg -miscafeafa"
ton. and bingo.--over goes the punch
that may mean defeat for one or the
other. And yet each has to chance
just such contingency.
The writer believes Kilbane will
win this magnificent battle OF wits.
There has not been a featherweight
like him In recent years. IL he cannot
beat Abe Attell there Is no other boy
.Ln the universe who can do 1t. Kill
bane, think, is every bit as clever OF
brain and OF body as Abe. He Is
stronger, faster, and younger. Attell
has the self-assurance, but II is doubt
full II he has the strength he once had.
Even II he were as strong, / think
Kilbane would be q match for him.