New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12
K|LBANE LAUDS RIVERS
Believes Mexican Lightweight
will Defeat WoIgaSt.
BOUT is SET FOR JULY 4
Featherweight Champion Says
He Will Quit Ring if He Ever
Loses the Title.

John +. Kilbane, of Cleveland, uniVer-
sally known as Johnny Kibano, feather
weight champion Of the world, will make
his first appearance IN New York when he
enters the ring of the st. Nicholas Ath-
letic Club on "Wednesday night TO defend
his title against tie OnslaushtS OF Frankie
Burns. the Jersey City fcathcrweisht rated
as one OF the fastest boys in the ring to-
Gay.
Interest in the battle runs high. for the
boxing fans arc eager 10 see the man who
50 dccsively defeated Abe Attell, whom
MANY thought was invincible and who
either could not or would not see the I'M
mistakabe signs OF the champion going
back
Klbane is a modest. we'll hammered boy,
who has a good word for everybody. lie
speaks highly OF Attell's ability, and said
yesterday 10 a Tribune reporter that In his
opinion Attell could still beat almost any
man I'm the world
1t was of Jose Rivers, the sensational
little fighting machine OF Los Angeles, that
Kibane spoke most highly. He says that
Rivers is the greatest fighter he has ever
met and that he stands more than an even
chance of beating Wolgast when they meet
IN Los Angeles on July T.
You may take my word FOR st." said
Kilbane while he was being rubbed down
after hard workout, Rivers is a great
fighter lie is clever. stand-up fighter
who has two good hands and who can hit
from any position, and he can hit like a
trphammer. ! am the only man who over
went twenty rounds with Rivers, and at
the end he got the decision after the tough
Ct fight ever made.
If ! could make more money at some
thing else Id so at IT. l have had to work
hard all my life. and when throwing
switches in Cleveland at less than sl2
week had TO take care of my blind father.
III fight until l lose my title. and when J
lose III quit and let the young men fight
for it, That is how won IT, and how
want TO lose it,"
We will rest on our rights said Char
ley Doesserck. the managing director of
the National Sporting Club Of America,
last night. up to date We have received
no subppnas from the State Athletic Com
mission. but we are not worrying. The law
allows match. According TO Webster.
match is contest, and contest Of any
sort naturally shows winner or loser.
The commission allows the Amateur Ath-
10 see why the professional bouts should
be Disseminated against in this particular"
Whatever the opinions or rights of the
National Sporting Club of America, there
are many who are not 50 enthusa site over
the giving Of the decision. The sport has
gone along swimmingly under the direction
If the commission with no decision other
than the unofficial verdicts in the various
newspapers. II Is certain that Frank 8
O'Neill and Major John J. Dixon. members
OF the State Athletic Commission, will not
yield.
II is we'll known that Governor Dix is
anxious TO have the law repealed. and X
the commissioners resign the Governor will
probably refuse TO appoint a new commits
sion. just as he refused 70 select sue
cessor 10 James z. Sullivan. Then boxing
will be as dead as it was when the Horton
law was first repealed.
Why does the National Sporting Club of
America demand decision?' asks q box
ing enthusiast in letter TO The Tribune.
rs II in a desire to encourage the gam
bling interests, and allow the same old
abuses TO creep into the sport? If the pub
lie wants TO see good men box, aside from
the interests at stake. why imperil the sport
10 such an extent? We have had good
bouts between good men right along. and
thOSe WHO relsn the sport Tor the sports
sake are not anxious to have any man or
set of men wreck the game
Complaints are sure TO be made, just as
Buckley kicked over Stewards victory, and
the entire sorry affair will tend rather
toward tearing down than building up. Let
the public stand I'm behind the commission
and prevent any repetition OF scenes SINH
lar TO the Wolcott- Choynsh f1asco and the
Wolcott-West affair when the Black De-
mon broke his arm, which were largely
instrumental in the repeal of the old law"
Patsey Haley, the referee OF the National
Sporting Club. seems TO be the victim in
the whole affair Haley had one OF two
courses to follow. He might have refused
point blank TO be a party to the affair and
take a chance OF losing his job or follow
the course ne did, which will probably not
only lose him his Job but his license and
the possibility of getting another job in
New York State.