Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-12
BY T. S. ANDREWS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

S1cciai Lhsp0tCu 10 otAI-
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, February 12.-Ac-
cording to papers just at hand from
Australia the recent battle between Sam
Mcvey and Sam Langford was billed as
a worlds championship affair. the reason
for this action being the refusal of Jack
johnson, the champion. to keep his en-
gagement with Mcyey in Sydney. john
son, 1t seems. had signed contract with
Hugh p. Mcintosh In London to meet any
man the Australian might select for a
championship battle in Sydney, but the
colored champion repudiated his contract
with the Australian promoter and instead
OF sailing from England for the land of
the southern cross he came back to the
united States. According to ring ethics
Johnson would forfeit his title by not
keeping his agreement to defend his TUE.
recognized when won on mere techni-
cahties. and Mr.. McVey would find it a
hard matter to try and make the public
believe or think he Is champion while
Johnson is prancing about, even though
his claim might be legitimate. 1t is too
bad that there Is no international board
on boxing, the same as in New York state,
that could make Mr.. Johnson toe the
mark for such violations Of contract.
When John L. Sullivan had his run-in
with Jake Kilrain and Richard X. Fox
about fighting for the Police Gazette belt,
and the latter publication claimed the
championship for Kilrain the public pooh
peohed the idea and refused to recognize
the Baltimore boxer as q champion.
It was the same when Jimmy Britt
claimed 1T from Jim Jeffries 1t is the
man who fights and wins his title in
the ring that the public look to, but
even the public becomes tired at times
and refuses to be the goat" for box
ers who decline to defend their title
when challenged in a legitimate man
ner. While the public refuses to rec
ognize any claim that either Sam Lang
ford or Sam McVey might put forth.
still they are becoming tired of John
sons refusal to meet any of the three
Vey or Joe Jeanette-when they are
considered the best of the heavyweight
crop at present outside Of Johnson him.
self. and there are many willing to
back the big negro, McVey, against the
champion. This chestnut of hiding be-
tiresome. The idea of q fighter refus-
ing to defend his title unless he gets
$4,000 for his end. win. lose or draw. Is
ridiculous, and it is time both promot-
ers and the public called them to ac-
count for such methods. Any time a
put up a side wager of $1,000 or $1,000
the champion should be compelled to
accept the same and the purse should
be divided on a winner-and-loser basis.
That is the way 1T was when the cham
pions of twenty-five years ago fought
and 1t should be so today. where title
matches are being contested for. Now
adays they are all money mad. and the
financial inducements are the first
points argued over 1T Is enough 10
make some of the old-time champions
sit up in their graves and want to get
back into the game. Just to show these
money-mad fighters how the battles
were handled wears ago,
This championship talk brings to mind
q talk I had with James j.. Corbett the
other day. Jim said he had often been
asked how the first championship was
won under the new boxing rules. and then
answered the question himself by stating
that he had won that distinction when he
beat John L. Sullivan at New Orleans,
September p. 1892. Up to that time there
between heavyweights with the big
gloves" said Jim. land as John L. Sui
Ivan had beaten all men before him with
the gloves, and had done the same. why
the contest between us really became the
first title match with the big mitts.
want to say, also, that Sullivan was the
worlds champion under the London prize
ring rules, for he had beaten all corners.
and had won from Paddy Ryan after the
latter had won from the champion of
England. There have been many disputes
about this question, but I maintain that
Sullivan was the worlds champion. and
the public always recognized him as
SUCH"
Will Ames Of London and his British
boxers-Sid Smith. the 112-pound cham
pion. and Billy Marchant, the LA pound
er-who seeks Abe Attell's title. have ar
rived in New York after q severe passage
across the Atlantic. ut was rough all
the way over" writes Mr.. Ames. but
the boys stood the trip well and are now
In excellent condition. I have come over
to challenge both Johnny Coulon and Abe
Attell for the titles in their respective
classes. and there should be enough good
clubs to bid for such high-class matches.
certainly object to Mr.. Coulon claiming
the worlds bantamweight title. for he
has never fought the British champion.
tional championship. l have the greatest
respect for Coulon's ability, and know
that he is the premier Of all American
bantams, but he must first defeat Smith
before he can get the title of worlds
champion. Our weights do not quite COM
pare. but the fiyweight in England,
which is 112 pounds. Is close to Your
bantamweight OF 115 or 116 pounds ring
side. and my boy is willing to give away
three pounds to Coulon for the match.
Smith has won all his fights in England
the past two years, and recently won the
Lord Lonsdale belt at the National Sport
ing Clubs tournament. and has it with
him. I expect that Coulon will defeat
frankie Burns at New Orleans. and then
we will be ready for him.
1T will be the first international match
Of the kind since the time Jimmy Barry
OF Chicago fought Walter Croot In Lon
don. James Coffroth Of San Francisco
and D. T. Tortorich Of New Orleans have