The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-21

San Francisco, July 20.--That sport Ing writers should view boxing matches and other events from differ ent standpoints, Is as it should be. A wise head once said. its difference of opinion that makes horse races" and what is true of the sport of the turf, Is true of everything else In the sport ing line. Without difference of opln- lon there would be no occasion to ar range tests of skill speed or endur- ance. There would be a total lack of interest in everything relating to com petition. There would be no sporting situation" in fact.
 There is one thing, however, that sports critic should beware of. and that Is insisting his view of a contest Is the only possible and correct one
 It Is doubtful if there were ever brace of pugilistic happenings that caused more difference of opinion among the workmen of the press, than the two worlds championships on the Fourth of July Those who held that Jack Johnson had showed no decline in fighting ability were fairly well paired with the critics who noted--or thought they noted--a vast difference in the Johnson, of Reno, and the Johnson of Las Vegas.
 
 those who believe that Johnson tires more readily and is a. less formidable puncher than he used to be- l have seen Johnson in every contest of note he has figured in, in this country since he defeated Frank Chikic, at Los An geles, nearly eleven years ago, and am therefore in a fairly good position to judge of his present fighting prowess.
 Incidentally, Johnson Is one of the hardest men in the fighting world to get a line on. He is such a consum mate ring general and everything he does within the ropes is done so artis- tically, that it is anything but easy to tell when he is in trouble.
 Johnson Stalled With Flynn
 Tn the affair with Flynn he held on and stalled around with grin on his face and with no particular appear ance of being Hurried. but he was an exceedingly tired champion of the world just the same. If he had been the Johnson of other fights, instead of looking hungry-eyed at Referee Smith when Flynn began putting. he would have broken his hold and pulched Flynn clear across the ropes.
 The different views held in regard to the Johnson Flynn match were not circumstance, however, to the confu- sions of opinions that existed at the Wolgast- Rivers ringside. It used to be said that man interested in boxing did not have to attend a fight to gain an idea of what happened-that he could read all the accounts of the af- fair and strike average. Anyone who could follow this course in the Los Angeles mill would have to be pos sessed of highly analytical mentality.
 Whether Wolgast struck his oppon- ent foul or fair; whether Rivers 1a al a chin crack a smash in the pit, whether Wolgast fell athwart Rivers knee. and whether Rivers was short counted are points that will be argued for many day to come.
 Some of the opinions held are so positive, in fact, that they would not surprise the writer to hear of some captious critic taking issue with the moving pictures on the score that they did not give faithful portrayal of the closing scenes of the lightweight championship.
 It all means good business for the shadowgraphs of both mills. probably. for where there are points In dispute the average sport likes to take in the picture and judge for himself. One of the interested spectators at the Riy- CTS -Wclgast contest was Willie Ritchie the San Francisco lad who gave Vol gast such a hard time of 1t in four round bout in this city couple of months ago. Ritchie thinks that if there Is a return match between Vol gast and Rivers, the champion will win out to certainty He says that Rivers punches did not hurt Wolgast, whereas every blow Ad landed made the Mexican vince.
 Richie Wants Bout With Wolgast
 "At that 1 do not think Wolgast showed either the speed or the punch ing power he displayed when he fought me-" said Ritchie tI will move heaven and earth to secure bout for the championship with Wolgast. and If there Is any hitch in the arrange