The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-30
MATT WELLS BES|ECED
 WITH MANY CHALLENGES
Jim CoTbett Says Tommy Murphy May Get First
 Crack at BritOn
Written for the Evening Farmer by James J. COrbett, Former Heavy
 weight Champion of the World

James J. Corbett, Former Heavy weight Champion of the World Surely these are golden days of op- portunity for professional boxers. What with s1O0,OO0 prizes for heavy weight championship battles, our lightweight title holders spurning of fers guaranteeing $12,5O0 for inis share of the purse, win, lose or draw. $16,0OO bids for ten round exhibi- tions between other stars of the same division, and profitable theatrical en- agreements galore for the white hopes," verify it pays to have a rep of the sort that commands plenty of space in the sporting columns.
 I want to avoid pulling that old time 'I can remember" stuff, but just the same when one hearkens back a few years and recalls the ri- diculously small sums former stars of the ring battled for, one may be ex. cused for rising to remark that it is pretty soft for the modern lads in comparison. And let not my mean. ing be misunderstood, and that I, like an old-timer might, feel a bir jealous of the success attending the money-making efforts of present-day opponents of the game. On the con. trary the very worst I wish any of them is the best of it. More power to those young captains of finance of the squared circle.
 Matt Wells, British lightweight champion had not set foot on Ameri. can soil many hours before he was besieged by New York matchmakers with liberal offers to box before their clubs. Matt announced that he wanted Wolgast and Mcfarland in preference to all others, although he would not object to first having try-out with one of the lesser lights if financial inducements compatible with his dignity and title of lightweight champion of Great Britain were made him. For, take it from me, Matt is wise to the fact he is some drawing card in little old New York. He sat isfied Eastern sports last Fall he's genuine champion and not the lucky fellow Freddy Welch's friends would have us believe.
 Harlem Tommy" Murphy may get first crack at the Britisher. During his six months sojourn in the land of sunshine and flowers Murphy took on a new lease of life and lately has been doing the best fighting of his comparatively long career. New York promoters are hunting bigger game just at present, however, and are en- gagged in the pleasant (to the boxers), task of boosting one another's bids for the proposed ls-McFarland bout. Starting with an offer of $10.- 900, competition has waxed so hor that to date the tenders have reach ed nearly double that figure.
 Mcfarland and Wells were matched last Fall. Something happened to knock the proposition in the head at the time and shortly afterwards Matt left for home where he was taken ill and confined to the hospital for nearly two months. He informs me he is completely recovered and that few weeks training will round him to best form.
 Wells is one of the best men Eng land has ever sent us. He may not size up to the calibre of the Freddy Welch of several years ago when that marvelously clever youth was at his best, but in the engagements around New York he has shown Ines there with the goods" Matt has convinc- ed us he knows the game thoroughly and is equally at home with the clever man or the rugged type of walloper. Opposed to the skiIlful Abe Attell he surprised sports with his display of boxing and with Knockout Brown the Battling Nelson style of miller, he had little trouble in winning on points
 Joe Woodman who looks after Sam Langford's interests cables he will start for home immediately following the "tar baby's'' contest with Sam McVey in Sydney Easter Monday, and that he will bring Hughey Mohegan the champion lightweight of Austra- lia back with him. With Wolgast. Wells and Mohegan "in our midst to say nothing of the half score of | near champ" possibilities already on the ground, the lightweight division should be productive of much high class sport during the Spring and Summer months.
 Speaking of golden opportunities. the directors of Carl Morris affairs l must now regret having refused that recent offer of a $13,OO0 purse to box Al PalZer ten rounds. The ex-en- gineer's miserable showing with Jim Stewart, the Brooklyn heavyweight, has killed his drawing powers, for | the time being at least. The sportin:, public is remarkably patient wherein