El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-23

" HE return TO this country of Cy-
clone Johnny Thompson from
Australia has started anew the
controversy over the middleweight
question. Since the death of Stanley
ketchel the title has been claimed
ed by dozen different middle
weights and even now there Is
no recognized holder Of the Amer
lean championship. Billy ,Papke
was the man credited with being the
successor to KetcheL but his showing
in Australia and his subsequent defeat
by Johnny Thompson put him out of the
running Papke is really the champion
OF Great Britain, having defeated Jim
Sullivan for the title in battle a year
ago, but not at the American weight
limit. When Johnny Thompson met
and defeated Papke in Australia, he
made the legitimate middleweight
lmit-15S pounds ringside, while
Papke was overweight. Therefore
Thompson had a right to lay claim to
the title. Later Johnny was given the
worst Of a 10 round newspaper decision
IN New York against Frank Klaus. but
q there was no decision permitted, It
could not be considered in the nature
Of a championship fight and should
not be so construed. Klaus simply
took advantage Of the situation, but ne
fight at New Orleans. Thompson
thereupOn went to Australia Tor the
summer season and had four battles,
all Of them against men heavier than
himself, men who were really heavy
weights. Now he Is back and wants 10
meet any middleweight in the country
for the title at the middleWeight limit
OF l58 pounds either ringside or At
three o'clock, as he favors the three
o'clock weighing. Eddie MCGOOrty IS
the one boy who has strong claim to
the championship. stronger than Klaus
and bout between Thompson and Nc
GOOrty would go a long way toward
settling the dispute as to who is
champion Buck Grouse, Leo HOuch,
Jack Dillon and Bob MOha have a right
to be considered, too, and when Jimmy
Clabby returns he viii no doubt give
up the Welterweight class and go into
the middle, which will add one more
contender for the crown However. 10
round bouts are not the kind Of con
tests 10 settle championships and II
there is 10 be an American middle
weight champion, one who will be rec
OgniZed as such, let the fighters sign
up for 20 round battles and then we
can have decision results and not
newspaper decisions, which are very
u1sa tisfactOry at best Let McGOOrtys
Klaus and Thompson fight ii out be-
tween themselves and have the winner
declared American champion, ready to
defend Ii against the rest of the Chal-
lengers, such as have been named
above. Then we can send real
2
to battle for the worlds title, but at
present we have no right TO claim the
worlds middleweight champ ionship.
Don't be surprised II Hugh McIn-
tosh, the Australian promoter. comes to
the states and gets into the boxing
game in New York remarked Cyclone
Johnny Thompson, on his arrival here
the other day from the AntipOdes. Il
had long talk with Mr.. Mcintosh
just before I left for home" continued
Johnny, "and Judging from his CONVEX
sation he has been having some well
known sporting men OF New York City
writing to him to come over and open
mp a big club These men hardly know
him. except from reputation, but they
seem to feel that he would be a big
help to the game there the same as
he was in London and France Mr. Nc
IntOsh told me that he did not want TO
butt into the other mans game, but
that II these gentlemen really meant
business and waned him to join in the
game, why he might take a fier, and
that If he did he would not think Of
handling anything but the biggest I
IN sight 1 would really like
to aim come over, for he Is a fine