Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20

k3x$$%&A %@dAA ance. When Joe and
Leach boxed the first
time the Californian came like a whirl-
wind the last round or two, and at the
finish had the local boy in bad shape.
1t looked az if he had solved Cross
style and would show to better advan-
tage in a return battle. This favorable
impression was further strengthened by
his impressive defeat of Knockout
Brown AS it turned out. Joe was bare
" able Ia earn a shade on Cross in
The second start.
although Willie Richie has not been
Seen in the ring since winning the title
frpm Ad Wolsast a foul, there is no
Doubt of his ability as q boxer. He has
several corking performances to his credit,
which quite overshadow anything either
Rivers or Cross has shown to date,
among them four-round win from
lack Britton, popular verdict over
Young Erne and a twenty-round lose
10 Freddy Welsh, which was probably
mis- most brilliant achievement, all things
considered, not excepting the winning or
the title.
1t will be remembered that in the Welsh
bout Ritchie. then Il comparative novice.
':Shbbed" for Wolgast and took the bout
IN forty-eight hours notice, part OF
which time was spent in travelling from
san Fran ciScO to Los Angeles.
Joe Rivers is only kid in years. bare
Is twenty-one. and may eventually de-
S-nlop class enough to give Richie u stub
horn argument. He did, In fact, show
slight Improvement in cleverneSs in the
last Cross match. but has a great deal
TO learn before he can hope to rank with
the champion in point of skill. cross.
however is a'veteran compared with the
others and can't be expected to improve.
He is as good now as he can ever hope
to be. While a trifle better than the
average lightweight, Leach is some de-
Erees short of championship form.
nd Rivers
OF July the champion should be returned
the winner by a safe margin. 1t should
be great task for a clever performer
10 solve Rivers style in few rounds.
The latter's only chance in such n battle
would appear to rest in the possibility OF
landing lucky punch. and he would
have 10 be lucky TO put one over on the
champion.
If further proof was necessary to con-
vince the New York boxing commission
that referees decisions ought to be al
lowed the Rivers-Cross bout furnished
plenty of ii. As usual in important
matches the newspaper critics We're d.
vided the question OF which boy was
entitled to the decision. L don't believe
there was one who called il draw. Some
said Rivers won all the way while others
maintained that Cross earned the verdict.
This is decidedly unsatisfactory state
Of affairs 1t is unfair to the boxers and
unfair TO the public. Rivers and Cross
might pull off a dozen ten-round bouts in
New York and no matter how they re-
suited. unless terminating in knockouts.
they would all go down in the record
books as mo decision" contests. The
public pays literally to boxing
matches. and wants winner for its
money. when possible to pick one. The
only way out of the difficulty is to clothe
the referees with power to render de-
cisions The contention of some writer's
that this curta;lment of referees au-
thority discoura2es gambling on bouts
lerA ,st.h
betting under. the present system as in
the old Horton law days. when decisions
We're rendered and open gambling was
tolerated by the authorities Attendants
at local bouts viii testify TO this. And
what's more. there win always be bet
ting on boxing matches. any other
,orm OF sport, as long as there is any
public interest in it, law or no law.
Rivers says he vii. stick around New
York for while anditake on few good
lishtweights. Joe shows the right spirit
AT any rate. He is fighter first, last
and all the time. and deseEXedly popu-
lar with the fans.
There IS some talk OF sending Rivers
against Young Joe Shugrue. the Jersey
lightweight. who outpointed Cross by
narrow margin few months ago. Shu-
grue is the most promising material de
veloped in the east in q long time and
might prove n surprise party for the lit
lie Spaniard
Il is said that Luther McCarty asks
$1,000 10 box "Gunboat' Smith ten
rounds 81 Madison Square Garden. Billy
Gibson. the matchmaker. offered a guar
antee of Si2,.sGo. although that was be-
fore the 'Gunboats' poor showing with
H;odel. McCarty's demand is beyond all
reason. II the pair We're matched Smith
would be the card, for Luther is not
over-popular in New York and pro-
noter would he taking big chances in
guaranteeing him even 5000.
van asking for $l5.0o? Still the veteran
recentlv proved to local sports that he
must be considered in the running. He
easily outpointed big Soldier Kearns. and
has challenged both McCarty and Smith.
At buffalo several months ago the Twin
shaded the ..Gunboat" sonnet hing Nc
Carty has not Vet accomplished, and his
record viii stand comparison with that
OF any Of the present lot of white heavy
weights. 1r his prime Sullivan stuck to
the middleweight division for the very
good reason that the heayies were a
vastly different sort than is getting away
locks easy now. and old as he is the
Twin is anxious to 60 business with
anv or all.
Dan McKettricl< manager of Joe Jean
ncttc. rises to ask why SUCH boxers as
McCarty. Smith. Willard ct al who at
present occupy the center OF the pugi-
ustic stage and are making much talk
concerning their pretensions and 3nten
taIs. should be allowed to dictate when
r-ltere ana whom they shalt fight Dan
argues that they not only draw the color
tin". but dodge challenges from the
whites eligible to meet them in the ring
He Justly claims the fashionable white
hopes arrogatc Ia themselves a prlyi-
ieCe never attempted by real champions
I'm refusing 10 meet negro boxers. who
have far better claims to the right 10
battle for the title than any of the
Usurpers.
Nc. 10 give McKettricls short answer,