The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31

worth a page IN the Queensberry
necessary excitement, thousands vii
The big fellows will do their last
work today and it will be only of
Light variety of just enough to keep
their muscles well warmed UP. Two
weeks of the strenuous stun has fit
tea them both for a grueling bout
IT either is heir to a single physical
oeIect, the same is not visible to the
naked eye. They look trained to the
second.
That a knockout will end the bat
Tie Is the opinion of those who pride
themselves on knowing something
about ring events. The records of the
men is proof positive that they carry
with them that very necessary pugf-
Istic asset known as the wallop. Both
nave proven this in many important
nsttc attractions of the past.
SMITH STILL FAvORITE
Smith Is stin the strong favorite at
odds of 10 to s, although the Pelkey
admirers have been sending in their
money rapidly during the last few
days. As is usually the custom, the
short end boys simply waited till
they got what they believed was
right Hundreds of them are still
waiting. so 1t looks like plenty of
action at the last minute
For the first time in his life the
Gunner will find himself an idol in
the city where champions are made.
When he used to fight around here as
a four rounder, and even as 20
rounder, he was generally the object
OF 1eers and boots, because they
doubted his gameness. Try as he
might, he never succeeded in showing
them in the past.
But it's a different story now.
Smith, the once despised and socalled
yellow hope" is now a. full fiedged
near champion. the best big white
man IN the game, in the estimation of
several thousand San Franciscans He
gained this fame by his wonderful
work In eastern rings after he left
this city practically a hopeless pos
sibiIity.
They are placing their faith in the
Gunner 10 startle them with his punch
when he lines up with the monster
from Canada. Smith is the smaller
man and will be at a disadvantage in
height. weight and reach. but still he
looks good enough to the majority
of them to install him 10 to favor
fite- Quite a compliment TO a small
man who was once despised-
Pelkey is at a disadvantage for the
reason that he is fighting on his rep
utation alone. and his ring career is
not even long enough to give him the
rating which has fallen TO many hopes
who perhaps were not even so deserv-
ing. It's TOO bad for his own sake
that he did not make the trip sooner
end engage with a lesser light of the
ring.
The Pelkey followers are banking
mostly upon what Tommy Burns says.
For years the former king of the
heavy weights has been looked upon
as one Of the shrewdest judges of tall
ent before the public. He Is the dis
coverer of Pelkey. the man who an
nounced TO all the world that the tow
ering gladiator from Canada is the
next heavy weight monarch.
Pelkey has done all that they could
expect Of him so far as the gym is
concerned, but the old timers all know
that there's a lot Of difference be-
tween gym work and a regular battle.
They have learned this from bitter
experiences of the past and it is now
an unwritten law that they must see
a strange fighter in a regular fight
before they fall for him.
Il would have shown him before If
7 had the chance" said Burns last
evening. but things broke badly for
me. am not at all disappointed that
he is on the short end, but, believe
me. ff-they ever saw him in action he
would be a 2 to l shot over the Gun
ner. I look for him to knock Smith
out within II rounds. That's how
much I think of him.
BURNS WANTS TO BET
Burns still has a nice little chunk
nj &
which he wants to bet on Pelkey
against $4,000. But the sports of
San Francisco can't see why the odds
should be to l. They have made
their own price, and it Is not likely
that they Will give the manager of
the Canadian any edge, so he may be
disappointed
But Burns is acting in a business
IKE sort of way. He frankly says
that he came here in the belief that
Smith would sell at to l over his
man and that he would take chance
and gamble his money. He has been
looking high and low for the short
odds stuff ever since, but up to the
present time IL has not made Its APP
pearance. Therefore Tommy is sore.
The Gunner has not made any
wagering speeches, and neither has
his manager, Jim Buckley. They are
looking to win his battle and reap the
harvest that will come after it. They
are not thinking about the take a
chance end of the game at all. But
they are already making preparations
for an invasion of Europe 10 tackle
one Of the big smokes, and this is
proof positive that they have lots of
confidence left.
4 great crowd will surely gather ct
the Dalv City arena If the weather is
fair. The town 10 full of tight. The
fans are anxious TO see couple or
haavv weight aspirants In action, and
n the weather favors them they will