New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-14
"Gunboat" Smith and Wells
BrimfuI of Confidence.
MFLL VIM" INSISTS ONE
Its Easy Says the Other,
and Big Crowd Will Watch
the Battle.

"Bombardier" Billy Wells. the heavy
weight champion Of Great Britain, ana
"Gunboat" Smith. OF San Francisco VIII
cross gloves for ten rounds AT Madison
Square Garden tonight, and rare con-
test is assured. The boxing enthusiasts
believe that action of the most furious
kind will be seen. and big crowd VII
be on hand when the men enter the ring.
The advance sale has been quite as 'af3e
as that before the meeting Of Mctarldhd
and Jack Britton. and the crowd may De
bigger than the one which saw the TWO
lightweights circle and spar.
If confidence was the one factor neces-
sarv TO solve the question Of supremacy
then each would be returned winner In
short order. Never was there more
confident boxer on the eve OF an lhpor-
tant battle than Smith. He IS right on
edge. eager for the fray. but as careless
and happy as boy. The thought OF
losing never entered his head. apparently
and all through his final work yesterday
he spoke of "A match with Luther NC
Carly after winning tonight.
Wells seemed quite as sure OF the ulli-
mate outcome but was far more serious
in his manner than the California lad.
To the Briton the bout means more than
much. for he cannot well afford To meet
with defeat for the second time IN an IN
portant battle in this country. NlcloIy
over Smith. he feels. VIII lead TO match
with Luther McCarty. the recognized
white heavyweight champion.
Wells covered several miles in West
chester County yesterday. and came oacH
10 Dial Hawkins road house an asIo"'
He weighed exactly 10 pounds, and after
a hard rundown announced that his task
Of preparation was at an END.
Smith ran through the roadways III
Central Park to the reservoir. when ne
circied At steady pace. Ills wihd was
all right. and when he returned 10 the
Sharkey A. e. ne was steaming ne
hoped on the scales and tipped the beam
AZ l7siq pounds. stripped. lie rested dur
ing the remainder OF the dag, and sald
he might weigh a trite more than lep
pounds when the bout begins, at about
10 o'clock tonight
"I'll win this scrap just as sure as
Mexico is on the map" said "Gunboat
1T doesn't make any difference how much
Wells is doomed. I'll beat him as easily
as Palzer I'D. His punches and clever
ness may be wonderful. but I'm not
afraid. / can hit Just as hard. and II
tho Englshman viii mix II with me he'll
take the full count
The English champion. holder OF the
Lord LousIale belt. is feet inches tail
and has been boxing FOR three years. He
came here for the first time last year
and I'm June was beaten By Paizer IN the
Garden.
In the opinion Of good Judges. Wells is
the quickest big man in the ring. tie IS a
wonderful boxer and a tremendous hit
ter. but whether he possesses the proper
amount Of stamina remains 10 be seen
He insists that he was handicapped last
summer by the hot weather, but Will be
AT his best this time
Gibson has arranged a ten-round semi
final bout between George Rodel. the
gigantic Roer heavyweight. and Tim
Logan. champion OF the navy who made
Luther McCarty fight hard TO win by
small margin in siN-rouni bout last
wear. There will bee four other prelimi-
naries william job Will referee all Of
the contests.
Word was received from Chicago yes