The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1913-01-04
III Feeling Between Them Will Prob
ably Make The Going Faster
Than Otherwise.
RIVERS WAITS ON LEACH CROSS
Is Training Hard For His Match and
4 Presence is Arousing New
Workers From Lethargy.

'kACx'S" WEEKLY SPORT LETTER.
Written Specially For The Pioneer.
New York January 4, 1913.
February z has been set as the
date for the long anticipated Packey
McFarland-Jack Britton match at
Madison Square Garden. No official
statement has been given to the pub
lie regarding the weights, but it is
thought the boys will scale around
afternoon. Neither should have any
trouble making that figure and in
Packey's case it will mean about 140
ringside. And it is doubtful If Brit
ton weighs much less.
Packey and Jack are the cleverest
men in the 'mis-fit" division, and as
there is considerable ill-feeling be-
tween them the bout should prove a
"rip-snorter" from start to the final
tap of the gong. Comparing the men
on New York performances alone
Packey appears to outclass his fellow
Chicagoan in the. matter of science.
Britton, however, has a Knockout
punch, a recent development by the
way, which Packey does not carry in
his repertoire Of swats. Jack also
combines a considerable degree OF
cleverness with his ability to hit
hard, but as a master of the art of
hit, stop and get away is by no
means the equal of the brilliant Nc
Farland. Britton's only chance to
win the popular decision will be to
carry the battle close to his rival. If
Jack tries to stand off and Outlook
Packey he is sure to be outpointed.
1t is interesting to note that Nc
Farland has not shown any signs of
elation over the prospects of getting
first crack at Willie Ritehie when
the champion elects to resume ring
activities. The fact of the matter
is Packey has outgrown the light
weight division and realizes he can
no longer make even 1876 ringside
and be fit to fight a good man. And
no one knows this better than
Richie, hence Billy Nolan's bold
statement that Packey is to be the
favored one.
If Mcfarland is successful in the
coming encounter with Britton do
not be surprised if he publicly re-
nounces all pretensions to the light
weight title, and declares himself
open for engagements with the well
terweights. That's the class he fig
ures in now; 142 ringside would suit
him much better than 1873.
Packey has always been ambitious
to be a champion and had he been
given the chance he begged when
Nelson was in his prime, light
weight history might read different
ly. To clever and aspiring boxer
such as Mcfarland the realization
that he must relinquish his long and
patiently waited chance to do battle
for the lightweight title must be a
bitter disappointment indeed. How
ever, there is still hope for Packey to
earn the proud title of champion -
but that hope lies in a heavier divis-
ion than the one he so long adorned.
Mexican Joe" Rivers is in train
ing for the match with Leach Cross
and his presence has helped to awak-
en- Gothamites from the feeling of
lethargy resulting from the overdoses
of mediocre talent promoters have
been serving the "big town" sports.
Boxing shows of the last few weeks
have been very much ."loca1' and it
will be a most welcome and agree
able change for the fight fans when
this little stranger crawls through
the ropes to combat the sturdy Cross.
Had chat with Rivers and his
manager, one Joe Levy, the other
day. =. Strange as it may seem the
youngster looks pretty much like any
other healthy kid, save that he is a
triae more swarthy in coloring than
we of the colder climes. Joe (the
boxer, not the manager), contrary to
popular belief, Is not a "Mex" by
birth. having first seen the light Of
day IN Los Angeles. The parents
were "Greasers." but Joey proudly
lesnfanuSd a lsst pss0).