New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-08
SAY BOUT WILL GO ON
MCMahons Look for No Ban on
Cr0SS-RiverS Match.
BOTH MEN ARE CONFIDENT
Battling Keefe, Holder of
Titles, Draws the Line
at Turks.

al TURKS.
jess and Eddie Mcmahon. owners of the
Empire Athletic club. denied last night
that the State Athletic Commission, which
controls boxing in this state. would stop
the bout between Joe Rivers and Leach
Cross a the Empire Athletic club on jan
uary II. II was rJnorcd that the Nc
Mahon boys had not secured a lease on
the building for one year. and also that
there was some hitch over the bond Of
$1,000, as prescribed by the Frawley law.
When seen by Tribune man last night
Jesse Mcmahon said:
The contest between Rivers and Cross
positively will be held as advertised. We
have legitimate lease on the Manhattan
Casino, the headquarters Of the club, and
since the owner of the hall is part owner
Of the club we can easily get lease for
an unlimited length of time. so far "a the
bond is concerned. the original bond
which We fled with the State Athletic
Commission last year when the club was
Incorporated is still in effect We VIII APP
pear before the commission to-day. ana
will produce our lease for the building
and prove TO the satisfaction of all son-
cerncd that there is one club AT least In
this city which is conducted along legiu-
mate lines. can't understand how the
story was circulated in the first place. but
since ii has we will spike it before II goes
any further"
A. ~, col hoy a
putting in their most strenuous hcks III
the training camp. Cross * "orklhg
away at the New Polo Athletic CUB ID
Harlem. while Rivers Is happy at the
WoOdlawn I'm. on jerome avenue. IheH
forfets for weight and appearance nave
long since been posted. ana cach y AIN
ious for the battle. which VIII mean ~
much 80 the winner.
Rivers did little work Yesterday. aud the
usual crowd which gathered to see him
box With his sparring partners was dlsap-
pointed. Joe went ont and hit inc iodo
for about thirteen miles and came In
dripping. He explained that ne was soiHS
TO box only three or -four times he'"''"
now and the time that he meets 'iosS'
and that the rest Of his training "ouI' W
TO perfect his wind. His sparring par 'i'e'9
are glad OF the chance To rest, Tor the III
tie spaniard has no regard for their iee'-
ings once he puts on the gloves
While naturally a modest little fellow
Rivers found time To- voice has seh'lihen''
on the lightweight situation. AFTER ne
had completed his run on the ROAD anu
was being rubbed down By Apdul inc
Turk. he said: so Cross can beat ans
one who will come TO him, can he well
I'll go TO him, and he won't beat me
I've boxed the best men in the "orld To-
day, and I've beaten them when was
right. / went TO Wogast. mixed win
him and made him quit in the exchanges
and If | can beat him IN the slhgSlhs
game I can beat them all. NolSast Is
made To order for me, and, anyway ne
is not the best man / ever fought uy
long shot.
I'm my opinion Joe Mandot IS the great
est f.htcr in the lightweight class. lie
is a clever up-to-date hshter, VINO can
beat them all, with the exception oil Joe
Rivers | was in prime condition the iasl
time ! met Mandot and ] defeated nm
fairly. but he gave me great hSht' ana
| admire him for his ability. ] never plan
a fight before ! go into the ring. but IL
never takes me long 10 size man up.
one or two rounds is the longest II re-
quires. and that goes for them all. II an
they tell me Of this fellow Cross IS true
he is "A tough fellow, who can hit with
his right hand
II can hit with both hands, and they
10, 10, a.
left. / beat Wolgast and Mandot with
the left hand. don't think that Cross Is
tougher than either OF these fellows. So
much Is certain. New York VIII see me
al my best. The climate agrees with me.
The cold air makes me feel bright ana
quick. and | like IL. I'm in perfect trim
and ready 10 fight the battle OF my lie.
Down at the New Polo Athletic Club
Leach Cross is working harder than ever
before in his career. Leach realizes that
if he can possibly eliminate the Calf
fornia youth he will be In line for a match
with Willie Richie for the title. lie de
votes most OF his tire 20 boxing. FOR he
realizes that in Rivers he viii be CON
fronted BY one Of the greatest men in the
lightweight division. lie is confident OF
winning on points, at least
Tho ycar. of 1913 has made bad start
so far as champions Of the universe are
concerned There is only one universal
chamnion. and be it understood the said
champion is none other than the ola re-
liable Battling Kccfe. kccfc holds all
championship titles, from the bantam
weight 10 light heayyweight. and hereto
fore has been willing to defend them all.
Alas. Abdul the Turk, trainer in chief
of Toe Rivers. has shorn the mighty, the
great. and only Battling I<ccfc of his
middlcwcight crown. which the latter won
whcn he knocked OUT Stanley ketchel
several years ago.
II happened this way. kcefe went up
IA Woodlawn Inn, where most of his
titles were won, and, feeling hungry, he
offered TO fight Joe Rivers for ham
sandwich and a glass Of beer. Now.
Rivers cant eat such stuff in training
DAYS. and he doesn't drink beer Abdul
the Turk. however, has no finer sensibili
ties. He offered to fight keefe for the
aforementioned prize. plus a piece OF
cheese. lie also offered to do the weight.
Int Kccfe refused To battle Nix on
Them Turks" ne declared dramatically.
81 know all about them They'll bite you
if they can't win any other way. I'm
champion all right, but | draw the line
on Turks