Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-21
BOXING M|X-UPS
IN PAST WEEK
WoIgast and Jones Break, and
Several Matches Are De-
cIared Off for Some Time.
BOXERS SHOW RARE
FORM AT INTERVALS
And Then Again Will Not Be
Able to Do Themselves
Half Justice.
BY T. S. ANDREWS
Special Dispatch to The Star

Special Dispatch to The Star
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, February 21-
During the past week there have been
several mix-ups in the boxing world. Al
Wolgast announced that he had split
with Tom Jones; New York promoters
are after Luther McCarty because he de-
lays in signing up to meet Bombardier
Wells; Willie Richie creates dismay
among the lightweights by announcing
his determination to keep Oft of the
ring until July 4, and Pal Brown. the
Minnesota lightweight sensation, comes
to the front with an offer to wager S1.L>O
cold cash that he can beat Richie over
the marathon route. Tom Jones and
Wolgast have had several such little
spats. but somehow they always got to-
gether again when the proper time ar
arrived The indications are that Wolgast
does not intend to remain in the boxing
business a great while. according to in
formation he has impaired to close
friends, and should he by chance lose to
Tommy Murphy when they clash Febru-
airy % at San Francisco it will be about
his last fight over the twenty-roLnd
route. The Michigan boy never has
taken a great deal of training when pre-
pairing for a fight, SO that he will have
ample time to get ready for the Wash
ington birthday clash. He will find Muir
ply in the best Of condition, for the New
Yorker has been training hard for some
time past, as he realizes his chance to get
to the top. 1t will be now or never, and
Tommy intends to make the most of the
opportunity. Should Murphy happen to
put one over on AID, he would become LIE
big card on the coast, and kitchie would
be compelled to give him a chance at the
title
And while the 33-pound boys on the
coast are chasing Richie for a match
Pal Brown, the Minnesota sensation, is
quietly going about his business.
meeting all corners in the division and
preparing to get after the champion in
the proper way. Pal has written the
writer to the effect that he wants to
meet Richie, but that he has not the
wherewith to demand recognition, but
he will go to the extent of $1,000 on
side bet. He says he will deposit the
money with any paper Richie or his
manager, Billy Nolan, may name. as a
forfeit. the same to go as side bet, and
he has every reason to believe that
friends In Minneapolis and Duluth will
add another $4,000 to his bit. The trou-
BILE is that fighters nowadays do not pay
much attention to legitimate challengers.
but watch for the big money offers,
whether against a dub or worthy chal-
lenger. The Minnesota boy, however, is
coming fast the same as Wolgast did
when he was climbing, and If persever-
ance will succeed why Pal has a. good
chance to get to the top. He is full of
ambition and confidence, and he comes
from good old fighting stock.
1t is hard matter to account for the
reversal of form shown by boxers at
times. Boxers are a great deal like race
horses. At times they are in tiptop form
and fight like champions, and again they
appear like novices Dave Smith. the
Australian champion middleweight be-
fore Jimmy Clabby defeated him, was
considered a world beater at home, and
he put up some splendid battles, but
when he got away and finally landed in
New York he was put to sleep in one
round by Eddie McGoorty. 1t may have
been "fiuke" at that. But, just the
same. McGoorty got the credit for a rap
i'd fire knockout. Later on Smith put up
Philadelphia, but the damage had been
done, and he returned to Australia with
out having a chance TO wipe out the Nc
Goorty stain. creole De Balzac, the
French middleweight who has been in
Australia for some time, recently put up
a great fight against Ernie Zanders and
also against others, but when he faced
Smith he seemed to go to pieces and was
whipped in three rounds
1t helped to bring Dave back to notice,
but was an awful reversal for the
Frenchman. 1t was the same with Jack
Read over there. He put up miserable
fight with a couple of mediocre fighters
and then turned around and whipped
Jean Poesy and Grover Hayes in good
style. Jimmy Clabby fought so well in
Australia during his first trip there that
he could command all kinds of backing to