The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-01
(By M. j. wathey.)

Wy X4s o. "dSI1CysJ
Stimulated interest In boxing and
things pertaining to the game was up
permost in the year just passed. Two
new champions and a revival of we'll
wishing toward the sport brought an
era Of prosperity to the men of the
profession, aud when 1912 passes out
and 1913 rolls around it will find box
ers we'll dressed. each with a roll Of
cash hidden away in a trouser pocket
or safety deposit vault and each look
ing forward to one Of the best years
In history.
Willie Richie of San Francisco and
Johnny Kilbane of Cleveland divided
the lions share Of the honors, the for
rner annexing the most popular title
when he defeated Ad Wolgast for the
lightweight championship Thanksgiv-
ing day and the latter shelving Abe
Attell, for years an able defender Of
the featherweight crown. Washing
toms birthday. Mike Gibbons Of st.
Paul and Eddie McGoorty Of Oshkosh
followed closely in popularity.
Adverse criticism toward fstic ex-
states during the year. Minnesota,
under the influence Of the scientific
showing Of it's favorite son, Mike Glib
hons, is swaying toward boxing, and
it is confidently predicted that a law
will he enacted there in the coming
session Of the legislature which will
allow ten-round bouts. Montana, Ne
braska. Missouri and Illinois also are
in line for a boxing law.
Although ring champions suffered
untold agonies and the loss of their
honors. only Johnny Coulon success.
FULLY holding to his headgear Of lead
arSh{n thic Sfafn Of offni~S h1~.ft1J
the sport and made for a better and
more prosperous year. The spectacu.
lar rise of Willie Richie and the de.
tern1ined stand Of Eddie McGoorty
furnished the sidelights. while the ac-
ton of the New York boxing com
mission in establishing a set OF
weights for all divisions paved the
way for the settling of all disputes
over poundage.
The New York boxing commission
also established a precedent when
neS punch. This blow. used by al
most every boxer to wear down an
adversary rather than for a knock
out, was barred and the boxers adj
vised hat any who used the kidney
punch would be disqualified. Abe At
tell. Just before he lost his title to
Johnny Kilhane. was suspended by
the Gotham boxing commission for
laying down" in a fight with Knock
u Brown. This was the doings OF
the eastern commission for the year,
although they did collect many thou
sands of dollars for the state as IL
cense for boxing.
The welter, middle and heavy
weights are without a champion with
the close of the year. just as the start
of 1912 found these three divisions in
a chaos n without a man who
stood Il pre-eminently enough to he
styled best. Eddie McGoorty made
able inroads among the 1~5S-pounders.
defeating all corners With ease and
earning the right to claim the title.
but it will be necessary for him to
defeat Billy Papke and Frank Klaus
before he is recognized as the cham
pion without doubt.
There We're many good 142-pound-
ers developed during the year each of
whom could defend the crown. Wild
CAT" Ferns of Kansas City early claim
eel the honors and has gone along
successfully and is recognized in the
middle west as the logical champion.
but there are many boxers in his di-
vision who will dispute his claims.