Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23

ueIeIlOTalcu, Nnite
the younger element
argues the performances of modern eX
poncnts. OF the art of hit, stop and set
away do not suffer in comparison with
the achievements of The stars of former
days. Recently l have received several
letters with requests for public express
sion of my opinion on the subject.
| hope will not he put down as a pre-
JUDGED old-tmer when | say that i'm my
opinion the quality of boxers has de-
Perforated in recent Years. In point of
science and skill the stars of decade or
Two ago. and this applies to every class
or division cxcelled prcscn. -day boxers.
For this condition OF affairs the follow
crs of boxing to blame to great ex-
tent. The public taste has deteriOrated,
and along with il the class of boxing eN-
hibjions. The boxer who brings into
play the skill and science with which
aature has endowed him and tuition has
developed is given scant encourag cement
and support ny the present-day fight
tans.
The average modern contest resolves
into question of which boxer lands the
first convincing wallop. Wild swings and
lungcs are the order of the day. Let a
contestant attemp. TO introduce a bit OF
ieintng, ducking or footwork, OF other
clever stunts, and :he crowd nOWlS 1OF
the rough stuff" This does not tend to
encourage boxers or 10 improve the char
acter of he sport.
There are a few really good boxers in
the game at present. but | am sorry to
say they are in the minority. Packcy Me-
Farland is probably the most skillful mod
crn exponent of the science, and ranking
close to him are Mike Gibbons, Freddy
Welsh Willie Richie and Johnny Kill
zane
But not TO waste any more space than
necessary and as evidence that present
cay boxers do not class with the Old-tim-
erS in point of skill | will submit the
names of few stars of ten to twenty
Years ago in support oil my argument.
In the ranks of the heavies there were
Peter Jackson. one of the greatest box
ers who ever pulled on glove: Bob F'itZ-
simmons and Kid Mccoy. In the lighter
divisions. Tommy Ryan, Joe Wolcott
lack McAuliffe, Young Critic. Frank
T. ne. Joe Cans and George Dixon were
stars that in brilliancy of performance
and boxing skill have very lew. II any,
equals at the present time.
There is no, one really clever boxer
among the heavy weights of today. with
the possible exception of Bombardi er
Wells. aud he apparently lacks the STAN
ina TO ever become champion. ! do not
except Johnson. Langford or Jeanette
The present title holder is my idea of the
poorest specimen ,ha; ever sat the
throne of pugilism l-angforG ami jean
nette are not skillful boxers. and have ac-
quired regulations by beating second
raters. The McCartys, Wizards and Pal
GERS are jokes and would not have at
tanned the slightest degree of prominence
ten years ago
Is there boxer in the ranks of the
middieHe tights who classes with the
Tommy RYAN If ten wears ago: AMI
where are the good wc!ters of TO-DAY ::
Mike Gibbons appears IL dominate tsiS
class. Anon. the liShtwtishts we itve
Mcfarland. Richie aad Welsh ana Of tie
trio only Mcfarland has ever Shown Skill
he h.tN n.4I,4 ~
ting opponent for Cans ~ t.rne had he
been cotemporary with those great ar
lists
among the little fellows there are no
t'eorge DiXons. At q at, there i
2reater ercentage of good BOXERS among
the feathers than in any other division
nder this classification We can include
Jem Driscoll. ard lie il practically vet
.ran: kilbane and Jimmy Walsh of Bos-
ton. who i "A great boxer. AMI has never
been given the credit his record calls Tor.
alsh has, unfortunately FOR him been
forced IT, battle hes.N ier Ineu his Ie>r
i'ShjinS weight being il tie ne = Dor. God
al lis pounds. which - just betW.Xt "a nd
between the hantan.s ard the feathers.
Comparisons of past nst-i,i inanre- with
present day achievements do not always
prove Il case one way tn. other. bat
as sort OF connecting link between the
two generations. | believe | am qualified
q" Judge of the quality OF The modern
crop Of boxers a. we'll us that of the
former stars of the ring. From "A stand
point of boxing skill, the science of at
Jack and defense. | do not hesitate To
LAY that the game has deteriorated a
eat deal.
'kid" Williams. the Baltimore bantam
demonstrated in the recent encounter
vita Eddie Campi that he is entitled To
match with Johnny Coulon for the
'hampcuship. The latter boxer 10 jid ge
rom Williams performance against Cam
l. viii nave his work cut out to retain
lie title.
Williams has issued a formal challenge
- the bantam champion ard Tom Me-
arev has offered To stage the bout Cou-
Ion has not, as yet accepted the terms
"fcred and appears in no great hurry to
~ conclusions with the kid" When the
hoNs boxed in New York last summer
;he champion was plainly worsted and
probably figures his chances to win
would not be greater in longer match
Williams is wonderfully tough young
ster and has endurance to burn Coulon
may have II on him in boxing SKILL but
he difference in that respect is not very
Sreat, and the Kid Is constantly i'm
proving, while Johnnys recent work in
dicated he had already hit the back
Trail.
Luther McCarty is being subjected 10
severe criticism for ba cking out Of the
match with Bomba rider Wells The Gar.
don y. &. offered Luther $1,000 10 box
Wells ten-round ro-decision contest
hut the very liberal offer was refused
Fighters are certainly coming high
tacse DAYS. Ii used to be that a cham
plon could occasionally dictate terms. but
now everybodys doing H. Anyway. &C.
cording TO Billy Gibson. the local match.
maker. this particular fighter comes toe
high for him. and he has passed the
white heavyweight champion up for tht
present. Gunboat Smith gets the Wells
match instead
McCartys action is net calculated [,
inspire public confidence in him. Accord
ALI u