The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-11

fBy James J. COrbett, Former Heavy
<slght Champion of the worId.)
CWrItten for The Evening Farmer)
The Giants and Athletics have beer
hogging all thes pace usually allotted
TO sporting events in the local dailies
the past week, but boxing enthusiasts
have not forgotten that a very inter
esting welter-weight match is on the
cards for next Friday night at Madi-
son Square Garden. The pair who
will furnish the entertainment claim
TO be legitimate light-weights al
though understand the weight
agreed upon for the coming bout has
been set at lao ringside- II they
don't qualify as out and out welters
at that figure I don't know how to
classify them.
Oh, yes, I have forgotten to name
the principals. They are the cele-
& brated Packey Mcfarland and the
hardly less famous Harlem Tommy
Murphy of this city. At lao pounds
should judge that Packey will be
able to set a very lively pace for
the local man. And while Murphy
will also no doubt be benefited by
the additional poundage I hardly
think him fast enough to make much
Roadway against the greater skill OF
his rival
For all that it should be an inter
testing set-to. Mcfarland is as clev-
and what he don't know about the
game of hit. stop and get away is
hardly worth telling. Murphy is and
always has been more of a plodder,
hard working and always trying, will
ing to give and take at all stages. I
fancy, though. that in this case he
win do more taking than giving"
I don't know whether Mcfarland
intends to stick to the we1ter- weight
division in the future or not Last
time talked with him he was not
so sure that he cared to stay in the
game any lonaer-unIess, of course,
he got a chance to box for the light
weight title But the Murphy match
makes it look as If he had reconsid-
cred and had decided to box when
ever there is a chance to get a good
purse for his trouble. And any time
Packey elects to box in this city he is
sure of drawing a big crowd, no mat
ter who his opponent may be. Goth
antics like to see the real things in
the boxing line and Mac surely gives
the crowd an artistic treat every time
he starts
While Ritchie, chaperoned by Man
ager Harry Foley, has been among
us the past ten days or SO. Willie
lost no time upon his arrival in sign
ing to appear at a prominent Vaude-
Vile house. which Indicates that in
Champion has lost nothing in g. bus
mess way.
While was rather peeved at the
stories in circulation that he ran out
of the match with Freddy WEIGH be-
cause he was afraid of the British
He says it was simply a
matter OF business with him and that
when the promoters baked at putting
up the money guaranteed he called
Everything off. Willie said that had
the bout gone through as originally
on Labor Day it would
have drawn big, but that the promo
tiers were afraid they had booked a
loser after a postponement had been
made necessary through .Welsh's &C
cideut- Willie says he is out for
money and is satisfied to let the
other fellows have the glory. But as
for being afraid of Welsh, that's diff
ferent-
II was not afraid of Welsh when I
vas a novice Willie told me the |
other day. "And I held him pretty |
even then So now that I have had |
the benefit of two years more expert |
ence, during which time I won the |
lightweight title from Wolgast, it is |
hardly likely I would be afraid to |
AXE q chance with the same, man !
today, is it? am willing to box |
Welsh at any time over any distance. |
All that he will have to do is to get |
4 suitable offer and the match is on
How about a match with Packey |
asked the champion.
az have read several of your arti-
lies in which you have been urging |
/ match between Packey and my
selfg,'' replied the champion, land |
want to tell you that I am not the |
,ne who has baked at the match. If
SfcFarlands wants to- meet me, |
.houzEa. he will have to make 135
pounds ringside. That's the greatest |
concession 1 will make him. am
lot going to risk my reputation by
boxing we1terweights. At least not I
veIters of the calibre of Packey Nc
Tarlznd am a legitimate light
weight, and won the title at 1873. Still j
Packey is as anxious to box me
Is he processes to be will stretch
point and let him come in at 1875.
can make that figure without any
treat effort, and could hardly afford +
o let such a good man come in any
heavier
Willie said that after the Cross
match he expects to return to San
francisco to box Tommy Murphy at
i'm Coffroth's club, but that while
N the ground here he is ready to
ak business with any one. Willie
avs he don't care who he boxes. He
viii leave the selection of his oppon-
nts to the promoters. Give him the
money anu ne AOb pal IACOAdA-
Local sports have not yet gotten
yer talking about that peculiar look
ne acknowledgements bout In
heir match here two years ago Sam
nd Joe fought as if they were bent
70 annfhfIating one another, but there
Tas no evidence of such feeling last
7eek. In fact, it was one of the tam
st contests between men supposed
o have class that I have ever seen.
Stories from Langford's straining
amp stated that he would enter the
ing weighing not more than 1855 at
he most Only a short time ago
am boxed some dub and was as big
3 q house. 1t was to dispel the idea |
nat Sam wasn't taking the proper
are of himself that the stories COM
nnr fro-r, tha can All had to do with