Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18

does not entertain the slightest intention
of quitting the ranks of the feather
weights-where he appears TO have a
copper-riveted cinch on the championship
In search of trouble among the 1885,
Founders.
The press agents made up good story,
but it would have been a better and d
more truthful one had they inserted
Johnny Dundee's name in place of the
champions, for the little Italian has
given up the idea of trying again for
the featherweight honors and will cam
paign as lightweight in the future.
This may be wise move on the part
of the New Yorker. The task of making
IL pounds has long been an arduous
job for him. Around New York he was
not compelled in recent bouts to make Ike
the featherweight limit. as most of his
matches were al catchweights. 1t was
only the opportunity to fight for the title
that influenced Dundee and his manager
to agree to 122 for kilbane.
Dundee may give a better account or
himself at the heavier scale. There was
something lacking in the youngsters re-
cent work as a featherweight. and II
may possibly have been that the Strenu-
Gus job OF reducing not only slowed him
up, but took a great deal of the sting
out of his punches Certainly Dundee
has made no great Roadway in the past
year. Twelve months ago he looked the
best prospect in the division, but recent
performances have not borne out the
promise indicated by his earlier work in
the ring.
Dundee has been matched to box twenty
rounds with Ad Wolgast. former light
weight champion. at McCarey's Los An
geles Club June 10. 1t Is believed by
many we'll informed sporting men that
this match was arranged some time ago
and that knowledge of its existence had
iy1Arr on
in making the recent draw decision IN
the Kilbane-Dundee match Newspaper
accounts of the battle agreed that the
champion was clearly entitled TO the
victory. The announcement Of a VOL
gast-Dundee bout strengthens the argu-
ments of those who have contended all
along that there was method In the
referees madness in giving Dundee the
benefit OF draw
Right here It might be pertinent to ask
the New York critics who are constantly
trying TO belittle Johnny kilbahe ana
who question his class as boxer just
what they expect of a champion. hl-
bane won the featherweight title from
Abe Attell a little over year ago, ana
in such a decisive manner as to leave
no doubt of his superiority. Since then
Johnny has engaged In something ike
fifteen limited-round matches besides the
recent twenty-round af1afr with dundee,
and in every instance has acquitted him.
self splendidly. He is the busiest cham
pion the ring has known since Abe At
tells palmy days. When Attell was good
he averaged match or two year with
every ambitious boxer In the division.
But Abe was past master at nursing
them along and could generally manage
TO make a bout look close enough to
create a public demand for return en-
gagement.
Kilbane's record since he won the title
will bear the closest scrutiny. He has
given every featherweight who wanted II
a chance to box him. Newspaper writer's
have not found Ii necessary to prod john
ny to make him fight-like champions In
other divisions kilbane has boxed In
New York alone five times since winning
the title. outpointing frankie Burns,
Johnny Dundee, Eddie OKeefe and Young
Driscoll and stopping George kirkwood in
few rounds-a pretty good showing. and
" il doesn't suggest class then | don I
know a thing about boxing.
champion has hard time trying to
please everybody If Kilbane had not yet
climbed to the top of the division he
would unquestionably be proclaimed one
or the cleverest and headiest boxers the
featherweight class has produced in re-
cent years. Johnny follows the Packey
Mcfarland method and believes con-
test won on points every bit as Impress
i've as Knockout victory. The clever
Packey adopted that system years ago.
But Mcfarland is not ttleholder He
can go right down the line outboxing his
opponents and gathering the coin and
applause of the public and the praise OF
the critics-which. by the way, he richly
deserves. But Kilbane. because he is the
champion of his class. must knock his
men out or be labeled a lemon" or
Joke" fighter-if We take some of the
boxing critics seriously.
The attacks on kilbane which have ap-
peared from time TO time in New York
evening paper have no foundation in
fact, and appear to be based solely
upon a personal dislike of the feather
weight champion. IT is a mighty small
calibered individual who uses the space
allotted him as sporting editor of a
great daily to give vent to his personal
antipathy toward a boxer.
The Garden Athletic Club has resumed
It's shows and New Workers may look
forward to an improvement in the class
of boxing entertainment offered them the
past few months. The garden opened
last week with the Gibbons brothers
Mike and Tommy-as the stars In the
main bouts Next Friday night an at
tractive heavyweight card has been ar
ranged.
In one of the bouts Jim Flynn. the
Pueblo boxer. whose defeats by Luther
McCarty put him out of the running for
the white championship. will meet James
J. Coffey, a local heavyweight. and
Soldier Kearns. the heavy hitting
Brooklynite. is to match his smuggling
ability against the recuperative qualities
OF George Rodel. the rugged Boer heavy.
Coffey, who has a number OF knock
outs to his credit. will be given his first
chance with a fighter Of reputation Cof-
fey was once knocked out in one round
by Soldier" Kearns. but that was be-
fore either fighter had acquired sufficient
knowledge OF the game to last him over
night. II was hardly fair test of Cof-
fey's prowess, and, as he has since that
time cleaned up half a dozen or more OF
the third-raters who bill themselves as
..hopes," he has earned the right to be
pitted with a better class of fighters. II
successful oEer Flynn he will be giyer
an opportunity TO square accounts with
the Soldier
Kearns who last week administered
the second sleeping powder TO lone
Round" Davis of Buffalo. will nave tc
cut loose with his very best punches to
scora decfsiyeIy over "Boer" Rodel. Gun