Evening star., 1913-12-14

Of making the "Gunbcat' beat a FELLOW
like willard Smith fought Morris by
playing into his hands. He never side
stepped the giant. and in every cnncn
Morris pulled and mauled him until
his strength was gone, and 1T looked
fortunate thing for the gunner" that
Referee Joh caught Carl in the act OF
fouling and stopped the bout. Smith
was so tired that he didn't appear to
have an ounce of fight left in his body.
To get back 10 willard AS badly as he
fought he proved beyond all question
that he can beat Morris. And there are
few white heavies who can say much.
If Manager Tom Jones succeeds in in
jecting a little more fighting spirit into
his big charge it is doubtful if there is
a man in the game white or black, who
will take his measure.
Arthur Pelky and "cunboat' Smith
are matched fer New Year day. This
bout will have considerable bearing on
the heavyweight situation. as Smith is
popularity regarded as the class" of ths
bunch, while Pelky. since the accidental
win over Luther McCarty. has gone up
several pegs in the estimation of tn,
sports at large. Only here in the east.
where Arthur was seer at his worst, is
there an evidence of popular unbelief in
his prowesS.
On all form Smith should win easily.
But then Tommy Burns has seen the
"Gunboat in action. and If PelISy is an
"hepped' to the 'Gunner's" methods.
! Burns. ] believe, saw Smith box Willard
out on the coast and the fact that he
sought the match for his man would
indicate that he has confidence in Pelly's
ability to defeat the hard-hitting sailor.
1t will not surprise me if. under Burns
handling. Pellyy has developed into a fair
sort Of fighter. He was an awful joke
when boxing in the east, but it must be
remembered he was only novice. Friends
Of mine who have seen him in training
and in exhibitions say he has improved
Immensely in his boxing since Burns
took him in charge.
IL Smith fights the same style OF battle
ne showed with Morris. Pelky may win
il he's good thev sas. We know
he can hit hard enough to win with a
come together something is bound to
happen-and not always the expected.
Western sport writer's are boosting
Jimmy Clabby as the daddy o. the mid
dieweights because he beat Sailor Pc
trosky and Frank Logan. two boxers
who have never SHOWN their noses in
this section Of the country.
We know Ciabby to be a pretty CLASSY
boy, but before passing on his claim to
the championship title we would like to
see him go against George Grip or. Frank
Klaus or some of the real tough ones of
the east. Only once did Jimmy box in
New York and at tha: time he made a
mediocre showing. | don't think he has
ever met the men regarded IN this Sec
ton as the leaders in the division. among
them the pair named above. Jack Dillon
of Indiana polls and Eddie McGoorty the
Oshkosh fighter. True, ne once earned
verdict over Mike Gibbons. but at that
time Gibbons had not begun TO show his
present great form.
don't want to take any credit from
Jimmy at all. He may be the best there
is, and worthy the title of champion but
the place to earn that distinction is the
ring. not the newspapers.
Featherweight Champion Kilbane and
the man he won the title from. Abe At
tell, are TO meet in a return match Feb
ruary ae-just two years after the battle
in which the championship changed
hands.
1t is a trifie early to speculate on the
result of a boxing match to be held three
months from now. but at this distance
il looks more like a benefit for Attell
than q genuine bout for the champion
ship Great fighter that he once was.
AtteIl is only the shadow of his former
self in point of skill Contests in which
the former featherweight master has re-
Gently INDUCED indicate that the wisest
thing for him to do is to quit the game
for good and all.
No one with an ounce of sentiment in
his makeup cares to see a once great
fighter beaten by lot OF second and
third raters. and that is bound TO be
Attells finish if he sticks around much
longer.
By the way, Smith, who was unable to
lccom.lish much in this country. fcut n
Wide swath in Europe. Recently Car
pentier was given q decision over him.
although unbiased rcp.gts stated that
Smith WAS entitled IT tie very worst TO
a draw And Carpenter has twice beaten
Bonlbardier Wells. Jeffs record since
boxing on the other side gives Us a pretty
good idea of the caliber of foreign tight
erS.
No wonder Frank Klaus is regarded SO
highly in France. Frank would make
short shrift with Jeif.