New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-14
RIVERS A HOT FAVOR|TE.
In Pink of Condition for Big
Bout with Cross Tonight.
DEMAND FOR SEATS LARGE
Both Boxers Confident of a
Victory, but Not an
Easy One.

Joe Rivers. the remarkable Spanish
lightweight from Los Angeles will face
Leach Cross. New York's candidate for
honors In the ranks Of the l33-pound N.
IN a ten round contest at the Empire
Athletic club in Coogan's Hollow to-
night. The winner Of the battle, while no
Official decision will be rendered will
rroba bly, be matched with Willie Richie
FOR the lightweight championship Of the
world
Practically every seat In the Empire
Athletic club has been sold 1t has not
Jcen a question ~ demand that the pro
The hall holds slightly above five thou
sarj persons and the demand for rcscr-
vations has exceeded eight thousand
Rivers rules strong favorite. Ills bat
lies with Wogast and Mandot stamp him
game and clever. Two knockouts mar
the record Of Rivers. one Of these was
scored by Wolgast IA famous fight
and the oiher by Johnny Kilbane, present
featherwcieht champion.
While The Wcstcruer is the iavoFite.
cross is rot without friends Many be-
lieVe that the weight viii bother the den
fist but on this score there need be 10
WOuy. cross has been below the rc-
guirrd poyudagc iOi several days, and ~
5 as sIOus as eve! IN Ills li'c. Leach
j. one o. the best short distance boxers
in the country to-day. lie is awkwsrdly
clever, and he can hit with the. best Of
them. He has two inches the better of
Rivers in height and, while the Latter
has little the better Of reach. cross
will be ready 20 hold him of with a
crouch that viii about cquglize matters.
While Cross it. right al his best to-day
he is nearing the stage when all boxers
begin 10 slow mp. he is wenty-seveu
years OF age and has been boxing f"r
seven years. In that time hc has met al
the best men IN the East and many Of
the top-notcheIs OF the world He has
cen knocked OFT three times. Two OF
these came i'm his career a. preliminar.
loxcr, and later, when he fought his first
long distance battle. Dick Hyland lca.
him IN fo'ty-One rounds AZ COlma. Cross
met all the men who defeated him iu
later bouts and reversed The decision in
every instance.
Both are confident according to their
last statements. II shall beat cross 90
said Rivers Il realize that he j. q first
class man, but ! have all the confidence
m the world in my own ability I have
met the best. and. while don't hold a
title, ! am the real champion. / am In
perfect condition for the contest. and If I
Gou't win ] VIII have 10 complaint TO
make
Said Cross. IN surely wiz. and ry
friends have NO cause 10 Uorrl. Rive
may be great fighter Uut when ne eU-
terS the ring with me tomorrow night Do.
viii Ions FOR the ordns" groves of HI.
home state. / was never ir better con-
ditiOn.
While Rivers and cross are settling
their differences az tho Empire AtIl,iip
club Bennie Leonard and Young i.ustis
viii box ten rounds az Browns GlmaJ-
stun .... 90
. Willie AGams. tso BROOKLYN weller
weight. has been forced 10 cancel bis
match with "Oro Round Hogan. which
vas 10 thke place n the FaTmout \. g.
on Saturday night ADAMS yrok" two
kuVCkl"s vhi!c training and viii not enter
the ring for five or six weeks.
Young" Brown and Maty Baldwin ar.
in perfect condition for theiT tou-rourd
coniert which viii Boz hold AZ tho Royals
4. .. o, BROOKLYN. tomorrow night. II
Drowp wins over tho Boston LAD le VIII
he matched with the winner ~ The Cross
Rivers battle
Joe Rivers has practically been matched
10 box Toe Alaudo' 800 twen'H-ro tu"
contest IN New Orleans some time du'-
ing the great annual Na'Gl &ras fcst.v-'
Artcr the bout Rivcra VIII continue ON JOS
way 10 Los Angelo. where ne gill meet
Knockout Brown iu '"cuty-r0vud
bout on February o.,