The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-10
MAY STOP BOXING
IN CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO, Fen. 9.--More
than ordinary interest attaches to the
lightweight contests that are to take
place in San Francisco and Los An
geles on Washingtons birthday. While
the events in themselves are import
ant enough to attract attention what
is endearing them TO the fight fans
is the possibility that these may be
the last professional boxing matches
the sports of California will have the
privilege of witnessing for at least a
couple of years.
1t al depends, Nof course, on what
happens at Sacramento when the
legislature reconvenes early in March,
and passes upon the measure which
has for it's object the suppression of
the sport OF the glove.
or course. on a pinch champion
ship bout could be arranged for some
point in Nevada, but 1t had to be a
super attraction to draw the sup
perters of boxing from the big centers
of population to the sage brush coun-
try,
With Los Angeles and San Fran
cisco off the map, where would Willie
Ritchie defend his title when he felt
like resuming ring activity. Where
would Luther McCarty throw down
the gauntlet and say. II have had my
fill of the footlsgfts and am ready for
the white hopes Of the world"
1t might be as well, however. to
heed the old advice anent the folly
of attempting the passage Of a bridge
lantA yeu come To 1t,
II will be time enough to look
around Tor a new convincing ground
for champions when the curtain is
rung down in this neck of the woods.
One hears discussions az to which
of the coming February 22d bouts
would take precedence in the mat
ter of Importance. Of course, the Los
Knockout Brown affair ranks above
the Murphy Mandot go, while the
san Francisco patrons of the game
argue the opposite way.
To a man free from local prejudice.
the contests seem on 81 par. There is
no denying. of course, that Rivers
and Mandot are the topliners of the
program, and the score stands so even
between the two Joes that il each of
them triumphs in the coming fights
there will be an insistent demand for
a third meeting. between the Mexican
and the New Orleans lad.
Knockout Brown will surely prove
a big box office attraction when he
faces Rivers. The lighting Dutch
man." as Manager Dan Morgan per
sists in calling him, oblivious appar-
emily to the fact that Woigast had
already claimed the sobriquet in ques-
ton. is certainly the best advertised
lightweight who. ever wendell his way
West.
So much has been claimed for him
In connection with his two short bouts
back East with Wolgast that the Los
angeles sports are particularly anx-
ious TO see him in action.
1t is claimed for Mandot that he
has benefited greatly by the layoff he
enjoyed after his last affair with
Rivers at Los Angeles,
While high opinion of Mandot is
entertained In San Francisco 1t must
be said that the local sportsmen are
not rs enthusiastic over his chances
as they are in New Orleans.
Murphy has a. host Of friends In
this city He Is looked upon as one
of the greatest trial horses for top
notch lightweights at present before
the public His fondness for breast
to-b breast lighting. his assimilative
qualities and his manner of holding
himself together and continuing busy
no matter how fast the pace are
things which have impressed the folks
out here and judging from what Is
being said Just now he will sell fav-
orite over the Southerner.