The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-01

weight Champion of the WORLDLY
Especial to The Farmer.)
Joe Rivers was not presented with
one of Tom McCarey's championship
belts for stopping TX. o. Brown in
ten rounds, but he accomplished a
feat that was beyond the best efforts
of AID Wolgast, Matt Wells, Tommy
Murphy. Leach Cross and other good
Joe proved he is one of the hardest
hitting lighweights in the country,
and eligible for battle with the best
the division can produce
While Brown could not be classed
with the top-notchers he was q tough
little proposition and, before Rivers
turned the trick, had never been
beaten decisively * o." was noted
more for. endurance and capacity for
punishment than for amy degree of
skill with the gloves His notion of
scientific boxing was to rush an op-
ponent OF to stand toe to toe and ex-
change Wallops. As nature endowed
him with an unusually sturdy physique
he got away with this style of work
for several years His awkward method
Of standing with right hand extended
and right foot forward puzzled many
opponents. but made him a mark for
a good right hand hitter saw him
In q number of matches In the East
and the only boxer who got next to
his style was Matt Wells. the Eng
llRnL-WSlkhL-
the waIlop to stop Brown although he
outpofnted the local pride a mile.
Rivers is booked for New York in
the near future. The Empire club
wants the Mexican to go the ten round
route with Leach Cross again. and he
big money When the boys met
about two months ago Rivers came
close to putting Cross away in the
last round. Joe was handicapped in
that engagement by the Eastern rules,
but when he got the hang of things
and knew just how far he could go
with the trough stuff' he sailed into
Leach like young tiger and at the
sound of the final gong the latter was
nearly ssins The consensus of opin-
ion is that Rivers win stop the local
man the next time out
From all accounts that must have
been a hair raising battle Ad Wolgast
and Tommy Murphy put up FOR TWEEN
" rounds at Jim Conrothss club the
same day Rivers squelched Browns
aspfrations AT the end OF the bout
the referee couldn't decide on a win
ner. and the newspaper critics agreed
with him that it was pretty even
thing.
Tommy did not try to fight a clev-
err battle but elected to mix it with
the ex-charnpion- right from the start
This is the sort of milling Wolgast
prefers and the fact that the veteran
Murphy was able to hold him to
draw at his favorite style indicates
that he has not regained the form
that made him invincible before the
operation for appendicitis Slapped his
vitality.
In the latter part of the fight Muir
phv tired perceptibly and was un-
able to evolve a successful defense
against woIgast's body punches, but
the blows seemed to do him little
damage. While Ad fought what was
probably his best battle since his ILL
ness it is evident he no longer car
ries the hefty punch that stopped
studier boys than Murphy in the past
The opinion of experts present at the
mill is that he would have slight
chance to regain the title in another
battle with Ritchie-
Packey MCFARLAND and Jack Brit
ton have at last been corralled for
ten round bout. The articles have
been signed and sealed. the weights
arranged, and the split of the dough
adjusted to the satisfaction of every
body concerned. All that remains Is
for the boys to climb through the
ropes and start things. This inter
esting event is scheduled for Madison
square Garden next Friday night. and
1t goes without saying that the inn
mense arena will be packed to the
doors with loyal fans who have long
been roofing for this clever pair to
settle their differences
have frequently expressed my
opinion concerning the probable OUT
come, but 1t may interest my readers
10 have my views once more now that
the match has been clinched- Pack
ey is probably the most scientific box
er in the ring to-day Britton IS
modelled somewhat on the Mcfarland
Arc he on
New York exhibitions he hardly looks
the equal in skill of his rival Chica-
Koan. Jack showed in a recent bout
with Young Ahearn that his round
arm style of hitting leaves him open
at times for fast left lead, and it
Is needless to say that if Ahearn's
left annoyed Britton Mcfarland will
be sure to take advantage of every
opportunity to sting him with that
member While I expect Packey to
lead ON points throughout the con-
lest 1 hardly look for the bout to ter
inmate before the limit, although con-
slider able Ill feeling exists and there
Is no telling what may Mapped in a
erudge battle However, 1 doubt if
the mill will develop into slaughter.
and look for the boys to regale the
sports with a high form of Queens
bury entertainment
Local critics are at last forced to
admit KiIbane is a real champion"
Johnny's display of form when he
rtonped George Kfrkwood, the hard
hitting St Louis feather-weight. SO
impressed the experts that they are
now ready to concede him a chance
when he boxes Johnny Dundee in Los
Angeles next month.
To my way of thinking Kilbane's
victorv over Kirlwood does not stamp