Evening star., 1913-03-09

game, Is conducted
in this neck of the
woods
1t was thought when the Frawley bill
passed that a new era had dawned for
pugilism and that revival Of the sport
would follow that would rival the good
old days Of the Horton law. For a while
the game did thrive, but of late there
has been regular pugilistic famine-in
SO far as stars of the ring are concerned.
Some writers contend. interest in box
ing has waned and point to the fact that
number of smaller clubs have sur-en-
dered their licenses with the explanation
that there is no profit in the promotion
of the sport But IT is observed that
whenever a promoter arranges a card
that appeals to the sports the attend
ance is limited only by the seating ca
pacity of his club. This indicates 1t is
the dearth of good attractions that is re-
sponsible for the seeming lac, of interest
in local exhibitions of the manly art
For example, look over. the cards Of
fered the fans the coming week. At
least. fifteen clubs have arranged pro-
grams in the greater city. and. of the
entire lot the only attractive looking
match IL the Bombardier Wells-G,in-
boat Smith exhibition at the Garden
Friday night. And I. for one will not
be greatly surprised If that develops
into ope-sided affair. However. the
shown ability of high order is
guarantee that the big arena will be
packed. and at fancy prices, and In
dieates that the general sluggish con-
dition OF the pugilistic market is not
due to lack of public interest in the
sport. but to failure Of promoters to
cater to the wants of the. fans. New
Workers are liberal patrons of boxing,
but they want the best talent obtain
able. and until matchmakers take steps
10 improve the class OF exhibitions
there is no chance, for boom in local
fistic affairs. p
With regard to the Welis-Snith
match it looks to. me from, what |
have seen of the men that the Amer
can is outclassed. OF course. there l.
always an outside chance for a hard
hitter of the Smith sort to put the
haymaker over. but il Wells hasn't
gone back since last summer he ought
to have little to fear on that score
Smith relies entirely on his swatting
power to win his battles. and. like all
order to put the desired heft into his
punches. Against sthe clever Wells
his style should prove of little avail.
Wells Is probably as hard a hitter
as his opponent. and his speed and
cleverness should cradle him to beat
Smith to the punch. It's sure thing
that If he hits the Gunboat as hard as
he punched Al Palzer the bout will
end inside of a round or two. Few can
stand the gam as well as ORourke's
giant.
Billy Joh who is to preside at the
match. has come in for considerable
criticism lately for failing to- enforce
several contests. and / would advise
the Bombardier to have heart.tn-
heart talk with both Smith and the
referee before beginning hostilities.
The Gunboat has nagrantly violated
han
and is not above resorting. 4 am sorry
TO say. to foul methods. whenever. he
think he can get away with them.
Naturally. my sympathies are with
fairly or not at all.
The proposed ruling by the New York
boxing commission to compel club own
ers to refund admission money when adj
vertsed bouts are called OFF at the
eleventh hour should have clause in
serted forcing boxers 10 live up to their
contracts unless sick or disabled
The Empire A. c. had fairly attrac-
tive card arranged for last Wednesday
night. but the Cross brpthers, Phil and
Leach. who We're to play star parts. left
for New Orleans without warning and
rather than offer substitute program
the promoters were forced to abandon the
show entirely. The club owners are GER
tainly entitled TO legislation which WIN
protect their investments to this extent
Leach Cross boxes Joe Mandot in the
Crescent City Monday. and 1t looks as
though he had undertaken big job. On
the dope he will be lucky to break even.
Mandot is one Of the topnotchers in the
lightweight brigade and Cross has never
shown his best form outside Of New York.
He II essentially home" boxer. Pos
sfbiy the shade Gotham referees allow
him has kept Leach In the front ranks
SO long. He wifi be forced to step his
fastest i'm the Mandot bout.
Frankie Burns. the Jersey City boxer,
has decided TO stick TO the bantam class
In the future. and has issued challenges
die Campi. For willie Frankie elected
TO try his hand at the featherweight limit,
and found he had to give away too much
weight to hold his own with the best
boys; also that neither money nor glory
was to be gained by boxing the dubs.
Burns made his debut as feather with
Johnny Kilbane at a local club last sum-
mer and his showing was very creditabie
considering the handicap in the matter
Of poundsSe. -
The brilliant record OF Kid Williams,
topped by the recent defeat OF Eddie
campi, the California star. has diverted
the attention OF the critics frpm other
ambitious bantams. and I'm the hunt for
worthy opponent for Couion the Jersey
hoy has been overlooked lately. Yet only
a few months ago experts agreed Frankie
Was the legitimate and logical contender
for the honors.
Burns and Coulon have met three times
twice in no-decision contests and last
year in a twenty-round bout at New Orr
loans While the referee awarded the
verdict to the champion I'm the New Orr
leans match. the newspaper men differed
with that cficiaI and asserted that Burns
had earned the victory.
Frankie wants another match with
Coulon. although IL he can't get that