The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-19

authorities. Attendant at local bouts | will testify to this. And what's more l there will always be betting on box | ing matches. or any other form of sport, as long there is any pub lie interest in it, law or no law.
 Rivers says he will stick around New York for a while and take on
 a few good nghtweights. Joe shows the right spirit at any rate. He is a
 fighter first, last and all the time,
 and deservedly popular with the fans.
 There is some talk Of sending Riv-
 CTS against Young Joe Shugrue. the
 Jersey lightweight, who outpointed
 Cross by narrow margin a few
 months ago. Shugrue is the most
 East in long time, and might prove
 a surprise party for the little Span
 iard.
 It is said that Luther McCarty asks
 $15,OOO to box "Gunboat'' Smith ten
 rounds at Madison Square Garden. Billy Gibson, the matchmaker, offered a guarantee of $12,5o0, although that was before the ''Gunboat'S'' poor showing with Rodel McCartys de- mand is beyond all reason. If the pair were matched Smith would be the card for Luther is not over-pop- uIar in New York and a promoter
 
 anteeing him even $5,oOo.
 Can anyone imagine Jack Irwin" Sullivan asking for $15,000? Still the veteran recently proved to local sports that he must be considered in the running. He easily outpointed big both McCarty and Smith. At Buffalo several months ago the Twin shad- ed the "Gunboat,'' something McCar- ty has not yet accomplished and his record will stand comparison with that of any of the present lot of white heavyweights. In his prime Sullivan stuck to the niddleweight d. vision for the very good reason that the heavies were a vastly different sort than is getting away with the l stuff thees days. The game looks | easy now and, old as he is, the Twin is anxious to do business with any | or all. 1
 Dan McKettrick, manager of Joe | Jeannette, rises to ask why such box CTS as McCarty, Smith, Willard et- al, | who at present occupy the center Of | the. pugilistoic stage and are making | sions and intentions, should be allow | ed to dictate just when, where and | whom they shall fight. Dan argues l that they not only draw the color line, | but dodge challenges from the whites eligible to meet them in tho ring. He justly claims the fashionable white | hopes'' arrogate to themselves a priv | ilige never attempted by real cham | pfons in refusing to meet negro box | ers who have far better claims to the right to battle for the title than any of the usurpers.
 Not to give McKettrick a. short an l swer, the hopes have the best req 1 sons in the world for refusing to meet such men as Jeannette and Langford. l They are afraid they would be licked. l In fact, I might say they feel sure of of it.
 Speaking of hopes big Al Palzer has returned from abroad. I under stand Tom O'Rourlce finally grew tired Of waiting for Jack Johnson to come with his forfeit money and decided the wisest course was to hike for home and easier game.
 O'Rourke made a mistake in taking his fighter to France on the long chance of getting a battle with John son. As a result Palzer has been forced to loaf for nearly four months. loaf for nearly four months, and he is not the sort who tllrives on idleness. To get the big husky in condition to give a good account of himself calls for lots of hard work. And the best kind of work for that type is actual ring experience. Before Palzer and O'Rourke had their disagreement last spring the big fellow looked like a "comer." Then came the temporary split which resulted in a long spell of