The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-02-15

d..
weight Champion of the WorId.)
written For The Evening F'armer.)
After a long period of patient walt
ine-nnore than three years Har-
lem Tommy Murphy is at last to have
another crack at Ad Wolgast. In
September 1909 about six months pc
fore WoIgast won the lightweight
title from Bat Nelson, these boys met
in a short bout in Pittsburgh, ana
Tommy gave AID fine little trim
ming.
When Wolgast won the champion
ship Murphy was one of the first to
challenge him, but apparently Ad hao
not forgotten the Pittsburgh meeting
and it's result. AT any rate he posi-
lively refused to box Tommy ana
turned down all offers for a return
match
Murphy had given up all hope of
ever getting another match with VOL
CAST and, after Winie Ritchie had
taken the Michigan boys title away,
abandoned his efforts in that di-
rection. But now a turn of the
wheel is to bring the ancient enemies
together again. The old saying that
ITS an III wind that blows no good"
fits in nicely here.
Tommy was to have boxed twenty
rounds with Joe Mandot on Washing
tons Birthday, but the 1atter's Illness
cancelled the match. Jim CoRroth,
the promoter, in the hunt for suit
able opponent for Murphy cast his
eagle eve in WoIgasts direction and
after much persuasion and the offer OF
a nice fat guarantee secured the ex-
champions consent to take Mandot's
place.
If Ad is in good shape the battle
should be a corlxer. There are few
critics who think Ad is done but a
careful review of the Ritchie fight
round by round. fails to suggest that
he has gone back to any extent Up
to the seventeenth round of that bat
tie Wolgast had a shade on Ritchie
and while he showed signs of weari-
ness after taking that punch on the
jaw In the last round several experts
who saw the battle tell me that he was
nowhere near a licked man, and also
that the referee in declaring AID
loser on a foul made a grievous mis-
take.
Murphy win be ''good''; there is lit
tie doubt of that He thrives on
California ssclimate" and he's put up
the best fights of his long career in
the Western country. He feeLs tna az
he has the Indian sign on Wolgast
and will go Into the ring check full OF
confidence Coffroth and San Fran
cisco sports are to be .congrRtuiated on
landing this bout for the Worlds Fair
city
sfbIe that he may come East for a
ten round bout with. Packey McFHar-
land.9 The boys we're matched to box
here last Summer, but opposition de-
ve1oped from an unexpected quarter
and it was thought advisable for the
GOOD OF the sport to abandon the
plans for the time being. Mcfarland
would welcome the chance to box
WoIgast and is willing to make a low
er weight for the ex-champion than
for Britton or any other opponent In
the event of Ads success in next Sat-
urday's mill the chances are that the
match will be arranged.
Meanwhile the sports are guessing
about the proposed McF'arland-Brit-
ton bout One day the match is on
and the next it's off. The fact re-
mains that neither boxer has yet sign
. ed the articles of agreement, al
though the Gardens press agent has
given out March as the date assign
ed for the contest.
The hitch is said to be over money
matters Mcfarland is holding out
for a certain guarantee and Britton
wants a greater percentage than that
offered him. 1t is thought that a ri
val promoter has been flirting with the
men and that they are using this as
club to force the Garden manage
rr1ent to raise the bid Both boys real
ize that they can draw a great deal
more money at the Garden and the
probability is the match will eventual
they have exhausted every effort to
get all the dough that finds its way
to the box office.
1t is hoped that Mcfarland and
Britton come to terms before long.
The match is the only really impor-
tant lightweight event in sight for
the Immediate future, and New York
ers are hungry for something worth
while in the boxing line. The pro-
grams have been sadly lacking in first
- vsr~+@
local promoters are having a hard
time arranging suitable attractions ow-
ing to the dearth of classy talent in
this locality.
Willie Ritchie is due to arrive in
Gotham before long When the
champion a1ights in the big town he
will find the latch strings out and
welcome signs on the door mats of the
promoters. The fistic impressarios
have found out, and at no small cost
that the sports have had an elegant
sufficiency," as Joe Humphrfes puts
it. of mediocre. talent. Attendance
at bouts has been SO poor recently
that several club owners have quit
and one or two others are said to be
.ton the ropes" The expenses at
1ached to the operation of a boxing
club in New York are very heavy and
since the fight fans have made it clear
that they want first class entertain
ments in return for their money, the
promoters are at last beginning to
show symptoms of a willingness to
loosen up
Richie could not have chosen
more propitious time to visit New
York. and if he is not averse to TAX
ing on some good boy during his stay,
he will find the promoters more than
ready to meet him half way. There
will be sharp competition for his ser
vices and no doubt Manager Billy No
Ian viii be able to drive a bargain that
win maintain his welI-known repu-
tation for shrewdnes and financial
astuteness.