Evening star., 1914-01-25


way. l believe l was one of the original
Gibbons boosters. The first time ] ever
saw Mike in action he impressed me as
the neatest workman of his size ! had
glimpsed in many years. After watch
ing him polish off several Second-raters l
advised him to 20 out after the middle
weight title and suggested Eddie NC
Goorty as r. fellow in pa particular nrapr,S to
Gibbons conflict was a disappointment to
me- At the weights I really thought Glib
bons would prove the winner Mind you,
have considerable respect for Nc
Goorty's prowess at all times, but Eddie
had to make 15S ringside for the bout.
several pounds below anything ne should
have attempted, and as big forfeit was
up he overdid the training in his anx-
iety to reduce. with the result that ne
was several pounds below the mark cali
ed for.
Gibbons. also, was too light. In Mikes
case. however. it appeared to me more
nervousness than anything else Whicn
accounted for the poor showing Several
times he had opportunities to make hlm-
self hero with the fight fans. but IN
each instance lacked the aggressiveness
to take the chance that might have
stamped him then and there as the pre-
nlier middleweisht of the country
Gibbons excuse for his miserable show
ing was illness. That being the case. -.e
should never have fought at all, for it Is
by their achievements that the public
Judges fighters, and not by excuses, alibls
and the what might-have-been' stuff.
However to get down to the present
time and situation. Gibbons looked bet
ter in the McAllister bout than ever
before And McAl!ister is a wonderfully
clever boxer and star at avoiding pun
ishment The manner in which Bob got
out of the way of Battling Levinsky, the
fast light heavyweight satisfied New
Workers. of his ability, but in Gibbons ne
~f f1nA
is not a stickler for any particular style
of boxing. If he finds one style of no
avail he shifts his methods entirely. he
is a versatile cuss in the ring. He prob
ably knows more about scientific hight
ing than any other man in the game.
and when he found McAllister did not
carry the kick in the blows he waded
right in close and would not be denied.
1t was there that McAllister's lack of
experience counted against him.
Mike is to box Packey Mcfarland
shortly, That will be in the nature of
handicap match, and with such clever
experts it is a bit risky to attempt to
forecast the result In limited round
contest Anyhow, the bout, while prob
that could be staged in New York. will
have no direct bearing on any class
championship.
But win or lose the popular decision
with Mcfarland, the st. Paul man should
lose no time going after that middle
get George Chip in the ring. and If he
succeeds in that laudable ambition, and
should beat Klaus conqueror, the rest
of the road ought to be comparatively
smooth sailing. Possibly he will en-
counter sitter opposition from Jimmy
Clabby than any one else. for James is
something of the same style Of fighter
very clever, but lacking the sting to his
punch that Gibbons boasts.
Gibbons is slowly taking on weight.
With the increased poundage he Is de-
veloping more confidence. Lack OF that
has been his greatest handicap in the
past His best fighting weight has been
in the neighborhood of 80. and the idea
of giving eight pounds to the best men
in the middleweight division did not ap-
peal to Michael at all-at all.
But now he wants to box anybody and
everybody who can make 15S Hngside,
so he AYERS. Mike prefers Chip because
George is in the limelight as a result of
his double victory over Klaus. and it
would be an immense boost for Gibbons
to put one over on the hard-hitting
miner
With McGoorty out of it don't know
of any fighter in the middleweight class
who can beat Gibbons-that is, the Glib
bons who fought McAlister. Mike was
a wonderfully improved fighter that
night and the extra weight gave him
boost in the courage department. also
Some one in the class may beat him, but
l doubt it.
Billy Gibson is trying to coax Chip to
meet Gibbons in a ten-round bout at the
Garden Tom McCarey and Jim Cof-
froth are endeavaring to bring about a
ClabbyLGibbons match-for twenty
rounds-on the coast some time next
month. After he gets through with the
Mcfarland bout-whch means big money
to him-Ciibbons says he will take on
either or both. and is not particular as to
distance, Mike is after the coin, and the
best offer always appeals to him.
Yes, with Gibbons showing such mar
yelous form the vexed question of mid
dieweight supremacy may be settled to
every ones satisfaction within the next
few months.
Dillon, the Indianapolis boxer. If Dillon
is legitimate middleweight. which
many doubt, he may be the party the
winner of a Gibbons -Clabby-Chip series
will have to fight to finally determine the
championship.