El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-07
FiUe Are Real Contenders
For the Lightweight Title
Clabby McGoorty, Chip Mike Gibbons and Murray Ap-
pear Strongest Claimants; All Show Superior Clev-
erness in Some Department of Fight Game, and
Battles Will Be Deciding Test of Merit.
By TOM THORP.

IVY 10 has the proper claim to the
w title Of middleweight cham
pion? That is a question that
has been under discussion since the
tragic death OF Stanley Ketchel, the
unbeaten champion, but the prospects
Ior an early decision are much clearer
today than they have been in some
llme. Eddie McGOOrty's reversal Of
form over in Australia, in which he
scored lightning win over the clever
Dave Smith, has tended to clear up
Jne mlddleweight horizon, since it has
eliminated the foreigners from further
consideration.
Despite the contention of many man
ayers, who have kept the question an
open one for business purposes, 1t has
resolved itself into a proposition in
which 1t may be said that only five
men have withstood the acid test and
are today legitimate claimants to the
coveted hOnOrs.
The Present Lineup.
Clabby, the San Francisco whirI-
wind; Eddie McGOorty, the Wisconsin
wizard and cOnqueror of Klaus anC
Smith; George Chip, the fast fighting
P1ttsburg wonder. and Mike Gibbons,
the st. Paul stampede; all Of these
men, along with Jack Dillon, who, be-
cause Of his extra weight has since
graduated out Of the class, with Billy
Murray, the latest find of the coast
fans, who scored q knockout of Leo
HOuck, are to be taken under consid-
GRAFTON when the question Of the legiti-
mate claimant to the middleWeight
title is decided. The first five may
be said to have clearer claim to the
title than the last two named, but, to
avoid any dispute that may arise, the
last two are taken into consideration.
CIabby and Murray Praised.
From Frisco the wires are kept warm
by the telegraph dispatches exploiting
the marvellous achievements of botn
Clabby and Murray. These two fight
ers are being proclaimed by the fans
of the coast as the classiest pair that
have made their appearance since the
good old days Of Ketchel Thomas and
Papke.
Clabby, although several pounds IN
der weight for his class, has neverthe-
less taken on the toughest boys in the
DuSlneS without a Wh1mper, with the
result that he has endeared himself
to The fans to such an extent that he
is the popular idol Not only this, but
he has by his successful and persist
ent good fighting heaped IN sufficient
evidence to give himself more than a
clear claim for the premier honOrs. His
victory over Eddie AIcGOOrty in Butte,
Mont, is only one of the number of
great battles that he has fought in
his struggle to reach the top of the
heap His good ring generalship and
tremendous staying power have sue
cesSfully offset his lack of weight, and
today he is entitled to consideration
by any claimant to the title in the
country
Murray Aggressive, Hard Hitting.
Billy Murray, his brother Californian.
IS fighter of the aggressive hard
hitting type that is so uncommon to
the fighting game at the present day
his win over Leo HOUck the tricky I
heady and hard hitting fighter, earned
Tor him place among the top notch
ers.
Many experts on the coast pick this
youngster as the coming champ, in I
1act, a number have gone so far Is to I
call him second KetcheL Probably I
this is because of his great resem- |
Dlance to Stanley when he squares off /
IN the ring. The same aggresSiVeness |
that we all admired so much in |
Ketchel stands out all over this boy.
ms hard driving power, as wei as
the unusual ability of being able TO
shift with extreme suddenness. ana hit
from any position, a fact that Ketchel /
contributed more to his ability as a |
tighter than any other, are very pro-
bounced.
hcGOOrty CaptiVates Kangaroo Fans.
If we were to take the reports that
smanate from the camp Of McGoortv I
n Australia or from the press reports
u MS marvellous showing in his last
eW battles, we would be cOmpelIed 10 /
animate from further consideration
IL other claimants to the title. Eddie (
10 doubt has by his lightning finish
# Dave Smith, captivated the fans of
ne land Of the kangaroo. It can be /
asily seen that there is no Mike Glib
'ons or Clabby over there.
The Wisconsin boy, it must be ad-
nitted even by the most biased critics.