Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-14
BOXING COMING
BACK TO FAVOR
IN THE Il STATES

1 ~ thNEF ~ ~ tfFif ~
Boxing has taken big boom dur
ing the last year, and has made great
strides back into popular favor. That
IS, except in Hawaii, where the new
/ u. s. district attorney killed the sport
at the very time that more progress
siye communities were restoring it to
favor under wise regulations. A
glance at mainland conditions may be
of interest to the local ring enthusi-
asts, who viii have to take all their
amusement at long range now,
The year 1913 was a remarkable
one for the boxing game. Never be-
fore has the sport received such a
boost as during the year just closed,
due to the fact that in various parts
Cf tho country the people have taken
Il upon themselves to pass laws legal
iying the game. which in turn has Gre
ated a better feeling toward the sport
In parts where there are laws inst
III. The passage. of the Ffawi Lw
! In New York started the ball rolling,
and with Wisconsin, Montana, Utah.
Colorado and Tennessee following
suit. many Of the western arlt middle
west cities looked with more favor
upon things pugilistic. Then, too, the
French people took up boxing and
formed federation for the advance
ment Of the sport at the same time
arranging a working agreement with
the New York state boxing commits
sion TO protect clubs and patrons
against fakes, etc,
The escapades of lack Johnson, the
colored champion heavyweight, are
we'll known to all followers of sport.
johnson did the boxing game much
harm, as far as men of his own color
are concerned, and it will be some
lime before they recover from It.
Jack could have been almost as popu5
lar as any of the white champions had
he hal the good Judgment to remain
where he belonged, but he didn't
However. he still retains the title de-
spite the fact that he has. been de-
| throned by the foreign Federation, but
the chances are good for him forfeit
| ing the same before long. The search
for white hopes has not been very
successful, although some very prom
ising material has been developed
and the Indications are that within
another five years there VIII be some
real white. neayies who VIII be able
TO hold their own against all corners,
black or white.
The midsileweights have fine mix
up and seem unable to fix upon any
one man as the real successor to the
late Stanley Ketchel It has been im-
possible to arrange a tournament for
claimants and as yet there Is no re.
cognized title holder, although it has
simmered down to about four mem
Jack Dillon, Jimmy Clabby, Eddie Nc
Goorty and either Frank Klaus or
George Chip. OF the entire lot Clab.
by. Dillon and McGoorty look the
cIassiest.
The welterweights are about as bad
~ mixed as the miGsiles Ray Bron-
son, the Hoosier boy. was conceded
the honor year ago, but then came
claims from Packey Mcfarland and
Mike Gibbons, but the latter cannot
make the weight, while Packey wants
20 remain lightweight However, il
Mcfarland wanted to become weIter.
weight champion no one would dis
ppte his right to it. With Mcfarland
out there are other claimants, among
them being Kid Graves, Kid Ferns,
Mike Glover and Spike Kelly.
Willie Richie hangs on to the light.
weight title of America, while Freddy
Welsh has a clear claim to the cham
pionship of Great Britain and Austria.
liza. although he cannot hold the lat.
ter title unless a resident of that
country for q certain length Of time.
Richie had a chance to become
worlds champion when he was match.
ed with Welsh at Vancouver, but
Willie let the money part of it inter.
fere and passed up chance to an
mex a big title. .-.. :.
In the featherYeight class there is
no one to approach the present title
holder, Johnny Kilbane of Cleveland,
Ohio. Johnny outshines all the pres
ent feathers. There have. been re-
ports Of Johnny Joining the light.
weight class. but ne denies the rumor
and says he viii stick to the 1872
FOUNDERS for while at least, as he
can make the weight easily and be at
his best.
The. bantamweights are all fighting
for chance at Johnny Coulon's
crown. anl Kid Williams, the Balti-
more boy, has claimed the title. The
claim is a good one-that is, if John
ny intended to retire. hut the Chicago
boy has returned TO the ring after an
absence of six months. due to illness.
Williams and Coulon will meet next
spring for what should be the worlds
title as Williams beat the titleholder
OF Europe -Charlie Ledoux-and Cou-
lon is the legitimate champion Of
| America -