The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-11
kBy James J. CorFett, Former Heavy weight Champion of the Worldly
 Especial to the Evening Farmer.)

Especial to the Evening Farmer.) New York, April Him Coffroth is very pessimistic concerning the fu- ture of boxing in California. Now that the women have been given the voting franchise in the Golden state it begins to look as if the sport will have a hard battle for it's life. But Jim has not given up hope entirely. He has a p1an-Jeems always as a bright lad-by which he fondly hopes to beat the ladies to it by having the legislature pass a little bill he has drafted, which calls for a commission to regulate the sport the New York Wisconsin Montana Cincinnati plan The principal difference will be that his bill will eTnbody all the lat est improvements. By that is meant that the weak points of the laws regu- 1ating the sport by commission in oth- CT states will be eliminated and that California will profit by the rnistalxesi and experiences of other communities in that respect.
 Comroth has saved the sport in the past from attacks of professional re- formers and greed of hungry male politicians; it remains to be seen whether he will be forced to take the count in the bout with the fair sex
 Speaking of Coffrath, he again gave evidence that he is a pretty good judge
  York several weeks ago Jim told me to keep an eye on Billy Murray, the Sacramento midd1eweight, whom he predicts will develop into a second Stanley Ketchel.i Jim said he would not be greatly surprised if Murray were to stop Jimmy C1abby. Not that he looked for any such result, as he Believed the Indiana boxers clever ness and experience ought to earn the verdict but he would not be astonish- -7-<,v
 Murray did well enough to get a draw with C1abby, who is considered by many experts about the best of the 1nidd1eweights- At any rate out in California where he had beaten all corners until he bumped into Murray, Jimmy was allowed to get away with. his titu1ar claims. And, even in the East C1abby is thought pretty well of In fact, Mike Gibbons is the only box CT rated higher than Clabby in the estimation of experts in this locality.
 Looks as if Coffroth, pretty nearly called the turn. When a newcomer can jump right out with veteran of CIabby's skill and earn a draw in the opinion of Referee Jim Griffin there must be considerable class there all
 But to equal the sensational winning streak of the lamented Ketchel Mur- ray will have to be little short of wonder Stanley, as followers of the
 
 chance with Joe Thomas in a twenty round bout at Marysv1Ile, Cal. Joe was then right on the top wave and head ed for the championship. KetchePs showing was good that there was nothing to 1t but another match For the first time in his career Steve as he was dubbed by his pals, then could afford plenty of 'eats'' and the right kind of training. Result was he stop ped Thomas-who was real fighter foo-after thirty-two rounds of the fercest milling Ca1ifornians had seen in years Yes, and he broke Thomas heart as we'll Joe was never able to get over that beating although he did succeed in going twenty rounds with KetcheI a few months later. But Stan ley was one of those fellows who liked 10 touch only the high spots when he had the price and he was not in the well known pink of condition at the time. which probably explains Joe's s success in weathering twenty rounds. A few months later Ketchel put ThoT1as out in two rounds.
 The only defeat Stanley met with fin his own class was that given him 7y Billy Papke in eleven rounds. It was all a question of condition with Ketche1- When he was in shape he outclasSed them aAL
 Murray may not be another Ketchel as Coffrath seems to think, but there is no denying that he must be reck- Oned contender for the middle weight Championship from now on. Any youngster who can knock out that sturdy campaigner, Leo Houck, and hold the clever Clabby to draw must be figured in the running
 WiIlie Ritchie and Tommy Murphy next Friday night. It has been a long time coming, but it now looks as if nothing will happen to prevent these boys from settling the question of SUI perforffy. Here in the East few give ssFIax4ezn Tommy look-in. But cut KH=e the sports have a higher regard for his fighting ability. Funny thing. isn't it? In New York where Murphy has always lived he is no longer reck- oned a first asssligfatweight And ir San Francisco, where he was born and Brought up, they do not think so high 1v of the champion while regarding Tommy genuine contender for the title.
 Looks to me as if Tommy is takine his last long chance Likely he vii decide to quit the game if decisivel1 beaten. He is pretty we'll fixed in thi. worlds goods, and is a veteran O. twelve years milling. When at hi best he never had the chance to bo1 for the title. It is rather late in the day for him now, but still one never can tell. Pugihsm furnishes man1 surprises, and the unexpected happens frequently.
 But on all dope and every, common sense way of figuring fighters th' champion looks a mortal cinch.
 Billy Gibson is not lost to boxing il Gotham after all. Instead of retiring as he seriously contemplated, the gen fa1 Billy has organized a new boxins cIub-to- be known as the Stadium A C., and taken lease the St. Nicho las rink in West 66th street. This f where the McMahon brothers helt forth for several seasons.