Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-21
DID He PROVE II?
ASKS CORBETT Of
JOHNNY K|LBANE
Expert Weighs Testimony Of
Both Sides as 10 Whether
He Refuted the "Good-big-
man" Theory
uy James ). corheti, Former Heavy

(By James J. Corbett. Former Heavy
weight Champion Of the World.l
New York, Dee. ts.-Fcathcrweight
Champion Johnny kllbane's first at
tempt to upset the popular theory
that good big man enn always beat
good little man WAS more or less
successful according 10 the various
viewpoints and preIudices ~ the spec
tatorH while the feather champion
was given draw with his heavier
opponent. several accounts of the bat
tie infimnted that the decision was
hardly fair to Mandot Then there
are others, possibly influenced by
friendship OF local pride. who boldly
assert that Il was kllbane's fight all
the way.
owevcr, the question arises whether
Johnny, has accomplished what he set
cut 20 do-~-io determine II he has a
chance with the best Of the is3-pound
class. II was for that reason kllbnnc
did not select soft thing for his task
Of breaking in as a lightweight.
In Mnndots present form. the
feathorw sight champion was unques-
ilonably meeting one OF the best boys
In that division. Joe has been box
ing Ia better form the last year than
at any time IN his career lie has
learned apparently to make the most
OF the gifts nature has endowed him
with. and has discarded his former
habit OF mixing II with huskicr and
hpdcr hitting opponents. Mandot Is
fast and scientific boxer and thus
equipped ought to hold his own over
any route from ten to twenty rounds
with the best In the division.
Whether Kilbane Is satisfied with
the showing he made against Mandot
viii no doubt be evident N his future
match making For Il Is a well
known fact that Johnny has for some
time entertained the intention Of re-
firing from the ranks OF the feathers
as the task Of making weight re-
uuIrcd has become an exceedingly ar
duous and iaborioua If not an lmpvssi-
mrnls IN the matchmaking line VIII
be- watched closely by his rivals
among tho feathers aa wei las the
fans throughout the country.
Mct.o,crn Did H.
should kilbnne 80 ahead with his
plans for Invading the lightweight
| cluAs and ever realize his ambition Of
becoming champion OF the division he
/ will have accomplished something
none OF his predecessors was success
full at alihouhg many Of them have
attempted the feat at different times
In the past few decades. The only in
stance I can recall OF u fcathcrwcight
champion defeating decislvcly the
recognized lightweight tltleholder was
whnn Terry McGoxern stopped Frank
Ernc al Madison Square Garden In
1900 But IN that battle lsrne, while
naturally rather light for a champion
OF that division. WAS compelled to
make something like 12s pounds ring
side and was so weak from the effort
/ that he was In no shape to stand off
tho riishes OF .1'erflbe Terry. Sew
/ ,tdl times during his career McGovern
took incuralpns into the lightweight
camp ana notable among his achieve
mcnts WIS the defeat Of Joe Guns IN
two rounds AZ Chicago Il few months
after his success over i.rnc, llnt ~
Il great deal Of naaty talk was turned
loose after thai fight the great litilo
scrapper was robbed OF the glory
arising from such feat, whether
there was anything crooked about the
mill or not haven't any idea, but !
do know Il stands on record that Me-
Govern knocked Clans out In less than
two rounds
Abe Attell Successful.
Abe Attel was another feather
weight ttlehoider who frequently
went out OF his class 10 set matches
and to his credit ii must be said he
generally made good. Abe and Bat
4 Nelson fouEht fifteen-round draw
in San Francisco only a few months
before Bat beat Clans for the light
/ weight title. So II no further evidence
was displayed IN his brilliant record
Il could be judged from this battle
I alone that Atteil was a great little
scrapper and might, had he aspired
| to il. have won the highest honOrs in