Evening star., 1914-01-25

way I believe 1 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 l had
glimpsed in many years. After watch
ing him polish off several second-raters
advised him to 20 out after the middle
weight title and suggested Eddie NC
Goorty as the fellow in particular to
shoot at. The result OF the McGoorty-
Gibbons conflict was a disappointment to
me. At the weights really thought Glib
bons would prove the winner. Mind you,
I 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 he Shouid
have attempted, and as a big forfeit was
up he overdid the training in his anx-
iety to reduce. with the result that he
was several pounds below the mark call
ed for.
Gibbons. also, was too light. In Mikes
case, however. it appeared to me more
nervousness than anything else Whlch
accounted for the poor showing. several
times he had opportunities to make him
self a 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-
mier middlewelght of the country.
Gibbons excuse for his miserable show
ing was illness. That being the case. -e
should never have fought at all, Tor II IS
by their achievements that the public
.,
and the "what-might-have- 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 wonderfully
clever boxer and a star at avoiding pun
isbment. 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 he
ran across student of the game. Mike
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 versatile cuss in the ring. He prob
ably knows more about sclentinc nSht-
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 hlm
Mike is to box Packey Mcfarland
shortly. That will be in the nature of a
handicap match and with such clever
experts it is bit risky to attempt to
forecast the result in a limited round
contest Anyhcw, the bout. while prob
ably the most attractive box office caro-
that could be staged in New YORK. WIN
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
weight title. know Mike is anxious to
get George Chip in the ring. and II 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 m ddleWeight division did not ap-
peal to Michael at all-at ALL
| But nov he wants to box anybody and
everybody who can make 1873 Tngside.
SO he AYERS. Mike prefers Chip because
George is in the limelight as 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 McGoor,y out Of it Cont know
of any fighter in the middleweiSht class
who can beat Ciibbons--that is, the Glib
| bons who fought McAllister. 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 peat hin 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 endeavscins to bring about
Clabby Gibbons match-for twenty
rounds-on the coast some time next
| month. After he gets through with the
Mcfarland bout-which means big money
| to him-tiibbons 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
dleweight supremacy may be settled to
every ones satisfaction within the next
| few months.
The dark horse of the class is Jack
Dillon, the Indianapolis boxer. If Dillon
| is a 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.