Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-24
CLABBY MUST BE SERIOUS
TO RETAIN STAR POSITION
Recent Scraps Have Given Him Trouble on Account
of Not Being in Condition and Taking
Things Easy

has contracted with Jack Michigan Of
Philadelphia to take Leo Houck to Frisco
for battle with a young fellow named
Billy Murray February g. Murray is
certainly a newcomer to the midd.eweight
ranks, but 1t Is not likely that Coffroth
| would match him up against a real star
like Houck unless he knew he possessed
| more than ordinary ability. for it would
slaughter. Houck has been fighting in
better form the past few months than
for year or two. and he has certainly
shown all kinds Of class in his bouts in
Philadelphia 1t is the intention of COT
froth to take the winner Of the Houck-
Murray contest and match him against
Jimmy Clabby for a championship battle
later on. Coffroth has notified them that
he will offer a belt emblematic of the
mddleweight championship.
Sam Robideau, the lightweight, is an
other boy whom McGuigan will take to
the coast with him. and Jack is of the
opinion that some of these days Robideau
| will be battling for the lightweight cham
pionship. He has certainly made an en-
viable record in the east. meeting the best
boys In his class and beating most of
them.
Johnny Coulon. the little bantam
champion Of Chicago. has made UP his
mind to take the bull by the horns and
have IT out with Kid Williams over the
marathon route: Johnny. since he came
back from the Canadian wilds. has been
testing himself and finds that he is in
pretty good shape even for a long bat
tie, but in his contest with Young Sim
nett at Racine recently he had the mis-
fortune to hurt his hand. Writing to
me regarding the matter Johnny says:
Mr.. McCarey Of Los Angeles has sub
mitted articles for q match with VIII
liams which are satisfactory. and ex-
pect that we will get together before
next fall. I had X-ray pictures taken
Of my fractured right hand. and they
show that the bones were damned
worse than the doctors thought they
were when they first examined 1t. They
tell me that 1t will be about two weeks
before l will be able to start training
again. have notified Mr.. McCarey that
I am going to box about two bouts be-
fore going to the coast. The Sinnett
contest showed me that ] need actual
work to perfect my Judgment OF st
Otherwise my condition is great, and
just as soon as can get into proper
liams. and IL he can show that he is a
better man than I am. why he is well
come to the title. but until that time
Little Johnny will wear the belt"
From the above it is evident that
Coulon and Williams wifi really meet
and decide the bantamweight title. but
from the drift Of things now it is not
likely they will get together for at
least three or four months.
The calling off. or rather postpone
ment. of the proposed match between
Mike Gibbons and Packey Mcfarland
before the Madison Square Garden Club
In New York Is to be regretted. and II
Is hoped that Billy Gibson will be able
to get them together at later date.
Packey has been accused of deliber-
money matters, but Mr.. Gibson is au-
thority for the statement that such is
not the case. It developed that the
real reason was that Packey's intended
fused to fight at that time He de-
serves all the more credit for his stand
and Mr.. Gibson did the right thing in
letting the fans know the real reason.
It is very probable that the two clever
stars will get together at later date
and try their skill in a ten-round bout
l think that Mike will have the sur
prise OF his life when he tackles the
Chicago boy. He will not meet one of
the kind he has been able to jab with
man who is just as fast and clever as
himself and who knows the game from
Alto z and back gain. It is also
good bet that Packey Mcfarland will
put up the greatest fight of his career.
Tor he wants to show the fans he has
the ability and can deliver the goods.
His tight with Jack Britton in Milwau-
kee should not be taken as a criterion
OF what he can do
On that occasion Britton fought on the
defensive most of the time and was 60
ing away whenever he did try to deliver
dow, so that II was extra hard for
man to get to him. 1t made the contest
look poor. which it was for two such
clever men. but that is not saying that
Packey will not do better against the st.
Paul star. II they meet it will be a
treat for 1t Is not SO much of a scientific
contest as many imagine.
Everything seems to be set now for
the big match Of the year-the ten-round
tilt between Ad Wolgast, the ex-cham-
pion. and Willie Richie. the present hold
er of the title, before the Queensbury
Athletic Club of Milwaukee, March 12
Both have accepted terms and have
agreed to the date. Richie is expected to
reach Chicago about March l and will in
all probability do his training there for
the battle. Henry Foley. his manager,
wired me yesterday that Willie's foot is
better and that he will do light work
from now on until he reaches Chicago,
when he will finish with some real hard
work. 1t will be Willie's first battle since
he met Leach Cross in New York last
fall, and he is sure meeting a tough prop
osition in Wolgast, for the little Michi-
gan bearcat has never shown better form
than he displayed in his bout with Rivers
recently. He is strong and can go the
distance without the least bother. The
match will be held in the big Auditorium
and prices for the same will be all the
way from 81 or So up to $40. with plenty
Of seats for all 1t is expected that dele
cations will be present from all parts of
ready being received from outside towns