New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04
Reasons for Poor Show
ing of Champion in
Ring Are Manifold.
FULL NEED OF CREDIT
DUE YOUNG SHUGRUE
No More Boxing at Olympic
A. C., Newark, Says Director
of Public Safety.

All manner of excuses have been
made for the poor showing of Freddie
Welsh against Young" Joe Shugrue at
Madison Square Garden on Wednes-
day night. This is not unusual, for
when a champion fails 10 perform as
champions should dozen or more per-
fectly plausible "alibis" are kept on
tap. All sorts OF reasons have been
assigned, varying from lack of train
ing TO over training and staleness. Few
there are who have given Shugrue.
sterling little boxer, who is as clean
out of the ring as he is in it, the full
need of credit for his mastery work
in defeating most decisively the man
who has won his way to the top of the
pugilistic ladder
But all, or practically all, agree that
Welsh was soundly trounced. He was
not only outboxed when he attempted
his famou- long range work, but he
was beaten easily when ii came 10
close quarters. He flashed in the final
round and more than held his own. 1t
was that rally which caused some to
believe that he was under a pull.
Shugrue is one of the best of the
present day lightweights. He has been
in the ring for three years and has
risen from the ranks through sheer
ability. Some of the worlds best men
in his class have owned his skill. These
include Charley White. of Chicago;
Leach Cross, Milburn Saylor, Hughle
Michigan, and host of others. 1t is
not surprising then that he should
have beaten the champion in a ten
round contest.
Perhaps Welsh might have downed
the Jersey lad in twenty-round bat
tie. He may defeat him in return
match. On Wednesday he looked Ike
an old man fighting a desperate battle
against youth typified by Shugrue.
Welsh looked haggard. He was an ashy
gray and his eyes were not clear.
What a contrast there was in Shugrue
He glowed a ruddy pink, his. skin
stretched over set of whip-like mus
cles that writhed and played as he
moved about, walking on springs and
afre with confidence.
II would seem that Freddie's wind
was none too good, for he WINGED and
chung when hit about the body. II did
not take long for ShuGrue to discover
the weakness of his man, and went to
work accordingly. The many jolts in
Moran once said, at isn't the first
bottle that hurts. it's the last"
white race" is one beset with dangers.
t. &c oil hn
ence Of Jack Johnson, Sam Langford,
Joe jeanette and other well known
reefs of certain destruction to steer
clear of, but that is not all. Ever and
anon a new danger crops up. The
latest peril is Harry Wills, formerly
of New Orleans, a negro heavyweight,
who although he has only few years
of experience has won his place in
the ranks of the "black destroyers."
Wills is the man who was beaten by
Sam Langford in fourteen rounds on
Thanksgiving Day in Los Angeles.
According to Harry A. Williams. of
"The Los Angeles Times" it was only
because Wills tried to "show off" that
he was beaten. Right up until the
end he boxed Langford into kinks, beat
him from pillar 10 post, and won the
distinction Of being one Of the few
men who have ever knocked the "Tar
Baby" off his feet. -Four times Wills
sent Langford crashing to the mat.
Wills is bound for the heights. He
is possessed of prodigious strength,
terrific hitting ability, and can box like
a featherweight. He handled Langford
with ridiculous ease and had he kept
his wits about him would certainly
have won in most decisive style Lang
ford was watching for that one chance
which finally presented itself.
At the start of the twelfth round,
one spectator said: "Langford's lone
chance lay in scoring a knockout. and
the wizard-like skill with which Wills
boxed made this seem very remote"
frankie Burns has decided that he is
entitled 10 a little publicity. so he has
proclaimed himself bantamweight
champion of the world and Jersey
City. All because "Kid" Williams, the
real champion modestly demands $4,000
for a twenty-round bout. The New
Orleans promoters are willing to hold
the contest.
There is some talk of Williams en-
tering the ranks of the featherweights.
and Burns is also telling the world that
he is the best man in the class.
Sammy Smith VS.. Bobby Dawson at
the New Polo A. c.; Harry Ferns VS..
Jack Goodman, at the Pioneer A. c.:
Hughey Rodden VS.. Kohoma Kid, at the
Vanderbilt A. c.