Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-05
EXPERT ANDREWS ANALYZES
RITCHIE- WHITES HOT SCRAP
Claims Champion Is Fortunate in Getting Away From
Knockout by the Chicago
. Boxer. ..---

time since real boxing contests have
been given with the sanction of the au-
thorities in Toledo. but under the COM
mission plan it was tried last week. and
from all accounts it was very successful.
The mayor and the rest of the officials
seemed pleased with the manner in which
the boxing bouts We're conducted, and 1t
Is likely that the game will continue next
fail under the same plan.
Is some one trying to put over a
big betting coup in the coming Jack
Johnson-Frank Moran contest Of twenty
rounds. booked for Paris June %? From
reports received from time to time about
would appear that some one Is anxious
to let the followers of the game know
that the colored champion is utterly unfit
for title battle and liable to lose. How
ever. a friend on the other side sends
a different version Of the affair, as fol-
lows:
Jack Johnson is reported to be quietly
training for his bout with Frank Moran
freely circulating the report that John
son is "all in may get a shock when
the clash comes off. Moran may stand
him of for twenty rounds. but l think
that Jacks cleverness will pull him
through. A story is going the rounds
that London syndicate is trying to fix
up a battle between Jack Johnson and
Sam I-angfoid for London. The news
may be true. but 1 am ready to wager
erything I possess that the clash will
never be pulled of in London. The gov
eminent authorities are dead against any
bouts of this ort. especially those that
create great deal of publicity. England
has many colonies populated by black
people and sufficient troubles already in
managing them without importing fresh
ones.
Though it is not generally known. there
were number of serious riots In India
following upon the defeat of Jim Jeffries
at Reno, and the India department here
is determined that nothing Of the sort
shall occur in England to inf1ane race
prejudices already strong. Johnson and
Langford. both being colored, do not
apparently come within its prohibition.
nevertheless | am absolutely certain that
a strong veto would be put upon the con-
test if it were contemplated for this conn
try. And you can gamble that johnson is
not taking chances with Moran. He will
be in good shape, for he likes his title
and notol.iety too much to hand 1t over
to another man.
Johnny Kilbane. the featherweight
champion. will have a real match on his
hands July 4 at Akron, Ohio when he
stacks up against Johnny Griffiths, the
lightweight of that city. Kilbane has
been threatening for some time to break
into the lightweight ranks. although
Johnny Dundee, the New York boy. and
been endeavoring to get on a match with
the champion at 122 to 1913 pounds There
have been many managers who claimed
Johnny was picking soft marks among
the featherweights, but 1t is very evident
that he is not afraid of any one in his
class and is proving it by going into the
lightweight division and meeting high
class boy like Grifiths The latter has
demonstrated OH several occasions lately
that he has the class. and if Johnny xii
bane can defeat him he will be entitled
to extra credit. 1t should be an interest
ing contest, for both boys are extremely
clever.
Benny Kaufman the Philadelphia
featherWeight, who has been making his
home in Columbus. Ohio, for some time
past has gradually been climbing to the
top of the ladder. and his manager, Nick
AlbaneSe, wants to match Benny against
any man in the world UP to 124 pounds.
Benny had real try-out last week when
he fought X. 0. Mars. the Cincinnati
boy. who was considered quite a sensa-
ton during the past winter. According
to the Columbus papers. the contest was
a good draw, but Nick Albanese claims
that the other side beat him to the wires
and had the report 90 out that Mars
shaded Kaufman. 1t Is only one more IL
lustration of managers trying to boost
their fighters by sending out reports
which are colored to suit themselves.
Jack O'Brien, the Philadelphia fighter.
who at one time held the middleweight
championship. is out with the suggestion
that the clubs get together and try to
work out some plan whereby decisions
can be given in all bouts. He says 1t will
add Interest to the contests and at the
same time prevent a lot of boxers go
ing around the country claiming victories
which really do not belong to them.
Jack suggests that three or even five.
Judges be named to give a decision.
which would take it out of the hands Of
the referee entirely. and he also suggests
that the names Of the judges be with
held from the public until the night of
the contest. There is no doubt that
O'Brien's plea for a decision in all con-
tests is a good one, but the matter will
have to be adjusted with the various
commissions before 1t can be adopted.