The Washington herald., 1914-09-07
kid WILLIAMS
WORLDS BEST
Baltimore Bantam-weight the
Greatest Fighting Machine
in His Class Today.
HE DETHRONES THEM ALL
Fast Little Dane Has Met and De-
feated Fighters from All the
Leading Nations.
HE DETHRONES THEM ALL

American sportsmen can truthfully boast
that the present bantam-weight cham
pion is the greatest little fighting machine
for his pounds and inches in the world
today. Few know John Gutenko, a little
tow-haired fellow who was born in Copen-
hagen, Denmark, December 6, 1888 But
Kid Williams is known on two continents
he is perhaps the most compactly built
boy who has ever graced the American
ring. He will not be a man until Deeem-
Der of the present year, and yet he is
the undisputed champion of this country
and is unquestionably the best bantam
weight in the world today. His has not
been any ship-shod career. He has met
them all America, England and France
nave nominated their most dangerous
boxers 10 try and dethrone the young
Dane. but he has always emerged with
hyingr colors. If one trial was not con-
vincing, Williams was always eager for a
second and third, II necessary.
He met Johnny Coulon. who held the
bantam-weight championship for many
years. twice. The first was ten-round
exercise gallop in New York, in which
Williams SO completely sized up his oppo-
nent that when he walked TO his dressing
room he smiled and said: 'I will be the
next champion Of America" The next
time they met was in a California ring
TO go over the tweRty-round route Sam
Harris, who manages Williams, was
obliged to give CoulOn 81, 900 to affix his
name 10 the articles of agreement. The
gift was only in testimony of Williams
eagerness to get crack at the champion
and his confidence to winN The bout end
ed inside the limit, Williams winning by
a Knockout. He was then undisputed
champion Of America.
Trims English ChanH
During his climb up the pugilistic lad
der. Williams outclassed Johnny Hughes,
the British bantam-weight champion;
fought Charley Ledoux, the French title
holder, twice beating him in a sensational
finish over the siX-round route in this city
and stopping the clever, hard hitting
Frenchman in fifteen rounds at Vernon,
Cal. He met Eddie Campi. the elusive lit
tie Californian, twice. winning once in
twenty rounds and the second time in
twelve rounds. Williams gave frankie
Conway two trials. Young Diggins had
two chances TO match his skill with the
new champion. Battling Ready and Young
were so insistcnt that they could
beat the little Dane that they each took
three trials and were forced TO acknowl-
eoge defeat In fact, Williams has met
every boxer of his class in the country
excepting Young Herman, of Pekin, Ill.
Herman, through his manager, Frank
Calvin, has repeatedly challenged the
champion, but there has always been a
dispute over the weight question. Will
Jams always insists on 1l6 pounds ringside
He makes the weight himself and does
not ask any opponent to concede an
ounce.
What does Williams possess that has
enabled him to reach the pinnacle of his
class in the ring world before he has
rea ched his majority? He has every al
tribute which a man should possess who
aspires to be a champion. Sturdiness Of
body. stoutness of heart, ability to give
and take punishment, relentless in his ag-
gressiveness and an awkward-like defense
which blocks leads and counters in a rapid
fashion. These are assets which, when
coupled with perfect physical condition,
spell victory. 1t is the wonderful aggres-
siveness Of the little fellow which keeps
his opponents backing up and enables him
to score so frequently.
Ii Credit to Ring.
He is a clean-cut type of athlete, mod
est, unaSsuming. never boastful and a
credit to the American ring. Like many
professional athletes he has a supersu-
tious side to his nature. When he first
started to train for ring battles, he wore
a little turban cap strapped up on the
sides. He has never ambled through the
ropes for a contest. whether 1t be for six
or twenty rounds, without wearing that
cap. Perhaps it is the only
one of its kind in existence. Williams
says it is a mascot. He has never lost a
bout when he wore it. AS 1t has always
been associated with the Dane and can be
seen before he is visible, as he edges his
way through the crowd, 1t has sort of be-
come part of his fighting paraphernalia.
He feels comfortable and confident with it
and who knows but if he failed to wear
it he might be dropped for the count.
If Young Herman, who is clamoring for
a bout, wants to start with some edvan-
tage, he had better plan to spirit the little
turban cap away. Williams has never
been beaten with it American sports