The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-21
C0RBEH DEFENDS PACKEY
 M'FARLAND ON GIBBONS ROAST
Former Champion Comments On Ring
 side News For Farmer Readers

up in the fight game.'' And in the same paper Reddy says that f'McFar-, land hasn't made weight for fight on the level in years.''
 Now I don't know just why the match fell through. The generally accepted explanation is that McFar- land wanted more money than Gib- bons was willing to concede him. And without going too far into details re- garding Gibbons popularity and his ability to draw the big money, it is only fair to Mcfarland to say that fig turing on a strictly. business basis he is worth more money to a promoter than his St. Paul rival.
 Mcfarland has shown in New York a dozen times or more. And in every instance has made. good. Altogether Packey is the most popular boxer and
 best box office attraction that has ap-
 peared in New York in many years Gibbons has boxed here seven or eight
 times probably. But he has never
 broken any capacity records. And
 in one of his battles-that with Eddie McGoorty-Mike's reputation for skill and courage received a. hard jolt. In fact, Gibbons has not been very pop ular with local sports since that time True, the victory over Bob, McAE >ster helped to reinstate him in the good
 graces of the public, but it would take a few more fights with men of his own weight and reputation to wholly re- establish himself. s4
 If Gibbons; takes the stand that he is worth as much money, strictly a
 money drawer, fass Mcfarland, then he is in the, wrong. McFarIandt would be the big card in the proposed match.
 For every man who would pay to see Gibbons there would be three or more kicking in because Packey would be one of the principals. sss ;, E Reddy's~ assertion that Mcfarland 1 is "oneg of the worst falzirs, etc. is pretty strong language. doubt very much if Reddy said it,. but if he did then he should be made to prove l the truth of 1t Around New Y ork 1Packey MeH HArIand has never been suspectedsSof pulling anything wrong | in his contests and he has fought Fsome of his most important battles here. Mcfarland is not to be1censur- l ed for den1anding fair return for his Iappearaffce in a contest with Gib- bons in which he would be compelled to concede weight to an opponent
 second only to himself in point o1 skill. If McF'ar1and is, as Reddy says a welter-weigllt who has made his jreputation by beating Hghtwefghts ] what about Gibbons? How many stal l niddla-weigl1ts has Mikenaet to date Only Ed McGoorty that can think l of. And the less said about tha- meeting the better for Mike. JacE l Dillon and Frank Klaus tried to ge I OI1DDOnS many J1IncS, DuDs NdlK0 dIWdyi wanted something softer.
 Now am a great admirer of Glib bons at that I believe he is a bet l ter fighter than he himself realizes | [ consider him the class of the mid
 d1e-weigTrt division, despite the fac that he is at his best a few pound.
 under the so-called 15S pound limit 1 Mikes greatest handicap has beer lack of confidence, or over-supp1y O. 1 caution, don't know what on. I should term it. Something is wrenE l with him, however, or he would hay,
 been generally acknowledged middle
 weight champion before thfs,5 believe But at 145 pounds it is 8 question i he could outright Mcfarland over an, l distance. Packey is the cleverer boxe and while he has not the force be hind his punches Gibbons possesses i is quite probable his greater exper iences ring generalship and scienc, Iwol1d more than. offset any advantag'
 Gibbons might have in poundage ant hitting ability.
 I JAS. J. JEFFRIES