Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-09
PUGS TOO OFTEN CONDEMNED
Money They Get for Fighting is
Necessary in Their Business.
GIBBONS TRUE SPORTSMAN
~. Paul wisard IN the RinE for
Fun OF ~ and Turns Down
Handsome offers 60 Go
60 Antipodes.
nv RINGsIDE.

NEW YORK, Aug. I'll nose en8Hbeu IN
he boxing profession are, TO a man, too
often and too readily condemned for their
mercenary procllvites. True, the game
Is conducted purely on a commercial
basis. but once in q long while there APP
pears a fighter who dons the gloves solely
for the physical benefit to be derived
therefrom.
We are about 20 expose as such a man
who ranks high-exceedingly high-in the
resin game. lie is acknowledged the peer
of pugIlists In two divisions In fact, he
is rated the cieverest boxer in the game
today. We refer TO none other than
Michael Gibbons, affectionately termed
the "st. Paul Wizard" Ghost 'Phan-
tom" and other things OF the mystic
realm
Il undoubtedly comes as a surprise TO
be informed that Mike Gibbons lie not in
the game for the money he can extract
from the guillible public by exhibiting
pair OF pad-encased gloves In the ring.
Nevertheless, Gibbons has shown that he
IL not money fighter. That probably
ACCOUNTS for his many months OF pas
siveness during the year.
Gibbons is such classy performer that
ne can get engagements as often as once
a week. year in and year out He can
command sums OF from $1,000 to $4,000 a
fight. according to the proves OF his OPP
ponent. Yet he does not engage in more
than half dozen fights during the sea-
son.
Reveals True Sentiment.
Il was not untn tho other day that
Gibbons revealed his true sentiments re-
garding his ring work. He received an
offer Of $4,000 from Australia to engage
sn three fights ia tho Antipodes. Yet no
turned down the proposition with the la
comic cabiegram. Cant accept; engage
ments at home prevent"
Dissecting this cablegram. one IL led "a
believe that Gibbons has so many fights
scheduled in this country that he cannot
afford to make a trip to the other SIDE oil
the world and clean up q tidy sum. Far
from Il, Gibbons really meant home
The underlying cause OF Gibbons re-
fusal Ia that he is home-loving man.
He cares more for his wife and their two
''kiddies" than he does for the ring To
Journey all the way to Australia would
be 20 Inconvenience the little family; and,
rather than break up house, Gibbons has
nstiy spurDed neat little fortune.
So. II any Of the boxing promoters of
these United states do not receive Ia
vorable answers whom offering Gibbons
huge sums to appear In the ring. they
will know the reason for this. They will
know that he prefers to sit az the firesido
and spar off with the tykes than he docs
10 endanger a happy fathers face 10 the
uRreleuting blows OF merciess oppon-
ent.
0utcIanses ALI.
The queer part OF II all IL that Gibbons
30 far outciasses anyone in the welter'
weight and middleweight divisions tina
he could so through a score OF contesti
without receiving even scratch. Ye
he shuns II all TO enjoy domestic life.
Since the invasion OF Australia b.
American fighters there has been al
everlasting demand on tho part OF thu
Antipodes enthusiasts TO sec Gibbons II
action. Through the public press the,
had learned that Gibbons was a maste
boxer. and that no stood at the head o
both the weller and middleweight classes
Hut the Australians are doomed to disap
p0intment IN more ways than one.
First. Gibbons will not fight In tina
faraway land; secondly. there will be
rapid exodus OF Yankee ''pugs' from tn
Antipodes within two weeks. Jeff Smitl
ana Harry stone have arrived home
while Jimmy clabby, Eddie McGoorty
Young Shugrue. Milburn saylor and 10
welding will leave for these shores in
fortnight.
clabby and McGoorty have fulfille
their contracts with SNOWY" Baker. an
win fight no more there this trip. shs
grue. sayior and yelling each has a ffgl
on his hands before they can get ava
and Clabby ana McGoorty are Just wal
ing for their comrades TO pack up.
stone Gathers Profit.
Harry stone. who Is a productsof Ne
xokk'a East side is home after a success
ful stay In Australia. and tour OF En
land Stone profited rather handsome
on the other side. cleaning up In Il
neighborhood OF $4,000. and comm
through series OF bouts without dofes
lie disposed OF such good men as joint
Summers. Matt Wells. Herb Mccoy al
Hushie Michigan.
rstcne. Immediately upon hitting Unit
States sod, put in q claim for the welte
weight championship. and is ready 70 d
fends il against Packey Mcfarland.
Rackeys young bride has no objeetlo
Stone admits he IL the real owner OF q
title. for he unblushinsly signs pictu
postcards OF himself thusiy;
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