Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-01
MANY UPSETS IN
PUCILISTIC RING
Several New Champions Have
Been Made in Roped Arena
in the Year 1914.
JOHNSON RETAINS CROWN
Freddie Welsh and Kid Williams Win
Titles-Clabby Looked Upon as
Successor to Ketehel.

With the passing OF the year of 1914
the sporting writer's who delve in
things pugilistic have summed up the
noteworthy events that have featured
the last IL months IN the domain OF
pugilism. First and foremost in the
category OF history making happen
ings is the fact that only two ring
champions have changed hands.
Willie Richie has been stripped Of
his light weight toga and the crown
now adorns the curly pate OF slim
limbed Freddie Welsh of Wales.
kid" Williams. a heavy handed
Dane OF Baltimore, has succeeded
Johnny Coulon as the reigning ruler
of the midgets in pugilism- Williams
won the bantam championship whcl
he stopped COulon with a punch III
the third round of their scheduled
2O-round contest at Los Angeles. June
9 last.
Still King Of Heavies.
Jack johnson still is the king
among the heavyweights. and his
rule is likely to continue indefinitely.
There is serious talk of "A champion
ship match between Johnson and Jess
Willard but so far the negotiations
have not progressed beyond the sign
ing of articles. Jack Curly. famous
as a wrestling promoter; Tom Jones.
manager of Willard. and Two or
three eastern sporting men are in
terested in the plan to bring about
a title bout and it is possible that they
may succeed in staging the match be
fore many more months elapse. Right
now the men in the project are looking
out for a fertile spot in which TO put
on the bout
In reviewing the years events in
the heavyweight division the care /
full historian viii call passing atteu- F.
ton 10 the untimely downfall of the
accepted white hope champion. Gun .
boat" Smith Sam Langford definitely 4
disposed of the Gunner" when he /
laid him low in the third round of a !
contest at Boston few weeks ago.
In the light heavyweight division .
there have been no startling develop
ments. Jack Dillon of indianapolis F.
has performed the most consistently. /
but Dillon wishe- it understood that /
he still is middleweight title CON
tender.
Among the middleweiEhts Jimmy I,
Clabby Of Hammond. Ind, now is /
looked upon as the legitimate success
sor TO the throne left vacant by the .
peerless Stanley Ketchel. Clabby has /.
whipped all the leading 15S Founders.
except Dillon and Mike Gibbons. and
so far as Dillon is concerned he will (
not be considered by Clabby for a
match until Jack VIII
agree 10 scale in at the acceV ed /
poundage. Increasing
weight makes it very doubtful if Dill
Ion ever can get down even as low as
100 pounds.
Not Received With Favor.
In the lightweight class the reign
Of Freddie Welsh is not received with
favor because he is not the type of
champion that finds approval from
boxing followers. Welsh undeniably
is a marvel of ring skill. but he does
not carry the heavy punch to make
him a popular idol
Many reports have been circulated
regarding the increasing poundage of i
Johnny Kilbane. boss of the weather
weight brigade, but if the word of a
Johnny himself is worth anything then
he can easily make 122 pounds if he
finds it necessary 10 defend his cham
Dionship. The lack OF classy 122 I
has forced Kilbane TO ac-
cent matches with lightweights II
kid" Williams. the bantam king,
Ike Kilbane, so far outclasses his
ield that he IS likely TO remain
champion for several seasons Johnny {
former title holder. is threat
sning to attempt a comeback cam s
oaign, but this talk of the Chicago {
mite Is not considered seriously. Z
" .