Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-18
BY T. s. ANDREWS.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Star
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, July Little
Johnny Ertle, the St. Paul bantam
weight star, has rival in his chase
after the bantam championship in the
person of Billy Bevan, youngster OF
Wilkes Barre, Pa. The latter is a
legitimate bantamweight. being able to
scale 116 pounds ringside easily, which
is considered the American standard
for that class, although the European
limit is 11s pounds Kid Williams. the
present world title holder. has stated
side for a legitimate challenger and
for side bet and purse. OF late, how
ever. the Kid has been holding out for
11s pounds ringside. Billy Bevan is
well thought of around Pennsylvania,
and his friends are willing to back him
to the extent of $1,000 for cham
pionship match. His manager, Harry
ORawe Of Wilkes-Barre, sends the fol-
lowing communication in regard to the
matter:
II have been trying to get recogni-
ton from the champion. Kid Williams,
but have been ignored. My boy, Billy
Bevan, has the ability to beat the
champion Cat least we think SO here),
and are willing to back him to the ex-
tent Of $4,000 for forty-f1ve-round
bout or real championship battle
over the marathon route. The weight
must be 116 ringside, which is the
American standard. All I ask Is a
fair referee. and he can select any one
from Edward Smith, Chicago; Billy
Recap or Frank O'Brien, Philadelphia
T. S. Andrews. Milwaukee, or any one
to be mutually agreed upon. The back
ing we have is in the good United
States greenbacks, or gold if they want
it. and the money is ready any time
they can arrange the match"
1t is seldom that bantamweights can
demand such big stakes, but from in
formation at hand the hackers of
Bevan are sincere in their effort to get
Williams into championship contest.
1t might be good dope to match up
Johnny Ertle and Bevan first and let
the winner fight the Baltimore kid
for the title.
Jim Coffey. the New York heavy
weight, who seeks a match with Jess
Willard for the championship, has been
| matched with Sandy Ferguson at Bos-
ton. August 10. over the twelve-round
route. There was a time when Sandy
was mighty tough proposition for any
of the heavies, but neglect of his condi-
ton put him in bad more than once
The Boston man has fought most Of
the big stars and when right he did not
have to take back seat, either in hit
ting or science. He is well along in years
now, being thirty-six. His last bout of
York. May %. 1913. when he fought
a ten-round draw. He has been fight
ing since 1898. Sandy Is not agile
enough for young giant like Coffey,
but he will no doubt make Jim extend
himself for a time and at the same
time give him kood workout.
The Denver promoters have not yet
given up the idea of bringing Freddy
Welsh, the lightweight champion, and
a title match over the twenty-round
route. The two stars have been near a
match for some time, but the demands
Of Welsh for $4,000 for his end pre-
White does not consider $4,000 enough
for his end and the promoters do not
care to risk anything beyond $4,000,
which, with expenses, would bring the
total close up to 100000. Cal Cheairs is
at the head of the movement to get
them together and he hopes to make
Welsh and his manager. Harry Pollok,
see things in a different light. IT
Freddy comes down in his demand to
about s13,5oo there will be a good
nified his intention Of accepting a sum
around the three-thousand-dollar mark,
just to get a crack at the title in a
long fight. The plan is to stage the
the soil products exposition in Septem-
Der, when there would be thousands of
visitors to that city. Let us hope that
the promoters succeed In having a
championship match, If only once in
fifteen months.
Victor Mclaughlin. the big heavy
weight, who was boosted around as
great white hope after he boxed six
rounds with Jack Johnson, ex-cham-
pion. at Vancouver, B. c.. March 10,
1909, has appeared in England as a
new heavyweight star. Victor 10 no