The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-02
. sPoRToeRAPHY.
BY "Gravy."
Who Is MlddIeweleht Champion


Who is middleweight champion?
Mike Gibbons claimed the honor when
he defeated Jimmy clabby. AL Nc.
Coy asserted that. he was the only
bona flde champion when he won his
lucky punch victory over George
Chip. Some six or sixteen other fight
crs lay claim to the honor. II titles
are TO be won by fighting proves, the
st. Paul phantom, on the basis of the
returns, seems 10 have the best case.
Technically, however. AL Mccoy has
the shade, although. the self-styled
champion probably wouldn't stand
q chance against Mike in the ring.
Al Mccoy traces his descent as
champion from the; Frank Klaus line.
1t was two years ago this week, on
March 8, 1913. that klaus won on
foul from Billy Papke In Paris, and
laid claim to tho worlds middle
weight title. Tho Pennsylvania Ger
mau had defeated Georges Carpen.
tier and Marcel Moreau, and was the
admitted champion OF Europe. When
he returned TO the United States
later that year, Klaus was knocked
out by George Chip. in the sixth round
! at Pittsburgh, and In return en-
gaGement Chip again won by knock.
out. Chip figured that that made him
middleweight champion, and publicly
admitted az much. Then last April
AL Mccoy knocked out Chip in the
first round In New York, and since
then Al has claimed the leadership
Of the division.
So far. SO good But where did
Billy Papke get the tito which he
lost to Klaus? We'll, when Ketchcl
was murdered In 1910 papke was rec.
ognied as the best middleweight at
large, aud he claimed that the title
reverted to him. He didn't keep It
long. however, for late in 1910 he lost
to Dave Smith. the Australian fighter,
in Sydney. Dave then assumed the
honors. which he was entitled to do IL
the "reversion" theory holds good.
Smith defended the title against Jim.
my Clabby and Cyclone Johnny
Thompson, both OF whom he defeated
In twenty-round bouts In Sydney. In
February. 1911, Papke was whipped
by Cyclone Johnny Thompson, who
also claimed the title, and in the fol.
lowing month Billy met Dave Smith
again. This time he knocked out the
Australian In the seventh round, and
the reverted" title again reverted to
Paplio. although In the meantime he
had been bested by Thompson. The
latter soon lost his title" to Bonds.
man Rice, the English boxer.
In October, 1911, Papke was de.
feated by Bob Moha in Boston. The
pudgy Bohemian soon outgrew his
title" and, anyway, he was defeated
last year by Jack Dillon, who has
also long since outgrown the middle.
weight division.
In 1919 Papke again lost his "tItle,'
this time to Frank Mantell, the Ger.
man middleweight, in 20.round bout
In Sacramento. Mantell was latter
whipped by Jack Dillon at Providence,
by Tommy Gavigan at Youngstown,
and by Pat o'Keefe at London, among
several others.
In spite Of the fact that he had
been defeated by Cyclone Johnny
Thompson, Bob Moha and Frank Man.
tell, Eapke went over to Europe In
1912 still declaring himself to be the
middleweight champion OF tho world.
By defeating Jim, Sullivan in London
and Georges Carpenter and Marcel
Moreau in France, the Illinois Thun.
derbolt somewhat bolstered up his
reputation, but he was distinctly on
the down grade when he fought Frank
Klaus in Paris two years ago. BY his
victory Klaus earned the right to
claim the European Championship.
but, In view OF the vicissltudes through
which Papke's title had passed, it is
difficult to see where Billy then had
even the shadow OF a claim on the
worlds middleweight Championship.
McCoy's ingenious theory doesn't
fool nybody-probably not even him:
self-and yet some Of the New. York
sport writer's continue to grayeIy re.
fer tosAl as the .'middleweight cham.
pion." The. only, way 70 settle the
middleweight middle is to. fight 1t