Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-21
ALL EYES ON new ORLEANS
Will Be Boon to Pugilism If Cres-
cent City Twenty Round Bouts
Are Successful.
PROMOTERS SETTLE soUABBLEs

NEW ORLEANS. La. Nov. n-Box-
ing followers will view with interest the
efforts of Promoters Tommy Burns and
Dominick Tortich to make New Or
leans the pugilistic center of the coun-
try. II all goes we'll, championship
matches which have been practically
abolished since California put up the
bars will be restored and once moro the
various title holders. who have had things
30 easy of late. will be forced to defend
their honors.
OF course, ell this will depend on
whether the matches now being consid-
cred prove to be financial success
Shortly after boxing was discontinued
In California law permitting twenty
round bouts was passed In Louisiana at
the solicitation of the merchants OF New
Orleans. who believed that championship
fights would advertise their city and
bring many tourists their way. That was
over a year ago. and 30 far no big bout
has been staged In the south owing to
the fact that the promoters have been
fighting among themselves. Recently
Burns and Tortorich settled their differ
ences by joining hands and now It only
remains TO be seen whether the sport
can be made to pay in that section OF
the country.
II the plans OF the promoters 60
through. It Is probable that some now
champions will be made this winter. Ever
since California closed its gates to the
glovemen, the pampered champions have
been growing fat on ten-round bouts. and
II ls quite probable that some Of them
have forgotten TO put up a real fisht.
There Is no test like a twenty-round bat
al "A All
bane, Williams or Ertle, all OF whom
have the ten-round habit, could success-
fully defend their titles In real fights is
uncertain.
Ertle, who claims the bantam title. has
never fought over ten rounds. Kiibane
has had but one twenty-round bout since
he defeated Attel for the title. over two
years ago, and he only got draw on
that occasion. Freddie welsh has held
the lightweight title over a year and a
half and has yet 10 defend It in the only
way that counts.
Terms Offered to Welsh.
Welsh may be induced to appear at
New Orleans. as he has been offered
good terms for match with Joe Man
dot. Mandot Is a clever boxer. but he is
far from being a dangerous hitter. There
are several others whom the general
public would prefer 70 see In match
with Welsh. Mandot was chosen by the
promoters on account OF local sentiment,
Southern boxing followers are interested
only In their fayorites. and on that se-
count the selection OF the New Orleans
boxer was a good move on their part
While the promoters are figuring on
bouts in all the various
divisions. interest Is centered In the
According to Tommy
Burns, he Is anxious TO match Jim Coffey
with Fred Fulton, the winner 10 meet
Frank Moran. the survivor to tackle Jess
Willard for the title. However, WIZARDS
hackers seem to have other views. as
they are talking OF having the cham
pion meet the untried Fulton with
any preliminaries
Willard never was much OF a ten
and he probably thinks 1t would
be much wiser for him TO begin with a
few easy matches before taking any
chances. In twenty rounds he would be
almost sure to score a knockout. which
would cause any rudeneBs in his work TO
be overlooked. When Willard fights
Moran. or whoever happens TO be the
leading contender at the time. the bout
probably will be held at one Of the local
open air clubs