Evening journal., 1915-03-25
Welsh F|RST-CbASS
Scientific boxer
Freddie is a Defensive Cham
pion Who Believes in
Safety First
AHEARN'S MAKES
RAPID SUCCESS


If the assertion recently made that
"a boxing champion is one who never
backs away from an opponent" was
based on fact, then the list OF cham
pions during the last quarter Of
century would be cut to the vanishing
point The declaration in question
was made with the object OF casting
asparagus on Freddie Welsh. unques-
tionably defensive boxer of the first
rank. It is true that Wolshs style
OF boxing detracts from the interest
of the onloOkers, but there Is no more
reason why Welsh should be asked to
stand toe to toe with opponents and
exchange wallops than there was for
asking several other famous fighters
to do so.
Examples Of the defensive cham
| pion are numerous. and Jim COrbett,
doubtless the clevorest heavyweight
in the history of boxing. furnishes an
| Illuminating instance. II will be re-
membered that "Jawn" l.. Sullivan
was extremely angry at New Orleans
in 1892 because Corbett would not
stand still long enough to permit
Jawn TO swing one of his celebrated
sleep punches on Pompadour Jim's
! jaw. Corbett insisted on skipping
about like a grasshopper, and content
ed himself with iabbing Jawn on the
beak at frequent intervals.
Corbett never went to close quar-
ters with any Of his opponents. but
backed away any time he thought it
best for his own safety. Yet Corbet
was justly regarded as one OF the best
examples of the scientific boxer in the
history of the ring
Other Notable Boxers. 4
Among other notable boxers who
never hesitated TO back away If they
considered il a matter of safety first
may be mentioned Jim Driscoll. the
sensational British featherweight: j.
Kilbane, present featherweight cham
pion of America; Abe Attell, former
champion. Young Ahearn, leading
candidate for the middleweight title:
Mike Gibbons. the ST. Paul Ghost;
Jimmy Clabby. Eddie Campi. Young
Griffo, the marvellous Australian, and
scores of others. These clever men
are not asked to stand still and be
hit. Therefore, why should the de-
mand be made of Welsh.
Il is not to be denied that the
rusher and slugger is the more popu-
lar with the public.
Fighters of the Terry McGovern,
Kid Williams, Kid Lavigne, Stanley
Ketchell. Bob Ftzsmmons type, are
better liked because of the thrills
their performances cause, but Il is
idle 10 ask all the clever chaps to
change their STYLE for they can't do
it.
Therefore, give Freddie Welsh a
chance to fight in his own way. In
cidentally the man who takes the
lightweight crown from Welsh will
have TO possess more fighting vim
than Ritchie. Cross, White or Shu-
grue. Jack Britton is the nearest ap-
proach TO the combination of gener-
alship, science and hitting required
to beat Welsh. but Britton appears to
have been ostracized by the British
champion and all the American light
weights in the bargain.
Brisk Elimination.
When il comes 10 lightweight elimi-
nation. more has been done in that
line in the past few months than for
two years previously. The first lead
ing candidate for the title to have
the skids put under him was Joe Riv-
( ers. and IL was done by a modest
. lightweight OF Brooklyn named
. frankie Callahan. Judging by the
hard tussle that Callahan gave John
b ny Dundee recently, the Brooklynite's
, victory over Rivers was no fiuke
Next in line to get the hook was
/ Gilbert Gallant, and a hard-hittine
New Englander who had twice beat.
en- Leach Cross and was looked OF
as a formidable contender for the
title. Sam Robideau of Philadelphia
put Gallant out In the fourth round
, with a blow over the heart, and ther
the Quaker loomed large on the cham.
7 pionship horizon.
J But his ascension was shortiived
for Charley White. the Chicago light.
. weight. dropped RObldeau for the ful
count IN the first round
Ahearn's Rapid Progress.
The progress made by Younf
Ahcarn in his chase for the middle.
, weight title has been little else but
. remarkable When Ahoarn left
America for ENGLAND he did not lool
like a good proposition as a middle.
I weight contender. for he had beer
. stopped IN four rounds by Mike Glib.
bOns and I'm eight rounds by Packcy
Mcfarland. But there is no question
that a boxer may be knocked out and
- siil go on 10 success. for Ahearr
after beating all the middlowoight as.
2 pirants In Europe. returned 10 Amer.
y lea and has been doing sensational
j work against the best men in IN,
class. His OuipOinting OF Clabby wa.
Il striking evidence Of Ahoarn's pres
a cnt form and the fact that ne gav,
Il Jack Dillon. a formidable heavy
. weight. all he desired. also goes 4,
show that Ahearn is IN rare form
II he gets away with McGoort,
:, and Gibbons In no-decision bouts h
. certainly will be In the front ran
p Of the grabbers for the title.
Poor Mr.. NOlgast.
lE Ad Wolgast Is called "the unluch
y lest pugilist I'm ring history" but
'' seems 10 as that Ad isn't such "a
unlucky fellow after all True. A
10 has suffered more physical injuric
than any other fighter IN the gami
but despite the handicap of njuric
: and illness on the eve Of imporfar
. bouts he has amasscd fortune. al
~ most equal 10 that of any man VIII
D. ever entered the fighting business.
Here Is lis of the most seriou
r injuries that Wolgsst has nfferc
r since he began lighting in 1906:
ID l9o6-liis left ear caulifowercd.
1907 Ills right ear scrambled.
190S-Bones in both hands broke