New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-14
BUCKLEY SAYS
SMITH DID NOT
DODGE AHEARN
Gunboat's Manager Out
with Def to the Heavy
weights of World.
BARS MEN MANAGED
BY DAN M'KETRICk
Gives What He Asserts Is Rear
Story of Fiasco That DC.
Cured in London.

Jim Buckley, manager OF 1unooss
Smith. takes exception TO the state
ment that Gunboat Smith refused 70
box Young Ahearn in London last sum-
mer. and has come out in plain IAN
guags TO tell the boxing enthusiasts
his side OF the matter. Needless TO
say. Jim spares no words in condemn
ing what he is pleased 70 tsrn a cheap
advertising campaign launched and
promoted by Ahearn and his advisers.
Buckley denies emphstlcally that
Smith ever avoided the issue with any
man in the heavyweight class, and
saws that to-day the Gunboat STANDS
ready 10 fight any man in the wro'o'
black or white.
They are all welcome 20 the Oun-
boats game" said i'm yesterday. ne
will fight any man in the world, Win
two exceptions, over any distance az
any place. providing the promoters are
willing TO pay him what he Is WORTH
Mike Gibbons has said that he wants
10 fight the Gunner. Well, Nike IS q
nice sort OF chap, but " he feels thas
he wants 10 end his career, why that IS
for him 70 decide.
81 bar only the fighters managed By
Dan McKetrick and his associates JOG
Jeanette and Young Ahearn will never
get a chance at any man ] manage as
long as Mcketrick manages them. Ana
that goes for all his fghters.
"Ahearn and his friends returned 70
this country and declared that Smith
feared 10 meet him. He accused the
Gunner Of running out OF the match.
II i. true that Smith refused TO box
Ahearn in London, but the real reason
for his action has never been told oy
the Gunners detractors. And IN view
of many statements that have been
made in the last few months, and more
especially in the last few weeks, II Is
about time that | took the stand IN
my mans defence.
after tho affair with Carpenter
and Smith Ahearn was matched with
the Frenchman, who is Q great nghter.
Well, the war broke out, and OF course
CARPENTER was called TO the colors.
The promoters said that they would
match Smith against Ahearn, and
Jumped AZ the chance.
According TO the agreement | was
TO get 81 800 for Smith and an adj
ditionsl $3.50 for training expenses
when the articles were signed. l never
got the $3.50. Two days after We
agreed formally to hold the match |
was told that the affair was of, be-
cause there was little interest IN the
match. Then they tried 70 get me
to split $1,000 between Smith and
Ahearn. This | refused.
81 had engaged passage 20 get back
to America, but | consented TO cancel
/ it in order TO 60 through with the
/ bout, and when they declared it off
again ! was forced TO scurry about 20
get tickets for any boa. could. Finally
/ they made an offer which was far be-
/ low the original. but took il up,
( figuring that half loaf was better
! than none.
Then | was told that Ahearn WAS
sick and could not meet Smith after
all. Well, / got pecved at that, and !
said that Ahesrn never had any in
tention Of meeting the Gunner, any
way. Smith had been training for the
match and was in debt. and after much
trouble | finally got $500 out OF the
promoters to pay his expenses.
The promoters wanted me TO agree
to another postponement. but refused.
| re-engaged passage and came 70 this
country on the first steamer. This is
the real story of the dealings between
Smith and Young Ahesrn in England"