El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-18

M defunct welterweight division is
- beginning 10 show signs of re-
suscitation. Eventually a champion may
be recognized and one Of the two cham
pionship titles that have been in abey-
ance for years may have q rightful and
an undisputed holder
The weIterweight class mas always
been without a universally recognized
champion. From the time OF its incep-
tion. this division has been bUneted
about with disputed champions, Ill
though several real fighters have pre-
tended to the crown and defended IL
like real champions.
Back in the early SOS Paddy Duffy
was looked upon as the welterweight
champion. He retired undefeated- and
then the trouble started. Mysterious
Billy Smith came forth in 1892 and
claimed the title, and il has been
claimed ever since. The myteriOus per-
son was beaten by Tom Y Ryan. who
soon graduated TO the middleWeight
ranks. as did Kid" Mccoy. who was
becoming terror at this time. in 1897
Mysterious Billy submitted another
claim TO the WelterWeight title, and he
was adjudged supreme after his de-
Ieats OF Matty Matthews and Joe Wal
colt
Walcott was considered the high
black king in the division until 1904.
when he lost on a fowl % the Dixie
Kid
Then Another Dispute.
Then another Williams Ertle con-
troversy was on Dixie Kid and Wal
colt entered counter claims for the
title The pair never mel again. how
ever. In 1896 Honey Melody whipped
Nafcott and then both Honey Boy"
and Dixie Kid were at odds over the
much-abused title Along came Nike
Sullivan-he Of the famous twins
and polished off Melody f0 1907 Mike
u q frr %
up TO 1910, when he OutgIew the di-
vision ana advanced a notch higher
This gave Melody q chance to claim
tlle honors again, as did Jimmy ClSbby.
who gained a newspaper decision over
Dixie Kid
CIabby Moves Up.
The next year Clabby moved up 10
the middleweights and Ray bronson
ana 'kube" Ferns tried TO annex the
title by default. There vas no recog-t
nized champion up 90 1918 Then Bro4-
son posted forfeit to battle all cOmera
Tor the weller title At this time
Packey Mcfarland was considered the
peer Of welterweights, but Patrick re-
FUSED to lay claim TO the champion .st in.
preferrlng still TO be ciassed as li-ilt-
weight although he would not reNea4
his real fighting weight Nike Glib
bons appeared on the horizon Al tiIia
precise moment and put in bid FOR
The storm tossed title But ne admit
ted his inability TO make the American
Welght OF lf2 pounds at o'clock or
1z5 pounds at the ringside
last year Bronson went 20 Australia
and was beaten by Matt Wells in seven
rounds. Matt has been beaten several
times since, even by lightweights
Which bring us TO the current time.
Who IS the weller weight champion.
anyway
How About Ted Leuiss
We herewith proclaim Ted Kid
Lewis WelterWeight champion of the
world, and we don't care VINO knows it.
If anyone has better claim to This
title than Lewis. we have yet to hear
Of il; and If counter facts warrant. we
VIII gladly withdraw our nomination
of Lewis
Lewis has defeated the best Of Amer
lca's OversroWn lightWeights. The
Srlton can fight at the lightweight
limit If occasion demands. but his forte
lies in beating heavier men. Lewis's
one round knockout Of Jimmy Duffy
who had never before even been
flOored, attests to the calibre Of Lewis
The latter has also whipped Charley
White, Chicago's hard punching light
weight contender
Johnston Is Also Claiming.
Jimmy Johnston is also in the claim