Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-19
TED LEWIS is WELLER CHAMP
Ringside Declares English Boxer
Has Right to Title in Long
Defunct Division.
MANY PUT IN BID FOR HONOR
ny RINGsIDB.

NEW YORK. Dec. 1s-The long de-
funct welterweight division IL beginning
TO show signs OF resuscitation. Eventu-
ally a champion may be recognized and
one Of the two championship titles that
have been in allegiance for many years
may have a rightful and undisputod
holder.
The welterweight class has always
been without a universally recognised
champion. From the time OF It's in
ception. this division has been buffeted
about with disputed champions although
several real fighters have pretended to
the crown and defended It 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 1881 and claimed
the title; and II has been claimed ever
since. The mysterious person was beaten
by Tommy Ryan. who soon graduated
20 the middleweight ranks. as ala KID
Mccoy. who was becoming terror at
this time. In 1897 Mysterious Billy sub
mitted another claim to the weltsr-
weight title. and he was adjudged su-
preme after his defeats OF Matty Mat
tHcWe anu JOG NhiCOlI Inc CoNeNou
championship had several self-imposed
holders during the next few years.
Joe walcott was considered the high
black king in the division until 1904.
when he lost on a foul TO the Dixie kid.
More wordy Scraps.
The another williams Eitle controversy
was on. Dixie Kid and walcott entered
counter claims for the title. The pair
never met again, however In 1905 Honey
! Melody whipped walcott and then both
{ Honey Boy and Dixie Kid we're at
odds over the much-abused title. Along
, came Mike sullivan--he OF the famous
y "twins'--and polished off Melody in 1901.
. Mike Twin persisted IN claiming the
3 title up 70 1910. when he outgrew the
I division and advanced notch higher.
This gave Melody n chance TO c1Aim
D the honors again, as did Jimmy Clabby.
who gained newspaper decision over
Dixie Kid.
The next year Clabby moved up to
the middleweights and Ray Bronson and
''Rube" Ferns tried TO annex the title by
default, There was no recognised cham
a pion up TO 1918, Then Bronson posted n
a forfeit to battle all Corners for the welter
title. At this time PRckey Mcfarland
was considered the peer of welterweights,
y but Paeky refused TO lay claim to the
championship. preferring still 10 be
classed as a lightweight. although he
would not reveal his real fighting weight.
}. Mike Gibbons appeared on the horizon
at the precise moment and put in a bid
for the storm-tossed title. But he ad-
mitted his inability 70 make the American
weight OF i42 pounds at o'clock. or lag
J; pounds at the ringsde.
Last year Bronson went to Australia
and was beaten by Matt Wells in seven
rounds Matt has been beaten several
times since. even by iightweights.
Which brings us to the current time.
Who is the welterweight champion. any
; way. We refuse TO search you. but will
II submit some facts that may relieve the
tension.
Calls Lewis Champ.
N We herewith proclaim Ted KID Lewis
, welterweight champion Of the world. and
we don't care who knows It. II any
q one has better claim to this title than
% Lewis we have yet to hear OF Il; and II
= counter facts warrant. we will gladly
= withdraw our nomination OF Lewis.
4 Lewis has defeated the best OF Amer
Al ica's overgrown lightweights. The Briton
y oan fight at the lightweight limit II
., occasion demands but his forte lies In
y beating heavier men. Lewis one-round
N knockout OF Jimmy Duffy. who had
u never even been fioored. attests 90 ths
calibre Of Lewis The latter has also
=. whipped Charley White. Chcagos hart
punching lightweight contender.
!. Lewis has done his best work in Bos
y ton. where he has become greater lido
than the homo favorite. Ted is not spas
modio worker His performances are con
slstently high class. and only occasion
y aily-very occasionally--does he turn Il
; a mediocre exhibition. This Is only whei
~ he Is stale and overworked.
Jimmy Johnston IL also In the claim
ing business. Besides claiming the wei
IN terweight title for Lewis. Joimes claim
as he alone ia responsible for developing
Lewis into championship possibility.