New-York tribune., 1915-12-20
AID WOLGAST MAY
BE SUSPENDED
FOR SIX MONTHS
Former Champion Sum
moned to Appear Be
fore Boxing SOlons.

loit bOhiliS OOiOiio'
All three members OF the New York
State Athletic Commission will attend
to-day's session at 81 Park Row, "a
Fred Wenck, chairman. has summoned
Frank Dwyer from Geneva and John
Franey from Albany for the purpose
Of cleaning up many matters that re-
quire a vote of the entire commission.
Ad. Wogast, the former lightweight
champion, will face SIX months sus-
pension on charges of breach Of con
tract and obtaining money under false
pretences and Leach Cross Will nave
the alternative of going through with
a bout against Packey Hommey next
Thursday night or being set down for
sixty days. Speaking Of these two
cases yesterday. Mr.. Wenck said:
"Wolgast violated contract with
the Harlem Sporting Club when he
boxed last Tuesday night in Atlanta.
1t distinctly stated on the clubs con
tract that he must not engage in any
bout previous TO Friday nights show
in Harlem.
when reports from the South
reached here that Wolgast was badly
injured the commission put him un-
der a rigid physical examination be
fore he was allowed 70 box on Friday
night. Nothing in his external condl-
tion prevented his going ten rounds
against Cross, barring knockout
"Wolgast assured us that he would
put UP a better fight than he did
against Cross a year ago, but he knew
right then that his internal physical
condition did not warrant such
statement. He took long chance that
he might land a knockout in the few
rounds that he would be able TO go.
Nothing that happened in that At
lanta fight made him stop last Friday
night. and nothing that Cross did TO
him made him stop. In fact, Cross
fought what looked to me like sus-
piciously poor fight for him. When
the bell rang for the end Of the sixth
am convinced that AID was in full
possession of all his mental faculties.
and believe his walking 70 the wrong
corner and then pulling that dementla
scene when he got in his own corner
was proof of particularly keen BRAIN
work at that specific moment
"As soon as | saw him start 10 rave
| T..
iump up by his corner and give him
close scrutiny. lie reported that, eX-
cept for a closed right eye, which was
three-fourths closed when the tight
started. Wolgast was sound and whole,
suffering merely from fatigue-as ]
had suspected. Contrary 70 general
belief, DR.. Thompson reported that his
right eve was not closed-Wo olgast
souinted through il as part Of the act.
"Wolgasts record is full OF hghts
that ended suspiciously just when he
was either firing from setting his old,
natural. fast pace or when he was get
ting the worst of it. lie bluffed me
into believing that he was in condition
TO 90 ten fast rounds. when he knew
very we'll that he was not
~ shall recommend 10 the commits
sion that he be suspended for SIX
months on two counts-breaklng a
contract and accepting money Tor
bout that he was in no condition 10 go
through with.
81 shall also recommend that Cross
be suspended for sixty days, unless he
goes through with an agreement made
with the commi that he would box
Packey Hommey at the Harlem Sport
ing Club on December % IN case he
beat Wolgast on the 18th.
"Hommey had the original contract
10 box Wolgast on the 10th. Hommey
waived his rights and allowed Cross
first chance at Wolgast, on the prom
ise of Sam Wallach that in the event
of Cross's beating Wolgast, Cross would
take on Hommey on the 18th In VOL
casts place. Now he must go through
with this match or suffer the conse-
quences.
"Wallach claims that he and John
Reisler. manager of the club. cannot
agree on terms. Wsllach demands a
guarantee of $3.50, while Reisler offers
80 per cent of the gross receipts. While
the commission does not care 20 mix up
in the financial basis on which bouts
are staged, ! shall advise Commission
ers Dwyer and Frsney that Cross re-
ceived a guarantee of 81 $50 for each
Of his last two starts at the Harlem
Sporting Club, the Friday night bout
resulting in the total elimination Of Ad
Wolgast as a drawing card for Packey
Hommey.
Inasmuch as Cross is in duty bound
TO box Hommey. and whereas 30 per
cent Of the gross receipts seems TO me
a liberal deal for him under the cir
cumstances. | shall recommend to my
fellow commissioners that Cross be
forced TO accept the Harlem clubs offer
or suffer suspension.
ave hope to teach boxers and man
ayers that in the future the New York
boxing fans are not 10 be buncoed, and
that, as far as this commission is con-
cerned contract is more than mere
ccran of ranorp