El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-21
BOXING HAS IMPROVED IN 4 YEAR;
SPORT HAS ONLY DWINDLED ABROAD
Big Event During Year Has Been Victory of Willard
Over johnson; Number of Bouts in U. S Has In
creased During Year But Some Complaint About
Glass of Contests; Game Has Been Benefited.
BY t. $. ANDREWS.


} superiority over Jimmy Clabby in 10
I round contest, but the championship
could not be decided in that manner.
and the question was left open. Les
Darcy, the Australian sensation. won
the title in that country and then sur
prised the followers by defeating Jeff
Smith, Eddie McGoorty and Jimmy
Clabby, who were all contenders for the
title. II there is one man entitled to
: the worlds championship, it looks as
If that man is Les Darcy.
WeIters Lack Champion.
The Welterweight division has been
without a recognized champion unless
that person is Kid Graves of Cleveland,
.. Graves has been recognized by most
writers and should be given chance
10 defend the title against challengers
in that division.
Willie Richie announced that he
would claim the championship as well
terWeight. but he must first defeat
Graves before he can do so, and the
same with Packey Mcfarland. Nc
Farland proved in his match with Mike
Gibbons at 147 pounds, that he is a
wonderfully clever boxer, but since that
match, Packey has not shown any
great desire to mix in with the welters.
The match with Mcfarland was
record breaker for attendance. 1t was
held in the big Motordrome at New
York, and according to the count, over
10000 people attended. although their
receipts only amounted to SIS, 500.
The Light Weight Class.
There has been considerable discus
sion as to the light weight Champion
ship Freddy Welsh has held on to
the worlds title. although he is now
matched to fight Charley White Of
Chicago for the same Regarding the
American title holder, it might be said
that Willie Richie was the rightful
holder. but he has declined to make
the weight for Charley White, who
challenged him, and this would natur-
ally bring White into the line for re-
cogn1tion IN that division. There are
several other light weights who have
challenged Welsh for the worlds title
and VINO are really IN line for a match
FOR the American honor. The most
prominent OF these are Johnny Dundee,
Charlie White. Joe Mandot, Richie
Mitchell and Milburn Saylor-
In the feather weight class Johnny
kiibane of Cleveland, O., seems to be
secure with his title George Clancy
OF Baltimore is the most favorite one
bane. but it seems that the Cleveland
boy is not any too anxious for his
game, as he recently declined an offer
OF $500 to meet Clancy in Baltimore
in a 15-round battle.
ssKid, williams SIippings
In the bantam weight class Kid
Williams IS not so secure as he was a
year ago, for he has two very tough
customers on his trail in the persons of
Johnny Ertle of St Paul and frankie
fought Williams a 20-round draw in
New Orleans. This permits Williams
TO still retain his title, and it is pos
sible that Burns will be given another
chance at him.
Some time ago Ertle boxed with Will
liams in St Paul, and there was a mix
up regarding the same The referee
stopped the contest in the fifth round
when Ertle alleged that he had been
fonled by Williams Therefore the
referee refused to give any decision or
to state that Williams had been dis
qualified. owing to the peculiar law in
that state It was the general opinion
Of sporting men that Williams still
retains his title, and for that reason
he has been recognized as the cham
Dion.
New Class Created.
A new class has been created in the !
fly weight division. This takes in I
boxers up TO 112 pounds, and the Amer
lean Boxing association recommended &
that Frank Izzo Of Chicago. Artie Arm b
strong, Jimmy Pappas and Young Zulu D
Kid be paired off in an elimination .
tournament, the winner to be declared 1
champion
A conservative estimate places the
number Of contests held in the United 3
states during the past year at about (