The Washington times., 1915-02-23

Masquerading under the name OF
Tommy Langdon, the Philadelphia
lightweight, Danny Ferguson, also OF
the Quaker city, was given a decis-
ion over Andy Cortez, Of New York,
before fair-sized crowd at the Ard
more Club yesterday afternoon.
Though the contest was fast, spec
tacular and bristling with hard hit
ting, the fans all thought that Tom
my Langdon had been awarded the
victory. Indeed, only a few were
tipped off that ringer" had been
foisted on the club members, and
then, too, not until the battle was
two-thirds over.
Upon hearing of the deception,
Referee Patrick F. O'Connor imme-
diately declared all bets off. 1t is
not known just how much was wag-
cred on the bout, but it was said
around town last week that some
c6in had been placed on the boxers.
To protect Cortez hackers, there
fore, O'Connor declared all wagers
off.
! Though 1t was Danny Ferguson and
not Tommy Langdon who battled Andy
| Cortez, the fans saw one Of the best
bouts ever staged at Ardmore. Indeed
It Is problematical II Langdon coulc
have done as we'll against the sturdy
little New Yorker as Ferguson did
During the last three rounds the crowc
was on their feet and bowling theil
heads off. as the two principals bat
| tied around the ring. clinching anC
slugging. and then clinching again.
| Somewhere along IN the tenth rounc
1t was rumored around the rtngsid'
that Isl" Howard. and not LangdoI
was boxing Cortez. However. thi'
rumor did not travel fast. and wher
+, the battle ended. with the Philadel
phian declared victor. most Of th'
| throng went back to the cars thinking
| l.angdon had won.
As soon as the crowd had cleared ou
the management undertook to find ou
he truth of the rumor eoncernin' In
Wilson. manager of the real Langdon
admitted that his boy had not appeared
"Langdon was badly beaten up b,
Benny Leonard in Philadelphia las
Tuesday" Wilson explained; e! my
him. He had had three stitches takel
In his lip and was in no condition I
train. had $50 posted for Langdon'
appearance and that he should max
1873 pounds. I didn't want to lose m
money, so arranged through JiT
Feeney to get Ferguson tor me fror
Hazleton, Pa. Ferguson came dow
here and worked out at Benning track
weighing In at just 1873 pounds. can
understand how It leaked out. Al Nc
Murray. manager Of Cortez. didn't rec
ognize Ferguson. and no one In Cor
tez's corner, either. knew that It WASH
Langdon In the ring
The Ardmore Club management wa
fooled by this man. Elmer Wilson, Jus
as much as anybody else says +
Lawrence Phillips, manager OF tn
club. When | introduced the boxers
really supposed 1t was Langdon boz
ing Cortez. Had l known better.
would have made such an announce
ers Of Cortez. l am sorry that tn
( club members were kept in ignorane
e Of the identity of Ferguson. but nor
, of US knew any more about him. Eve
: the veteran. McMurray. didn't recot
: rize Ferguson. We took the word {
, The fans seemed to enjoy the boi
which was fast and full OF hard hi
ting, and aside from tha deception
to the appearance of l.angdon. ever!
body was satisfied.
e "I have declared all bets off, is til
: announcement of Referee p. r. O'CoI
t nor, lin Justice to those who migl
t have backed Cortez. did not know "
difference between LanSdon and FsrS'