Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-01
GOTHAM FIGHT GAME QUIET
Anticipated Summer Boxing Boom
Fails to Materialize.
GOSSIP OF ALL THE CHAMPS
Nv RINCsIDE.


boxing boom in this state has failed 30
materiallze during the summer months.
a few Unforeseen cif cumstHoocs have con-
trived 20 keep the sport in an almost
moribund state. And no man can con-
troll circumstances
In the first place Mike Gibbons wns
60 have become a member OF the local
ring colony for a few months. and was
60 have helped clear the middieweight
muddle. Instead he became embroled
with a tough customer, a Mr.. Leo
IIouck. and suffers a couple OF broken
ribs, which have put the willy Mike out
OF commission for nearly ten weeks.
Then again. Charley White did not
vindicate the hopes Of his admirers. as
he failed 70 kno out Lightweight Cham
pion Freddy Welsh.
He may do so later. but the fact re-
mains he didn't do II when he had the
Elittering chance several weeks ago
With White as the new lightweight
champion there would have been renewed
interest in the boxing situation. an IN.
forest which would have placed the sport
on higher plane Nelsns redundancy
of the lightweight throne has tended to
diminish interest in the game
Gibbons IN Gotham.
However. reverting to Michael Gibbons.
the ST. Paul shroud may be seen in
action here again shortly. His cracked
ribs have responded TO treatment read
fly and Mike Is on the mend. Meantime
he is pushing his brother Tom forward
as a contender for the middlewcight
crown that has been placed upon his
brow by reclamation.
Michael is devoting his vacation period
60 securing matches for Brother Tom,
and Thomas has been eminently success
fui In the few bouts Rrother Mike has
arranged for him.
Family ties bind this pair as closely
as any bond of relationship can. Mike
ss the best booster Tom has. while Tom
declares there Is no greater fighter than
Alike Gibbons.
Wouldn't It be strange-it Is almost
Beyond even an elastic imaginatioi'-lf
these two were TO DO matched to fight
against each other with the title at
stake? n things should come to such
q pass Il would not be the first time
that brothers have engaged In genuine
ring battle.
Two weeks ago two brothers were OPP
posed in the final match for the amateur
championship Of Chicago. And they
fought ms best they knew how. Each
went into the ring with the intention OF
s'knocking tho block OFF, the other And
10 II might be with Mike Gibbons and
Tom Gibbons
Other Kings Quiet.
Another thinE-two moro things, in fact
to initiate against increased interest in
tho mitt game has been tho inactivity
of two other undisputed champions for
many months. Johnny KID" Williams
bantam boss, and Johnny Kilbane, feath-
sfweight king. have not fought for such
3 long tins that people are beginning
80 believe that such persons never ex-
listed.
We will not pick on Jess Willard, for
no one expected him TO don the gloves
again until Labor day, at least, From
present Indications, Big Joss will not de-
fend hts title until about thanksgiving
day. II then.
In spite Of our distaste for Freddy
welsh's ring tactics, we must say this
much for hin-he has been a busy cham
pion. That IL, he has appeared In the
ring more often than any OF the other
title holders But (here we drag out the
haihnofls why ehouAuh me- ~ 10 sum
easy money.
Frederick realizes that he has no more
than a year OF boxing left In him, and
ne is gathering in the kopecks as fast as
Manager Harry Pollok can arrange bouts
for him.
Welsh has had twenty-three fights since
he relieved Willie Richie OF the title
less than thirteen months ago, quite
q notable years work--even for a Freddy
Welsh. Yet with each succeeding bout
MS popularity has waned simply because
6isht fans do not approve OF his antics
An the ring.
Wastes Ring Time.
II may appear strange. but II Ia our
belisf that Johnny Kibane would also
be q less popular champion II he fought
more. Sounds paradoxical. but II is
nevertheless a fact, Kubane. like Welsh,
wastes his time In the ring with silly
nnaneuvers and clinching. his main idea
baing 10 go through the bout with the
Last exertion possible. Consequently, he
spends most Of his time In posing and
feinting-and this irritates the specta-
tors.
The long lay off the many champions
ara now enjoying are not likely to Inn
prove their effectiveness. That Is GER
tain So. when they are ready 20 fight
again. II behooyes them to pick out me-
diocre opposition and again the poor.
misguided fight fans suffer.
Governor Whitman ~ the empire state.
- taking his time In naming his new
athletic commission. which supeFvises
boxing In New York.
Friends Of Charley Harvey. the ineum-
bent secretary has circulated petition,
which win be sent 70 the chief execu-
tive. 10 retain Harvey In the position he
has 90 ably filled.