Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-13
COFFBOTH EXPOSES FAKES
Veteran Promoter Declares Six
Round Mills in Philadelphia
Have All Been Framed.
SAME IN MILWAUKEE, AND N, Y.

~ AANhrADfss
NEW YORK Feb tz-floxing Is In a
moribund state just now. and this con-
dition VIII exist until something start
ling happens to some Of the champions
The game IL In the doldrums at pres
ent. no question about that. And re-
iuvenation depends wholly upon a new
champ. Boxing enthusiasts are heartily
sick OF witnesslng such sham fighters
ddie welsh. ~ Mccoy and even
Johnny Kilbanc. the featherweight
champion. Welsh can fight. but won't.
Mccoy would fight. but can't. while
kiihane really fights only on occasion
Here we have named the recognized
leaders Of three divisions. and n they
fall to interest what can be expected OF
~ fighters In their respective
classes
Nobody IN the cast has attempted to
answer the question OF why interest Is
80 fast waning IN the boxing game. II
remained for jimmy Coffroth. premier
ring promoter of the west and handler
ot many championship contests. 10 fur
nish = logical reason Tor the existing
conditions.
Coff roth has done perhaps more than
any man IN the world to foster boxing
and put Il on the high plane - has en-
ioyed for many years. Yet. IN letter
10 the writer Coffroth II bold enough TO
take a rap at the game ne loves more
than anything else. In the hope OF reeti-
fving matters and thus revive interest in
the sport
rap at PhiIIy Fakes.
Coffroth writes rs follows
u don't like to befoul my own nest,
but don't believe there was ever . six
round bout pulled orr In Philadelphia
between mon OF class that was on the
level. will go further and say that
question very seriously whether champion
or champions ever 20 IN 10 six or ten
round contest IN the east without n
definite understanding ~ to just what
Is 20 happen
4 am not talking from hearsay and II
necessary ran produce discriminating
letters from many OF the uncrownod
heads OF fis'iana. One reads great deal
IN the papers nowadays OF this fighter
or tina, being shaded In ten round con-
test. II means me smile. from what
know Of the inner workings OF the game.
ITO be frank with the public. haven't
much faith in these contests Rs 10 what
they really mean In the way OF compare
son. The man up ~ tho ranks figures
on getting the most he can with the
least possible damage TO himself.
II don't believe Il Il going too far TO
say that there never was n straight six
round fight between two boxers Of class
IN Philadelphia. Also l doubt whether
the more important matches in eithet
New York or Milwaukee are allowed 10
proceed on their merits.
Promoters 60 nIame.
IA long as New York and Milwaukee
promoters continue to give the talent
fancy guarantees II is natorai they win
not be disposed 70 accept smaller purses
for longer fights. Men like welsh,
CInbhy and Gibbons wall continue In
short-dIstance bouts until they have lost
their drawing powers and find themselves
forced TO rehabilltatc themselves. Then.
as your Leach Cross did on several oc-
casIons. they VIII be willing 10 accept
twcnty-round fights for amaIier money.
Boxing was IN the same condition
twenty years ago as It Is now. Jim Cor
beat had beaten John H. sullivan. and
devoted all his time to stage work. A
match with Bob Fitxslmmons was
preached. but Corbett was too engrossed
IN uplifting the stage. Finally Fits was
matched with steve o'Donneil. who had
been proclaimed by Corbett az the best
rparrsng partner he had ever had. Fite
flhttcned oDonnell In a hurry.
even then corbett refused 60 be in
weighed In match with Fitz. Jim came
west and boxed four-round draw with
sharkcy Fits six months later defeated
the sailor and forced corbett into the
match with sharlsey at Carson.
That meeting revived boxing. II Il
had not been for that there 10 no telling
what interest would have come ND again.
Unfortunately. just now we have no
heavyweluhts worthy Of notice. II we
had Il might be possible 70 bring about
a regeneration OF the game"
That isn't All coffroth writes. either.
He adds that New York ls sucker
town for tolerating ten round declsion-
less contests, To his mind. decisions by
referees would Improve the game here;
At least 4 would help II materially by
keeping tile "stallers" and ''tangoists'
away from this town. There Is more or
less logic IN what coffroth writes