New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-28


the heavyweight situation in Europe
as we'll as America. Gene mentions
the fact that the heavyweight honors
would be a gift TO Georges Carpenter
Just now so long as Young Ahearn re-
mains in America.
Evidently when the good Gene wrote
the following for JOHN BULL, Horatio
Bottomley's weekly publication, he had
not heard that Mike Gibbons had hit
poor Jake Ahearn right smack on the
chin with the entire State OF Mime
sofa. CORR and Bottomley swear by
Ahearn. Indeed, it was Bottomey who
first called Ahearn JOHN BULLS
BOY" Still hoping against hope for
Sergeant" Billy Wells, CORR writes:
THE average Scot is cool, calm,
calculating fellow, splendidly shrewd
and not given to talking through has
hat, as we are wont to say. So, judg-
worthy and typical Scotsman, ! am
bound to assume that he has weighed
up all possibilities when he says that
there is backing to the amount of $500
for a match between Jack Richie, his
country's heavyweight, and Billy Wells
for Lord Lonsdale's belt. confess
that, though most boxers of note have
passed through my hands at some time
or another, ! know little or nothing
about Ritchie's abilities. A big enough
fellow, garhe and strong, but, If | may
say so, not boxer of vast experience.
That they think no end OF him in Scot
laid have long known, and some time
ago, if you remember, there was quite
a''lpt. of talk about putting him up
against the ex-bombardier. Unhappiiy
the scheme was upset by reason Of
Richie falling sick. '''
Now we are told that he has re-
turned from tn mountains as the ideal
fit man, and not only prepared TO meas
ure his strength against Wells, but,
indeed, against any British heavy
weight. Richie may be all that is
claimed for him, but if | were Wells
should not fear tacklng him the least
little bit. A stake of $500 is a hand
some Involvement for any man to take
the ring, and as Wells, having en-
traced the Colours like the good chap
he really is, is bound to regard his
future as in the hands of the gods, Re
must see the wisdom of getting as
many matches as he can while his mill
tary duties permit. The stock OF
Wells has gone up by reason of his
defeat of Bandsman Rice at Liverpool,
and any contest in which he takes part
would be a tremendous attraction. His
ups and downs notwithstanding. Wells
remains, with Jimmy Wilde, the most
popular boxer we have.
Talking about the heavy men of
the profession, there has happened pre-
cisely what ! expected-the match be-
tween Jess Willard and Fred Fulton is
off. | give the American promoter
credit for playing his cards as cleverly
as anybody in the business, but | am
bound to say that | was surprised
when Fulton was put forward as the
best man TO fight for the title. Fulton
has practically no record, and when he
was selected as the man for the pom
derous cowboy. felt sure the idea
was 10 allow Jess 20 engage in what
the Yankee chooses 10 call lemon
plucking' before pittinr him against a
boxer who has at least done something
out of the ordinary.
at is said that Willard belongs 10
some sort of a syndicate who will take
good care to assist him TO hang on TO
the title. but surely they cannot be-
leve that they have only TO put up a
man against him 70 draw the public.
The truth is, We have no really great
big boxer. Langford is not the wonder
he was; Joe Jeanette is out of the
business, McVea is in the sere and
yellow stage. Jack Johnson is impossi-
Bile, and-Willard excepted, though
even he. think. is decidedly lucky TO
be worlds champion-all We have are
dozen possibilities. When |
come to look round cannot resist the
temptation Of saying that if our Billy
Wells had not played ducks and brakes
with his chances there would have
been no Jess Willard. The heavy
weight championship. since Ahearn re-
mains in America, would be gift for
Carpenter, did not his country claim