Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-20
By T. S. ANDREWS.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE, February 1s.-It
would seem. from the way promoters
are being forced to bid to the skies for
title or near-title matches, that Jack
Curley has been employed by some of
the managers to boost prices in gen.
era1. First, Jack forced the bidding for
the Willard Moran ten-round contest
from $4,000 to $67,50O. and now comes
the Kilbane-Chaney match, which has
been arranged for March II at Balti-
more, with Curley Offering a purse Of
$4,000. Originally Jimmy Dunn, man
ager of Johnny Kilbane. had signed a
contract with Messrs. Harris and Blet-
ger (who conduct the club in the Orio1e
city,, binding the champion feather
weight to fight George Clancy fifteen
rounds to decision and for the title
for stipulated sum of $500. The
club proceeded to make all arrange
ments for the match and spent con-
siderable amount of money. Then came
the announcement that Dunn would not
go through with the match, as he want
ed a six-round bout in Philadelphia
first with Clancy at 1872 ringside, and
to follow with the fifteen-round match
at Baltimore. Then he wanted Harris
and Bletzer to step out and let Al Her
ford. former manager Of the late Joe
Cans and a promoter. handle the affair.
and he did not want Billy Recap as ref
cree, although he had selected him at
the time of signing articles. Herford
raised the purse to $4,000, and now
comes Curley with an offer of $4,000.
Dunn knew all the conditions when he
late date for not fulfilling his obliga-
lions. 1t would be an easy matter to
settle the question of referee. as Mr..
Recap is not the kind of man who
would insist upon officiating if not
wanted. There are such men as
Charlie White of New York. Ed Smith
of Chicago, Harry Stout of Milwaukee,
Jack Michigan Of Philadelphia, Jack
Gleason of Frisco and others who
would. or should be. acceptable to both
killing their own game. The jumping
of purses to unheard-of sums means
every time that the public must foot
the bills. Champions are entitled to
some consideration in the making Of
such matches, but there is a limit even
to champions and their demands.
Recently Billy Gibson, manager of
Benny Leonard, the new iork ugnt-
weight sensation. issued challenge
on behalf of his protege. to Freddy
Welsh. the champion. Harry Pollok.
manager of Welsh. took a wallop back
at Leonard by asking who he was that
he should request a match Of the cham
pion. He claimed that Leonard only
came to distinction through the fact
that he put a X. o. wallop on Joe Man
dot. and he also states that Tommy
Walsh. manager OF Mandot. should
S1a he nr
letting Joe fight at that time. as he
was unfit to do so. It was said after
the Mandot and Leonard fight that
Walsh in the first place opposed Joe
to keep faith with the promoters. How
ever, since then Leonard has proved
himself to be very classy boy, and
the fact that he knocked out Phil
Bloom shows that he carries something
more than little cleverness.
Manager Pollok wants side bet Of
$4,000 put up by Leonard or his man.
ager-this to go for twenty-round
battle. OF course. there are some man
ayers with lots of money who could af-
ford to put up side wager Of that
size. but 1t Is a question whether
Leonard would be able to find it at
this time. Billy Gibson could DO so
very easily, but it is another question
whether he will want to risk that
much on youngster like Leonard.
Talking of side bets. Manager Pollok
might take a squirt at Richie Mitchell
Of Milwaukee. Richie is not overbur-
dened with coin. but neither is his
manager. Brother Billy. and they have
succeeded in raising $1,000 in real
coin, which they are willing to put up
as side bet for a twenty-round bat
tie with Champion Freddy Welsh. This.
with what he would get for his share
of the purse, should bring Welsh's end
up to a nice sum of money. and it is UP
to the champion and Manager Pollok
to accept this offer from the Miiwau-
kee youngster Mitchell has not
claimed that he has any prior right
to match with the champion over
such boys rs Charlie White. Johnny
0rifdths or Jack Britton. but he II
willing to take the chance Of putting