The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
AMERICA HAS THREE
CHAMPIONS Of RING
jess willard. Johnny Kilbsane and Hid
Williams Are In Class BY
Themselves
WELSH is DISAPPOINTMENT.
English Lightweight Has Constantly
Sitiestcppnd All Championship Is
sue~.--Titleholders Participated In
Few Battles.

Critics throughout the country have
seized the waning days OF the year to
bring the boxers OF America TO task
because we have had so few cham
pionship bouts. willard Welsh. Kill
hane and williams, the four titlehold-
ers of their class, have disappointed
the critics SO tar a. championship
competition .s concerned. Whose fault
is Il? You certainly cannot blame the
men. Boxing Is now business with
them. Their titles are an asset. To
willard it was worth a quarter OF
million dollars TO beat Jack Johnson.
Welsh has made more than 800, GOO
since he was awarded the decision
over While Richie in London. July 7.
1914. and he has only fought one
championship battle since. kilbane
is 4 million dollar proposition. Jimmy
Dunn. hts manager, Will tell you so,
ana he ought to know. for he is the
one who collects. Dunn figures IL this
way: Kiibans earns $1,000 year
with his mitts, and that IL a conserya
tive interest on the million. Kibane
won the championship title from Abe
Atteli on February %, 1912. He has
fought two championship battles since
that date, a twenty-reund draw with
xohnny Dundee April 80. 1918. and he
beat George CLANCY on July OF the
present year In two rounds.
Kilbane, however. so far outcla
oil the other 122 Founders that he is
now angling TO meet Leonard or
Welsh over a limited round route al
weight mutually to be agreed upon
That Welsh regards him as danger
Gus proposition is attested to be the
b. H. hau ae, I'D a 81
prohib.tive sum to meet the Cleveland
featherweiSht Welsh has named his
price as $4,000 for Six or ten rounds
No promoter in the country can see
the match at that figure. So we are
not likely TO witness the test between
the two worlds champions, this year
at least
As for Bamtamweight Champion
Williams. he has done all that has
been asked OF him during the past
rear He has fought one champion
chip battle with Peter Herman. In
New Orleans which went the limit
of twenty rounds. and was declared
a draw at the finish. They are to
meet again over the same route In
the same ring on January s, 1911.
Each 10 confident of victory. and
neither should have any excuse to of
fer IL defeated
williams although he has only
taken part ih one championship bat
tie during the year. has done every
thing that has been exacted of him
He has boxed many limited-rou con-
tests with opponents selected by tbs
club promoters. and he has received
the popular decision in every bout
williams 10 a real champion. and he
would box each week If opponents
could be selected who would be abs
TO give the fans q run for thetf
money.
As the writer emphasizes, no ono
can blame these men because they
have not engaged In chamDionshII
battles. Three OF them, willard. Kill
bAne and williams. have been eager
to box any opponent that the public
might select but there does not seen
In be boxer IN sight who Glasses
with any one of the trio.
In the case OF Welsh 1T 10 a different
proposition. He does not seem at al
willing to tackle Dundee. Leonard OF
KIlbane in a twenty or twenty "A =
round battle at the lightweight limit
which in this country 10 1873 pounds
Richie travelled to England and met
Welsh on his own terms. so far al
weight and hour Of Weighing In was
concerned. 1916 pounds at F. NJ. Welsf
In now in this country. He has made
all his money by his ring engage
ments on American soil and he should
comply 70 the American code II M
wants TO engage IN championship
bout "A
Unfortunately. one entire year has
elapsed. with the middieweight anc
welterweight classes remaining va
cant so far as a bonafde champion
"a concerned Mike Gibbons and JEFF
Smith each claims TO be the premier
OF the middleweight division. whil'
Ted Lewis. Jack Britton and Soldier
Bartf1eld claim the honcrs among tho
wslterweights
The arrival OF Les Darcy. the Aus
tralian fash. will likely disentangl'
the middlsweisht situation, and II II
hoped that D. J. Tortorich, the New
Orleans promoter. may be able TO get
tho welterweights together and decide
who is the real champion.