Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-23
LES DARCY A WAR SLAVE
Fighter Held at Home by
the Authorities Until After
the War is Over.



NEW YORK, Jan. 22-There IL no gain
saying that Les Darcy-Isester Darcy
he was christened-is one of the greatest
fighters OF The present generation. To
this must be supplemented the fact that
the Australian is not coming to America
to fight-or for any other purpose. for
that matter The Antipcdoan authorities
simply will not permit their idol to haul
IN American dollars while there Is war
eoina on.
Several months ago report was current
that Les Darcy was contemplating a trip
to the states. He was coming for the
avowed purpose OF cleaaing out our
middlcweIght class At the time this
column stated positively that Darcy
would not come TO America for at least
another year. Later developments have
sebstantiated this statement.
Promoters Hold Him Back.
Il Is stated that the Australian govern
naent Is seriously considering sending
Darcy to the first line Of battle--into the
trenches. This may be so, but we are
quite certain that should this come 70
PASS Il would be at the instigation OF
others besides government officials.
Professional jealousy is keeping Darcy
IN Australia against his wishes. The
lad--he Is but 20-is keen for tour OF
the states. ana he looked upon such a
soiourn a. the realization OF his boyhood
dreams. But greedy. avaricious promoters
are thwarting Darcy's plans, and Amer
leans may never be afforded the chance
TO see the newest pugllistic phenom In
action.
The subject OF a trip to the United
states was first preached 10 Darcy by an
American handler Of boxers. This man
has q wide acquaintance with the sporting
element In this country, and promised
Darcy a hearty reception here. But Aus
tralia promoters could not sec an Amer
lean stealing" their most formidable
fighter and greatest drawing card. The
critics deplored Darcy's proposed depar-
ture from Australia. Some tossed the
harpocn into him for trying to leave his
native land after what II had done for
him; others mentioned American enter
prise as outwittlng trusting Australians.
Darcy ignored these thrusts until some-
one intimated that Les was going to
America to escape military service.
Must wait ON War.
This was Haunting an untruth and
Darcy was riled. II soon got to the
authorities through an undercurrent.
and they requested Mr.. Darcy to stay
Les importuned the officials 20 let him
SO to America for six months. so that
he could clean up our mlddlewelght crop
Ho promised to return when the hall
year was up But the authorities were
adanant and Darcy must stay at home
untn the war Is over at least
A resume OF the fight records for i9i
clinch the fact that Darcy Is among th,
worlds greatest fighters. Les engaged
In thirteen battles during the year jus
ended-and all went TO a decision Dare.
gained the award In twelve OF the thlr
teen bouts. He lost the one bout to Jof
smith on polnts early In the year. Dare
afterwards won from Smith In tw
rounds.
Az matter Of fact. Darcy was the onl
fighter 20 participate exclusively in d.
cision bouts during the year. Charlie
White. the Chicago lightweight. was
principal IN eleven decisive bouts, wir
ming ten aud drawing one. but he ais
took part III seven no-decisIon contest.
These are the only two top-notch fighl
crs 10 figure IN two-flgure decision bout
during 1915.
safety First for These.
On the other hand. consider the 10
t%FNtAa VI NHNA0N W Nth7l anu dUnuH
Kilbane. lightweight and featherwelsl
champions. respectively Welsh was
party TO nineteen bouts during the yea
and every one OF these was no-decisic
affair. Kilbane' had fifteen fights. ar
every one Of these was one of those n
decision things. Fine pair OF champion
eh7 Well, it's just In keeping with the
safety first" policies TO avoid all chanc
Of losing their titles in decision contest
. Some Of the other ranking fighters wi
did not trust themselves in decision co
tests during 1915 we're Milgc Gibbor
Willie Riichie and Young shugrue.
As was the case In 1914. nektllng
vinssSy was the chief offender ia 1916 j
fought twenty-eight battles IA tine twels
month. only three OF which were decisi
Il contests--ole wins one defeat and o
draw.
Jack Dillon. the man killer" h
had twenty-four fights. winning four (
clsion. drawing in one bout; the 9th,
we're no-decision. Eddie Wallace. "
i fought KiIbanc and williams In {
month had twenty fights. sixteen
decision and four resulted IN his favor.
Ted--Kid I.ewis--the Briton. won Ell
decisions and lost one In twenty,
bouts: the others were without refers