Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-16
BY T. S. ANDREWS.

back Immediately following the Will
| lard-Johnson fight of April 4, 1915. 1t
was not the holding of the champion
| ship battle nor the result that had any
thing to do with injuring the game: on
the contrary it would have had a bene-
fetal effect, as the Cubans were just as
anxious to see Jack johnson dethroned
as any person in the states. 1t was the
aftermath of the big fight and the nu-
merous alleged crooked deals which were
handed out that did the damage; also
the one-sided matching of the few
Cuban boxers in the game. Instead Of
matching the home talent with men of
their own class or speed, they were
sent against boxers of superior class,
with the result that the enthusiasm
was taken out of them at the start in
stead of giving some encouragement.
From what l have seen of the Cubans
they are very apt pupils in all lines Of
sport, and if given half a chance would
make good. They have turned out some
splendid base ball players, tennis and
golf experts, and also star billiardists,
and would make good in the boxing
encouragement.
The Cuban heavyweight champion
was sent against Lester johnson, the
colored heavyweight of the states, be-
fore he had chance to really become
a good amateur boxer. Johnson is one
of the toughest men to beat in the bust
ness when he knows he has the edge, so
what chance had the poor Cuban
against such odds? OF course, he was
beate1badly, and other Cuban boxers
the Same way, and still some of the
promoters expected this kind of game
would appeal to the sport-Ioving
Cubans. That is where they made a
most serious mistake, but they never
made an effort to remedy the error
Boxing can be made popular among the
Cubans, the same other sports. but it
will have to be handled in a different
manner to what it has been in the past
What is needed first of all is for
some high-class teacher Of the manly
art to locate in Havana with an as
sistant or two and open a regular gym
nasium, where the young Cubans can
be given instruction in sparring In
this manner they can learn the game
thoroughly, and when they graduate
from the amateur classes they will be
on par with the amateurs of the
states. Then it will be time enough
ranks. There is a great opening in
Havana for the right kind of boxing
professor.
The JohnsonW Willard match proved
that the Cubans will spend their money
oh lac fxhae f~r
the home patrons that made up most
OF the $4,000 taken in at the gate and
had the prices been lower the chances
are the receipts would have amounted
felt that they should have been given
more consideration in the handling of
the big event. They have great lik-
ing for Jess Willard, and would like to
sc him again, but against a man of real
merit They are much better posted
on the game. to champions etc, than
Americans imagine. They follow the
dope in the newspapers very closely.
Many prominent Cubans have been
endeavoring to get George Bradt, who
is referred to as the father of boxing
in Cuba" and Capt. Cushman Rice for
merly of Minnesota and an ardent all
round sportsman, to try their hands
at reviving the game. Both the gentle
men have been deeply interested in the
boxing game. and there is a possibility
that they will take the matter up next
winter In fact. when Capt. Rice was
visiting in st. Paul and Minneapolis a
month two ago it is understood that
Gibbons to have the latter participate
in a title match during the 1861 sea :
son. Gibbons visited Havana during
the Willard johnson match and has a
liking for the place. Mr.. Bradt is in
clined to favor the idea and would not
object to working with Capt. Rice on
the deal. Cap" who has hunted tigers,
lions and all kinds of wild and fero-
cious animals in China, Java, Borneo,
Korea and other countries. has finally
fallen for the golf game. He has taken
up the strenuous sport under the tute-
lage of Ting" Dodd. the Scotch play
er, and can now do the course under
80. Cap refuses to give up his racing
machine, and does his usual eighty ve
to ninety miles an hour in his daily
run to the links. Some of these days
! ing tennis expert He is only true
| friend of the Yankees in Cuba.
| A great many people are under the
| impression that there is no law against
prize fighting in Cuba, but there is
such law. and if necessary it can be
! enforced However. from talks with
some of the officials it is evident that
! they have no desire to = bar boxing
matches, but they will not tolerate any
sure thing propositions. They really
| would prefer to encourage clean box
! ing, as they think it will do much to
build up the Cuban young men physi-
cally and otherwise. Therefore, the
game. if properly conducted, would no
doubt receive the support of the
| authorities.
! The big stadium which was built
originally for the Johnson Willard
| match but never used because of mis-
understandings, has been torn down,
as the location was desired for other
| buildings II is understood. however,
that several well-to-do Cubans are
ready to erect another stadium any
! time the boxing game will warrant.
! The excellent showing of Benny
| Leonard against Freddy Welsh in New
York created a lot of interest among
the Cuban fans, and they are most
anxious to see them in action here in
a real title battle The Cubans have
also been following the doings OF
| Charlie White and Richie Mitchell. and
| wonder why they do not all get to-
| gether in an elimination tourney for
the American title. the winner to meet
Welsh for the world championship.
against the champion was great. it was
ell. the Milwaukee marvel, when he
went against Welsh. Harry Pollok's
own words better express the opinion
t.G 81 tt~k, all G