Evening star., 1916-02-27


lose its fiatness. but after being pum-
meled about that part of his anatomy
Tor time he decided it would be best
to train and get rid of the surplus
flesh which he did. Then Richard be-
gan to show to better advantage. In
a tight with Al Norton, the California
heavyweight, at Denver a week ago or
more. Gilbert gained the decision after
fifteen rounds of hard battling, giving
away a lot of weight Norton is one
of those f1ashy boys at times, but he
does not possess the stamina for long
battle. By winning over Norton Gill
pert obtained another match for Feb
ruary 20 with Billy Miske. who recent
~ 1ought ten-round draw bout with
Jack Dillon at Superior, Wis, and was
credited with a draw. Gilbert is no
chicken. He has been fighting since
1907 and has met many good men,
Smith. Battling Levinsky, Tom NC
Mahon, George Chip. Leo Houck, Terry
kellar, Sailor Petroskey and other
stars. He will have man of about his
own weight in Miske. as the latter likes
the poundage around the 10 mark. al
though the st. Paul scrapper will have
the advantage in height and reach.
The knocking" business in the box
ing game is not confined to the pro-
nloters entirely. Managers of boxers
seem to be getting the habit and some
or them go the limit in their efforts
TO XIII Off the merits of their rivals.
1t has been common practice for many
OF them to beat 'the other fellow" to
the telegraph wires and give out false
reports to sporting editors of papers.
Thfs has been overcome to a certain
extent by most papers printing the
telegram with the names of the man
ayers signed. It looked good to them
until the scribes began putting their
signatures to the wires and then many
OF them back-pedaled. There have
been reports lately that Billy Gibson,
manager of Jim Corey and Benny
and bras knuckles in the gloves. also
heavy pieces of bound tape under the
soft bandages. This was the story
given out after Leonard's fight with
shamus CBrien at Syracuse. n. Y, last
week and Billy Gibson is hot under the
collar about the same. In letter to
this department Mr.. Gibson SAYS:
That stun sent out about Leonard
having horseshoes and knuckIes in his
gloves is the most ridiculous thing
ever heard of. There is absolutely no
truth to it. 1t is time for the COM
mission to get after the parties send
ing out such Impressions. The inclosed
clipping will give you an idea as to
whether Leonard was bumped by Mr..
OBrien." Following is an excerpt from
the clipping taken from the Syracuse
Journal:
IF Benny Leonard ever meets Fred
f.
weight championship there are about
1,500 fight fans of Syracuse who will
back the New York scrapper to the
limit in preference to the English title
holder. considering what Leonard
showed those same fans in his sensa-
tional battle against Shamus O'Brien
at the Arena last night. -
THE hat is off. A wonderful long
range scrapper, savage tearing in
fighter. a marvelously clever defensive
boxer and packing knockout punch
in either hand, Benny Leonard is just
about the classiest thing ever seen in
Syracuse. The fans have looked over
a lot of champs and near champs, but
Leonard has something on the whole
collection.
'Twenty-four hours ago shamus
OBrien was thought to be some boy
and the fans still consider him a
mighty tough, game little Irish fighter,
but that is as far as it goes Not for
rounds last night did Sf1amus have the
faintest possible chance. Everybody in
the big auditorium knew it but
OBrien. The Yonkera lightweight
sought for thirty long minutes to get
within walloping distance and land one
lucky punch, but it couldn't be DONE"
Judging from the above it is evident
that Leonard must be some shucks as
a lightweight. and it looks. as though
the New York scribes have not over
done their praise of the boy. What a
treat it would be to have Leonard and
Richie Mitchell step the distance at
the lightweight limit.
Jimmy Wilde the British f1yweisht
champion, considered one of the clever
since the days of Pedlar Palmer. is think
ing of coming to this country. according
to some of the reports reaching these
shores. Recently Wilde fought young
symonds for the championship. and
Lord Lonsdale belt. which he won by a
knockout, giving away about eight to
ten pounds in weight. Previous to this
Wilde had been meeting all comers. and
never bothered about few pounds in
weight. He is highly praised by such
weight champion: Charlie Mitchell and
Eugene Corri, the referee Should he
come here he would have no trouble get
ting matches at the fiyweight limit, as
there are several good boys at the
weight, among them Jimmy Pappas,
Young Zulu Kid. frankie Izzo and 9TH
ers. 1t is likely, however, that Jimmy
will give away some poundage and meet
such boys as Johnny Ertle and Pete
Herman of New Orleans, as there would
be more money in it for him.
Fred Dyer, the English welterweight
who recently arrived in New York from
Australia. states that Les Darcy can
get away from the AntipodeS if he de-
sires. and that he may soon visit this
country. That may have been the feel
ing when Dyer left, but 1t has no doubt
changed since then, for in letter re-
ceived by the writer only few days
ago it was stated plainly that Inere
was little chance of Darcy leaving there
until the war ended. The boy has been
making big money over there and he
does not feel inclined to leave without
a pretty snug guarantee from the
American promoters. It seems strange
that Mike Gibbons does not take a
boat ride over to the big island and
tackle Darcy in a world title match 1t
would bring Mike from $4,000 to s20,-
600 for his end without a doubt, for the
Sydney Stadium. which Snowy Baker
handles, would not be large enough to
seat the fans at 81 and $40 a throw,
and it can accommodate just $4,000
without being overtaxed. That would
be for one match only. Mike could
gather in another $4,000 without half
trying, but he seems to think it is
easier to sit at home and wait for the
st. Paul club to go through with the
conract for three matches for which
Mike is supposed to draw down an even
$4,000.
This must have been Comeback"
week for some of the stars of the fight |
ing arena Joe Mandot staged a home
coming with Johnny Dundee at New
Orleans and surprised the fans by |