The Washington herald., 1916-01-23
DARCY NOT TO
VISIT AMERICA
Professional Jealousy by Pro-
moters Blocks Australians
Plan to Make Trip.
LEADS DECISION BATTLES

New York, Jan. 22.-There is no gain
saying that Les Darcy-Lester Darcy
he was chrlstened-is one Of the greatest
lighters OF the present generation. To
this must be supplemented the fact that
the Australian is not coming 10 America
to fght-or for any other purpose for
that matter. The Antipodean authori-
maui in American dollars while there is
war going 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 cleaning out our
middleweight class. At the time this
column stated positively that Darcy
would not come to America for at least
another year. Later development have
substantiated this statement.
It is stated that the Australian govern
ment is seriously considering sending
Darcy to the first line Of batue-into
the trenches. This may be so, but We
are quite certain that should this come
to 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 twenty-is keen for a tour
of the States, and he looked upon such
a sojourn as the realization Of his boy
hood dreams. But greedy. svaricious
promoters are thwarting Darcy's plans,
and Americans may never be afforded
the chance to see the newest pugilistic
phenom in action.
The subject Of a trip to the United
States was FIRST broached to Darcy by
an American handler OF boxers. This
man has a wide acquaintance with the
sporting element in this country, and
promised Darcy a hearty reception here.
But Australian promoters could not see
an American stealing their most
formidable fighter and greatest drawing
card. The critics deplored Darcy's pro-
posed departure from Australia. Some
tossed the harpoon into him for trying
to leave his native land after what It
had done for him; others mentioned
American enterprise as outwiting trust
ing Australians. Darcy ignored these
thrusts until someone intimated that Les
was going to America 10 escape military
service.
This was Haunting and untruth and
Darcy was riled. 1t soon got to the
authorities, through an undercurrent
and they requested Mr. Darcy TO stay.
Les importuned the officials to let him
go to America for six months, so that
he could clean up our middleweight crop.
He promised to return when the half
year was up. But the authorities were
adamant and Darcy must stay at home
until the was Is over at least.
resume OF the fight records for 1915
clinch the fact that Darcy is among the
worlds greatest fighters. Les engaged
in thirteen battles during the year just
ended-and all went TO decision Darcy
gained the award I'm twelve Of the thir-
teen bouts. He lost the one bout to JeT
Smith on points early in the year. Darcy
afterwards won from Smith in two
rounds.
As a matter Of fact Darcy was tho
only fighter to participate exclusively In
decision bouts during the year. Chat,
White. the Chicago lightweight, was 4
principal in eleven decisive bouts, win
mig ten and drawing one but he also
took part in seven no-decision contests.
These are the only two top-notCh fighters
TO figure in two-figure decision bouts
during 1915.
On the other hand consider the 1915
records OF Freddy Welsh and Johnny
Kilbane, lightweight and featherweight
champion respectively Welsh was a
party to nineteen bouts during the year,
and every one was 4 no-decision AFFAIR.
Kilbane had fifteen fights, and every one
things. Fine pair of champions, eh ?
Well, it's just I'm keeping with their
safety first" policies to avoid all
chances of losing their titles in decision
contests
Some Of the other ranking fighters
who did not trust themselves in decision
contests during 1915, were Mike Gibbons,
Willie Ritchie and Young Shugrue.