Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-04

T.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE Wis., June 3.-After
an unhill fight of it for the past three
years Jack Eritton, the chicago hoS'
finally has landed championship
the welterweight title of America. For
a long time the welterweight crown
was kicked about with no legitimate
holder until Ray Bronson of Indian
apoNs Law claim to il and defended the
same. retiring himself about three years
ago II Was taken up by Kid Graves
of Cleveland and claimed. and the Kid
appeared to have the best of il as far
as claiming goes. He also showed ms
sincerity ny putting up real com II"
defend the title he claimed Graves
was defeated in no-decision bouts ny
Eritton and also Ted Lewis. according
to newspaper accounts. hut from
sporting standpoint they did not count
seriously. Then came Eddie Moha of
Milwaukee. who won from Graves on
foul III eleven rounds at Dayton. ONO.
and he laid claim to the title, but was
not generally recognized Ted Lewis
also claimed it. did Jack Brltton
and Willie RitChie. The latter had no
right to claim ii as he never fought Tor
the title. In the meantime Brltton ana
Il
forward championship match at New
Orleans and Rritton was awarded the
verdict. and he at once claimed the
crown again. Ted Lewis knocked out
Eddie Noha in thirteen rounds at Day
ton, SO that puts Mocha out of the run
ming and all things considered. the
Britton boy. whom Dan Morgan has
, been pushing along steadily the past
two or three years, comes INTO MS own
Daniel claims the world title for Brit
hrTf no l.
til he fights for it, and to date he has
had no such match. To gain the world
title he would have to first defeat the
European and Australian champions.
However. practically all the critics
have recognized him as American cham
pion and he deserves the honor.
He also is ready to defend it against
Ill corners in real matches. according
to his manager. Dan Morgan, which is
more than can he said for a whole lot
of managers There is one thing in ia
vor of Morgan-he will AXE a chance
with his man against any fighter liv-
ing-and he is not holding off for the
entire receipts. Dan has the reputa
ton of doing ii lot of talking and
shooting hot air 1t is too bad there
are not more of the same kind Dan.
for while he may do lot of talking,
he also does a lot of business and in a
legitimate way. He has surely been
faithful to Britton and now is reward
ed with success. During the past five
good men, among them Johnny Griffith,
Ted Lewis fthree times), Silent Martin,
kayo Brennan and Kid Graves. Just
prior TO the first of the year Jack had
battled such tough ones as Mike Glow
er. Soldier Bartfield. Phil Bloom. Terry
Mitchell and Young Denny. In all Brit
ton has had 152 matches since he start
ed in 1906. and the one Knockout he
suffered was at the hands of Steve
Kinney of Milwaukee. who put Jack TO
sleep in one round a the old Panorama
the wear Jack started out under the
guidance of Bill Phelon the clever
writer of the Cincinnati Times Star. In
1913 Jack gave away considerable
weight and put up a clever fight
against Packey Mcfarland in Milwau-
kee and ii did much to bring him to the
front in the east At present Britton
and Ted Lewis have been matched for
championship contest in South Amer
lea. at the same arena where Freddy
Welsh and Charlie White are supposed
to meet in battle for the lightweight
title in July Britton wants the weight
set at 1+5 rngsde, but he Will have to
change ii to meet foreign title holders
the weight in other countries for
weiters is 141 at 3 O'Clock. Should
Britton go to South America II is like
" that he will take a fiier al Australia
later on and meet the champion of that
country Albert Badoud, the Swiss
champion now in this country, claims
the European title, so Jack may have a
through the war zone. All the follow
ers of the game ask is that he defend
the title when called on to do so bv
legitimate challengers.
II seems 20 he a hard Job for most
western fighters to get a good start in
the east, especially in the big city
There are exceptions of course but
there are more times where fairly good
boys have been unable to get recogni-
ton PaCksy Mcfarland was an ex-
ceptlou to certain extent, still Packey
was roasted up and down for his fight
with Mike Gibbons Billy Papke al
though a champion for A time never
made much of a nit in New York al
though. the contrary. Stanley
Kejchel. 4 western boy. became almost
an idol Gibbons has been roa sted to a
fsreyouweIi first for his fight with
Mcfarland and then again with Ted
Lewis Both matches were with clever
rnsn like himself and for that reas
the ST. Paul phantom did not have
chance TO sho" at his best II was the
Milwaukee, They were both TOO clever
TO do any real smuggling. 1t seems
that The fans want to see mixing and
plenty Of IL From scientific stand
po.ur the match was gem. and to all
appearances - was strictly on the
level The same might be said of the
Lev is-'iibbors fight in New York Both
used their Cleverness instead Of taking
cha noes - smuggling. Had Gibbons
been UP against hard hitting middle
weight good tuiNer-ths cha noes are
that = would nave been great fight.