Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-25
GIBBONS IS KEEN
TO BATTLE DARCY
Gives Les the Once Over and
Suddenly Begins to Clamor
for a Match.
ALSO WANTS HIS PRICE
By RINGSIDE.


scheduled for the coming week, inter
est naturally is turning upon Les
Darcy, the Australian; Al Mccoy
and Mike Gibbons.
Gibbons dropped in on Darcy in
the course of the latter's recent
theatrical engagement here and after
giving him the double 20" suddenly
developed eagerness to engage him in
combat-at a characteristic Gibbons
price.
Darcy made a splendid impression
here. incidentally, he revealed one
fact in connection with his record
which has not been dilated upon to
any great extent by the scribes. That
is the truly remarkable percentage OF
knockouts which dot his fstic accom-
plshments Out Of thirty-four con-
tests, majority Of them with men of
undoubted class, Darcy has put away
twenty-one, a percentage of Oil, as
they put it in base ball. This means
he has hung the sleep producing
punch on six out Of every ten men
he has met.
The prevailing opinion among those
competent to judge is that in short
contest Gibbons would be able to give
Darcy nifty lesson in the art of box
ing. Whether the phantom could
evade those long arms and that ter
rife punch OF the Australian over
longer route is debatable.
Gibbons told Darcy the other day
why he claims the middleweight
crown over Al Mccoy. Those who
have awarded it to Mccoy do so on
the presumption that Billy Papke,
then the most logical contender, in
herited the title when Stanley ketchel
died. Frank Klaus trimmed Papke
in Paris and Klause later was beaten
by George Chip, who was bested by
Mccoy. At best McCoy's claim has
been shady.
Gibbons declares that the Papke-
Klaus affair was not at the stipulated
middleweight poundage and that, even
granting Papke held the title, the
weight prevented it from passing
from him. Gibbons admits there is
no technically legal champion, but
declares he has a right to be eonsid-
cred such because he has beaten every
title claimant except Darcy.
In Class By Himself.
There is no doubt Gibbons is a mar
vel in the ring and is in class by
himself. The possible exceptions are
Darcy and Tommy Gibbons, the phan-
toms brother, who makes him extend
himself whenever they get together
in training bouts.
Knockout Brown, the Greek, and
the only American boxer who has had
any kind of success in battles with
Darcy, is keenly critical Of the latter's
He doesn't seem so rugged or
hearty" said Brown. when 1 fought
him he was trained to the minute
and the muscles stood out over his
body like bunch of oranges. He
looks rather sleek now. His present
condition probably is due to the ir-
regularity of living on the road, rid
ing so many trains and being un-
certain about his bedtime.
Browns right" said Darcy. II
really need lot of hard work be-
fore meet Mccoy. and l am going
to get it."
Apparently there is no worry in
the Darcy camp. Here is an example:
Darcy<had been taking bath while
Mick Hawkins, his trainer. was
lounging on bed, entertaining call
ers. Somebody began rushing around, |
looking for Darcy's bathrobe.
"Aw, let him get it himself" yelled |
Hawkins. "Or let him put on his
overcoat. He's no delicate baby or
nervous woman to be coddled like you
fellows do in this country. He's
man. Let him help himself"
Which was just what Darcy grinned |
and did.
Welsh Gets Shove.
Freddie Welsh got another little
shove toward retirement when the
Wisconsin Athletic commission bar
red him the other day because OF |
his poor efforts in recent encounter.
Freddie is doing a great deal toward |
retiring himself, and whether he keeps
his word about quitting of his own
next summer, another wear |
probably will see him an ex-cham- |
pion, anyhow.
Welsh has not put up a really good |
fight in many months. He seems
burned up by the intensive training
of the past. He doesn't hop into the |
ring with the pep and eagerness which |
once characterized his actions. He
showed plainly at Colorado Springs, |
when he was making ready for Charlie |
White, that he no longer can train as
he once did. Welsh seems to be pay
ing the penalty for his past devotion
to training.
There are any number of good boys
who ought to be able to take his
measure if they can get him into
long contest, and the first one who
gets the chance is likely to be the
next champion.
Moore Gets Chance.
Pal Moore, the Memphis bantam
who holds decision over Pete Her
man, the new champion in that divi-
sion, is going to travel ten rounds
with Kid Williams, former champion,
at Memphis tomorrow night. 1t should |
be hot affair. Williams is essaying |
a campaign which will compel Her
man to fight him again and the same
ambition is back of Moore's scraps
Each is confident he can
beat Herman. Moore thinks he has the |
title holders measure. Williams be-
lieves he was robbed of the title. Each |
stands in the way of the other.
The same night another bantam
weight scrap that will attract atten-
49,, ,,,,n H. 1ka-.J D.