The Washington herald., 1917-02-12
Matchmaking rough
JOB At ITS BEST
Fans Always Have Their Hammers
Ready for Poor Promoters.
BY JACK NEIOCh .

New York, Feb. n-Have you ever
stopped to consider that Inconsistency in
the making OF boxing matches cannot be
blamed on the promoters alone? Well,
here's our view Of It:
Whenever a bout is staged that proves
to be bad match, and the fans who
have shelled out their perfectly good
simoleons at the box Office go away with
a grudge against the club, they generally
have their little hammers working over
time for the matchmaker
Well admit that matchmakers cannot
all be perfect II they were, the number
of bouts that are staged In this mans
town or any other town in years time
would be cut in half, for the said match
em-ups would make no mismatches.
But the point we want to make is this
1t is often the fault of the fighters them
selves that mismatches are made by the
promoters.
The fighter who is in demand can usual
ly gain some concessions from the pro-
moter, and he is often permitted to name
his opponent-anything to get him to
sign up for a match.
Realizing that he has the upper hand
and willing to put one over by picking a
lemon IL he can get away with 1t, the
much-sought-after knuckleduster will
name somebody he is confident he can
whip. The trouble lies in the fact that
the promoters often fall for his bunk and
the public, hoping that the beans will be
spilled. shells out of the well-known kick
to see the battle.
Recently Grant Hugh Browne. the latest
conner in. the ranks OF fstic promoters.
signed up Fred Fulton, the Minnesota
giant. for three or four fights and hand
ed Frederick LOCO cold simoleons for his
signature to adcontract. This was just
after Fulton has plastered the Jaw of
Tom Cowler, in Brooklyn. and Freddie's
name was being shouted from the hill
tops.
Then Browne came out with the an
nouncement that Fulton versus Charlie
Weinert or Jim Coffey would be quite
the thing for an opening show at Madi-
son Square Garden.
But why Fulton and weinert, or Full
ton and Coffey?
What is there about either of the
matches named that warrants the boxing
fan to spend his money for a ringside
seat?
Why not Miske. or Dillon, or Frank
Moran? Fulton said, when he invaded
New York, that Moran was the goal he
was after. He wanted Moran immediate
ly after he met Cowler. but now it ap-
pears he is satisfied to jockey around
with Weinert or somebody else who Is
rated several notches below the red
topped Pittsburgher.
Moran hung the Indian sign on Coffey
twice and was in turn walloped to a fraz-
zle by jack Dillon. Weinert was also
beaten by Dillon and again by Billy
Miske, and Miske, who has plenty of
height. reSch and punch, made a great
showing with Dillon on two occasions.
Then why not Dillon or Miske for the big
plasterer?
Another instance can be found in Les
Darcy's case, though at this time Darcy
has not shown his wares. When he land
ed in New York he said, right off the
reel, that he wanted to meet the best
boys in the business. Then he turned
around and pointed to Al Mccoy, who
claims the championship of the middle
weight class, but is not considered a
champion by any manner of means. Why
should Darcy, the great middle-weight
champion of Australia, pick on AL Nc
Coy?
We could go on down the line touching
the various divisions, but what's the use Z
The answer would be tho same. You'd
md plenty OF cases where fighters do the
same things we have mentioned here.
1t Is our belief that in order to elevate
the boxing game, and put II in strong
enough with the flstic public so that
whenever 1t totters it Will receive the
unanimous support of the public, more
care should be used in the making of
matches
And the fighters are Just as much to
blame for poor bouts as the promoters.