Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-18
HERMAN READY TO
MEET ALL COMERS
How Bantam Champ Says He
Will Defend Title Against
any Contender.
MONA HARD LUCK VICTIM
By RINGSIDE.

make a speciality of picking soft
marks as opponents, getting the money
before they enter the ring, then
giving Grass exhibitions that would
disgrace third rater. his actions are
a treat
Herman'S claim on the title may
be questionable, the flock Of chal-
lengers large and classy and his own
ability a mooted question, but his
stand regarding the game is to be
commended. He says that he is
ready to meet them all, and he makes
no bones as to which he will take
on first. He will fight as often as
he can get matches, and he proposes
to do it in hammer and tongs fash
ion, so that the Doubling Thomases
may come to believe that he is real
champion.
And-hc hasn't mentioned the sub
ject of money or demanded huge
purses before he will discuss matches,
Johnny (Kewpie) Ertle, the St.
Paul bantam, who has claimed the
title because he won on foul from
Kid Williams last year, probably will
be Herman's first opponent. Tom
Andrews, the Milwaukee promoter,
has opened negotiations which bid
fair to be successful.
Kid Williams, from whom Herman
got the title on a referees decision
that was not generally satisfactory, is
starting out all over to mop up in
the division and get another try at
the crown. He started out with a
decision over Benny O'Neil in Kan
sas City. Williams is credited with
displaying all his old-time ferocity
and showed no signs of having gone
back or of having suffered mentally
over the fact that he was deposed
Williams belief that he was euchred
out of the decision over Herman has
given him all the confidence in the
world, and he is going about his
business just as strongly as when he
was champion.
Johnny Coulon, former champion
is another who must be considered
Coulon's showing on New Years
against Joe Wagner, veteran of the
game, was all that could be asked
and his battles since then have re.
vealed that he still has championship
ability and must not be regarded
lightly. 1t must be admitted that
Coulon is not the man he was a
couple or more years ago, but he
is far from being has been yet.
Other Good Timber.
In addition, there is quite good
timber for battles with the champion
in Pal Moore of Memphis, George
Thompson, Pacific coast battler
who is here under the wing of Willie
Richie, former lightweight cham
pion; Joe Lynch, New York's lates
entry in the bantam stakes, and ;
handful of others who are forging
their way into the front ranks.
Lynch's showing against One
Punch Hogan in fifteen rounds al
New Orleans few days ago stamped
him as quite likely opponent fol
Herman in the southern city. This
One Punch person is no SLOUGH will
his fists, but Lynch gave him a
tasty lacing. He displayed both left
and rights of ability, willingness tc
stand punishment and perfectly
sound wallop. He is green yet, but
under the skiilful tutelage of Scotty
Monteith, who handles Johnny Dun.
dee, he will be heard from before
long.
Thompson is trim and tidy little
chap. His desire is to fight his way
to the championship. If some Other
boy convinces him that he has nc
chance, he will quit the game. He
doesn't have to box for living, but
he likes it, and believes he is goot
enough to bid for Herman's laurels
He has fought Coulon twice in no.
decision bouts and appeared in :
dozen battles in the east without get
ting trimmed. Altogether he has
mixed in sixty battles without having
his colors lowered
Hammer Sees Light.
Prospects of driving the old gro
Gerry wagon again have worked won,
ders with Ever Hammer, the brist
ling blonde who was tiger in the rins
until Johnny Dundee put the skid,
under him several months ago. Ham
mer has seen the light and the pei
which was so conspicuously missing
in his last bouts again is in evidence
as he cavorts around the gym.
When Hammer was creating sen
sation in lightweight ranks and thu
money was rolling in, he fell like Sc
many other boxers for the gay life
neglected training and took thing
easy. Then came the beatings from
Dundee and Benny Leonard ant
Hammer began to wake up.
The alarm clock went off with
vengeance when Joe Yelling, whom
he previously had trimmed, put tn
bee on him. Hammer retired for
few weeks, then began working again
at light training. Then he enliste,
the aid of clever Sam Langford ant
under the tutelage Of that past maste
of the ring he is showing the form o
old again.
Hes great boy" said the "Bos
ton Tar Baby" Hes strong as
bull and my, how that little boy cal
hit. When he gets going again thos'
lightweights had better watch ont.
White SCOTS at Mitchell.
Charley White is not one of TIL
great admirers of Richie Mitchell
of Milwaukee. White believes tina
Mitchell is as big a staller in the RIM
as Freddie White was accused of be
ing when he fought the Beer City lad
Mitchell says he is the COMING
lightweight champion, but he doesn'
want anv more of nv game" said tn,