Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-16
,REAssERT|NC CLAIM
RIBBONS WOULD BE KNOWN
AS MlDDLEWElGHT CHAMP
Mike EaVors Hindooisttc "Phnntom"
hut Demands Tint In
production of Champion.

NEW YORK. March 10 -Michacl
Gibbons doesn't mind being called
phantom. In fact, Miguel rather likes
Sthe idea, for there is something sus-
Sgestiyo OF Hinduism In the name. and
he is somewhat OF Il Hindu with his
smitterrs.
- But Mike has adopted a now moni-
Sker. and hencefor,h no VIII insist on
being introduced as tho worlds mid
s.dlewefGht champion. Yes, sir: you've
got It right, for tho senior member of
sthe Gibbons brothers is laying n
stronger claim to the worlds middle
weight crown than ever before, lie is
ssis willing for anybody weighing l5s
pounds ringside 10 try to knock II off.
y The weight arsument is Il strong one
in Gibbonss favor. lie can make los
prove 1t by weighing in at tho ring
Side against amy tighter in the world
Mike doesn, take al Mccoy seri-
.Eonsly: nobody else does. for that mat
sster. And as for Les Darcy-well, Glib
zFbons wants just one chance TO show
the fistic public that ST. Paul, Mimi.
las the home OF the worlds best i5S-
3pound pugilis,.
81 The sporting fraternity is already
The Australian boxer has had no less
than six good offers from promoters
ssin all parts of the country 10 hook up
them? Turned EN- all down cold and.
Furthermore. he insists that Gibbons
4 will have to wait until he gets ready
to meet him. Darcy's long period Of
lost him much OF the prestige he held
4 when he arrived in this country. And
lied fistic fans to suspect that he has
3 something more than wholesome re
II spect for the pompadourcd bearcat
from ST. Paul.
~ Rnf GihhonS ,iN hava tn wait
while he Is waiting he will push his
claims to the middewcight champion
ship with greater persistcncy than
sthe fact. that he has disprovcn the
.tclaims OF some OF the critics who de-
clared he lacks wallop. When he
laid the slumber punch on Young
"A hearn he demonstrated that he can
l*hit, and when he was awarded a one
sided decision over Jack Dillon he
proved to the sporting public that he
Sis the last word in fighting machinery.
81 To the fair-minded fight fan Glib
bons,s claims to the worlds middle
weight title are more substantial than
the claims OF any other boxer and
gibbons adds an additional argument
an his favor by pointing out that when
George Chip won his title he did not
when Mccoy swung his lucky right,
$mitt on Chips lower maSiliary for n
knockout. neither boy could have held
Ethe beam even ut LIS pounds.
SIS Darcy, powerful and unusually clever
4 for his size and weight. will find Glib
ahons something more than a phantom
when they meet, according to Mikes
manager. Eddie Kane. Eddie informs
&us that Mike has strong ambition to
put an end to Darcy's position IA II
dictator by clipping the Australian on
the jaw with wallop that will send
him to drcamland In order to hit
Darcy hard enough to put him away.
Gibbons would have TO clip him with
more effect than he has ever clipped
an opponent. But Mike believes he
q can do It. Darcy, 1t will he remem-
bered. maintains that he has never been
I hurt in the ring; that no punch he has
ever stopped has as much as stung
him.
But t;ibbons's confidence IN his
ability is so Impressive that all ono
has to do is talk with him for a while
to find ones self just about ready to
/. agree with him in everything he says.
And. believe us. steve. that's going
some. Further than this. GibbonS'S
record. his wonderful ability as a
boxer and his Legitimate weight give
MIN the edge on all other claimants
From our standpoint his contentious
are more substantial than those OF any
other boxer. and If he Is given the
chances he asks for there is little
doubt that he Will prove his superior
ity ocer all l5S- pound boys.