Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-22
DARCY AND JEFF
SMITH OLD RIVALS
Fans Speculate as to How
Called Off Fight Would
Have Resulted.
MIKE GIBBONS is BUSY
BY RINGSIDE.

By RINGSIDE.
Chicago, April PLIES Darcy's
called off match with Jeff Smith in
New Orleans should have proved
mighty interesting, To those who
were inclined to believe that Jeff
would prove easy pickin's for the
Australian, and that the bout would
serve only to give Americans their
first real line on Darcy, the fact that
the two men have met before should
prove an eye-opener.
In the first battle, scheduled to go
twenty rounds, at Sydney, Les was
compelled to quit in the fifth round
Smith always has claimed it was a
clean knockout. So did many of the
spectators. The Australian papers,
loath to admit that popular idol had
been handed a K. O., politely admit
ted that Darcy had declined to con-
tinue. At any rate the Australian was
hors du combat and Smith is credited
with a victory in the record books.
The second battle ended in the sec
ond round when Smith unintentioral-
ly fouled Darcy. Had the fight gone
on that day Darcy might now be for
gotten.
Perhaps the fact that Smith has
travelled ten rounds twice with Mike
Gibbons may be as good proof that he
is good man as anything in his rec
ord. Gibbons. naturally, claims he
won both times, but as no decisions
were rendered his claims are not up
held. The newspapers were divided
in their opinion as to whether Smith
was beaten or earned draw.
Mike just now is engaged in hurl-
ing challenges broadcast at Les. and
through his manager, Eddie Kane,
has claimed the middleweight honors
in an attempt to force Darcy into
meeting him soon. Matt Hinkel, the
Cleveland promoter, is trying to get
them together. Darcy has performed
in vaudeville at Cleveland recently.
and thinks well of Hinkel, so this
flstic plum may go to Ohio.
Just now the thing that has proved
amazing in connection with Darcy is
the wonderful way in which he has
managed to retain his popularity de-
spite the fact that he has been in this
country four months and has not ex-
hibited his wares. and in the face of
his disbarment by the governors and
his muddled managerial affairs.
Richie Mitchell, Milwaukee light
weight, is as near the perfect man as
there is in the ring today, according
to William Lachemaier, physical cul-
ture expert, who in his day measured
and compared all of the topnotch
fighters. From the mass of figures
thus obtained, he has struck an aver
age, with which Mitchell compares
more than we'll.
"MitchelPs physique is closer to
perfection than anything / ever saw
says Lachemaier. Jim Rush, for
mer University of Wisconsin foot ball
star, is the only man | ever examined
who surpassed him. Bush in his
prime was almost perfect, and the
only thing that keeps Mitchell from
equaling him is light pair of legs,
due to the fact that he is required to
take off weight and never has de-
veloped his limbs to their utmost.
His chest also is slightly below per-
lection and his wrist is trihe small.
Otherwise his physique is ideal"
Those who have marvelled at the
ringcraft of Sam Langford may be
interested in knowing that the vet
eran negro gives credit for his Prov
ess to that other sterling negro fight
er, Joe Walcott. The odd thing
about it is that Walcott himself prob
ably never knew that he was instruc-
tor of the Boston Tar Baby.
1t was in this same Hub that the
lessons were learned. Joe had
younger brother named Westheld and
he and Langford were bosom pals.
Joe taught his brother most of the
tricks he had learned in the ring and
the youngster in turn passed them
on to his chum, Langford.
"The colored boxer in those days
learned the game thoroughly" says
Langford. "He had to to hold his
own. That is why most of the negro
pugilsts were so clever. ! never for
got those second-handed lessons from
Walcott."
Incidentally, it was a desire to get
even with certain white boy, Danny
Duane, who never was a top-notcher,
that inspired Sam to study so hard.
In 1908 Duane and LaDpford engaged
in battle of twelve rounds and Lang
ford was the target for an amazing
number of blows, which left him in
anything but a pleased frame of
mind after he had viewed his face,
particularly his lips.
Langford never had an opportunity
to fight Duane again, but the things
he learned in preparation for that
never-to-be second meeting were