Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-22
Featherweight and Lightweight
Kings Meet in Ring at
Philadelphia.
SHOULD BE REAL THRILLER
Will Be Staged in Open Air
at Shibe Park; Goes
Six Rounds.
(By J. A. ERMATINGER.i

MILWAUKEE,, Wis, July 22.-For
the third time in the annals of
pugilism the reigning champions in
the light and featherweight divisions
will encounter each other in battle.
when Benny Leonard, ruler of all the
33-pounders. will engage Johnny
Kilbane, the featherweight king, in a
six-round contest at Philadelphia next
Wednesday night.
The match is fiyture and nothing
seems likely to develop that will in
any way interfere with the plans for
this memorable conflict.
Unfortunately. the route of battle
il not considered long enough to make
the meeting a decisive one either way.
but of course there is always the pos
sibility OF knockout DEVELOPING
when men OF the class OF Leonard and
kilbane fare forth for scuffle.
Memorable Date.
Just about seventeen years ago to
the daY. so the records of the prize
ring show, the first encounter be-
tween the title holders In the two
classificatiOns took place at New York
city with Terry McGovern, champion
VI tne leHtHeTS, anu FTunk ETHt, DOSS
of the lightweights, being the con-
test ever was staged within the roped
arena.
In the preliminary negotiations to
the match Erne had guaranteed to
knock out McGovern in ten rounds.
And few fistic followers of that time
doubted his ability to do so. 1t looked
like certain slaughter for McGovern.
Terrible Terry was in his prime IN
those days, however. A greater and
gamer fighter has never been pro-
duced. Right from the outset he car
ried the fighting to Erne and for the
first and second rounds the rivals
stood toe to toe and battered at each
other. scarcely seeing where they
were hitting or the effect their
punches were were having Midway
In the third round Erne was forced
to turn tail under the crushing at
tack. Keeling and helpless, he was
all but knocked out. Then the referee
stopped the contest Close to fifteen
thousand persons paid $4,000 to the
battle. which was one OF the most
vicious and sensational ever staged
anywhere.
Should Re Spectacular.
The coming match between Leonard
anu fNliDstut Is thptNttu " DTONe u
spectacular one for the reason that
Leonard Is an aggressive and eager
young battler. He will carry the mill
ing to Kilbane and will force that
worthy to fight all the way in the
event that Kilbane shows a disposi-
ton to stall, which he has been known
to do when face to face with a dan
gerous foeman. The Wisconsin box
ing commission suspended Kilbane
for tactics OF that sort and boxing
fans elsewhere have condemned him
frequently for his unwillingness to
take a chance when scrapping with a
tough opponent, so It will not be un-
expected If Kilbane dogs it, II
Leonard tries to mako the fight u
slam bang affair.
The contest between the two cham
pions will be staged in the open air
Shibe ball park at Philadelphia hav-
| ing been selected rs the battle ground
AS interest in the match is at fever
heat it seems certain that an immense
crowd will be present. Popular prices
will prevail. 1t is estimated that fully
fifty thousand fans can be COM
fortably handled.
While the receipts undoubtedly will
run up into the thousands II is hardly
likely that the total will set new
record in gate money. Here are some
of the big houses that have attended
past fistic entertainmentS: