El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-04

Nj wonderful comeback Of Johnny
L 4 Ertle. the St. Paul Kewpie. has
created considerable comment among
boxing fans and also critics. Those
who witnessed his contest with Joe
Burman Of Chicago at the Milwaukee
Auditorium November 81 were unani-
nous in stating that 1t was one OF
the most sensational battles ever
staged in this country and showed
that Ertle at the present time is
really at his best.
It also demonstrated that Chicago
has a wonderful little bantamWeight
in Burman, and it was only + ON lack
Of experience that the young fellow
old not show better and possibly gel
a draw with KeWpie. II Bu.man
continues to improve the way he has
the past year, there is nothing that
would prevent him from getting il-O
a battle for the bantamweight cham
piOnship Of the world
He has everything at the present
time except experience, and he is get
ting that fast. He reminds one a
great deal of the former little cham
piOn of Chicago. Jimmy Barry. He IS
cool and collected and hits straight
out with either hand, and only q
dazzling little fighter like Ertle could
have beaten him.
A year ago Ertle was cOnsid-
cred eli in, but after spending the
summer on his farm necr 81. Paul
he decided to begin active train
ing in earnest, with the result
that he has surprised his friends
and critics. johnny Salvatore,
who has been fr~ining md hand
ling Ertle since he split with his
former manager, is a great pal Of
kewpie's.
rrl-e,- -r-o--r- 4oe-atG,e- -r-arr s,T M
doubt the change has been of great
benefit to the St. Paul lad. In speak
ing Of the change Salvatore said:
Johnny and I have been friends prac-
tically all our lives. When I was
boxing around St Paul Johnny was
training in the same gymnasium with
Nike Gibbons, and L was convinced
then that some day he would be ban
tam champion Of the world.
That is the title he should have to-
day. for he surely beat Kid Williams
when they fought at St. Paul. win
ming on a foul in the fifth round: but,
owing to conditions out there at the
time, Frtle's claim was never taken
seriously by all the critics. It is a
shame it was not, for he certainly
won and deserved the title. and he
has a better claim to Il right now
than Pete Herman.
When we were in St. Paul last
spring some Of the fans made the
statement that Ertle was all through.
and my answer was No" I M e Z
up my mind that Johnny could easily
come back and make good. What he
needed was real rest in the country.
and that is where he put in his time
last summer. Another thing, he has
trained faithfully since then and you
can see the result il his last two
fights when he defeated GEORGE I
at Racine and Joe Bur-
man in Milwaukee
"ErtIe told me after the fight
with Burman th-t he considered
the Chicago hoy one of the great
est little bantams in the world
and predicted great future for
him.
'Johnny's one aim now is to fight /
Kid Williams again and settle the
dispute about that st. Paul affair. I
and, If successful, TO then meet Pete
Herman and settle for all time the /
dispute in regsrd to the worlds ban |
tamweiSht title Not only will he I
meet Herman for the title. but the /
latter can have q side bet from
Johnny OF $1,000 to $4,000 any time /
the match Is made"
Grace Settles Down.
Jack Grace. the Oldtime fighter and (
globe trotter has finally settled 4
down in New York and says he will |
remain there for the balance Of his 4