The Washington herald., 1917-12-21
Fight Fans Disappointed
With Maryland Battles
Sheeler Handed Kayo by
Smith IN First-Poor
Crowd Present.
By JOHN A. DUGAN.

The least said, the best. of that
Kid Sheeler-Jei Smith set-to at the
Ardmore arena last night.
While the best said would be only
making the worst Of things. as 1t
was poor and very poor at that all
the way.
Poor car service. poor crowd. and
even poor exhibitions. that this same
poor crowd turned out to witness.
Poor Joe Freeman. District fight
fans owe a great deal to this ardent
fistic follower, who attempted last
night to put the fight game at
Ardmore, Nd, back on its feet, but
fight managers and boxers Offset
hts entire program.
Jeff Smith. boxing instructor of
Camp Dix. N. j., who Is famed for
his punching powers, which he
demonstrated in far-off Austria,
when he forced Champion Les Darcy
to quit, was compelled to do a little
dancing act with Kid Sheeler. OF
Friedrich, in the main bout. which
lasted according to Timekeeper King,
exactly two minutes, until Sheeler
did the "a Ia flop" act.
II Al Lippe's charge was forced
at any time to put over right hooks
or straight punches, the writer fall
ed to see them. as Sheeler Is good
Judge OF class, and class 1t was that
stood before him, but Smith was not
at any time compelled to shcw any OF
this so-called class.
A left lab early in the milling fore
ed Sheeler to back up and when
Smith again pushed across his
left, the Frederick mauIer took to
the canvas for a count. II was nine
when he, attempted to come back.
but after another left, with a six
inch hook. he again went down. This
time It was a grand rush for the
doors and cars, as the entire crowd
was satisfied that they were not
going to see any fighting. as the
count OF ten by Referee o'Conncr
found the seconds and crowd fast
moving into the ring and out of the
arena.
But why blame Freeman? Never has
. fight promoter tried any harder 70
put the great roped game on its feet
than this same Freeman. but his ef-
forts went to no avail as all but one
Of the quartet Of bouts held looked
''h5hy" and II means the end of fstic
combats at the Maryland arena.
Never again viii any WASHINGTON
fans place confidence enough in any
one to make the trip over the electric
road to the Ardnore Club.
Disappointment is putting 1t mildly.
but 1t must be admitted by all the
fans that six of the ten rounds held
in the quartet If fights last night were
about the best staged at the club to
date.
These rounds came in the preIimi-
nary bout which was staged between
Jack Cunningham and Kid Egan, both
Of Washington. II was slated as a
six-roUnd affair and II went the limit
after some great walloping. The vet
eran ESan was given a we'll earned
decision and all hands were satisfied
that both boys gave their best Efforts
To start with, this affair had been
figured upon being a frame-up. but
each battler put over a double-double
and the fans were given a rafting
good punching affair.
Young Nash substituted for Finney
Morgan in the opening bout, which
was awarded to him in the first round
when he forced Young Pauleti to take
the count
The semiwindup between Al Britt.
OF Baltimore, and Paul Edwards, of
Brooklyn, was stopped in the second
round by Referee o., Jnuor and call
ed no contest, as these battlers never
tried, and II was the only move that
Q'Connor could make under the cir
Amstances