Evening journal., 1918-11-21
TITLE CLAIMANTS
require ABILITY
Ertle Fell Short in Demand
for Highest Ring Skill
and Science
BURNS MAY BE
NEXT TO GRADUATE


clally II he is not pugilistically COM
petent TO defend the honOrs against all
challenges. A striking illustration OF
this truth Is furnished by the expert
ence OF Johnny Ertle Of ST. Paul, VINO
Insisted that he won the bantam cham
plonship from Kid Williams by reason
OF an alleged foul blow.
Although a majority OF boxing critics
declared that Ertle had won no cham
pionship from Williams the young man
from st. Paul insisted he was the title
holder and would defend his honors.
shortly after his encounter with VII
liams Ertie made a match with Pal
Moore, the Memphis bantam, and the
latter received the decision on points at
the end OF an eight round bout. Not
withstanding this setback Ertle con-
tInued 10 defend his" title in a series
OF declsiOnless bouts with more or less
able banlams. In one Of these he was
outpolnted by Young Zulu Kid In the
Clermont Rink, Brooklyn, yet he went
along accepting challenges for the
'fitle."
Ertle managed to avoid any disas-
trous defeats till a few months ago,
when he entered the ring with Dick
Loadman, hard puncher, and was
stopped In the fourth round.
This seemed 10 convince Ertle that
his claim Of the championship was
premature, and that Peter Herman was
ihe man who took the title from VIII
liams. In any event when Ertle recent
ly began 10 train for q contest with
Frankie Burns, the Minnesotan an
nounced that II he defeated Burns at
the Weehawken Club he would at once
challenge Herman to a championship
battle. As the Kewpie suffered an
other knockout he viii not challenge
Herman.
Ertle's experience should be a lesson
TO boxers who would like TO become
champions without facing the dangers
that beset the title holders in the ring.
Ertle met only three a.st class ban
tams-MOOre, Loadman ana Burhs-
and in each case was beaten.
Frankie Burns Is considering the
question OF advancing into the feather
weight division and making an enort 70
capture the title Of that class. Burn S
weight has increased to a point wnere
he could not comply with the iiS pound
mark dictated by Pete Herman, the
champion OF the bantam class.
Il would be an excellent thing a
fighter OF Burns class entered the
featherwelght class, for there is a woe
ful lack Of quality among those now
in that division.
Kilbane still offlclally Is the cham
pion OF the division and VIII remain
the title holder till such time as he
formally announces his retirement or
Is beaten in the ring. II would be ad-
visable for Burns to send a polite chal-
lenge 10 Kilbane. with the suggestion
that the champion make a match with
the challenger or else resign his title.
This would pave the way for Burns to
Law claim 10 the championship and de-
fend Il against all comers.
Burns has been particularly unfortu-
nate in his efforts to get the bantam
crown. for although he knocked out
Herman before the New Orleans boy
won the title a shade verdict against
the Skeeter was rendered In their re-
cent battle Of twenty rounds. Burns
has been up near the top OF the DAN
tam class all his pugilistic career, but
tickle fortune prevented him winning
the title. Perhaps he would have bet
ter success in the higher class. He Is
nearing his thirtieth birthday, yet IS
nghting with greater vigor and skill
than ever before.
Bothner Was Insured.
Numerous instances are on record OF
champions in sport being Insured
against accident. Willie HOppe's val
liable hands were insured for 100000.
Ty Cobb was insured against injury,
the Detroit club taking out the policy
and many other celebrities have taken
like precautions. The only case on rec
ord, however, OF an athlete insurlng
himself against death in an impending
combat was furnished by George Both
ner, in his day the greatest wrestler OF
his size in the world.
Fourteen years ago there appeared IN
America, a Japanese iiu jltsu expert
named Higashi. He came with the rep
utation OF having caused the death OF
many Of his opponents and IT was said
that once he fastened one OF his deadly
holds on an adversary the victim had no
alternative but to surrender. Persis-
tency meant serious and perhaps fatal
injury.
On the arrival OF the japanese in New
York City efforts were made to find an
opponent for him, but all the heavy
weight wrestlers respectfully declined.
Finally, George Bothner, then welghing
about i45 pounds, was asked TO take on
the jiu jitsu fighter, BOthner to wrestle
any style ne pleased.
Bothner , hid he was not afraid Of the
Jap, but friends tried TO dissaude him,
warning the grappler that he might be
killed. BOthner finally decided he
would take a chance. and Immediately
after signing articles he took out a
5000 policy on his life which covered
the contest with the. Jap.
The articles OF agreement called for
best three in five falls, and Higashi was
TO use the jiu iitsu holds, while Both
ner was to employ any locks he pleased,
barring the strangle.
The mat was laid in the Grand Cen
trail Palace, New York, and a large
crowd turned out to see the contest.
many OF those who attended being fear
ful that Bothner would meet with
rough treatment Under the rules the
men, wrestled with Jackets, which were
furnished by the Jap, and Bothner no.
ticed when ne examined his jacket that
the sleeves were longer than those
worn by Higashl and that a button
hole had been worked In the back Of
his collar band However, BOthner went
on with the match and won three
straight falls with the body scissors, a
lock .laier made famous by Joe Stecher.s