El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-04

-HE boxing game during the past
year has been very successful
\ despite war conditions; Of course
there have not been so many biz
events and fabulous purses hung up
by promoters. but on the whole the
season has been better than than most
clubs and promoters hoped for. The
one sad blow 10 the game was the
killing OF the sport in New York
state, due TO the squabblinE between
fighters. managers and commissi on
officials. There was no occasion for
the killing of the game I'm the biggest
center ia the country, and while Il Is
TO be regretted. still il may Ice FOR the
best. a s IT viii he the means OF root
Ing out q lot of undesirao les and place
the game on a firmer basis when i-
does come back. which ir is bound To
do.
Like The Game.
That the people Of the states Ike
boxing may be judged from that fact.
that according 60 tabulated accounts,
over $500 contests We're fought il
this country and Canada. with 80 per-
cent OF them in the states. In Aus
tralia there We're many bouts held, es-
timaJed at about $500 battles as
ky shows were held at Brisbane.
Melbourne and other towns with twice
"a week ar sydney and probably an
other 400 contests in New Zealand. IN
England the mum Der was not 50 great
but hundreds and probably thousands
Of bouts were held by the soldiers be-
hind the lines. as boxing has been one
Of their chief amusements.
In London and other big cities
fn England shows have been held
"a
cent during the hot spell in the
summer time. At least 1000 bouts
were held. milking n grand total
Of around 1900. ont OF this num-
her Of nHteheS only three fatali-
lies have been recorded, that is in
regulation rings.
rides have changed hands in sew
eraI classes and claims have been
made by boxers who say they can not
yet the champions to enter into title
matches and therefore allege they
have a right TO lay claim 70 the same
Starting with the highest of cham
nIous-the fly weiEht-therc are three
boys who claim the championship
Frankie Mason. Johnny Kosher and
Young zulu kId. This is for the Amer
lean title. as there IS no dIsnutlnE the
TACT that Jimmy Wilde OF England IS
bona fide fly weight champion Of the
world The three American bows may
have 70 chance this winter 10 fight DC
out and settle the dispute between
them.
Herman Leads All.
lu the bantam weight class. Pete
Herman IS still recognized as cham
uiou although he was given q scare
vs. men he fought Frankie Burns. the
Jersey bantam at New Orleans q few
weeks ago. However. Herman won
from Burns fairly and retains his
claim. although there are numerous
critics about the country who still
maintain that Johnny Ertie of ST.
Paul is the real bantam champion The
dispute arises from the fact that Ertle
won on q foul from Kid Williams i'm
1915. Tt was only through lack of any
word from the referee at that time
that Ertle was not given recognition
IL Is very probable that Ertle and
Herman viii meet again i'm a worlds
championship battle during this sea-
son and the winner viii then have q
clear title.
In the feather weight ranks.
Johnny kilbane who has hetd the
championship not only of this
country hut Of the world for Ses-
eraI years. announced his retire
ment. OF course that may be dur
ing the period of the war a. John
ny is at present training soldiers
in camp. n he does retire. there
viii be another scramble for his
title aS there are few bOys OF class
right now In that division.
There IS no disputing the fact that
Benny Leonard holds the light weight
championship. although his victory
was accomplished i'm no decision
contest in New York on May 1Sth Of
this year when he scored a knockout
over Freddie Welsh in nine rounds tt
is seldom that title changes hands
in a no decision contest and II was the
surprise of the boxing world at the
time Since then Leonard has demon F
strated his ability a a champion and +
has scored numerous kuockouts
Although Benny has knocked our
II men during his career as a fighter.
while one OF his nearest rivals. Charlie
White has scored 30 kuockOuts There
are several boys anxious To get
crack at Le0nard's title. among them
White, Richie Mitchell Johnny Dun
dee. Joe yelling and frankie Gala .
han. Any OF these boys are entitled /.
TO try at the championship.
In the Welter weight class. Ted
Lewis remains supreme. haViu- won
tie title from jack Brittou IN -r-