Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-05-05


time was given him by Mike O'Dowl
but O'Dowd was near the middle
weight figure in that match
MILWAUKEE. Wis, May .Uu-.
gilistic history in the Wc,tcrWcisht
division win be written this ". ,l,.
when Ted (Kid) Lewis. champion NJ
the class. strips for battle over tine
2O-round route against Johnny Till
man, a sprightly youth from Mia
neapolis. The contest Will take plar,
at Denver, Col, next Saturday night
First Bout for Year.
II Is the first time since he won
the championship last June thar
Lewis has elected to defend his
crown. Because "A title is involved.
the approaching struggle looms large
in fistic circles.
Has Tillman the physical eggip-
ment and the ring skill sufficient to
wrest the crown from the curly pate
of the English Jew?
Followers of fistic affairs who
have closely studied past perform
ances OF both battlcrs incline 10 tho
belief that Lewis has nothing To
fear nevertheless the outcome viii
be watched with kecen Interest be
caus there is always the chance Of
dope being upset
Those who are fnrcCasung a Vic.
tory for Lewis point 10 the ring rec.
-ords Of both men AS the basis for
their prediction, They recall that
on February 4. last Lewis took Tlp.
man through six fast rounds OK fight
ing at philadelphia and at the end
the critics were practically unani-
nous in declaring the champion a
winner
Dope FaVOrs Lewis.
Then there * the match which
both Lewis and Tillman had against
the veteran Jimmy Duffy not 50 very
long ago. ON February IS, at 70
ledo, Lewis stepped out from hi,
corner at the opening gong, cracked
MIR Duffy on the chin and that griz-
zled warrior crumpled in heap on.
the canvas. lie was counted out
and then carried to his corner. IT
was the second one-rouni knockout
that Lewis registered against the
Lockport scrapper.
Contrast this performance with
that Of Tillman against the self same
Duffy They fought at Boston on
February and the bout went the
limit of twelve rounds At the end
II was pronounced draw
Lewis has never been really pop
ular champion because he does Not
measure up to the standard that
Americans demand in title holders
| II is not racial prejudice, either IN
this feeling OF antagonispl towar /,
Lewis As proof of this may be cited
the high regard in which Benny
Leonard lightweight champion, Is
held by boxing patrons Like Lewis,
Leonard is product OF the Ghetto,
yet Leonard is such wonderful lit.
tie fighting man that fistic fans of
every nationality freely praise and
admire him.
Lewis Merely Tolerated.
/ Lewis. on the contrary is merely
| tolerated on his championship
throne. His overthrow will cause
no feeling Of regret; in fact. there
would be general rejoicing If "A real
| fighting man encompassed his down
| fall. In many respects public opin-
ion toward Lewis is very similar tC
1 that which was entertained toward
Freddie Welsh when that worthy
held the lightweight crown. Welsh
was admittedly a wonderful boxer,
but he never was a popular one sim
ply because he lacked that essential
"a Knockout punch--w which Amer
leans are keen for in fighting men.
When Leonard hammered his way 10
clean-cut victory over Welsh, he
was acclaimed In n manner that left
no question as to his popularity,
Lewis is remarkably skillful as
boxer, but his record shows few *.
O.'s as testimonials to his ability as
a hitter. There is no prospect that
he will overcome this deficiency,
either.
Tinman. prospective opponent Of
tho champion, also is a punchless
battIer. In seven years of scrapplng
Tilman is credited with only nine
knockouts. and the greater part OF
these were registered in the first two
wears OF his ring career. Tillman
is verging on his 25th birthday. He
has reached the height Of his physi-
cal development and il is natural 10
presume he never will be better than
he has been in the past year or SO.
The opportunity of his life Is now
before him. II ne fails at Denver
then he is not likely to ever again
figure in a championship match.