The sun., 1919-07-21
MIKE GIBBONS Is TO
FIGHT MIKE O'DOWD
Champion Matched With st.
Paul Ghost for Labor Day
Bout in Minneapolis.
ACID TEST FOR MICHAEL
Lewis and BrittOn Leave for
Training Camps to Prepare
for Bout.
ACID TEST FOR MICHAEL
BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

When Mike O'Dowd. middleweight
champion OF the world. and Mike Glib
bons. one of the cleverest middleweights
that ever drew on a glove, last Saturday
signed articles Of agreement to meet in
contest on next Labor Day. a match was
made that will attract worldwide at
tention. The bout Is to be fought
the Minneapolis ball park on the night
OF September l. and on it's merits should
attract a record breaking crowd.
Although O'Dowd is de facto the mid
dleWeight champion. Gibbons has always
claimed that he is the best man In the
class, and has circulated visiting cards
bearing the word champion" Despite
the opinion of boxing enthusiasts in the
Middle West that Gibbons Is the great
est fighter OF his weight in the world,
Mnnesotans have recognized ODowd as
the title holder, but are divided In opin-
ion as to the outcome of the combat be-
tween their favorite sons.
The bout will be a struggle between
one OF the craftiest ring generals. punish
ing hitters and resourceful boxers In the
ring and a strong. combative. rushing
slugging fighter OF the Dempsey type.
There is reason TO believe that Gibbons
will be dethroned. for the St. Paul Ghost
rugged type OF fighter. Proof of this
weakness on the part OF the st. Paul
boxer was in evidence in his bouts with
George Chip. Harry Greb and Soldier
Bartfleld. O'Dowd Is now in the best
condition of his career. and unless the
oft repeated assertion that Gibbons
never has been fully extended is true the
Ghost appears to be In for a trouncing.
ANOTHER Pal Moore.
Pal Moore's battle with Wilde revives
recollection of the original Pal Moore, a
Philadelphian. who started as bantam
and grew into a lightweight This Moore
was for a time under the management
OF Jimmy De Forrest, trainer Of Jack
Dempsey. There was very little honor
among managers of boxers in those days,
who lured each others meal tickets
with shameless effrontery. Moore showed
much promise, and De Forrest thought
Of a bright scheme to keep rapactous
rivals at bay. He adopted Moore as
his son. and the papers wera all signed
and sealed.
De Forrest thought he had outma-
noeuvred other managers but to hi:
chagrin the first time that raidine
manager offered to mako matches fol-
Moore for III per cent. less than De
Forrest the unfilial son basely deserted
his poor old father and went over to the
enemy.
Benny Valger's first essay as light
weight was not brilliant success, al
though he made creditable showing
against Johnny Dundee. Valger scored
clean knock down in the second round
but Dundee did not take the count
Valger made the mistake OF fighting de
fensively and nernittinR Dundee to Sc
the pace. This cost Valger the decision
The Frenchman' countered Dundee.
leads with good effect, but did LITTLE
leading himself
Bob Martin. heavyweight champion o
the A. +. F. and winner of the Inter
allied championship at the Pershint
Stadium, expresses n desire TO NEE
Dempsey Bob Martin is unquestionabl,
courageous but courage would not carr,
him many rounds in contest with thu
present champion.