Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-31
TWO NEW CHAMPS
IN RING FOR 1920
Dempsey and Britton Replace
Willard and Lewis at Top
of Peak
POP TIME CALLS MANY
By LOUIS II. JAFFE

With Referee Father Time due TO
dole off the necessary ten for a com
plete knockout over the collapsed form
of Old Man Nineteen nineteen at pre-
cisely midnight tonight, and Kid Nine
teen twenty steps into the limeglare for
a twelve month reign, it will be in
teresting to know that pugilistic statis-
tics show two ring titlcholders had
suffered the same dose. In other words
the New Year makes its advent with a
been in the challenging class this time
year ago.
But two of the half dozen recognized
titleholders placed their crowned heads
in jeopardy in decision contests during
the deceased year, and both bit the
dust, as they say. or rather the rosin.
More important of the changes in cham
pionships was the disgusting defeat of
Giant jess Willard by the modern
David, William Harrison Dempsey,
familiarly called Jack in fistic circles.
The Modern David
jess, you will remember, refused to
leave his corner for the fourth round
on that hot July 4, at Toledo, o.,
while the A. o. II. were holding sway
at Point Breeze. and Jack was pro-
claimed ruler of heavyweights from
every land including Swampoodle.
1t will be remembered that st.
Patrick's Night was the occasion of
rabid and rousting celebration by Sons
of Aud Erin, for it was on the 18th
of March that Ireland scored decisive
victory over England. Jack Britton-
William j. Breslin at home-had hung
crusher on the prominent chin of Ted
Lewis--in private GerShon Mendeloff.
Britton pulled this Irish trick on
Lewis in the ninth round of scheduled
twelve rounder, also in Ohio, in Can
ton, to be exact, thus reverting the well
terweight crown to the thirty eight
year old dome Of Jack from whom Ted
kid had won the diadem on points two
years before, in June, 1917. r.
Tender After Title
Benny Leonard was supposed to have
defended his lightweight diadem in d
regular championship bout at Tulsa
Okla, when he knocked out Lockport
Jimmy Duffy in "a couple of rounds OF
November II. 1t really shouldn't b.
termed as such, though. because Duff
even if he were a legitimate lightweight
is merely bmbo compared to severa
real conteuders for Bcn's laurels.
However, Leonard showed he was M
stew cndmp ny sllpplHS hleep sidAiS u
| Willie Ritchie and more recently to Me
Coogan. A number of persistent chal.
lengers for Leonard's crown cropped vi
during the season, Lew Tender stand.
ing out as the most dangerous of the
lot which includes Willie Jackson
Johnny Dundee, Joe yelling ant
Richie Mitchell.
Another epoch making glovefest wa
Georges Carpenters seventy secont
knockout over Joe Beckett in LondoI
December s. And this victory stamped
the poilu as the leading challenger fol
the title possessed by Dempsey, tn
shipyard hero.
Number OF Deaths
Johnny KilbaneS Pete Herman ant
Mike O'Dowd are the other champion
who reign supreme in their respectiv
featherweight, bantam and welter di
visions. j. Patrick has been ruler o
his class for a period of eight years
Herman has topped his field for thre
years, while O'Dowd has been on hi
pedestal since November, 1917, whe
Mique put away the fromage champeen
AL Mccoy.
Among Philadelphians who were Gu
down by Nineteen nineteen's scyth
were Jack McGuigan, promoter; Terr
McGovern, boxer, and Johnny Spatola
manager. Other men well known i
fistiana who were counted out by Fathe
Time were Major Il. Il. Violette. ref
cree; Eddie Santry, boxer Irving Mar
golis. boxer; Dennis Murphy, friend q
the late John L.. Sandy Ferguson
hoxer; Honey Melody, boxer Jac
O'Keefe. boxer; Martin Julian, man
ager; John Fitzpatrick, referee; Dixi
Kid, boxer, and Frank Hettiing, boxer