Evening journal., 1919-08-19
BRITTON-O'DOWD
IN NEXT Big BOUT
Welter Champion Will Meet
Middleweight Title
Holder on Friday
BRITTON WILL
CONCEDE WEIGHT

Britt0n are worlds champions OF an
ferent classes, their contest at The First
Regiment ArmOry, Newark, \. j., next
Friday night promises TO be far from
one sided Judged by previous bouts
between the pair the approaching en-
counter should be one OF the most SEN
sational ring battles ever staged in New
Jersey or any other State.
on one hand stands the veteran Brit
ton, the ctaftiest most resourceful and
most skihul boxer in the ring, who has
proved his sterling qualities by coA-
quering the best men Of two classes
light and welter-and now seeks TO
take the measure Of the king Of the
middleweight division. Not only is
Britton a past master in the science OF
boxing, but he is the brainiest fighter IN
the ring. While he does not pose as
hitter OF the Dempsey type, he by no
means Is deficient I'm the matter Of in
fllctlng punishment, as is aitested by
his knockout Of The formidable kid
Lewis.
Yet. considering his plan Of battle as
a whole, Britton depends on his un-
canny defensive skill and his ability 10
take advantage instantly OF the slight
est mistake or false move OF an oppo-
nent. II any man can hold at bay the
rushing, vigorous, hard hitting ODowd,
BrittOn is the man.
The welter champion will concede
from 90 ~ pounds in weight to the
middleweight title holder, who Is re-
stricted 10 ijs pounds ringside,
weight that O'Dowd VIII easily make.
II the weight condition was likely to
weaken the middleweight but one re-
suit would be possible for BrittOn The
welter champion may possibly scale iS
pounds, will be al his best. and no man
weakened by weight reduction could
hone 10 overcome BrittOn In a short
or long bout.
But O'Dowd has furnished proof that
he will not be Handicapped by the
weight and that he will enter the ring
in possession OF all his natural vigor
and stamina in order TO win. Brilton
must hold al bay IN the opening rounds
one OF the most cOmbatiye men that
ever pulled on a glove, and he is pos
sessed OF a punch which landing fairly
spells coma to the recipient. lie IS
tireless fighter, and the harder he is
nit the more furlously he charges for
ward at his opponent.
His record shows that he has been
outpointed, hut no adversary yet has
hit him hard enough 10 enable the ref
cree 10 count ten over him.
Brition and ODowd have met IN the
ring three times. one twelve round
bout at Boston 10 a decision, and two
ten round decisionless contests. Their
FIRST meeting was at Boston, June },
1916. and Rritton gave the yoNngster
a boxing lesson. getting the decision Of
the referee at the end OF the twelve
rounds. In the two decisionsless
bouts, one at st. Paul and one in this
city. the popular decisions on points
went 10 Britton. and therefore the wei
ter champion has past performances
in his favor
O'Dowd II he ls 20 win will he COM
PEELED to overturn the records OF the
past and snatch victory from p man
who has thrice outpointed him. ODowd
insists that he has improved very much
over the form he shOwed'in his previ-
Gus contests with Brltion. and that his
weller title holder will be unable 20
Withstand the fury Of his attack
O'Dowd has gained in the matter Of
boxing skill also, and this should help
his chances.
Il, however, is significant that the
champion in bout with
a fairly clever man named Jackie
Clarke was held at bay with a straight
left to the face. II there is any mode
Of attack in which Britton eXcels it is
In the Use NJ Cfpa iult left
The question OF age also viii enter
into the consideration. ODOwd being p
and BriltOn 36. Kid Lewis Is but 90
yet the veteran Brition had all the bet
ter Of his encounter with the former
weller champion. At the same time IL
must not be forgotten that O'DOwd is 4 |
much stronger man than Lewis and /.
more aggressive, and that his fists will |
be in motion from the first gong to the |
last.
There have been many battles in the |
past between champions Of different |
classes, but In a majority Of them the |
weight restrictions handicapped the |
title holder in the heavier class. Terry |
NlcGovern. featherweieht champion, and /
Frank Erne, lightweight champion, met
In Madison Square Garden July i6. 1900. /
and McGOvern knocked out Erne in the /
third round. But Erne mquestionably 4
was weakened by The weight Of i2s |
pounds ringside. II is doubtful II Erne
could have beaten McGovern at any |
weight. but the lightweight would have
lasted longer il permitted to scale his
normal weight.
George Layigne, the lightweight /
champion, and Joe WalcoH met at the
Empire 4. c., Maspoth, December 23l
1898, in bout limited to fifteen rounds.
It went the limit and was a. bruislng
battle, Lavigne earning the decision on
points. But Walcolt, whose normal
lighting weight was 40 pounds. was
TO weigh 1873 ringside. weak
sned the Negro so he could not do him
'elf justice. Walcott undertook 10 stop
Lavigne inside the limit or lose n
wager OF $500.
Johnny Kilbane, featherweight cham
)ion OF America, became possessed Of
IN ambition TO acquire the worlds
lightweight title, held by Benny Leon
Ird. and they met in Philadelphia July
D. 1917 kilbane was put 10 sleep in
he third round. Leonard entered the
ing at his normal fighting weight and
lilbane was Outclassed.