The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-27
BRITTON AND LEWIS
READY FOR CONTEST
Champion and Challenger Fit
for Hard Bout in Jersey.
City Tomorrow Night.
YOUTH FAV0RS LEWIS
Britton, Although SO Years Of
Age, Still Retains Skill /.
and Ringcraft. r
YOUTH FAvoRs LEWIS

Although Jack Britton, present weller
champion, and Kid Lewis, former holder
of the title, who are to meet in a cham
pionship bout at the Armory A. A.,
Jersey City, tomorrow night. have been
referred to as the Damon and Pythias
of pugilisn. an inspection OF their nu-
merous contests in the ring fails to re-
veal any indications of brotherly for
bearance. On the contrary. each of
these clever and noted boxers has in
every one of nearly score of encounters
exerted himself TO the utmost in an
effort TO demonstrate superiority over
his opponent.
Each has had the advantage In sew
eral Of their bouts, Lewis notably when
he took the title away from Britton at
the end of q twenty round battle, and
Britton when he regained his title
through the medium of knockout In
the ninth round.
However, without reference to slight
advantages by one or the other. each
and every one of the bouts In which
this great pair have been opponents has
been sensational in character.
Narrow Margin I'm Each Bout.
In a majority of their matches the
margin of superiority for the victor has
been so narrow that the partisans of
the loser have had no cause to be down.
cast. In fact the greater number of
their bouts could justly be called draws
without doing injustice to either, and not
till the twenty round decision received
by Lewis at Dayton and the ninth round
knockout scored by Britton at Canton
could either point with any degree of
pride to his victory.
So far as the knockout is concerned
Lewis interposes the explanation that he
was i'll at the time and therefore unable
to stand the strain OF Brittons attack.
Britton intimates that Lewis's illness
dated from the ninth round and assures
the former champion that the dose will
be repeated tomorrow night
Britton also takes exception to the
judgment of the referee who gave the
decision to Lewis in the bout at Dayton.
Regardless of this airy persihage. each
of the boxers. knowing the sterling quail
tiles of his opponent. has trained with
the greatest care. There is not doubt
the men will be in excellent physical
condition when they enter the ring and
the best battles ever seen between the
pair.
Britton IL 30 Years old.
Britton and Lewis are two Of the best
matched boxers that ever entered the
ter OF ago. Britton was SO Inst October
and Lewis was 23 in the same month,
the challenger being thirteen years
younger than the champion.
At SO years of age the majority OF
athletes have passed the period at which
they can do their best in physical COM
bat. They may retain their strength. as
was the case with Willard. but In the
matter of speed, quickness OF eve and
To a atf not
falling Off.
Therefore, IL the battle tomorrow
night hinged on the question of physical
superiority Lewis should be the win
ner.
PROFESSIONALLY Britton has lost much
of the speed that marked his ring action
when he first appeared as contender
for the title, but, like the wonderful
Fitzsimmons. he still retains all the
ringcraft, defensive skill and effective
offensive tactics that characterized his
early efforts In the roped square. Brit
ton is a master boxer and is 80 thorough
ly versed In ring science that he is DIFF
ficult to overcome.
Lewis also is a crack boxer and he
hits with more force than Britton, an
the formers knockout record attests.
Blu. the Englishman is not SO clever a
boxer as Britton, and in hitting he uses
80 much power that he generally. es-
pecially II he misses. lays himself open
to a sharp counter.
With both men in good condition the
writer does not expect to see a knock
out, and Ia the event of the bout going
the limit Britton should be returned the
winner. The victor will get big purse
for Meeting Johnny Basham. welter
champion of Great Britain