Evening journal., 1919-04-30
SOLDIERS QUGSTI1N
some RING TITLES
Declare That Fighters IL
War D. serve All Boxing
Championship
NEW ORLEANS WON'T
HAVE BIG BOUT

There may be two sets Of boxing
champions in America when the sol
diers get back from Europe. All the
civilian title holders, except one re-
malned at home during the dispute In
France. and since the close Of hostlli-
ties the boys in khaki have held tour
naments TO decide the championship IN
an classes. Indications are not lacking
that the soldiers will insist that their
champions shall take precedence Of The
peaceful tiile-holders Of the United
States.
Il is strongly intimated that the men
who went across 20 France and helped
10 win the war deserve 10 be recognized
as the only pugilslic champions OF
America. and that all non-combatant
title-holders should be relegated TO the
rear
should the millions Of soldiers now
returning and to arrive later decide TO
claim American championships for the
winners Of the tournaments Of the
American Expeditlonary Forces. the re-
suit would trine embarrassing for the
civilians who now are reaping fortunes
NUL OF tif I tl'0 AAltI ffNA IANftN@a "
the outbreak Of the war.
one result would be a series Of con-
tests between the military and civilian
claimants. and the survival Of the NJ
est
A rather slgnlncnant inciden. show
ing the attitude OF the soldier boxers
cropped up In the A. z. T. bouts 10
Paris. In which Mike O'Dowd. worlds
mlddleweight champion was a contend
er. The referee gained the impression
that O'Dowd was not putting enough
vigor into his boxing and warned him
that unless he improved in the next
round his opponent would get the YER
dict
And then" added the referee. away
will go your championship"
The proposition that the holder Of
the middleweieht title could lose his
honors in a four-round bout in a mill-
tary tournament Is a novel one, but u
goes 10 show exactly how the soldiers
look at the situation
Needless to say. ODowd put so much
pepper into the fourth round Of his
contest that his opponent was dared
and all but out It is not unlikely that
the miIitsry champions viii all be home
BY next autumn and interesting de-
velopments may then be expected.
No more brazen attempt to lmper-
senate a noted boxer was ever re-
corded than that Of a blacksmith namei
Joseph p McBurney, 81 Marysville, CAL
who tried 10 pass himself or in San
Francisco as owen Moran. British
boxer OF international reputation. Nc
Burney bears some resemblance TO
Moran and he not only deceived many
boxing experts IN the California
but he got a manager who matched him
with a coast boxer.
But McBurney reckoned without his
wife. whom he deserted IN small
place near san Francisco. She saw
picture Of McBurney in a newspaper
with the picture Of Moran attached ard
decided it was her husband She went
TO San Francisco. Identified the man,
and started divorce proceedings.
There have been many similar cases.
but none OF the cOunterfeits persisted ,
SO stubbornly as McBurney.
A third-rate bantam went TO England
some years ago and introduced himself
As Terry McGOvern. on The strength Of
which he got a match. But his courage /
failed and he disappeared before the
time set for the contest
A prediction having been registered 70 /
the effect that the Willa-d-Demnsey /
match would be staged in New Orleans /
an ofllc'al Of that city. expresses the !
opinion that the Governor would not /
permit IL 70 take place on the soil Of /
Louisiana The reason assigned is the |
unpopula~ity Of the chamn'on. due 20 |
his record In war work. and his failure /
to enter the army after having It an !
nounced that he would enlist. For these
reasons New Orleans would not wei 1
come the contest.
AS Rickard has declared that ne |
would not attempt to pitch the ring in |
Louisiana 1t is unlikely that New Or !
leans will be called upon TO hand the
champion bis hat and inquire as TO his /
haste in departing