The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-12

Jem Driscol remains in our mem
DRY as the prettiest boxer we have
ever seen. In 1909 this wonderful
featherweight visited America, and
we had the pleasure of seing him cut
Matty Baldwin into ribbons. His
singing blows. his perfect judgment
and timing, his beautiful foot work,
his blocking-yes. and that sneer on
his trim lips above that Ratchet jaw
will never fade away from our mem
DRY.
Shortly after that bout with Bald
win, Driscoll fought his famous no
decision contest in New York against
the best America possessed, Abe At
tell. 1t was the general opinion that,
had the referee been empowered to
give a decision. fl would have gone
to the British champion. And Attell
was good in 1909, mighty good.
Driscoll became the permanent
owner Of the Lord Lonsdale belt in
1910 and retired undefeated. His rec
ord is one OF the proudest in the an
nails OF the British ring. Recently
he trained the team of British army
boxers who competed in the inter-al-
lied service tournament in London.
coming into notice on this side of ;he
pond by his absolute fairness in
agreeing with the judges that Pal
Moore, the American COB. had opt
pointed Britain's idol. Jimmy Wilde,
in three rounds.
Palmer Another Hero.
Way back in 1894. before he mad
annexed. PedIsr Palmer became a
hero through his wonderful showing
against George Dixon in a six-round
draw. Nine years later he again bat
tied Dixon. winning the decision in
eight rounds
Palmer won the British bantam
title in 1895 from Billy Plimmer, a
great ring performer, and he held
that honor until March 20. 1905, when
he lost to joey Bowker. His memoir
able attempt at the worlds title in
his scrap at Tuckahoe against ;he
then rather unknown Terrible Ter
~" McGOvern made ring history.
Palmer came over from England
heralded as the greatest boxer Of his
weight in the world. The newspapers
were filled with his proves. mis-
grace in the ring and has history. But
nobody told Terry anything about
that That was on September -,
1899
Leaving his corner like an I'M
leaSheQ tiger mCOOVern simply
smothered Palmer with the ferocity
of his attack. Finally, before the
first bell was heard. McGovern
knocked out his opponent Palmer
returned to England much chagrined
at his failure.
Loses to Ben Jordan.
Putting on more weight. Palmer
tried to wrest the British feather
weight title from Ben Joroan, but lost
the decision in fifteen rounds. Tina:
was on March Il. 1917 Following
that contest he dropped out of sight,
training rising youngsters and re-
tanning his popularity with the Brit
ism ring followers.
Just why Driscoll and Palmer
EhoUld have been matched for a boul
in 1919 cannot be understood. Orig
coll boxed a tWenty-Found draw with
Owen Moran for the English light
weight championship in 1918, but tina.
was six years ago. Palmer hasn't
dOnned the gloves for much longer
than that. Fifteen years is lot Of
time between scraps
Before quitting this subject. NC
PONDER over those OId-time picture
objections We used to see in saloons.
with their notwithstanding views Of
English champions like Mendoza. ]
Eigg, Jim Hall, Billy Plimmer, and
Zen Jordan. Prohibition has scat
tered them. to the four winas of
heaven ]