The sun., 1919-07-20
WILDE REDUCED IN
RANK AS PUGILIST
Failure to Stop Pal Moore and
Joe Lynch a Jolt to Brit
on's Reputation.
AN ORDINARY FIGHTER
Britton and Lewis Will Fur
nish the Next Exhibition Of
Pugilistic Fireworks.
~ CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.

The pugilistic status Of Jimmy Wilde.
dyweight champion OF the world. has
been definitely fixed as a result of the
Briton's twenty round contests with Pal
Moore and Joe Lynch. Proclaimed by
his English admirers the most
phenomenal fighter OF the age, with the
ability to defeat the best boxers In the
universe in three classes-nyweight
bantamwelght and featherweight-it
suddenly is brought home to the English
enthusiasts that their ring idol Is power
less before two frst-class American
bantams.
Not even the fact that English
referees gave to Wilde decisions on
points to which tho British champion
was not entitled can bring much con-
ISOLATION TO the admirers of the little
Welshman.
II would appear that tho British
enthusiasts were entirely misled by the
sensational victories OF Wilde over a
number of nondescript English boxers
in three classes, and by his knockouts
of two mediocre American fyweights.
IT always has been the practices of
boxing experts In England to Judge of
the abilities of their ring heroes by
their performances against British or
French pugilists, and, never having had
clear conception OF the real merits
of American ringsters, the Britons have
fallen into grievous error regarding the
chances OF their boxers when opposed by
those Of Uncle Samuel.
This was their predicament when they
matched Wilde with Lynch and Moore.
although. thanks to kindly British
referees the hackers OF the hyweight
champion won their wagers.
Weight Consolation.
As the case stands Wilde has but one
consoling argument and that is as to
the weight. He and his hackers insist
that he never enters the ring at more
than 102 pounds. Possibly this may be
the fact. but the studied disinclination
of the champion to have his weight Off
ctally announced is apt to cast some
doubt as to his making the low pound
4 age claimed for him. While there Is no
! authentic record OF Wilde's weight in
recent bouts It was declared after the
contest with Lynch that the champion
scaled ia pounds
L Be this as It may Wilde has furnished
I proof that he cannot concede any weight
( to American bantams. II thu little
Welshman were to match himself with
frankie Burns. the Jerseyman would be
quite apt to score a knockout, and Pete
Herman would give the Briton a thor
ough drubbing.
It is fortunate for Wilde that he never
was called on TO fight a George Dixon
or a Terry McGovern. for his career
! would have been cut short
H II Pal Moore was a bit more forceful
in hitting he would have stopped the
welshman. for the Memphian had not
the slightest difficulty in landing on the
face and Jaw of the champion.
Moore an Able Boxer.
Moore. as the writer set forth previ-
Gus 10 the contest, Is one OF the ablest
boxers and best ring generals in the
bantam class. He Is a speedy boy with
hands and feet, but never has been able
70 stop his opponents with knockout
punches. He is a boxer who in a
twenty-round bout would have a chance
- win on points from any bantam in
the world. but he lacks the punch
soporihc that distinguished Dixon, Nc
Govern. Plimmer, Frankie Burns, Kid
Williams and others of championship
calIbre.
So far as Wilde Is concerned he will
be unwise II in the future he fails to
restrict his challengers TO the 112 pounds
that Is the limit of the hywe!ght class.
Negotiations are under way for an
other encounter between Lynch and
Wilde, and II the West Slider can get into
the ring at weight that does not
weaken him he should como very close
to stopping the Welshman inside the
twenty round limit