The Washington herald., 1920-06-23
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Tho Mystery.

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Sport is replete with mysterious
episodes and performances.
There are times when its turns
are beyond all computation in the
whirl of the game.
One of the most mysterious turns
Of all Is Great Britain's inability to
develop heavyweight champion
who Is worth his weight in cheese.
In Other Lines.
Here we have a nation that in
golf has developed its Vardon.
Braid. Taylor, Hilton, Ball and
Tofiey, among countless others.
A nation that in tennis has sent
forth its Doheytys. its Wilding, its
Brookes and a long line of other
stare
A nation that was able to come
over and wrest away the Polo Cup
from our veteran four.
A nation of great oarsmen and OF
fine long and middle distance run
ners, second to none in any realm.
Great Britain in a way has sent
a nation OF athletes, with innumer-
able cricket ad football stars at
both rugby and soccer.
1t is a race noted for bulldog
qualities, for stamina. courage and
skill upon the open field of competi-
tion.
It was from Cornwall that Bob
Fitzsimmons came, the greatst
fighting machine. pound for pound,
in all ring history.
And yet for twenty-five years not
a single heavyweight star of any
merit has risen up to hold his own.
Under Proper Auspices
All this while the boxing game
has been encouraged in England,
while for the greater part of the
time IT was discouraged in the
United States.
An English boxer was given every
chance to move forward. He was
and was fostered from the start.
, Rich men were always willing to
take him up and see that he got
the best break available.
Yet the answer has been a Bonn
bardier Wells, a Goddard or a Beck
ett-easy prey for any average
fighter who might come along.
England has sent her best two,
Wells and Beckett. against a young
Frenchman, and he knocked bota
cold and clammy in a stanZa or two.
There have always been a half
! dozen heavy-weights in this coun-
try who could tear the dome of
England's champion with a swing
or two.
Why Is it that a nation capable
of developing so many stars along
all other lines-a nation widely
known for its stamina and cour-
age and ability to stick-has been
unable to develop one heavy
weight star Inc nVtwenty-five years of
constant effort?
Why is it that a nation able 70
develop a Wilding, Brookes. a Var
don, Braid, Jackson. etc, has
never been able in a quarter of a
century to develop a Sullivan, a Cor
bett. a Dempsey-even willard or
, Fulton?
We give it up.
A Tender Point.
This is a tender point in British
pride. Here in the steamy year OF
1920 they are meeting US on land
and water-at golf. tennis, yacht
ing, track athletics and. various
other ways-but the heavyweight
championship Is a matter between
an American and a Frenchman.
nthe lighter weights England
has had her Welsh, her Wilde, her
Owen Moran and many others.
But in the testing class-the
heavy-weight-she has only her
Joseph Beckett, unable to last out a
round against a Frenchman twenty
pounds lighter in weight.
It's q queer turn, figure 1t any
way you will. A turn to which at
present no one seems to have a mt
reply.
1t. has never been a question Of
courage or of nerve. 1t has been a
matter of finding a combination of
punching power. boxing skill and
ability to absorb punishment. Wells
had the first two ingredients, but
lacked the last. Beckett doesn't
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