The Washington times., 1921-10-15


bane deliberately fouled him in thei
kind never can be taken seriously, bu
lenge to Kilbane for a return bout.
Because of his unfair tactics in the
recent bout Kilbane owes his opponent
another chance. Kilbane also owes 1t
to himself to meet and beat the Balti-
more featherweight the second time
in order to convince boxing followers
that IL was not necessary for him to
violate the rules to preserve his title.
Whether Frush really is the leading
contender for the title is a different
matter. 1t looks very much as though
Kilbane had his number and would re-
peat his victory even IL he did not
kick his opponent or slug him after
the gong had sounded for the ending
of a round.
1t is true that the featherweight di-
vision is wofully deficient in first class
performers, but there are more than
one who can beat Frush. When Frush
showed himself here in the Garden
last winter he boxed a preliminary
boy in a preliminary bout and he did
not appear to be out of his class. He
is just an average featherweight and
his only chance of beating Kilbane
for the title lay in the possibility
that the veteran title holder had gone
back so far that nothing remained of
his old-time form.
Not Sure Of Himself.
Judging by the fact that Kilbane
used foul tactics all the way II is
plain that he was not very sure OF
himself. The veteran must have been
desperate when he ran such a grave
risk of being disqualified even though
he had referee who would be lenient
with him.
The bout convinced good, judges that
Kilbane Is rapidly losing form and
soon will be a mark for even such sec.
ond raters as Frush. 1t also convinced
the fans that Kilbane never should be
allowed TO take part in no-decision
contest as he will not take a chance
when nothing is at stake. The bout
with Frush marked Kilbane's first
interesting performance in years
When he had to fight Kilbane proved
that he could put up an exciting battle
instead OF boring the ringsiders, as he
generally does.
This Sounds Well.
jeff Smiths enterprising manage,
has come out with a cleverly wordeC
challenge to Johnny Wilson. He IL
circulating samples of a contract ir
which he undertakes to let Smith box
Wilson without receiving so much as
dollar for his services. He says that
any promoter able to land Wilson car
get Smith without cost.
He also directs similarly worded
challenges to Mike Gibbons, Mike Nc
Tigue and Mike ODowd. Jeff wants
to box any or all of the three Mikes
with the understanding that il he does
not win the decision he Is not to re.
ceive compensation for his services
Smiths first offer sounds reasonable
enough, but the second throws doubt
on his sincerity. Smith can't beat
O'Dowd, as he proved in the Garden
last winter. He can't beat the veteran
Gibbons, and whether he can beat Nc
Tigue is extremely doubtful, so that
his talk of fighting them for nothing
in case he loses indicates that he is
merely advertising.
Can't Meet His Demands.
But boxing champion Johnny Wilson
for nothing except the shot at the
title is a perfectly reasonable PROPOSE.
ton. 1t is surprising that more OF
the contenders do not come out with
the same kind of an offer in view OF
the circumstances.
Here Is Wilson, to all appearances
the easiest kind Of n mark for any
middleweight who can fight at all
holding the title because no promoter
can afford to grant his demands. In
the hands OF more popular boxer the
title would be worth a fortune. II
looks like a good business proposition
for either McTigue, Gibbons or Smith
to help the promoter out in order tC
make a match possible.
Opponents Of Dempsey and Leonard
cannot be blamed for trying to get as
large a losers end as possible, but II
Wilson is 30 soft his rivals ought Ia
be glad to make any concession ia
meet him. But perhaps Wilson's RI
walls think more Of his prowess than
the general run OF fans do.