The New York herald., 1921-09-06
Downey Shades Wilson in
LudicrOuS Bout for Title
Tex Rickard Is Ordered to Withhold Beaten Middle
weights Share of Purse-Neither Boxer Shows
More Than Preliminary Boy Class
ny CHARLES r. .MArHIsoN.

The justly celebrated worlds middle
weight championship is still in two
sections. AS result OF twelve
rounds Of ludicrous attempts at fighting
in Boyle's Thirty Acres in Jersey CITY
yesterday afternoon by Johnny Wilscn
OF Boston and William Bryan Downey
OF Columbus, Wilson stu holds fifty
per cent. OF the titular honors, while
the remaining fifty per cent. is in
possession OF the Ohioan.
There was only one chance of the
title being gained by one of these spec
tacular ringsters, and that was by a
knockout. Far from either Of the
men being stopped. there was not any
thing that even approached knock
down. 1t was the most absurd per-
formance ever staged in this part Of
the country by alleged champions, and
there is doubt that either ever again
will be asked to box in this vicinity
even as ten dollar preliminary
fighter.
AS indicating the general disgust over
the performance Of Wilson especially,
the New Jersey Boxing Commission i'm
mediately after the bout instructed an
nouncer Joe Humphreys to inform the
spectators that Tex Rickard was ordered
to withhold Wilson's share of the purse
pending an invest.zat Svtp his per-
formance in the RI lrtion evil
IDENTIFY was due to t I the Incxs-'
hers OF the presei sion never
od sean WfIson before and
kye unaware how ntably poor
boxAr he was.
Wilson Was Scared.
Viewed from all angles the bout was
tho most disappointing OF any seen In
the middleweight class In years. Wilson
appeared TO be scared white from the
opening round and although he had
valid claim to one-half5 OF the title he
fought as though he irad but a 10 per
cent. preference. He did not make an
aggressive move from the first to the
last round and nearly every blow he
struck was counter. Downey on the
other hand was willing to make fight.
but he was so profoundly ignorant OF
the rudiments OF boxing and so awkward
and slow In his movements that nearly
all his efforts were productive OF naught.
Nevertheless the Ohio man had a
shade in the matter Of points in the
twelve rounds and If the referee had
been empowered to give decision
Downey would have acquired 100 per
cent. of the championship.
The big arena did not bulge with 90.-
600 onlookers. but nevertheless the
crowd was complimentary to the contest
The opening entertainment was fur
nished by Solly Epstein OF Indianapolis.
o rugged mauler. and Willie Spencer Of
the East side of New York, fairly
clever boxer but lacking in head work.
The featherweights put up fairly In
teresting bout. at the conclusion Of which
Spencer was entitled to the verdict BY a
shade The New Yorker landed the
cleanest blows and showed disposition
to box fairly.
The second bout introduced Dick Grif-
An or Fort Worth, Tex, n featherweight
with knockout punch. and Matty Her
bert of New York. former amateur
champion but now well past his prime.
Griffin floored Herbert In the second
round for a count of seven and Matty.
although tired, managed to last out the
round
Herbert seemed to have regained his
strength In the third round and out
boxed Griffin. The latter devoted all
his attention to getting his right to
Herbert's jaw.
Griffin gave Herbert severe
trouncing In the fifth. sixth and seventh
rounds, and had the New Yorker In
the last round. The Texan could have
stopped Herbert in the last. but he
elected to pull his punches and let the
veteran stay the limit.