The Washington herald., 1921-03-17
WlSON-ODOWD
TITLE ARGUMENT
WILLEND TONIGHT
st. Paul Scrapper Has
Chance to Prove His
Alleged Superiority.
n, FRANK SMITH.

y
CHICAGO, March 1s.-Did Johnny
Wilson win the middie-weight title
BIN Mike O'Dowd on May s. 1890,
1t Boston by superior work in the
ring, or was the st. Paul scrapper
robbed" as he charged shortly
after the decision curtain fell. blot
ting out his claim to the champion
ship?
These questions should be an
srered by tomorrow night when
the two topnotchers In the middle
weight section clash in q return
match at Madison Square Garden,
New York. In addition to the title
there 10 q mere matter Of sso.ooo
involved.
bitter Dose for o'Dewd.
There Is no question that last
Mays decision battle was an awful
does for O'Dowd and his friends 10
swallow. And the bitter taste OF
that dose remains. While the ST
Paul scrapper. when he saw his
crown sitting upon the battered
brow Of Wilson, showed his sports
manship by rushing across the ring
and congratulating his eonaueror'
he wasn't long out Of the build
ing before he shouted loud and long
that he had been 'jobbed." There
rever was any proof of this. and the
only incident that might make IL
look plausible was the fact that
0vilson was boxing among his
friends and in his own home town.
The sporting, writers of all the
Boston papers have declared that
the decision was just and proper
Yet throughout their stories they
write profusely of the willingness
and aggressiveness of the st. Paul
boy, then claim he was outboxed-
Just another Corbett-Sullivan scrap.
as they pictured II. >
Mike Busy Mixer.
The writer's admitted that at the
rough and ready style Of milling
O'Dovd was superior to Wilson, and
that the latter would not allow him
self to be coaxed into mixing it.
They also admit that the then title
holder battled hard in each round.
To quote one OF them:
"O'Dowd's two good hands were
busy every second of the distance.
Never for an instant did the cham
pion falter. and only when he almost
fought himself of his feet and was
compelled to ease up for a breath
ing spell did he permit Wilson
seconds rest. O'Dowd's rushes were
continuous O'DOwd did the bulk
Of the forcing. Johnny did not es-
I. cape unscathed. The region of Will
sons heart seemed to be Mikes par
ticular target. The st. Paul man
rrirove in many vicious jolts to that
'section."
View of Another Writer
Another writer saidi AT in-fight-
ing O'Dowd was more active than
Johnny" Still another said that
O'Dowd had Johnny weary in the
ninth and tenth, but that Wilson
shaded his rival the rest of the way.
To offset this admitted aggres-
siveness and willingness on the part
OF the st. Paul man to carry the
fight to the challenger. the writers
point to the clever boxing of Will
son, declaring that il was his skill
as a boxer that gained him the title
They agree that the Boston lad
fought a cleverly planned battle,
which. from their description. was
one of these "jab-apd- get away
affairs. One of them admitted that
the finish was surprising" Be-
tween the lines can be read the fact
that IL was expected O'Dowd would
be returned the victor.
Coneede Wilson Title.
With all of O'Dowd's grueling,
smashing punches. which made the
challenger vince and cover up, the
4 writers believed Wilson's cleverness
won him the battle. So did the
referee. O'Dowd and his friends
took on opposite views.
Thus the question of middle
weight supremacy remained settled
and unsettled.
O'Dowd Immediately clamored for
a return match, but Johnny side
stepped the. issue. As champion
shat was his privilege. Wilson's in
activity in the ring brought a pro-
test from fans and press, and Will
SON countered that he was i'll.
settle Arguments Thursday.
1t Is to be hoped that the ST. Pat
rick's Day celebration in New York
will decide who's actually who IL
the middIe-weight section. 1t should
be a corking good mill. for O'Dowo
vows he will rewear the crown
and. while Wilson hasn't let out 4
peep what he intends to do. we hav,
faint idea he'll protect the. it'll,
with all there is in him. Unles.
O'Dowd puts over a knockout wal.
lop. it's just possible that the New
York judges will sc the same result
as the home referee at Boston die
On May s, 1920.
But 1t should be- a mighty fin,
battle for the lowering of the cur.
tain on winter championship bout
at Madison Square Garden.