New Britain herald., 1921-03-17
WILSON AND O'DOWD
 IN FINE CONDITION
Big Crowd to Witness Champion
 ship Battle at Garden Tonight


 holder of the title, in a fifteen-round bout to decision this evening at
 Madison Square Garden. The battle will mark the first middleweight championship contest in this city in four years. Back in 1917, when the Frawley law was breathing its last. O'Dowd lifted the title from the brow of Al Mccoy in the ring of the Cler- mont $. C., Brooklyn. Both con- testants say they are fit.
 The contestants will divide n purse of ssO,0o0, of which s40.000 will go to Wilson and SEQ. 900 to O'Dowd. The names of judges and referee will not be known until the fighters enter the ring.
 The contest is scheduled to start about 10 o'clock. Two ten-round bouts and a slx-round engagement have been scheduled prior to the championship tilt, and the starting time of the big bout depends sole ly upon the length of-the previous contests. The principals in the cham pionship bout weighed in this aft ernoon at o'clock in the Garden. Both arc reported in good condition and fit for a hard battle. Wilson. accompanied by his manager. Marauu Killeiea. arrived hero lasts .SN o'Dowd, who has been trar6F in Brooklyn for the contest. night declared himself in Eoo5Tim.
 Great Int~rest l. sdatch. '.'
 capacity crevp expected to witness tke bat,>< Despite the short notice of thssn6ut-this championship event wasconly closed week ago remar~able interest has been at- \ tr;.cted to the match. The interest is divided between Wilson and o'Dowd, although admittedly the St. Paurs boxers supporters are in the major- ity. Mike has always been popular in this part Of the country. and this popularity has been undiminished de- spite his loss of the title.
 Speculation on the outcome of the battle favors the champion. Several wagers have been reported that Will son will he the victor if the battle ends in knockout, and this in the absence of any convincing demon stration of ability by the former liar lem Italian. Wilson has appeared in but one bout in this vicinity since defeating O'Dowd. On that occasion he engaged Soldier Bartfeld. a tough, ! rugged trial horse. who carried Will i son through a no-dccision contest in {, which the champion received the | popular award. If was impossible. | however. to judge Wilson on this ! match. so that the champions quaH- ! fications are an unknown quantity | here to those who have yet to see him | in a thorough trial.
 Wilson is southpaw. He stands ! with his right hand and foot ex- | tended in lighting pose. posture l awkward and confusing to the right 1 hand boxer with the natural pose. left ! foot and hand extended. O'Dowd is | Of the rugged, cumulative type: a ] boxer who bores inywithout interrup- | ton. wearing down 'a rival with pow | erful drives to the face and stom- | ach in varied attack. Both are | hard hitters. a detail in connection | with tho match which leads many to | predict knockout.
 O'Dowd Has Worked Hard.
 ODowd. indifferent at times to | training regulations. is reported to | have worked harder for this battle , Van for any previous test. The St. ! Paul 1rishman is eager 10 regain his ! lost laurcls and has mapped out his ! preparation accordingly. Since Will | son received the decision Of Referee 1 Hector McInnes in the memorable ! bout at Boston almost a year ago i Dowd mas been charging that the | award was unjustihcd. He plans to his contention this eve ming.
 Wilson. too. has engaged in an ex- Lensive training period for the de- fenso of his title and Is ready for the test. The champion is just as eager to demonstrate he is O'Dowd's mas .cr as the St. Paul middleweight is Lo prove otherwise. Wilson has been for thrco weeks at Charles town. Mass. where he makes his home. and is confident he will leave Inc ring tonight with his title.
 Tn the semi-hnal ten-round bout Toe Benjamin. California lightweight, will engage George Erne of Buffalo. The first ten-round match will bring together Joe German. a Pacific Coast and Earl Baird of seattie. No announcement has been | made of the, principals in the open rrF six-round match.
 ssaI Inc Measurements.
 )'DOwD swILsoN ,5 yyenrs. ...... Age. ....... 2b years ! 1t. sA in.. Height. s 1t. ra. in. "a Al xzzs.s,He urat.ht