Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-24
NEW BANTAM king
IS 50 YEARS OLD
Buff, conqueror of Pete Her
man, Also Is Americas
FlyWeight Boss
WAS GIVEN DECISION
BY LOUIS II. JAFFE

Little Johnny Ruff. of Jersey City,
today has the distinction of being the
only double crowned mltt wie.dcr In the
universe, following the petit puncher 5
fifteen round victory over Pete Herman
in the Garden, New York, last night.
Before this contest Buff was recognized
es Americas nywcight titlcholder, am
when the judges and Referee Pats,
Haley awarded last nights decision tc
the Jersey battler he also stepped on
the bantamweighr throne.
And think of it Buff is only thirty
three years Of agc-white and married.
Johnny is the happy father of three chill
drcn, the oldest boy being almost ns
big rs his twin title holding daddy.
Only year ago Buff used to come over
to Philadelphia from Jersey City and
appear in preliminary competition. lie
always proved n favorite with the local
fans because Of his aggressivcncss, his
! Willingness to make an interesting bat
tI"' and he usually gave the crowd "a
run for its money
After showing to advantage CON.
ststeutly in q series of matches with
second raters, Buff was matched sew.
eral months ago with Abe Attcll Cold.
| stein. conceded to be the king-pi Of
Americas fyweights. Johnny sprang a
surprise by knocking Able for row
before the finish of the scheduled twelve
| round bout. This victory, critics be-
lieyed, entitled Buff to the title for fy-
weights in this country. last nights
victory over Herman was even a bigger
upset, Hardly anybody figured the
Jersey little man had a chance.
Rumors Killed
The surprise of Buff's victory over
! Herman was more impressive because
Of the ugly reports that had been cir
! culated before the battle. Buff's man
ager, Lew Diamond. and Sammy Gold
man, Herman's handler. occupied the
same Office in New York. worked to-
gcther in making matches for each other
and used the same typewriter. These
| facts were food for the well known
| rumor sprcaders Of fistiana.
However, all Of the dope went fooic
| as the result Of the battle proved.
Once more Herman is free to hurl
! challenges at the bantamweight cham
| pion Of the world. for he has again
! Joined the vast army Of coutenders for
| the crown.
! For the second time this year In
| New York the New Orleans boxer
stepped down from the thropc and a
new champion took his place.
! BY this time. however. Herman must
! be used to seeing the title pass out Of
! his hands The New Orleans boy won
! the title from Kid Williams on a dcci-
| sion back in 1917.
The night before he sat sail f6n' Eng.
! land where he WAS to meet Jimmy
! Wilde. the Southprner lost the crown
70 Joe Lynch. of New York That
! time he lost 1t on decision. Then
| after knocking out Wilde he returned
to this country and taking on Lynch
again Herman won it back through
the verdict "f the judges.
II is Buff who stands out as
/ the big figure in pugilism through his
achievement Although the con
test lacked much in tho way Of
/ the thrills usually attendant on n cham
pionShip bout, nevertheless. il was a
/ grim. fierce struggle and Ruff
! deserves a world Of credit for carrying
the battle to a champion who had trav-
elcd across the seas and knocked out
one Of the greatest little boxers OF the
century.
Fought In Flashes
Just 8s be allowed the title to pass
| to Lynch the first time he met the
| New Yorker Herman fought only in
flashes. Buff. realizing that he had
n "hnnco to add the worlds bantam
weight crown to his title of Ampri-
can hyw"ight king, led a vigorous at
tack all tho way.
Th" Now Orleans boy appeared un.
! abb" t. usr his right effectively. and
whiI" Buff missed oftencr, his blows
wcr" clean and hard and Worried Her
man.
Herman showed host in the fourth
round, when on the offensive he clipped
Buff with q right to the jaw. upset
ting him. Buff was up Immediately,
however.
tuf weighed N NJ 1881. pounds and
Horman ll7i2. Each stopped Oh Doc
! ScaLnS ~ - m-CLnck Ne.tnrnaN nflnrM-mm