The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-04
NIKE GIBBONS DRIVE
FOR WILSON'S GROWN
DOOMED TO FAILURE
Phantom Encounters Toughest Bunch of Middeweights
Since Days of Stanley Ketchel and Billy Papke-He
Is Knocked Down Four Times in Two Fights-Rat-
ner Might Knock Him Out

struck n snag. He went TO New Or
leans and met Happy Littleton. The
hard hitting Crescent City middle
weight floored Mike I'm the first
round for the count OF nine and
floored him again later in the bout
Gibbons managed to weather the
storm and after the two knockdowns
he brought all OF his skill into play
with the result that he gained tho
decision on points. He must have
won the other rounds by n wide
margin to overcome the lead Little
ton gained by scoring two knock
downs. His recuperative powers
seem TO be as good as ever or he
would not have been able TO recover
as he did.
Generalshlp Saves Him.
Many hackers OF Gibbons who be-
lieved him to be the greatest middle
weight In the world figured the Lit
Teton knockdown was fluke. Then
Mike went to Boston. where he met
Tommy Robson, another hard hitter.
Again Mike struck n snag Robson
floorcd Mike n couple OF times in
their l2-round contest, the first time
in the opening session. Reports of
the battle state that only splendid
generalship on the part OF Gibbons,
part VI nHlNll was COHNtIftllOD ITlhL
ratified Robson and kept him from
scoring with more hard blows TO the
head In the opening session. enabled
Gibbons to pull through. Robson was
credited by many of the pewspaper
writer's present with victory, After
the knockdowns Gibbons did some
clever boxing and finished well,
showing that he had plenty OF stam-
ina. But the fact remains that he
was floored four times In the two
ontests-something that never hap
| pened TO Gibbons before in his long
and brilliant career in the squared
| circle.
Boxing experts figure Gibbons Is
/ on the decline and may be due short
/ ly for n knockout, Rather is just the
| sort OF puncher to put this over,
/ although 1t isn't likely that Gibbons
/ is due yet for such a result. His
work against Llttleton and Robson,
! however, has given Johnny Wilson,
| champion, a chance to dodge a meet
| ing with him.
Hay Have Ec-- Champ.
! In the meantime Wilson has signed
articles of agreement calling for
| 15-round contest with tittleton In
New Orleans December IL. After that
/ bout there may be n new champion
| to deal with. Littleton is a terrific
| puncher and his friends believe he
will whip the southpaw title holder
sure.
Pete Herman and Joe Lynch, both
| OF whom have held the bantam
weight championship within the past
year aand have lost 1t. are going TO
make hay while the sun shines. Each
boxes about once n week and is well
paid for It. Herman meets Packey
OGatty. tough little New Yorker,
/ Tuesday night in New York. Lynch
/ will clash with Terry Martin tho
same night in Philadelphia. The ex-
champs should win. but they are
meeting boxers who will give them
! plenty of trouble.
The two best lightweight boxers of
Kansas will clash Tuesday night at
Arkansas City, Kan. They are Jimmy
Lannig, who claims the champion
ship Of the Sunflower state, and
frankie Adams, n veteran who has
1 an enviable record. Lannig is COM
paratively young in boxing. although
he has been in the game several
years. He hopes to upset Adams
\ and establish a clear title.