New-York tribune., 1921-12-21
Pitchers Bush and Jones i'm Big Deal Wit
Midget Smith
| Now Confident
OfTakinng Title
Is Positive Of Ability TO Dis
pose Of Pete Herman and
All Contenders for Crown
By Fred Hawthorne

Midget Smith has midget idea IN
his head that only two more battles
separate him from the bantamwcight
championship of the world. Friend
Midget bumps into Pete Herman, of
New Orleans, twice former holder Of
the title, in the main ffteen-roond bout
ut Tex Richards Madison Square Gar
den Sporting Club tomorrow night,
and, according to the Mite, after
knocking the tar out OF Pete, ne will
tackle Johnny Buff, the champion, and
treat him in similar manner.
SO confident is Mister Midget OF win
ming the bantam laurel wreaths that he
plans going to his favorite hatters IT,
day to be meas icd for q brandnew
Town, and vest rday he told Richard
the size Of his waist measure, Tor
Smith realizes that he will never be
able to escape being grdled with Il
Rickard championship belt should the
title fall to him.
Herman reported himself in wonder
full fighting condition last night, and if
he is worrying over the result Of the
bout tomorrow evening he is a better
actor than he is a boxer, and that is
saying something, Hortense; that is
saying something.
Herman the Favorite
Herman is heavy favorite in the
betting, and if he fights his best fight
the Midget is going through a perfectly
Pete is master boxer, but at the same
time acts as chauffeur for one Of the
most damaging punches in the bantam
ranks. The former champion has one
failing, though, and that is the spirit
of aggressiveness. When Joe Lynch
first took the title from Herman it was
owing to Pete's easy-going tactics in
the ring, and the same thing was true
in the bout with Johnny Buff. At
times Herman opened up and immedi-
ately had Johnny in troub with his
heavy blows, but invariably slowed
down after these flashes, allowing Buff
to outpoint him.
In the three eight-round prelimi-
naries to the Smith Herman bout the1e
saould be several bucketsful Of gore
spilled. Eddie O'Hare and Gene Tun-
ney, light heavies; Dave Rosenberg and
Inn Darcy, m iddleweignts, and Jack
Renault and alarming Al Reich, the
frantic Hopper" will start separate
riots. Yes, it looks like a merry,
mussy evening, M. Ids.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys were
marching" into tie palatlal Offices Of
J. Joy Johnston, the prom oter, at 1402
broadway all day yesterday in answer
to Johnston's "help wanted" ad in Tues
days papers calling for candidates who
asplred to win the heavyweig cham
nsnip of the world from Jack Demp-
sey.
Came in Clusters
Tbo,, Il,
medium, light and dark, from 1865 to
2lo pounds on the hoos; some dumb
and sonoe dumber Yankees, costers,
Dutch. Spanish, Ethiopian, Esthonian,
scandinavian, Germ an, Liberian. Irish.
Welsh, Scotch, Senegambian and even
from Philadelphia and otter unexplored
spots on the earth, they came and
parked their "Airedales" outside the
Johnstonian suite of Offices.
lanes j. and his two secretaries
took down the names and addresses o
sil the nopefuls and promised each and
every one try-ont. ITS o ira
be an artistic, academic or pretty thing
to watch, this elimination Or .cessn
said the jaunty James, but SOME
THINGS bound to happen. The only
thing l don't like about this bunch is
that they all lock HUNGRY"
On Christmas afternoon. in this, case
December 26, the Rink Sporting Club of
Brooklyn will oIler as !
a twelveround set-to between Vincent
Pepper" Martin and Jo.nny D yer,
the snappy Brooklyn featherweignts.
Phil Franchini and Johnny Hepburn,
bantams, will step around in the sec
ond twelve-round event.
The program of bouts at the Star
Sporting Club tonight recalls to mind
the days Of the old four-round game in
this city, under the "club mem bership"
plan, for. there are ten four round
events scheduled by Eddie Mcmahon.
the matchmaker. The show will be
neld for the benefit of the Christmas
Fund, and there are boys OF all classes
entprod