The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-07
BY BRUCE COPELAND.

ae BY BRUCE tOYkLAND.
Interest in the AL Van Ryan
Frankie WEIGH scrap tonight at the
Davenport Legion hall has every
indication OF a finish affair be-
tween two native favorites. 1t is
doubtful IL greater interest has
been manifest in q boxing match
since the halycon days Of the de-
bonair Mcfarland in the tri-cit-
les.
II might be said that Al Van Ryan
became famous, SO to speak, IN a
Rock Island ring. Before the clev-
er, hard hitting st. Paul lad fought
In the premiere Of the defunct
Sportsman's A. c. at the Illinois
theatre q year or 80 ago. he was
virtually unknown.
Van Ryan acceded to the highest
admiration In the tri-cities by the
decisive manner in which he out
smarted, outgamed and outfought
nearly all his antagonists. Those
who met AL personally were con-
WINGED further that he Is headed
in the right direction.
How Welch Figures.
WEIGH is what might be called
a psychological favorite. by this
is implied that he could not get
more than 500 for his services
anywhere else than in the tri-cit-
les. frankie was lucky enough to
step in unknown and bump OF Sui
Ivan and Donahue.
There are 10 or q dozen cities
throughout tho middle west where
van Ryan can get percentage terms
because he has been boxing wind
ups for more than . year. WEIGH
first windup Of note was his battle
with the tri-city favorite, Johnny
Donahue, q month ago.
Van Ryan has had . much hard
er row to hoe. meeting tougher op-
ponents under the most adverse
boxing conditions. Until Billy
Rhodes undertook to handle his AZ
fairs, AL had teen without the SER
vices of q capable manager. Such q
deterrent was obvious in his boat
with Johnny Schauers last summer
at the Douglas park ball orchard.
WEIGH stops . second-rater in q
semi-windup and on the strength
Of that he is matched for a windup
with Johnny Donahue, whom he
stops in less than q round. That
soems like pure luck when COM
pared with Van .Ryan's hard climb
up the nstic ladder.
Van Ryan FaveritA
You hear all sorts Of predictions
Is to the outcome Of tonight's 90
but even the WEIGH admirers con.
cede that Van will enter the ring
as fAvorite. After the Chicagoar
stopped Donahue there were Grief
Of Bring on Comiskey!" Match
him with Van Ryan," etc. Hun
dreds of dollars might have beer
wagered then and there that Welct
coHld lick either one.
But that was a month ago. Since
then the ardor Of the WEIGH sup
porters has cooled considerably. j
Is Q fact that q prominent Daven
port sporting man sought talking
money" all day yesterday only II
ind less than $50 Of WEIGH coin
This was probably the result o
tho fact that It was realized Welcl
has not met any boys Of Van Ryan
cahber, after the glamor o
Frankie's sensational knockout o
Donahue had been dispelled b!
sound common sense. There is prac
tically no dope in the way of com
partive performances that woult
serve to clarity the betting prob
lem.
Until tonight Van Ryan ant
welch never had anything in com
mon. It Just remains to be seel
which IL the best.
Logical Course Of Bout
As usual, the first round shcul'
forecast the outcome. It Is prob
able that Welch will step right Oh
as In his bout with Donahue an,
attempt to stop Van Ryan in
round. vA is of the Gibbon
school, which is second to none Il
the development Of defense.
WEIGH has proved a high-strunl
sensitive boy. II Van stays ava
and makes WEIGH miss. there Is
presentiment that the Chicagoa
will miss once too often and ru
afoul Of Vans right hand. In sue
q case Van Ryan'ss greater exper'
ence would count
It will be interesting to watc
the effect Of WEIGHS fast left u
against Vans shifty defense. On
thing Is certain: Van is too SINAI
to be inveigled into . trap BY
less experienced fighter. Anothe
problem is whether WEIGH will B
able to take one on the jaw. RI
member, he has yet to prove that
whether he can or whether no ca
not. =.
In Justice to both boys. and Il
Davenport legion, It ought to b
great scrap. For our own par
Ne shall sit back in our chair ~
enjoy seeing two good boys IN y
tom.
GTBBY CUTS DOWN.
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