The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-07
Measurements of Boxers
BHtton.

champiou. will defend his laurcls in a
fifteen round bout TO a decision ~
Madlson Square Garden. New rcrR' TO-
night. against Ted (kid) Lewis. former
%titleholde- In the weller division. Lewis
lost the title 10 Britton in 1917, by the
Knockout route In the ninth round. ahu
will attempt 70 regain his lost crown
against the Master OF "cIters TO-
night.
Both fighters will weigh in this art
ernoon at 1T pounds. according TO the
rules OF contracts brought UP. for which
Britton and Lewis have posted So'Voo
forfel, each. Judgin from reports from
the Metropolis for the past week. ooth
ch~allenSer and titleholder are IN the
best OF condition for their bout. and
arc confident Of winning.
Nave Net Seventeen Times.
Britton and Lewis nave INDUCED IN
fistio battles within the squared arena
on seventeen different occasions. &C
cordlng to records which show All OIL
their previous cnga gements. Their am
uaicn began In 1915 when they met and
drew in 4 tcn-round ro-deciSion bout.
Two years marked a great change IN
Lewis. and in 1917 he deprived the wei
terweiSht champion. Jack Britton, OF
his crown. Lewis held on 70 the crown
for two years, only 10 be knocKed out
by the invlncible Jack in a te~n-round
bout at Canton. O.. In 1919. Lewis was
dropped in the ninth round after 'wab-
bling all over the ring In the earlier
part OF the fight.
Tonight marks their seventeenth
meeting and Britton with the upper
hand in the fight. as he now rules Il :
TO l favorite among local fans and IN
Gotham. Brttton's exhibitions IN the
ring have been watched with keen in
,ercst by followers Of the fistic sport
In Wheeling. since he gained his crown
and his bout with Lewis tonight IL
drawing much comment among local
fans. The champions appearance In
Canton. D.. on different occasions nav
been witnessed by Wheeltnsltes. who
have either made the journey by auto
mobile or train.
Actual Campaign.
Although in the above details OF the
two fighters campaign with a other
In the ring. a more clear and definite tale
of their experiences is told IN the fol-
lowing paragraph.
Britton and Lewis began their COM
bats in 1915. in which year the vet
cram Jack. who claimed the welter title,
was twice defeated by Kid Lewis in
twelve round decision bout in Boston.
The first of these bouts took place in
tho Hub on August 81. and the second
on September %. These victories gave
Lewis the title. and he held II TIL
April -. 1915. when Britton turned the
tables on his rival. at New Orleans
winnlnS back the crown through the
medium OF the referees verdict IN 4
twenty round bout.
Britton Clinched his tide by defeating
LOWS In n twelve round bout at Boston.
october t7.l9ls. and held the honors
ill Juno IS. 1917. when Lewis got a
referees decision over the champion IN
4 twenty round Dot at Dayton. Ohio.
After 4 number OF d~ecisionless bouts,
with no decided advantage 10 either, the
men were matched for a twenty round
contest at Canton. Ohio, March lI,lel9.
and Rritton not only regsined the title
but stopped his rival IN the ninth
round. The contest tomorrow night will
be ths first long match 10 n decision
they have made since the Canton en-
gaEcment.
Lewis has insisted hat he was In
poor condition when he vas stopped by
Britton in Canton. and he made the
same plea when he was maltreatcd by
O'Dowd in Jersey. He Is declared TO be
in rood trim now, and IL he loses will
have no excuse on the score OF condi-
ton.
Lewis claims consideration for having
twice stopped Johnny Rasham. weitcr
champion OF England. but as the Briton
is a third rater II does not appear that
the feat was sensational.
In ouly one respect has Lewis an ad-
vantage over Britton and that is in the
matter OF years. Brttton Is IS years Of
age and Lewis 50. Yet in all recent
bouts the veteran has shown the re-
markable speed. clcvcrncss and ring
g~eneralship hat ave always character
lied his work in the ring.
Lewis may hit a bit harder than Brit
ton, but the champion has lodged the
shots OF more accurate marksmen than
Lewis, and unless tho titleholder has
refrigerated TO an extent not warranted
by his recent performances he should
retalu the honorS of the class.