Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-05
CHAMPS CAREFUL
WITH RING TITLES
Buff, KiIbane, Leonard, Britton
and Wilson Not Eager to
Defend Crowns
CONTENDERS OUT OF LUCK
BY LOUIS II. JAFFE

TONTENDERS for championships ID
~ tho various classes are 'out of
luck" as the saying is. and that also
goes for fans who cnthuse in watching
titleholdcrs in competition where dia-
dpms depend on the results Of decisions.
There ism any exception in this case.
other than Jack Dempsey. who prob
ably would appear in titular tilt IL an
opponent were to show himself off as
worthy of crack at the big boy s
crown.
Going on down the list from Johnny
Ruff to johnny Wilson. none of the
champions appear to be at all willing
to icopardize his championship in a
contest with verdict to be given. 1t
looks like tough year for challengers.
Tex Richard has made several ef-
forts to get every one OF the titieholders
To appear in fifteen round bouts to de-
rision-but there has been nothing do
ing. Little Ruff. although he has agreed
10 no matches abroad. is preparing 10
co overseas. and it looks as II his chal-
lcngcrs in this country arc going TO be
left fat, as it were.
Murray After Buff
for instance, Bat paid us visit yes
tnrdoy and said: II cant understand
that fellow Buff. Johnny Burns has
been irving to get him for mo. but the
champ won't listen to any proposition.
You know. I licked him three times.
Naybe that's the reason he docSn' want
any Of my game
Johnny Kilbane has had several Of
/ fcrs made him for championship bouts
in New York, but nothing ever dcvcl-
oncd Several youngsters stand out as
rompetpnt challcngers for tho l26-
mound laurcls. However. Johnny ism
taking boxing seriously any more and
tho wear may roll by without feather
weight championship match being de-
cdcd.
The "ill feeling or whatever it j;
between Benny Leonard and Rick ckard
is koeping the lightweight crown aloof
Leonard. no doubt, is in class by
himself. other than tho fact that the
weight question Is causing many fans
to be- skeptical about Benny'a ability
AT l3J pounds at > o'clock.
Lew Tender. of this city. Is rccog'
nlzed all over the country as Leonard
logical opponent, but even promoter
other than Richard, in any pIac" wher'
a decision is permissible, would be un'
able 10 clinch such sct-to. There
serms TO be some "ill feeling between
rhe Leonard and Tender factions too
Britton. Is Tale
The wcltcrweight champion. Jacl
Rritton. like Kilbune, isn't talking an!
hoyinr these days, being in drydock
go 10 sneak. However. his ears pricI
IN whenever a match with Leonard 1
mentioned. 1t is said Dan Morgan ha
gone on record with the statement tina
Rritton would not box any ono unit
after contest with Benny. 80 IN
weItcrs must wait until Jack meet
Leonard.
And now comes the Wilson angle
Every one Is calling him the "acci
dental" champion. The middIcw"tgh
dictator iran out" of match Wit
Harry Greb, was barred from compcti
lion in New York State and now III
Massachusetts Boxing Commission ais
has put the ban on Wilson
Wilson's reason for uac"lng out
tho match with Greb, he ayers. wa
, that he had been forced into sfgnin
for thc contest. because. he says. tha
was the only way he could collect SO.
600 which Richard wag holding Il
after Johns poor exhibition with Srya
Downey.
That may be truc-still. il also
,rue that if Wilson had the coniidenC
. of winning from Grcb, he would haN
gone through with the mattel