New-York tribune., 1922-08-14

Nar0en.
While the public will probably still
continue to regard Johnny Wilson as
TIE worlds niddleweight champion,
ie-night's fight may go a long way
toward instilling new life into q divi-
sion that has almost died on its feet.
it may also be the means Of forcing
Wilson to defend his title against
some worthy opponent. q thing he has
failed TO do since he stepped suddenly
cut of complete obscurity and mounted
:he somewhat tarnished middleweight
throne.
To-night's fght is the elimination
OF a protracted and tiresome contro-
versy that has been carried on inter
nittently ever since Wilson and Bryan
Downey engaged in their fstic fasco at
Boyle's Thirty Acres last Labor Day.
That fight seemed to indicate clearly
q second-rate middleweight, and it re-
suited in a food of challenges being
hurled in his direction.
The champion was to receive S35, 1000
for his song and dance with Downey
but the battle was such complete
farce that Tex Rickard, who promoted
it, held up the money with the sane
tion of the New Jersey boxing authori-
ties. There were several hearings be-
fore the Jersey Boxing Commission,
but Wilson never received his money
until he signed an agreement to meet
Harry Greb in a ffteen-round contest
rs he had Tex Richards check for
$4,000 cashed Martin Killilea, Will
sons manager, repudiated the Greb
agreement and said that he had signed
1t under duress and had no intention
whatever of living I'D to it,
Thereafter Wilson continued to ig-
more all challenges from the best men
IN his division and confined his activi-
ties to the Sticks" where he engaged
In series of harmless affairs, some Of
which had distinctly peculiar aspect
The New York State Boxing Com
mission finally took q slant at the mid
dleweight situation and accepted Dave
Rosenberg's challenge, together with
certified check as guaranty of good
faith Wilson was notified of the. chal-
ienge and was given a fixed time in
which to accept or TO meet some other
fighter at least as good as Rosenberg
Wilson never gave the commission or
Rosenberg a tumble, treating both with
a fine disdain.
The commission then designated
Harry Greb as Rosenberg's opponent,
and declared that in this state the
winner of this fight would be regarded
as the middleweight champion Of the
universe. Greb, who had Just won the
American light heavyweight champion
ship from Gene Tunney, failed to en-
thuse over the prospect of meeting
Rosenberg and passed thu proposition
up In the hope of getting match with
Jack Dempsey for the worlds heavy
weight crown. He is still angling for
rhis match.
The Boxing Commission was not dis
couraged in it's attempt to find a suit
able opponent for the Brooklyn scrap
per and it finally hit upon Phil Krug,
VINO had been clamoring for a chance
at Wilson. The proposition seemed to
appeal to Rosenberg, as he had taken
quite pasting from Krug over in
Newark. Dave has always declared
that this was all a mistake and that
he would ruin Phils championship as
7irations if he ever ran across him
gain in ring.
The Boxing Commissions second at
tempt to dispossess a worlds champion
will be made tomorrow night at Eb-
Hets's Field in Brooklyn, when Danny
rush, of Cleveland, meets the veteran
Johnny Dundee for the featherweight
championship held by Johnny Kilbane.
Practically the same process adopted in
the middeweight situation was fol-
lowed by the commissioners in dea1-
ing with Kilbane.