The New York herald., 1922-05-07
Former English Feather
Champion Declares u. s.
Ring Men Lack Science.
DEPEND ON BRUTE FORCE
Facts of Pugilistic History
Prove That British Critics
Memory Is Decidedly Weak.
By CHARLES F. MArH1soS.

Jem Driscoll. for many years
featherweight champion of Eng
land, and who was clever enough
TO win a ten round bout on points
from Abe Attell one of the most skill
full boxers that ever held the Amer
lean featherweight title, recently de-
clared that Uncle Sans boxers cid
not know how to box and relied en-
tirely on fighting. The fact that so
many English boxers have been
bowled over by the rough fighters OF
this country probably prompted Dris-
coll to make the remark. Neverthe-
less the Briton's opinion is erroneous
and not supported by the facts in the
case.
The real truth OF the matter is that
English boxers have never learned to
fight and rely entirely on fancy spar
ring, while the American men of the
roped square not only know how to
box skillfully but combine great fight
ing ability with their ring tactics,
Driscoll appears to have forgotten his
contest with Abe Attell. which took
place February 10. 1909. in what is now
the Pioneer Sporting Club. Driscoll had
come to America for the purpose of get
ting a championship match with Attell
who held the American title at the time.
1riscoll wanted bout to decision. but
as the Horton law had been repealed the
English champion was compelled to con-
tent himself with ten round decision
less battle. Both Driscoll and Attell
were at their best and they furnished
one of the most brilliant exhibitions OF
scientific boxing ever seen in America.
Driscoll received the popular decision
and when he returned to England he
billed himself as the featherweight
champion of the world. Yet as he did
not get a referees verdict he had no
right to claim the worlds title.
The bout between Attell and Driscoll
was close one. the Briton winning by
shade. Driscoll could not help but
know that he was opposed by master
of the art OF boxing and his assertion
that any Englishman equipped with a
thorough knowledge of the Mace style
Should defeat all American boxers in
easy fashion shows that his memory is
short or else that he is unfair. Qsl be
Dixon OutcIassed wallace.
But the Driscoll- -Atteil bout was not
the only one in which an American boxer
gave an English opponent all he could
handle. George Dixon. who combined
cleverness and hitting powers. went to
England. and on June 81, 1890. Knocked
out Nunc Wallace. bantam champion of
England. in eighteen rounds. Wallace
was a particularly clever boxer. but he
was outboxed and outpunched by Dixon.
Packey Mcfarland, who as light
weight was one of the ablest boxers ever
produced in America. went to England
and on May 30. 1910, boxed twenty
rounds with Freddie Welsh then the
English champion. Both were at their
best and the English referee called the
contest draw. Many of those at the
ringside declared that Mcfarland won
handily on points in purely boxing
match
Benny Leonard outboxed and out
punched Freddie Welsh and Matt Wells
would have been easy picking for Nc
Farland. Cans, Erne or Leonard.
Johnny Dundee as he stands to-day
would have given Driscoll a great bat
tie, and the Italian would to-day defeat
any Englishman at from 130 to 14L
pounds
Jim Corbett whipped Charley Mitchell.
regarded as the most skillful English
heavyweight since the days of Mace. and
1t0llelIldn jim HIS DcSb WOuiu nave
defeated any English heavyweight, in
Guiding Mace and his successors.
Britton Their Master.
Jack Britton. old as he is. can defeat
any Englishman on points in the welter
class Dave Shade can do the same.
Tommy Ryan would have outboxed
any middleweight ever produced in Eng
land Mike Gibbons. Jock Malone and
Augie Rather would make English mid
dleweights look like novices to-day.
Kid Mccoy and Philadelphia Jack
OBrien both rated clever boxers, made
the Englishmen in their class look like
beginners.
1t is quite evident. therefore, that
Drscoll is wrong In his deductions and
weak of memory. English boxers still
stick TO the antediluvian Mace style Of
a straight left to the face and then
pa<ese to note the effect II is at that
1lt the American boxer sends In a
vjok to the Jaw or a .'ighr TO the ribs
That jolts his Brtis2 opponent and
brings the bout to a lose