New Britain herald., 1923-02-13
CHAMPION MAY BE
DETHR0NED IN 1923
Great Changes Likely in Boxing
Circles, Say Critics

New York. Feb. ia,-Ifiye Of the
eight universally Feeagnizei boxing
champions are likely 10 be dethroned
this year, in the opinion Of ring crit
los, while litleholdeFs IN the other
three divisions probably also will face
strenuous opposition in an effort 10
retain their lauFels, The general out
look is for one OF the most interesting
hslie programs IN many years,
Pugilisiie kinds considered 10 he in
imminent danger OF losing their world
crowns ares Jimmy Wilde, OF England,
fyWeight, Joe Lynch, of New York,
hantamweight; Johnny kilhane, Of
Cleveland, featherweighti Johnny
Wilson, OF Boston, middleweighL
and Battling sikh, OF France and
Senegal, light heavyweight,
The other title holders - Benny
Leonard of New York, lightweight;
Mickey Walker OF Elizabeth, y, j.,
welterweight and Jack Dempsey
heaVyweight-arc favored 10 stay at
the top. but while the opposition in
their respective ranks Is not consider
ed more than threatening. there is al
ways the chance that amy Of them will
receive fatal tap on tho chin.
Chief interest promises 10 center
upon Dempsey, who plans an active
outdoor campaign after lapse of
nearly two years since his memorable
fight with Georges Carpenter Sew
eral OF his challengers may make II
more than interesting for the cham
pion but the present prospect is that
he will successfully retain his laurels.
Wilde. who has been inactive for
some time. has been challenged for a
title match by Pancho villa. the
scrappy Filipino who took the Ameri-
can fyweight title away from Johnny
Buff last year Villa not only has
taken the measure OF the best Am
erican 1yweights. but he has fire.
auently gone out of his class with de-
cisive success.
The Filipino is ambitious to dupli-
cate Bluffs feat in holding both the
fiyweight and bantamweight belts and
has following which would be ready
to back him strongly in title bout
with Joe Lynch. The latter faces two
other formidable challengers in Carl
Tremaine. hard hitting Clevelander,
ana ITlSn JpihHy Sui VII, VI oSiSSs
City. n. J.
Kilbane has agreed to stake his
feathcrweight title against the French
man, Eugene Criqui, holder of the
European championship. in a match
at the Polo Grounds on Decoration
Day. Crqui. young and aggressive
will have much in his favor against
kilbane. who has slowed up as re-
suit of long period of inactivity.
Wilson, another inactive champion,
will have difficulty retaining his title
If he accepts the challenges of several
formidable pound boxers, includ-
ing Tommy Loughran, of Philadel-
phia. Harry Greb, of Pittsburgh who
also holds the American light heavy
weight title. and Bryan Downey. of
Cleveland Wilson is not recognized
as champion in number of states be-
cause of his tactics in avoiding cham
pionship matches.
Experts believe either Greb. Gene
Tunney. or Tom Gibbons, the leading
American light heavyweights. capable
of lifting the worlds title held by
Battling Sikh, who acquired it by
Knocking out Carpenter. The Sene-
galese is still recognized in this coun- |
try as the champion despite the rul- !
ing of French authorities depriving |
him Of the title because of alleged |
improper conduct. Reports have been |
current that he intends to seek sew
eral bouts in the United States during
the summer.
Benny Leonard faces several strong
contenders in the lightweight ranks,
including Lew Tender, of Philadel-
phia; Sailor Freedman and Charley
White, both of Chicago. But the fact
that he has previously conquered all
three inclines critics to the opinion |
that he will continue to remain su- |
preme.
The suggestion has been made fire.
quently that Leonard, however, may
find difficulty keeping inside the light
weight limit of 1875 pounds and even |
tually be compelled to seek honors in |
the welterweight division. Although /
he failed last summer in an attempt
to take this title from Jack Britton, |
losing to the veteran on foul, Leon
ard would be a formidable opponent |
for Walker, who captured the cham
pionsnip from Britton.