The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-02

WlCn1n a Few hours the IeaLnel
Gus, old world will take up a mo
France or settle down again in it,
The men will meet late this after
noon over the fifteen-round distance
at the Polo Grounds-Kilbane, the
gray fox of American pugilism, the
man without fistic weakness, if
il isn't age: Criqui, the war hero.
who left one side of his jaw at Yer
dun, yet returned to the ring q
better fighter for the experience.
Modern surgery grated the jaw
bone of a sheep into the shattered
area and today Criqui is said TO
be immune to punishment there
owning to the absence OF nerves
that would communicate to the brain
the effect of punch.
Factor fancy, that is quite a
plausible story for box office pur.
poses, and the additional interest
revolving around Criquis war rec
ord and the fact that he happens
to be featherweight champion OF
Europe with twenty-one successive
knockouts to his credit, gives prom
Use of a flattering attendance.
Sixty thousand seats are at the
disposal Of the customers and with
VaiIing many Of them should be
occupied. Early indications are,
however, that the attendance will
be fair, like the day, unless the
promoters suffer q rush OF Gus.
toners to the head at the last
moment.
The gates will be thrown open at
noon and simultaneously some $4,000
Of the cheaper seats win be placed
on sale at the grounds at prices
ranging from 1920 to $3.50. The
moderate character of these charges
may induce many impromptu buy
erg.
Two hours before the schedule
opening of the gates the principals
win weigh in at Jack O'Brien's
gymnasium. They are required to
make 1875 pounds at that hour and
according to all accounts neither
Guilty. Both were well inside the
featherweight limit weeks ago and
In as good condition as it is human
~ possible to be.
Kilbane continued to rule a IA
vorite today, and odds Of to with
CriQui hackers very reticent. Much
has been made of Criqui's chances
on the score of youth versus age,
but this fails to add up to the sat
isfaction Of the general public, and
those who like their dollars crisp
and green are giving the French
challenger the elevated eyebrow.
Odds OF to 1 on Kilbane may
prevail at the ringside.
The American, of course, is well
ON his way to middle age, having
ventured beyond the thirfy-fOur
year mark, while Criqui has yet
to turn thirty, but tEos differ
enCe i'm age is dissipated by the
fact that the Frenchman like all
soldiers had silent years added to
his life by the war.
In fact, the fight is really an issue
between activity and comparative
passivity in affairs of the fist. Kill
bane has not been in the ring since
Sept. II. 1921, whenshe knocked out
Danny Frush in the seventh round.
Criqui, on the other hand, has fol-
lowed his profession assiduously
since the war. This Is probably his
sole advantage over the champion.
The Frenchman is strong punch
err with his right hand, and of course
win concentrate on the business of
scoring a knockout. That is his
only hope. To box with Kilbane
would be nothing short of suicidal.
Kilbane, likewise, is expected to
abandon his usual tactics and try to
win early. He has been tipped to
the fact that Criqui Is wide open for
a right cross and he realizes that an
attempt to step fifteen rounds at box
ing speed might find him without
legs long before the end. He also is
cognizant of the fact that, despite
Criqui's reputation for toughness,
he was knocked out by Pal Moore,
the slap stick comedian, and there
fore cannot be quite as sturdy as his
ballyhoo would make him.
According to official statements,
French comrades-in-arms who
fought with Criqui at Verdnu, will
escort the challenger to the ring
with all due Formally. lending u
coiorful and martial touch to the
proceedings. Representatives Of the
French embassy at Washington and
the French consul at this city will
dignity the occasion with their
presence.
The preliminaries are unusually
good, Kid Kaplan of Meriden, Conn,
meeting Babe Herman of California;
in a eight-round semi-final; Irish
Johnny Curtis faces Jack Sharkey
in another eight rounder, and Al
Ziemer, Of Cleveland, Kilbane's
sparring partner, being scheduled to
Al sSr