The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-02-10
s. (lE(IS.
SOME BOXING
CHAMPIONS TO
BE DETHR0NED
Strenuous Opposition Faces
S0roc of the Men Resting
On Their Laurels

New York, Feb. 1G.-Fivc Of the
eight universally recognized boxing
= champ ons are likely to be dethroned
this year, in the opinion Of ring
critics, while titleholders in the other
; three divisions probably also will
face strenuous opposition in an cf-
g., fort to retain their laurels. The
general outlook is for one of the
most interesting fistic programs in
many years.
Puglstic kings considered to be
in imminent danger Of losing their
world crowns are: Jimmy Wilde, Of
England, hyweight; Joe Lynch, of
New York, bantamweight; john Xii
bane, of Cleveland, featherweight:
Johnny Wilson, Of Boston, middle
weight; and Battling Sikh, of France
and Senegal, light heavyweight.
The other titleh olders - Benny
Leonard, of New York. lightweight;
Mickey Walker, of Elizabeth, N. j.,
welterweight, and Jack Dempsey,
hcavyweight-are favored to stay at
the top, but while the opposition i,
their respective ranks is not consid-
cred more than threatening, there is
always the chance that any Of the IN
will receive fatal tap on the chin.
Chief interest promises to center
upon Dempsey, who plans an active
outdoor campaign after lapse e
nearly two years since his memorable.
fight with George Carpenter Sew
eral of his challengcrs may make il
more than interesting for the cham
pion, but the present prospect is that
he will successfully retain his laur-
els.
Wilde, who has been inactive for
some time, has been challenged for
title match by Fancho Villa, the
scIappy Filipino who took the Amer
lean hyweight title away from John
ny Buff last year. Villa not onl.,
has taken the measure of the bes.
American flyweights, but he has fire.
quently gone out of his class with
decisive success.
Strong Backing.
The Filipino is ambitious to dun
licate Bluffs feat in holding both the
fyweight ard bantamweight belts
and has a following which would be
ready to back him strongly in title
bout with Joe Lynch. The latter
faces two other formidable challcn-
gers in Carl Tremaine, hard-hitting
Clevelander, and Irish Johnny Curtin,
of cJrsey City, N. j.
Kilbane has agreed to stake his
feat erwei light title against the
Frenchman, Eugene Criqui, holder Of
the European championship, in Il
match at the Polo grounds on Decor
alton day. Criqui, young and agz
gressive, will have much in his favor
against Kilbane, who has slowed up
as a result of a long period of in.
activity.
pion, will have difficulty retaining his
title if he accepts the challenges of
several formidable 100 pound boxers,
including Tommy Loughran, Of Phil
adelphia, Harry Greb, Of Pittsburg,
who also holds the American ligis
heavyweight title, and Bryan Downey
OF Cleveland. Wilson is not recOg-
nized as champion in number OF
states because of his tactics in avoid
ing championship 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 Senc-
galese is still recognized in thn
country as the champion despite the
running of French authorities depriv-
ing him Of the title because of al.
legged improper conduct. Reports
have been current that he intends to
seek several bouts in the United
States during the summer.
Benny Leonard faces vcral
strong contenders in the lightweight
ranks, including Lew Tender, of
Philadelphia; Sailor Freedman, and
Charles White. both of Chicago. But
the fact that he has previously con-
quered all three inclines critics to
the opinion that he will continue to
remain supreme.
The suggestion has been made fire.
uuently that Leonard, however, may
find difficulty keeping inside the
lightweight limit of 1875 pounds and
eventually be compelled to seek hon
ors in the welterweight division. Al
thought he failed last summer in an
attempt to t.ke this title from Jack
Britton. losing to the veteran on
foul, Leanard would be a formidable
opponent for Walker, who capture"
the championship from Britton. Dave
Shade Of California, and Andy Thom-
as, OF New York, are other top-rank-
ing welterweights.