The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-05
ERTLE CHANGES MIND TWO TIMES BUT FINALLY CALLS CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT DRAW
First Declares Bout A Draw, Then StribIing Decision, And Finally, Three Hours Later, A Draw Again

COLUMBUS, Oct. 4.-(By the Asso-
 ciated Press. )-Michael McTigue of
 Ireland tonight was speeding out of
 this city with his ght-heavyweigh
 championship crown, following his
 fight with Young Stribling, the 1S-
 year-old Macon, Ga. youth, who for
 three hours after the fight had what
 was believed to have been the off
 cial title.
 Referee Harry Ertle, c1oseted in
 a rrivate residence away from angry
 spectators. issued a signed state-
 ment declaring that he had officially
 declared the ten-round battle draw
 and had not reversed his decision in
 the face of threats that unless l
 awarded the decision to Stribling
 would never leave the arena alive"
 He asserted that fight promoters
 had forced him to grab the right
 arm of the challenger and raise tt
 af6ft, naming Major John Paul Jones,
 heading the committee of the local
 post of the American Legion, stag
 ing the fight, as the man Who
 grabbed his and Strblings hands and
 raised them aloft.
 McTigue and his manager, Joe
 Jacobs. left town immediately atter
 Ertle issued his official statement.
 McFigue issued a statement declaring
 that he had been forced into the ring
 with a broken thumb at the point
 of pistols. and Joe Jacobs stated
 that spectators had threatened 10
 hang him to tree, holding nam re, sponsible for the fight being declared
 off officially earlier during the day
 Ertle was still in town at late
 hour tonight and declared he was ln
 no hurry to take his departure. lie
 said that he would go direct to New
 York and file his official statement
 with the New York boxing com
 missoin.
 Two hours before the fight, while
 a crowd was holding sway In the
 downtown district, Ertle declared
 Major sJones came to his room in
 local hotel and said that me, Mc-
 Tigue, Jacobs and myself, as long as
 l was in town, were being watcheo'
 that every railroad station was GOV
 cred. I asked him what was the idea
 ana he gave me no answer.
 hWhen I put both my arms out,
 Frtle's statement continued, point
 ing to both corners to signify draw. Jones was the first man to come to
 me and demanded that giVe tn5
 decisioN to Young Stribling, and 1
 told him that my decision was gwen. Then he said to me that I'd better
 get back in there and give that de- cision to Stribling and l said my de- cisfon and l could only give It
 draw That if he G..,,I;na wanted ,e to canId enId
 
 Then he said What you call draw. doa,t YOU have to raise both arms and I said that you don't nave 10 raise them. Then I stepped back ln- to. the ring and pointed to poth n corners and said "a draw.
 N hThen he said that l would never M leave the ring alive. Then he called seSeral newspaper men into the ring ana said he would ask them for ther decision and I said no matter What they say l cannot reverse my decl-
 sion, I have given them draW'
 pThen Stribling came over to me and put his hand in mine ana Jones walked up and raised his hand while I Mad hold of it. I did not raise ms hand as the victor. l still say that 1t was a draw.
 "Rob Roper even admitted that I'd never get out of here alive but l said what could l do l have made my decision.
 The referee declared he climbed through the ropes at the close or li1e right and was Immediately surrouhu ed by a mad throng.
 "when threatened and intimidated bv such an angry crowd, l decided then it would be safer for me to re- turn to the ring and give the oecl- sion to Stribling. However, when Major Jones raised both Strlollng 5 a necessary. Stribling is a good fight er9and a return battle would settle ali arguments" concluded the ret- cree.
 The fight program was put on De- fore some 1000 spectators at the Driving Park Arena after stormy \ scene had been enacted in the down VI town district. An effort to call off the ,Sfight by McTigue. who developed g main in his left thumb, which doctors early today pronounced was caused l byean imperfect healing of an oio \ fracture. Syhen it was officially announced +bat the fight was off. police pro \ lection had to be sought for Nc. H srjp,le. He was prevailed upon to fight bv- leading citizens of the city who ware responsible for the match max I ing and drawing to this city thou- sands of persons from many soutnern states. Placards were circulated with \ McTigues name printed on yeilo" naper. utomobiless, were salso oeco- rated in yellow cloth with signs sacked on the rear heralding that siaht heavyweight champion or tne syorld was victim of cold feet ! rrha fiehting was one sided. Str'- I Efinp forcing the action, while MIC < srir,ie. with the exception of one oi oei N two spurts, was contenteo wien ciinching and tapping the challengei esi N Cbampion cut loose with left upper a c,,ts. which the Macon boy side stanned. McTigue also used rign' H sab which Stribling succeeded 1T 4 blocking. rhe youngster fought with botf 4 hands, landing his right on McTfgue' A face. which caused the blood tt trickle down the latter's nose Iron N Gut between the eyes. Striblinl M often led with his left to McTigue'' IA stpmach. On one occasion he pushed the champion almost through th' 10 ropes when McTigue began to hoit l{ and use his shoulder. Referee Erti' separated the fighters on this occa I sion and made them shake hands. H At the end of the tenth round th' men continued to fight. apparent. Il separated and Stribling retreated int l neutral corner. Ertle made motioi II tos@the press box indicating draw N Stribling leaned up against the ropes H amazed and Ertle quickly left th V ring. He was followed by McTigu' A and both were surrounded by civi \ and military police.
 Premliminaries.
 N cBoots" Antley of Columbus wa l a awarded a referees decision owe Il "TSing Jack" Wofford of Miami. Fla I at-the end of their six-round fight I wpfford took great deal of punish | ment.
 I Eene Poyner of Columbus wa Il Grantham of Fort Benning at the eni III oftheir six-round bout. The refere M was hissed and booed after holding \ HIM1 0.flEHk