, 1923-01-02

and two American titles chang
of the heavyweight ranks, whe
preme but inactive, all the crowns
were in jeopardy at some time.
Four of the titles changed hands
in New York while tie fifth, the
worlds light heavyweight champion.
ship. passed tnto the possession Of
the SeneEalese. Battling Sikh. when
he knocked out Georges Carpenter.
In Paris last September. Sikh also
acquired the European heavyweight
title by his victory. Sincs then. how.
ever, no has lost whatever preatige
ne gained by drawing a long.term
suspension from the French boxing
authorities for improper conduct and
adding fuel TO the flames OF contro.
rersy with unsubstantlated charges
that his bout with Carpenter was IN.
tsnded as n frame-up Tor Georges to
win but that he double-crossed the
exx.potu by a change OF heart dur.
nR the bout
Johnny Buff. veteran Jersey City
boxer, met double disaster during
the year. losing tho worlds bantam.
Weight title to o Lynch OF New
York, q former champion Of tho divi'
| son. in July and the American fly
weight crown to Panch Villa, the FIJI.
Pine sensation. in September. Buff,
minus much OF his former prowess
through a long fitness, was knocked
Jut by Lynch in the fourteenth and
by Villa in the eleventh round. He
nas not appeared in Cns ring since
then.
Another vetera went down TO dc,
'eat before stamina and youth. when
Jack Britton, king of he we.ter ranks
for years, and n Of he crafties'
ring generals OF all time. lost a deci
sion and his world title to Mickey
Walker OF Elizabeth, n. j.. in No
yember. But u few months befor'
Britton had put UP n Of the hes
fights OF his career against Bonn,
Leonard, lightweight titleholder, win
ming on a technical foul In the thir
tenth round.
The American light heavyweight
title change possession twice. GEN
Tunney. Greenwich Village favorite
took tho honorH from Battling Levin
sky in January by tho dcision rout
out lost the crown in May to Harr'
irab OF Pittsburgh. who gained a de
cision after a hArd.tought fifteen
round. bout.
The situation in the fe~atherweish
and middleweight divisions was con
1.icated by decisions OF the New Yor'
State Athletic commission which too
away tho Icenses Of the respectiv
~utleholders. Johnny Klbane. Q
Cleveland and Johnny Wilson OF Bo,
49,. a-A dnrI,-ol t1,nI~ 1ahRalu ana
% competition so far as n Empir
State was ~conosrnad- Edlbae wa
outlawed for refusal 90 accept a cha
lenge from Johnny Dundee OF Me-
York. n Wilson for ignoring a
agreement TO box Harry Greb, Pitt
burgh mauier.
Dundee and Danny FTush, Englis
hFoxed who took up an Ameridn
residence In Cleveland. were pickle
. by the New York commission. as loi
= !cAi contenders for the featherweigf
title and the former acquired whG
l honorH the commission vas capabl
Of bestowing by knocking out Frus
: in the ninth round OF a contest 1
, August.
o Likewise. Dave Rosenberg Of Brood
Ign Was declared miGdleweight chan
: plon by the commission after a vi,
l tory over Phil Krug OF Harrison, )
! j.. in August, but the honor 'weT
! ! transferred to the veteran Mn
: O'Dowd, OF st. Paul. former It'll,
holder, when he won from Rosenber
on a foul in the eighth round OF
contest staged Thanksgiving day.
The mtddlewest also ceased to T
gard Wilson as middleweight kin
and the recognition was conterre
by boxing authorities in sever
states on Bryan Downey, OF Clev
land.
. Benny Leonard was the busiet
champion Of the year. The Ugh
weight king fulfilled a strenuous mi
summer program when no fought
succession Jack Britton, Rocky KaI
( saS and Lew Tender. He lost I
g Britton on n foul. knocked out kar
O sas q few weeks later and late
n July defended his title aginst Ten
I Ter, philadelphia southpaw, in a sci
sational l2-2round no.decision bout
d Jersey City, N. J. Leonard receiv'
being agreed that a match could NJ