The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-07-03
BY George A. Stricken
international News service


CHICAGO, July Everything
was ready at daybreak today for
the rebirth OF legalized boxing in
Chicago and Illinois.
Rocky Kansas, lightweight cham
pion Of the world, who risks his
title with Sammy Mandell. Rock
ford, ILL.,, challenger. in the main
event, was pronounced in the best
condition of his career and his
youthful opponent greeted early
callers with reassurances that this
Ii his day of days and that dusk
viii settle down on the crowned
head Of new king.
Upwards to 10000 persons are
expected to pay in the neiglib0r
hood Of 500. 600 to see the fight,
which win be held in the White
Sox BAH park. As the fighters
awaited the bell, only one detail
remained apparently unsettled.
That concerned the selection Of .
referee.
Only one arbiter of any ability is
Included In the list of 10 eligibies
held by the members OF the Illinois
State Athletic Commission. from
which they win select the third
man for the windup just before the
fighters tee off. The selection viii
be an important one, for with the
rsferee rests the power Of decision,
under the new code Of boxing regu-
lations recently formulated and
adopted by the commission.
That man is West Side" Phil
Collins. Popular opinion here
Gavors Collins, but 1t was tntimated
late last night that down State
applicant. identity unknown, might
Be the commissions choice.
Today's show viii be the first
boxing entertainment legally held
In Illinois since 1904, when Joe Cans
and Terry McGovern engaged IN a
fake fight. Sucker fistiana was
counted out by the State legislature
Immediately after that farce and
since then, until today. only boot
leg bouts have been sneaked in
where law enforcement was feeblest.
There were no odds as the hour
for the fight drew near. Mem
dell, who early in the week was
quoted 3 tWo-to-one fayorite to
defeat Kansas, grandfather Of
slowly lost his advantage in the
SmufueIs" as the title holder
rounded into shape, and while 1t
would breeze i'm eased UP, there
was little short money to back
up the argument.
Kansas chance rests entirely
with his physical condition. The
odds are three to one that the
fight will be only a fair show.
IL both fighters are right, it will
be a fitting event for the celebra-
ton of Illinois boxing emancipa-
ton. II one or the other, or both,
is not able to fight his best, the
semi-windup between shuttle Gala
han and Dan Gasparo, which can
be an upset only if there is no
knock out, undoubtedly will fea-
ture the show.
To Kansas, the Intelligehsia viii
tell you today, a knock out Is his
only chance to retain his light
weight supremacy. Mandell, the
better boxer Of the two, has little
chance to floor the champion, be-
ing possessed of nothing in the
way of ether, particularly against
q man like Kansas, who. buries his
chin in his shoulders with his Pc
culiar crouch and who is quite a
rugged chap, despite his 81 years.
Consequently Mandell must de.
pend on his remarkable boxing
skill to gain the referees decision,
a method which has carried him
20 the court of the king. This he
has announced he has adopted as
his plan of attack.
I'D like a Knockout" Sammy
said today, ''but I'll be satisfied
with a decision and I know / can
get 1t. My only deviation will be
the testing of my right. if Kansas
gives me an opening"