Evening star., 1933-04-10

M Freddie Miller, feather
1 Y weight champion by grace
of the National Boxing AS
sociation, wants to remove all
doubt as to his rightful claim tc
the title by offering to meet Kio
Chocolate, who is recognized by
the New York Boxing Commission
as title holder.
AS the Keed already is booked to meet
Seaman Watson, British champion, next
month, Miller may have to wait SIX
months for the opportunity. A victory
for Chocolate over Watson would carry
more weight than anything that could
be said about the respective merits OF
the claimants. Of the fighting records
of the battlers to date, Chocolate over
shadows anything Miller has done.
The featherweight class was started
off more than SO years ago, when the
weight was 118 pounds. This gradually
was increased, according to the WhlmS
of the accepted leaders, until it reached
l26 pounds, where it now remains. Such
brilliant performers as Harry Gilmore,
Govern, Abe Attell and Johnny Knbane
wrote glowing and zestful pages in flstic
b history. Yet no other division has been
productive of SO many conflicting claims
from the day the class was first recog-
nized.
IN 1891 George Dixon was conceded
i the title. Two years later Dixon
lost to Billy Plimmer, but this did
+Io Chocolate nf his
day from going along as titleholder.
In 1897 Dixon was beaten by Solly
Smith, who in turn lost to Dave Sulli-
van, and Dixon regained his crown the
following year.
In 1898 Dixon was beaten by Ben
Jordan of England, and if you think
the title passed with this defeat, you
do not know the workings of the man
agerial mind. Dixon insisted he still
was champion because the class weight
was 118 pounds. Eddie Santry crushed
Jordan's claim by knocking him out,
and then Dixon held undisputed sway
by virtue of victory over Santry until
Terry McGovern came along in 1900
and beat him in eight rounds.
McGoverns reign was brief. A
youngster came out of the West-Den-
yer, to be exact-calling himself Young
Corbett He astounded the f1stic world
by scoring knockout over the hard
punching McGoVern.
IORBETT and McGovern moved up
~ into the lightweight class and
another scramble for the feather
weight title ensued. Abe AtteH was
recognized, but he was beaten by
Brooklyn Tommy Sullivan and had to
score a knockout before Sullivans VIC
tory was offset. Attell started off as
a knockout puncher and then decided
it was far easier to outpoint his OPP
ponents. This change of style resulted
in one of the most brilliant classics
of the prize ring. 1t was no-declsion
contest between Abe and Jim Dris-
coll of England They sped through
10 rounds like will o. the wisps, amaz-
ing the spectators with their wizardry
and skill.
Then came Johnny Kilbane and the
class fell into disrepute. Kilbane was
q better fighter than he has been ac-
claimed, but the fact that Johnny
picked his opponents marred nus otner.
wise fine record. The highlight OF
Johnny's career was his three-round
knockout over George K. o. Chaney
The Baltimore Pulverizer was given
better than an even chance OF upset.
ting the title holder Kilbane was a
punching fool that day and turned
back Chaney.
Johnny was in semi-retirement for
two years before an offer of 500
900 enticed him into giving battle
to Eugene Criqui, who beat him. Johnny
Dundee, who had fought Kilbane 20
round draw, then defeated Criqui. Dun
dee soon renounced the title, as he could
no longer make 126 pounds. and in an
elimination tourney Louis (Kid) kaplan
was hailed as the new leader. Kaplan
passed up the title to compete in the
lightweight class. In the next scramble
for the vacant throne Red Chapman.
Benny Bass and Tony Canzoneri Clipped
in, and it was not until Bass beat Chap
man that his claim was recognized.
Canzoneri caught up with Bass and
then, in one of his unusual listlesS per-
formances, Tony was outhustled by
Andre Routis of France. The least said
about that fight and the one in which
Battling Battalino won from Routis. the
better. Battalino was forced to give UP
his title after a poor defense against
Freddie Miller, and the bout was de-
clared mo contest"
EIDEL LA BARBA was selected as ar
L opponent for Kid Chocolate wher
the local Boxing Commission wen
into the business of making champions
and now we have two boys holding Swa!
In different sections of the country.
Chocolate has the edge. in that he L
better attraction than Miller.
Until Freddie does something to wiz
public attention he will induce a laugh
every time he challenges the Cubar
sharpsf.ooter.