Evening star., 1939-06-13
Ahearn Ready 10 Help
Clarity Boxing's
Middle Middle
Wants Eliminotion Meet
Here If N. B. A. Decides
To Take Up Problem
BY LEWIS F. ATCHIsON.

BY grapevine comes word that the
National Boxing Association Is 60
ing to roll up its sleeves and plunge
into the arduous business of clear
ing up the middleweight situation,
which has been SO confused of late
the boys are referring to it as the
muddleweight class.
On It's books Mr.. Solomon Krieger
Is listed Is the N. B. A. titleholder
and a paid-up member in good
standing, too. But some Of the as
sociation bigwigs understand an
Eyetalian by the name Of Fred
Apostoli. the betting bellhop, has
won New York's blessing as cham
pion and is making plans to defend
his laurels in the near future.
How" choruses the N. B. A. in its
bathroom barytone, can Apostoli
defend something he doesn't own?"
1t has something there. Aposton
isn't the champion by direct de-
scent, so to speak, for his laurels
were hung on him by Gen. Phelan
and his associates. while Krieger
went out to Seattle and biffed AL
Hostak on the whiskers for his
claim to the crown.
In fistic fraternities, however.
Walter Woods is recognized as the
uncrowned champion, the toughest
middleweight in the muddle, and a
dead certainty to win the unani-
nous approval Of all grading COM
mittees before long. Walter is a
fairly good ring general and his
right hurts like income taxes. But
that's getting ahead Of the plot.
Krieger- Hostak Bout to Help.
The first step In unraveling the
knotty problem will be taken by
Krieger and Hostak, who tangle the
latter part Of this month at Seattle.
Solly will try to prove his first tri-
umph over AL was no mistake. That
defeat and loss Of his title was a
distinct shock to young AL and his
handlers-not to mention few hun
dred thousand fans who lost every
thing-including faith in human
nature-on the fight.
1t wasn't supposed to happen
you know like the politicians friend
getting tossed into the jug-but it
did. Hostak's management was on
It's toes, however, and there was a
gentleman's agreement-in writing
and duly witnessed-to the effect
that Solomon would give AL first
crack at his old title when it was
placed back In competition. Solly
has fulfilled his contract to the let
ter.
He whipped Ben Brown, a prom
ising Southern boy. last winter. but
1t wasn't considered a title bout as
they figured Brown had no chance
anyway. Krieger avoided Apostoli
like the plague. Ditto for Woods.
He had to take the crown back in
the same untarnished condition 1t
was in when he borrowed 1t. Now.
If Krieger duplicates his victory over
Hostak he will be free of incumber-
ance and ready to lay the title on
the line against Woods or Apostoli,
whichever will draw the most money.
and the long damned condition Of
the division will be relieved.
Hostak, likewise, will be in position
to return conditions to normalcy.
Ahearn Wants Middles.
Rumors have it that the N. B. A.
is considering another round robin
to open up the class and that Lou
Brouillard and George Abrams fig
ure in the list of nominations. This
is good news for Matchmaker Goldie
Ahearn, who got one ear cauli-
flowered keeping it plastered to the
ground for such rumors and who
would like nothing better than stag
ing a middleweight elimination
tournament at the ball park.
Goldie's fingers. singed by the feath-
erweight round robin he sponsored
last summer, apparently have been
cured.
Wood and Ceferina Garcia meet
Thursday night at New York, and q
trade treaty being engineered by
Ahearn and Abe Attell, Garden
matchmaker, may bring the win
ner to Washington. In the event
that 1t is Wood, as 1t promises to
be, his opponent will not be Abrams,
who isn't ready, nor Brouillard, who
Is southpaw and who would add
nothing to Woods stock even if he
should whip him.
So If the N. B. A. wants to help
matters along 1t would do well to