Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1Auu
A Niqht for the 'Roinmoker'


town these many years and it is perhaps high time his
friends got around to tossing him testimonial dinner
they doing tonight at the State True Golde not
to promoting himself buck but the other hand
If it not for Ahearn there might be boxing
Once upon time there frankie Mann, Henie
Miller Joe Turner and few others engaged in putting
fights but now there only Ahearn 1t hardly worthwhile
financially to be a boxing promoter in Washington but
Goldie sets store by keeping the sport alive.
Ahearn who was born Isidore Goldsten December
25 1893 became pretty good featherwght and lightweight
after he had served an early apprenticeship batboy at
Griffith Stadium He fought amateur but he
was pro at 15 Because his family rowned upon boxing
John p Dugan Of the old Herald volunteered to invent
cover-up name 1t out Golde Ahearn and the skinny
little southpaw liked it we'll he adopted it legally
GOLDIE SERVED IN THE ARMY when Uncle Whiskers
chasing Pancho Villa in Mexico He went to
France too and claimed the AEF feaherweight title He
world champion but he billed himself the
Southern lightweight champion"
This was the time Ahesrn made trip of modest
proportions to the south of Richmond and decisioned
body named Boots Aney On the strength of this victory
Gode felt it might be appropriate to claim the Dixie title
Forthwith he visited the nearest Western Union office and
dispatched telegram to Washington paper.
"Golde Ahearn tonight won the Southern lightweight
championship" he began his message"
Some hours later there reply from tough sports
editor When you win worlds championship" it read
well cover the event. In the meantime quit sending col
lect wires With that Southern title and nickel you
buy short beer or cup of coffee"
Chaucer might have described hmAhearn may not bring
up memories of once-upon-a time delicate rngman But
he was and he won than his share Of fights. He also
the victim Of the shortest knockout in these
parts In 1926 he matched with AL Foreman, a
derous punching little guy who later to become British
Empire featherweight and lightweight champion.
1t figured to be a dandy-a puncher in and
cutie in the other. But the echo of the first bell sl
could be heard when Foreman connected and Golde was
hattened in II seconds.
Everybody remembers fight" Ahearn now laments
In mock despair. They don't remember when I won"
The Foreman kayo retired Godie, who is far from
unintelligent.
DURING HIS LONG, VARIED and often humorous
career as manager referee matchmaker and promoter
Golde the first licensed when boxing became legal
in the District Of Columbia 1884, Aearn was probably
the worlds unuckiest guy weatherwse Whereas the
is always shining for George Marshall and his Redskins
it nearly always rains for Ahearn.
One of the funniest periods in Colde life when
the rassers hot articles under the promotion of the
late Joe Turner who operated in the Washington Audi
forum Turner committed to the faction that featured
Jim Londos Rudy Dusek, Paul Jones and Jim Mcmillan
others Ahearn. figuring there enough money
to go around made deal to rent tin hangar at Boiling
Field and cast his lot with the rival mat grouped Don
George. Marina Plestina, Jack Sherry, ETC.
The night before his first match Golde teephoned all
his newspaper pals and invited them to party before
the matches. Come early he urged land well have
turkeys and ham that's from Smithed and all that stuff
1t showed for perhaps "a hours and getting Boiling
weather When GoldeS newspaper guests arrived half
frozen there banquet The rasslers some
spoke little English but all of whom had appette
stumbled across Ahearns spread in small of to
side in the hangar and did what naturally.
"Plestna" Golde moaned. lifted whole turkey for
just himself and made in 10 minutes And he's
rasSling in the main event"
ONLY 90 CASH CUSTOMERS showed up that night and
sat hudded In the show began There
almost many hot dog and peanut vendors customers
and Ahearn sensed monetary beating the concessions
But raSslers they're wonderful Golde later announced
They steal all my food for the party but then before
and after their matches they buy the hot dogs and the
peanuts and because they're working on percentage
they spend than they make
Codie folded his hangar for rassling and went back
to boxing he phoned that he had hot bout booked
ITS indoors juoilated and its summer So It can't
snow and II nobody get they're inside.
II didn't rain for change, but this shortly after
Une Arena opened the concrete roof still sweating
out It's newnesS Drops Of condensation fell ntermenty
on the rngsde and Golde threw UP his hands hopeessy
For me-" he said, 1t rains indoors"