Show I RING CHAMPIONS I HARSHLY TREATED IN 1912 MATCHES Three Title Holders Pass Into Discard by Iy Decision or Own Acts BY JAMES JUIES 1 J. J CORBETT Former Heavyweight Champion of tho time World Written for ur The Herald Old 1912 ha has been heen harsh t In its treatment treatment treat treat- ment of ot champions Two titleholders title title- holders hol c. c were deprived of ot hard-earned hard laurels by y younger oung anti and more 1 vigorous opponents one has hns been practically kicked out of ot the game 11 by an on Indignant public while still such another has shown hown such marked signs of or deter bration bra bra- tion that wiseacres have ha him marked for tor defeat time the next n time ho enters the thc ring in defense of his hh title Abe Aba Attell who for Cor years ruled the featherweight eight roost was wat tho the first to get tho tiu hook Johnny Johnn Kilbane of Cleveland Clevelan Cleve Cleve- lan land put the In Indian lan sign on the veteran last February While not hot knocking Attell Attell Attell At At- tell out lo HO so decisively outclassed outclassed outclassed out out- classed his opponent that a 0 decision In his hll favor was tho only r ruling tho the ref ref- creo ereo could pO possibly make In the passing I of or Attell tho ring lost one of 01 the tho greatest artists that ever fl figured at the head of ot any division lb Ho was an ideal piece picco of fighting machinery machin cry ery with a punch to help hop ulong along the clover cr stuff of which he was a master Abe was a smaller edition of oC tho Tommy Tommy Tommy Tom Tom- my Ryan Joe Cans Gans type of boxer and andas andas andas as such his withdrawal from activity is a distinct loss to the ring I Keep ep Quiet Attell's successor Kilbane has haH not risked his prestige In a long contest since winning the tho title lie Ho has bias participated participated par par- In a few limited round matches but with Inferior men as a arule rule In his Now York bouts with whim Dundee Dun Dun- lIce dee an and OKeefe Johnny Johnn did dill nut not cover er himself with glory Slon although not forced to tu extend to tho the limit to win lii tin till popular lILT lar verdicts Local critics expected too much from the bo boy who lowered the thc great greut All Attell's colors and bien I failed to dispose of or the sturdy y Dundee and anti tho timo shirt shifty OKeefe within the limit they thc branded the as lS a aI I lucky champion With all duo due respect to said auld critics Is a U great fighter and aud outshines outshines outshines out out- shines his rivals In time the pound 12 di dl- dl vision I believe belle ho will not experience any allY great trouble In driving this fact tact boxes Johnny Johnn Dundee homo home wh when n ho he twenty roun rounds s at Los Loa Angeles next April tho tIme latter at nit tho thin present time limo be being be- be I lug ing JIb recognized as tho time most formidable Continued on Pa Page e Four I RING CHAMPIONS i HARSHLY TREATED IN 1912 MATCHES I Three Title It Holders ers Pass Into Discard by y Decision or oI Own Acts Acts Continued from Crom Page Pago One of all the challengers for tho the title 1 he h iL situation Is 18 a most peculiar ono one This lams has bl been n brought about U by the enforced retirement of ot Jack Johnson The probability Is 18 Johnson Johnson John John- son SOil will never again be seen cn In the ring certainly not In lit this country No American promoter would hn have e the cheek check to try tn to force this objectionable character upon the public l 0 Novel 1 State Stale of or Affair It I Barring a champion pugilist from Crom competition e establishes a state of oC affairs affairs af af- fairs Calls heretofore unknown In the tho history of ot tho ring Time will bring about the solution and through the tho medium of oC elimination contests a 0 champion worth worthy worthy wor wor- th thy of oC tho the great grent honor will no doubt be even eventually developed While tho the exclusion of or Johnson from participation In tho the ring Is ls pleasing to all who have the Interests of ot the time sport at heart the fight fans tuns of the country have other othor causes for tor congratulation Tho The marked Improvement In the tho ranks of ot the white heavies during the tho past twelve months Is most moat gratifying and Indicates that the time Is IA not far off I when a white man will again be In inn posse possession possession pos pos- se session o of the coveted title of champion From mere prospects a 8 few months I ago several hen heavyweights have developed developed devel devel- oiled to the sta stage e where they are aro no now i reckoned as ns championship material notably notably no no- tably and McCarty whoso meetIng meetIng meeting meet- meet nO-I nO Ing next Wednesday Is regarded as aM tho the most Important heavyweight match since the Johnson Jeffries-Johnson affair I McCartys McCarty's defeat of ot Flynn was a complete complete com com- lete victory for the younger element and while the Pueblo man could hardly I be figured a real contender for Cor the honors honors honors hon hon- ors he was considered as a a. sort of standard stanard b by which tho abilities of ot the themore I moro more youthful aspirants could bo meas meas- Luther surprised tho the talent meds-I meds In that engagement and as ns confession Is Iss s said aid to be good for the conscience Ill I'll add that I was one of or the tho bunch who I 1 was surprised B By the victory the young youn youngster act demonstrated he Is 13 s u a wonderfully wonderfully won won- Improved boxer and qualified for tor battle battlo with the best of ot the heavies 1 regardless of or color A comparison of ot the easy manner In which he ho handled Flynn and the failure of Johnson to stop the fireman ex-fireman last Fourth of ot July Is greatly In the tho kids kid's favor or and If he succeeds In disposing of oC on Now Years Year's dR day there will willbo bo ho man many who will be bo rea ready to acclaim him the coming champion heavyweight of the world Loses LO Crown The Tho lightweight title also changed change hands during tho time year Willie Ritchie a comparatively newcomer In the ring forced Ad Wolgast olg conqueror of ot the great Battling Nelson to lower his colors last Thanksgiving day While a afew afew afew few supporters of ot the tho ex-champion ex I maintain that the tho verdict of winner on ona ona ona a foul was vas unwarranted b by what actually actually ac ac- ac- ac happened the fact tact remains that f the r referee teree Is tho the best judge of ot how far I Wolgast transgressed against the rules and It Is a poor sport who will attempt to begrudge Ritchie the credit duo due for his splendid performance As u a rule tho the downfall of a champion Is regarded with sincere regret b by the I rank and file of oC sporting men mon but In Wolgast's case caso I am BOrr sorry to say there thero was little evidence of oC sorrow Borrow manifested manifested manifested mani mani- In the comments of tho the critics or orby I Ib by b- fight followers generally general For some some reason Ad N Never ver enjoyed the tho popularity i of Nelson Gans Cans and others who preceded preceded preceded pre pre- ceded him at the head hoad of the division I So far as tho the public is concerned this opinion of the little was no doubt by the sporting ed edItors editors editors ed- ed I of tho the country whose antipathy towards tn H burn swag 1 a 1 due to tri tn t the f ula m th 1 I I I I employed mp db by i Manager gr To Toni Tom J Jones c v oc In s protecting the Interests of his pro togs tege Nevertheless Ad was a a. great little fighter righter Fighter hIghter beet beat describes him He lie was not a clover boxer and won and maintained his place at the top by br sheer ability to assimilate punishment and outlast his In that respect Ad was a second Battling Nelson Nelson Nelson Nel Nel- son and alaI might havo have reigned a a. while longer as s ho lie la is only 94 4 4 years years of age now had the operation for appendicitis not seriously impaired his Imis vitality Clever Cloer Boxer The passing of the title HUe Into the time hands of Willie Ritchie marks the time re resumption resumption re- re of or rule of or tho the clever boxer In the lightweight ranks Since Nelson won from the late Joe Gans the slug Blus gor gOI gor has dominated the division but but with Ritchie at the head the scientific boxer comes Into his own Ritchie Ritchie's s 's I success will also mark the raising of oC tho the lightweight limit to pounds which will permit the skillful McFarland McFarland l land lan and Britton to compete for tor the honors With Ritchie McFarland l and Britton and Freddy Welsh in reserve to safeguard the title there would appear to bo be little danger of the championship escaping from Crom the clutches of the scientific brigade for tor a long time to come Johnny Johnn Coulon present bantamweight bantamweight bantam bantam- weight ht champion Is ls the lad tad whose proud title Is thought to be In jeopardy Judging bythe caliber of Johnnys Johnny's recent recent re- re reI I I cent exhibitions In ln New York ew the fear fearIs Is apparently well founded Kid Williams WillIams Will- Will Iams lams the Baltimore whirlwind out out- pointed tho the champion at nt Madison l Square Garden last September and It was on only the no decision restriction that saved the champs reputation It is not only hero here in the east cast that Coulon will encounter opposition of oC a strenuous nature Out California wa way there Is a youngster I named Eddie Campi Campi Cam Cam- pi 11 who has hns won the admiration of the fans by the cas easy manner mannor he lie has cleaned up all the good little men of ot the Western western western west west- ern country Promoters are now negotiating with Kid Williams and If terms are arc auf auf- m- m attractive the Baltimore bo boy will wm shortly jo journey to the coast after Eddies Eddie's scalp Tho rho winner l' l will then be mat matched heel with Coulon for tor the title So Sono Sono Sono no matter how the Campi Williams-Campi scrap terminates the outlook for Johnny Johnny John John- 11 ny Is not nol a cheerful ono one But then youth uth must be served d and Coulon has had hall his fling tUng In tho the middleweight middleweight division tho the question n of ot vw who ho Is largely a matter of or conjecture Early Earh in the year with Klaus KIaus McGoorty and Gibbons goIng go- go Ing lug along nicely the sports perked up I with the tha hope that the final adjustment of the championship was near at nt hand hanel 1 Klaus ho however evol withdrew from ro the picture picture pic plc- ture tune in a u. hunt for easier caster game In the time wilds of France Fran and Gibbons and andIc McGoorty McGoorty Mc Mc- Goor when finally mt matched failed tailed to show anything approaching championship champion ship thip form Corm as m measured rH according to the Ketchel standard rho Tho situation is practically unchanged from a year ear ago o with McGoorty l Klaus Dillon an and Gibbons Gibbons Gib Gib- bons ranking among tho the loaders leaders Let Letus Letus Letus us hope that the year 1913 will wJ be more prolific in the production of good mcl and that before another twelvemonths twelve months have passed the ll cJ question will wilt bo be solved and a n worthy worth loader leader es established established es- es tn at the tho head of ot the division Johnny Kling has has' out handsom announcements of the brining ning n of hl his new billiard hall In City Ther Is n no notation on un them n as to the Eltor story that th her he r vill Iii m manage the St St. Paul team teim n Claude Cooper drafted b bv by the Boston Hoston Braves from Fort Worth Giants has b been en transferred to time N XI w York Giants Coop Cooper t Is small In sl six siz- limit hut Is said Maid to h to he very vory fast tast another Josh DeVOle Devoie De- De 1 wore VOle in fact tact |