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Show STEVE MAHONEY TALKS ON WEIGHT QUESTION BOSTON, April 23.-Stevo Mahonoy, manager of Jimmy Brlgcs and Chester Goodwin, In speaking of tho weight question, ques-tion, said, yesterday: "Tho weight question, ques-tion, upon which so much discussion lunges at tho present period, Is something that could easily bo adjusted If tho principal prin-cipal promoters of boxing throughout this country would convene in some central city, hut whllo all seem to bo Interested, still they, do not come forward at tho opportuno time to voice their sentiments. Some of thotfc behove In adhering to the old scale of welKhta, and others ore not slow In oxprosHlon about adopting a new scaling wt, but that is as far ns they have gone. To ray way of thinking, the old classes should prevail; that Is. the bantam limit bo 112 pounds; the fcather-wolght, 122 pounds; lightweight, 133 pounds; welterweight, welter-weight, l&s pounds, and then tho now clnpa, light heavyweight, 170 pounds, Is ono that will nuroly become popular, for It precludes overmatching; heavyweight, all over 170 pounds. "These weight limits wcro good enough for 6uch champions as Pedlar Palmer, Billy Pllmmcr. Tommy Kelly (bantams). Iko Weir, Tommy "Warren, Billy Murphy, Johnny Griffon nnd Goorgo Dixon (fcather-wcightaj, Harry Gllmoro, Jack McAullfTe, Jem Carney, Kid Lavigne, Frank Erne, and for a tlmo Joe Gans mado tho weight, but although present holder of tho litlo ho has outCTOwn tho clnss (lightweights); Tom Williams. Billy Smith. Tommy Ryan, Eddio Connolly. Dick Burge. Matty Matthews, Jim Ferns and Joe Wolcott (welter-weights); Gcorgo LaBlanchc, Jack Dempsey and Bob Fitz-Himmons Fitz-Himmons (middle-weights). These men have at dlvciH times made the class weight and defended their titles, but at tho present tlmo tho champions insist on stepping in at catch-wolghts, while their antagonists must appear on tho scales at ringside at the weight they stipulate. This Is unfair to both patrons and promoters, pro-moters, for a match of tho kind docs not glvo the former a run for tbo monoy thoy pay, and the promoters, with such conditions condi-tions existing, never can tell until tho weighing is done whether thoy will be ablo to glvo a show or not. "It is since Younj; Corbott'H memorable victory over Terry McGovcrn at Hartford, Conn., more than two years ago, that this discussion over weight has arisen. That match, which was at 127 pounds, not at the feather-weight limit, 122 pounds, as many suppose, has been tho causo of tho wclKht argument thot hao Incessantly bpeii going on slnco thon. Immediately after his victory Corbett claimed the title of feather-weight champion, and many ijrnorflnt of tho fact that the battle was virtually at catch-wclght that is. so far as McGovern, the champion, was concerned, con-cerned, as he could at the time scale at the prescribed limit were led to believe that the Denver man had undisputed right to tho feather-weight honors. Ills second win over Terry was also at a weight much In excess of tho feather-weight stipulation, stipula-tion, so it is not clear how ho became possessed of that title. "Not long ago Corbett was beaten by Jimmy Brltt of San Francisco at a weight bordering on the lightweight extreme, and Brltt now ridiculously advances tho claim of being the holder of tho feather-weight championship title. "McGovern, when he beat Pedlar Palmer, Palm-er, tho bantam champion, In New York, In a spoclal match such as that which took place at Hartford between McGovern and Corbott. did not pretend any Buch thing as both Corbett and Brltt pot forward, for-ward, and I think ho had as much right to do so as either of tho above-named have to tho feather-weight crown. All this should soon bo definitely settled, and tho movement started at Detroit by the National Na-tional Boxing association should bo tho means of clearing up tho much-mooted weight controversy. Another meotlng of like nature, with representation from overy fistic city of prominence, should bo the means of satisfactorily settling tho weight flguros for championship contests. It cannot como too soon, on account of tho inclination that tho boxers of any fair reputation are evincing to croato now classes." |