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Show Both Leaders in Their Class 1 MLKE GIBBONS. WALTER MILLER. ii The old adage that a boxer can novor become a good wrestler and vico versa, is shattered by tbo caae of Walter MUlor, admittedly ono of tho. threo best middleweight "wrestlers in, tho world, and Miko Gibbons, a real contender con-tender for the middleweight boxing championship of the world. Seven years ago Miller "was a boxer and Gibbons Gib-bons was a wrestler. Both athletes are residents of St. Paul, arc about the same age, and at tho present time weigh witnin a few ounces of each other, each tipping the beam at about 152 pounds. Gibbons is about three inches taller than Miller, Mil-ler, but more slender. Seven years ago Mailer and Gibbons joined tbo St. Paul Y. M. G. A. Miller wanted to become a first-class boxer, while Gibbons was determined to raako wrostling his profession. Both boys got along woll. Gibbons succeeded in winning win-ning a numbor of wrestling bouts, whilo Miller acquired considerable local famo with tho gloves. Among his bouts wits a ten-round draw with. Jack Redmond. About this time Alex Sloan, who is now managing Disbrow, the nutomobile racer, and who wus formerly associated with Bill Piekeus in handling tho busi-nes busi-nes affairs of Barney Oldfield, decided that Gibbons might become a boxer. A match was then arranged between Miller Mil-ler and Gibbons. It was to bo for fifteen fif-teen rounds and would mark Gibbous 's first appearance in tho roped arena. Miller started training for the bout six weoks ahead of tho date set for the contest. Ho worked so hard that a week before the contest ho was overtrained over-trained to such an extent, that his physicians phy-sicians ordered him to go to the country for a good rest as tho only thing which would prevent him developing consumption. consump-tion. This caused the contest to bo called off and Gibbons went back to wrestling. wrest-ling. About this time a wrestler named Felkov hit St. Paul and was meeting all comers. Gibbons tackled Folkoy and was slanuned all over the ring; When Miller roturned rrom the country, coun-try, his hoalth fully restored, ho determined deter-mined to take a whirl at wrestling. 11 is first public appearance was ajramst Felkey, who had beaton Gibbons, ifurb to tho surprise of the fans, Millor made Folkey look like a novico and wou easily. That convinced Miller that he should be a wrestler and ho has followed the mat game ever Bince. When Miller de-cidodto de-cidodto take up wrestling Gibbons went into boxing. For tho greater part of tho past sevon years these two men have trained together at the St. Paul Y. M. C. A. Miller has boon wrostling instructor there, while Giggons has had charge of the boxing classes. Today Miller is a boxor of no mean ability, while Gibbons probably could hold his own with any of tho second-rate second-rate middloweight wrestlers. Miller is here now training for his finish match with Miko Yokel at the Saltair Hippodrome one week frota tomorrow night. In his training he does a great deal of boxing and shows that ho is good at both wrestling and boxing, box-ing, being far and away the fastest Erappler who has over appeared in Salt ake. Harry Heagren is making preparations prepara-tions to handle an enormous crowd at the Miller-Yokel contest. The sale of Toserved seats will open this morning at Stickney's cigar store. Delegations of wrestling fans aro coming frogi all parts of the state to see tho contest and special trains will be run from Ogden and Bingham,. 1 |