The West Virginian

Twenty thousand American dollars must pass through the gates at Cedar Point, Ohio, Labor Day, before the scheduled 15-round featherweight championship battle between Johnny Kilbane, titleholder, and George Chaney of Baltimore southpaw knockout king, is a financial success.

Twenty thousand bucks may seem a mere bagatelle when pugilistic titles are at stake but an outlay of this proportion is a rarity where featherweights are involved. Hence the reason Promotor Matt Hinkel, Cleveland sportsman, is being hailed as Ohio's Tex Rickard.

Hinkel has guaranteed a purse of $16,000 Kilbane to get $10,000 and Chaney $6,000, plus $250 for training incidentals.

To break even the promotor must play to 10,000 patrons at an average of $2 per. Probably less than a half-dozen featherweight combats have drawn $20,000 in receipts.

The Corbett-Fitz heavyweight mill at Carson City, Nev., March 17, 1897, attracted $22,000.

The Ruhlin-Jenries match November 15, 1907, drew slightly over $30,000. Bat Nelson and Jimmy Britt mingled before a gate totaling $20,770 in the fight the Dane won in the 18th round at Colma, Cal., September 9, 1905. Fitzsimmons and Sharkey performed before a $21,000 house when Sailor Tom won on a foul in eight rounds.

The return encounter between McGovern and Corbett drew $20,850. But the feathers, like the bantams, have never cut in to a marked degree on BIG MONEY.

Chaney, a terrific, pile-driving puncher, is the only leatherweight in America who is conceded a chance to wrest the laurels from Kilbane.

The Baltimorean, who hails from the same stable that produced Johnny (Kid) Williams, conqueror of Johnny Coulon trailed Kilbane for two years before the champion signed articles.

They were matched to box last March but Kilbane failed to fulfill his end of the contract.

As a boxer Chaney isn't in the class with the Clevelander, but on punching George has the edge and he's pulling up his haymaker southpaw for the BIG PUNCH.