Dundee vs. Criqui

Johnny Dundee succeeded where a German bullet failed. He pounded the jaw of Eugene Criqui so viciously that he hammered the Frenchman out of the world's featherweight championship. Criqui received a rifle bullet in the chin during the War but returned to the ring and won the featherweight title from Johnny Kilbane. Although thoroughly outclassed by Dundee, knocked down four times, thrice for the count of nine, his courage kept him on his feet. The championship went to Dundee by decision.

Despite the startling example the Frenchman displayed of what courage can accomplish with poor fighting equipment (oldtimers called it as brave a fight as ever boxer fought), 30,000 Americans jammed in the New York Polo Grounds booed. It was probably the worst example of collective unsportsman-ship this country has exhibited at an international sporting event. The answer is that Dundee is a New York boy, and New York wanted him to win. It is simply the answer -- there is no justification.

Johnny Dundee, christened Guiseppe, surnamed Carrora, nicknamed the "Scotch Wop," has been 13 years in the ring. He is normally a junior lightweight (about 129 pounds) and has fought all the con tenders for the lightweight title, including eight no-decision bouts with Benny Leonard. He is a gallery fighter specializing in the spectacular bound from the ropes which made him famous.

Paris bristled with anger when the flash of the fight arrived. When details ticked in over the cables anger changed to pride. The press presented Eugene Criqui with three new titles to replace the one he lost: Criqui the Brave, True Frenchman, Cockerel Criqui.