Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-02
GOal Oil.
THE GREAT FIGHT.

I
be known, even in circles where sporting ne VS.
p0peTs are never seen, that the fight between
Tom SayerB and Heenan, called the Benicil
Boy, is to take place on the day n-meJ; ant
il is evident to every one who observes whai
is passing in society, that both in Great Britain
and the United States this battle is regarded
with an unusually deep and exteHsixe interest
The explanation Of this change Of sentiment
towards Prize.hgbting is TO be found, we think
in various eircumstnces. Is the first place, the
international character which has been ascrib-
ed to the approaching contest gives TO il an i'm
poFtanee which an ordinary match between
two Englishmen arranged perhaps for the
benefit ofa few sporting Pubiicans, could not
claim We are by no means sure that this
match has not attained its world vide fame
contrary to the intention of the parties prine.
pally concerned. Il is Of COURSE the business
| Of Tom Sayers, as Champion of England, to
answer all worthy ohallengeTs, but we believe
that his opponent rather declines the honor
which has been thrust upon him of represent
ing the pugilism Of America. lie is reported
10 have said that he has come to England 10
fight Tom SayerS, because he wishes tofight
him, and for no other reason. Neyertheless.
the public appears to be determined to look
upon the Bsnieis Boy as the champion of the
U sited States, and to treat the issue Of this
fight as matter Of national importance.
BUTT seems 70 us that there is another and
q deeper reason why prize fighting Is likely to
regain some Of the consideration which is en-
joyed fifty years ago The truth is, that the
minds OF men are being carried more and more
eyeTy day towards the subjects which chiefly
interested them when the Ring was supported
by the wealthy and the noble, just as openly
and generally as the race course now is. Amid
the din Of prolonged war, prize fighting reach.
ed its highest, as in the slumber Of profound
peace It sunk to its lowest point There is
much in the modern proceedings of the Ring
which nobody can defend, and much more
which many will dislike; but as soon as it is
generally felt that fighting in sober earnest may
possibly become every m En's highest duty, any
imitation Of actusi battle which call forth cour-
age, skill, and perseverance,, is cer:air to &C.
quire popularity, in spite Of adjuncts which are
coarse and brutal, and such as sensitive natures
shrink from with intense disgust. In a country
where 1t is known thai honor and property are
only safe so long as is citizens are ready to
light in their defence, the nature which loves
fighting for It's own sake will always command
respect A man like Tom Sayers, who left his
business as a bricklayer from more devotion 70
boxing, possesses, we may say, a character
which, in proportion az it prevails among
Englishmen, will make this country feared
abroad and safe at home. We hope and believe
that there are many thousands like him in
strength and spirit, but sticking to THAR bus
mess, whatever it be, steadily, and yet ready
for fight with any one who may think fit to
challenge them, and looking upon the use of
arms, not as disagreaable duty, but as pleas
ant inteIlude in the daily routine of life.
It may surprise some persons, but It is
nevertheless true, that Tom Sayers and the
Beneia Boy furnish at the present moment an
example which deserves to be generally imiS
tsted- For what, let as ask, in the course Of
training which these champions must undergo
at their country quarters during the weeks
which Procede the fghtl The first principle
necessary to be observed is ''to keep the body
in temperance, soberness, and chastity" In
deed the leading rules which guide the Judi
cious trainer might almost all be found in the
New Testament. "To keep under the body,
and bring it into suSjection," )" is precept of
which no one knows the value better than the
successful prize fighter. @ .sl
The maxium, $50 run that ye may obtain"
is frequently forgotten by the candidates for
literary and scientific and forensic emipepce.
but never BY the aspirant to the honor of the
champions belt. The boxer knows that he Is
nothing without training, and accordingly be
trains diligently. But, as the Oracle Of The
Ring puts 1t, "the mass of mankind who In
dulge in excesses Of every kind-in too much
eating, drinking, sleep, slOth, smoking, DC
would go through the task Of life; would dis
charge their respective duties much better, Ear
quicker, sud with vastly greater case to them.
sslues, did they submit to training" We.
helieYe this is iIue Of every one of Hfes duties;
but it is in an eminent degree true Of a duty
which many men have recently undertakenlto to
perfoTm--We mean the duty Of Volunteer rife
men. A great part Of the dOnbtwhieh veteran
officers sntertain as 70 the utility of Volunteers
would oe disipsted if the preeepts laid down
for general training in FjStiana were diligently
acted upon during the next three months. We
should then see bOdies Of active, patient, Vol
unteer soldiers rea " TO bear at least as mach
fatigue as any regiment of the Line, and to
bear it with more cheeFlulness. alt is not de-
manled Of professional men that they should
train rigidlY like the boxer. Their oecupa-
tions would not permit it; but to initiate his
mode Of training as far a. circumstances will
allow The training which is here recon-
mended depends only upon diet end exercise.
A man who had habitually pIsctised il lately
showed himself able, at more than seventy
years Of age, TO walk from London 70 Cantef-
bury ''Depend upon It, says the author Of
FfstiGRa. ''that man had been a TEN 1erste, a
sober, nay, chaste man." .- ...-.-ss
He bids bis readers look FOR their examples TO
the sayages of North America whose lives from
TO old age were long course of
rigid training Those saVages, be sIys, were
ever watchful, ever exercising themselves. -
They commanded their passions. They became
tough aS the ash Of their mountains. They
consumed what nature required, and no moro
And this is the model which the boxer must set
before himself in training, and which should
also be studied by every Engiishman who dsssil
Tres to serve his country with the full eapscityll
which Heaven has given h m. The boxers
mode Of life ought to be so simple aRd natural
it is TO feared that in London only = distsus
imitation oft would be possible. He is to rise
with the sun, and in summer time he ia also TO
60 to be bed with it. His food is to be beef
and mutton, plainly cooked, country made
bread, and very moderate allowance OF gen
uine home breWed beer. npossible, let him
avoid tea and coffee altogether; but if the habit
them cannot be wholly laid aside, he |
must be content TO drink them cold. But be |
will do far better to give them up entirely and
to take to his breakfast water Cruel. AT any
hour Of the day ofnight let no man who seeks
health deny himself Ell potent Cruel" Perhaps
We cannot better convey a notion of the strict
ness of the pTecepts set forth in Fistiaaa than
BY saying that water Cruel is the only luxury
with regard to which the author omits to insist
upon in bis golden rule Of moderatiOn--mod-
sstion--moieration." ss .u
Such, then, are the limits of sensual enjoy
ment prescribed TO the combatants in the inter-
val before the fight. 0fthe active duties Of
boxer in training-oi his walking, running, |
spaTTing with his pFeceptOr, pummeling away
at stuffed saekS. and welding clubs and dumb
bells--it il enough to say, that when the the
day Of battle comes, il is often fell az rsliefl
from the more severe punishment Of the pre-
paratiOn. Many Pugilist has sxulted in his |
escape from his trainers hands into his ad- |
Tsrsary's, just as, in armies WhsEe severe dis
clpline prevails, the astual duties Of q campaion
come to be looked p2en ss sEoEt Of holiday