Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-29
Gnal Ou.
THE GREAT FIGHT.

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be known, even in circles where sporting news
papers are never seen, that the fight between
Tom Sayers and Heenan, called the Benicia
Boy, Is to take place on the day nimed; and
il is evident to every one who observes what
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-fghting is to be found, we think,
in various circumstances. Is the first place, the
international character which has been ascrib-
ed to the approaching contest gives to it an i'm.
portance which an ordinary match between
two Englishmen arranged perhaps for the
benefit Of few sporting publcans, could not
claim. We are by no means sure that this
match has not attained its world wide fame
contrary to the intention Of the parties princis
pally concerned. Il is Of course the business
Of Tom Sayers, as Champion Of England, to
answer all worthy challengers, but We believe
that his opponent rather declines the honor
which has been thrust upon him Of represent
! ing the pugilism Of America. He is reported
to have said that he has come to England to
! fight Tom Sayers, because be wishes to fight
him, and for no other reason. Nevertheless,
the public appears to be determined to look
upon the Benicia Boy as the champion Of the
! Upited States, and to treat the issue Of this
fight as . matter Of national importance.
But it seems 70 Us that there is another and
a deeper reason why prize fighting is likely to
regain some of the consideration which Il en-.
| Iioyed fifty years ago. The truth is, that the
minds Of men are being carried more and more
every 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 feltthat fighting in sober earnest may
possibly become every m ms highest duty, any
imitation of actual battle which call forth cour-
age, skill, and perseverance, is certain to se-
quire popularity, in spite Of adjuncts which are
coarse and brutal and aueh as sensitive natures
shrink from with intense disgust. In country
where it is known thai honor and property are
only safe so long as i.s citizens are ready TO
! fight in their defence, the nature which loves
| fighting for its own sake will always command
respect A man like Tom Ssyers, who left his
business as brieklayer from more devotion to
boxing, possesses, We may say, a character
which, in proportion as 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
iness, whatever il be, steadily, and yet ready
for fight with any one who may think ct 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 soIae persons, but it is
nevertheless true, that Tom SayeTs and the
Bencia Boy furnish at the present moment an
example which deserves to be generally imi>
tated. i, For what, let us ask, in the course Of
training which these champions must undergo
at their country quarters during the weeks
which procede the fghtl The fret principle
necessary to be observed is "to keep the body
in temperance, sobernesF, and chastity" In
deed the leading rules which guide the iudi
cious trainer might almost all be found in the
New Testament "To keep under the body,
aud bring it into su6jection," is a preeept Of
which no one knows the value better than the
successful Priye fighter,
The maTium $50 run that ye may obtain"
is frequently forgotten by the candidates for
literary and scientific and forensic eminence,
but never by the aspirant to the honor of the
champions belt. The boxer knows that be is
nothing without training, and accordingly he
trains diligently. But, as the Oracle Of The
Ring puts it, ''the macs Of mankind who in
dulge in exeesses Of every kind-in too much
eating, drinking, sleep, sloth, smoking, &c
would 90 through the task of life, would dis
charge their respective duties much better, far
quicker, aud with vastly greater case to them
selues, did they submit to training" We
believe this is true of every one of lies duties;
but it is ip an eminent degree true Of duty
which many men have recently undertaken to
perform-we mean the duty Of Volunteer rifle
men. A great part Of the doubt which veteran
officers entertain as to the utility Of Volunteers
would De diSiPatsd if the pFecepts Ia id down
for general training in FiStiGna were diligently
acted upon during the next three months We
should then see bedies Of active, patient, Vol
unteer soldiers res ly to bear at least as much
fatigue as any regiment of the Line, and to
bear it with more cheerfulness. at 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 as circumstances will
allow" The training which is here recon-
meDded depends only upon diet and exercise.
A man who had habitually practised it lately
showed himself able, ct more than seventy
years Of age, to walk from London to CanteT-
bury. depend upon it, says the author of
FiStiGna "that man had been tem2erate, a
sober, nay, chasts man."
He bids his readers look for their examples to
the savages Of North America whose lives from
childhood to old age were 5 long course of
rigid training Those savages, be says, were
ever wstchful, ever exercising themselves.-
They commanded their passions. They became
tough ss the ash of their mountains. They
consumed what nature required, and no more.
And this is the model which the boxer must set
before himself in training, and which should
also be studied by every Englishmsn who des-
Tres to serve bis country with the full capacity
which Heaven has given b m. The boxer
mode of life ought to be 90 simple and natural
it is to feared that in London only distant
imitation of Il would be possible. He is to rise
with the sun, and in summer time be il also to
90 to be bed with It. His food is to be beef
and mutten, plainly cooked, country made
bread, and very moderate allowance Of gen.
uine home breWed bser. If possible, let him
svoid tea and coffee altogether; but if the habit
oftaking them cannot be wholly laid sSide, he
must be content TO drink them cold, But be
will do far better 10 give them up entirely and
to take to his breakfast water Cruel. "At any
hour of the day of mig ght let no man who seeks
health deny himself all potent Cruel. Perhaps
We cannot better convey q notion Of the strict.
ness of the precepts set forth in FistiGRa than
| by saying that water Cruel is the only luxury
with regard to which the author omits to insist
upon in his golden rule of "mOderatiOn-mo d.
reation-modeTsdon.
Such, then, are the limits Of sensual enjoy
ment prescribed to the combatants in the inter-
val before the fight. Of the active duties of
boxer in training-of his walking, running,
sparring with his preceptoT, pummelling away
at stuffed sacks. and WELDING clubs and dumb
bells-it is enough to say, that when the the
day of battle comes, it ia often fell as a relief
! from the more severe punishment Of the pre-
paration. Many Pugilist has exulted in his
escape from his trainers hands into his ad-
versary's, Just as, in armies where q severe dis
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