Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24
THE $. Huh ,, HITTER.
Various Opinions ON Sullivan and HIS
Rights to the Championship.

Various Opinions ON Sullivan and HIS
Rights to the Championship.
WHAT BASE BALL DID FOR HIN.
When the prize ring was in It's palmiest days
Tom Sayers was looked upon as the prince of
heavyweight fighters IN the world, and men In
both hemispheres thought twice before they
challenged him. Tom had plenty to do to MAIN
tain his title of champion. Hippodroming was
unheard OF, and men fought on their merits.
As an old sporting man said to New York Star
reporter few days ago:
Things are not as they used to be in the
halcyon days ofthe prize ring. when men thought
1t an honor to be enrolled among its members,
ana fought like gladiators to earn o name. In
those days, If man made the offer that
Sullivan does to fight any man with gloves,
letting his antagonist work with bare hands,
on the ground that he would not leave himself
liable to arrest, he would not only be
laughed at, but hooted out Of the circle. It is
disheartening, to say the least Of it, to see this
man travelling on his untried and proved muscle,
with such braggadocio. tell you this man Sui
Ivan is bound to fall. 1t is impossible that he
can long float around on his proves, which,
after all, Is nothing compared with the fights of
long ago. Sooner than he expects an unknown
will jump up and knock him all to pieces. The
general impression is that he has no science at
al, and depends mainly on his brute force. If
Mr.. John L. Sullivan lays claim to the title of
heavyweight champion Of the United States he
lays himself open to challenge from any man,
even be it Tom Thumb, and If he does not re-
spond he fOrfeits that title. What right has
Sullivan to choose referee and stakeholder
Wnen ne offers to light any one, no matter under
what rules! Doesn't he know that since the
inception OF the prize-ring the custom has been
fSl fnoa for oh
the thing settled amicablY on both sides2'
II take no great stock in the proposition to
bring over Tug Wilson from England" said
well.known prize-ring supporter. SIT is all
humbug. A middIe-weight boxer has no more
chance with Sullivan than would have"
Wilson over?"
"Oh, pshaw! It's all an advertisement. You
know that l have not the kindlest feelings
towards Sullivan, yet believe in giving the
devil his dues. l don't know of man to-day
that can face Sullivan on a stage and stand up
before him for four rounds, Marquis of Queens
bury rules"
But ksupDose he was challenged to fight
according to the rules Of the London prize
rin 49,.
world. FOR then man could worry Sullivan. and,
If he had any science at all, prolong the fight.
Prixe.fghters prefer to fight in a twenty-four-
foot ring on the turf"
''Then there must be vast difference between
the Marquis Of Queensbury and London prize
ring rules2"
"Well, should say so; and Sullivan or those
who are coaching him know that, and take adj
vantage OF it, You must understand that it re-
quires man Of great grit and nerve to
stand up before man like Sullivan according
to Marquis OF Queensbury rules, for this reason:
!ou cant cllnch with man, and knock down
does not finish round as in the London prize
ring. The rule is three minutes to q round
and you have got to fight all the time, hammer
and tongs. In fact there is not much need
OF science and the only sure way to knock a
man out is to smash or slug him from the
WORD go: II a man gets knocked down he can
not 60 to his corner, for he's got to fight it
out until time is called. According to the
London prize ring, a man can get away from
his man and go down as often as possible,
and get time called. But on a stage, with
the Marquis of Queensbury rules, I don't know
Ivan, and know what am talking about, for
l have had few bouts with Mr.. Sullivan and
any man who has not had that pleasure had bet
ter take care. Now. am not heavy man, as
you see; but have the reputation of at least
knowing something about fighting, and Sull-
van handled me pretty roughly. To give you
some idea of the mans strength, he did to me
what no fighter ever did: he Knocked me clean
on my knees three times with q down blow on
the shoulders. His down cuts are something
terrific. state this 80 that you can understand
that the most powerful and hard-hitting man
has all the advantage With the London prize
ring rules matters. as have already explained
the advantages OF the pugilist, are more equal
lied"
81 understand that Sullivan has positively
made up his mind not to enter the ring again.
under any circumstances; I mean to engage
sible p"
Certainly il, Is, and think that Sullivan is
perfectly right IN his determination You see
there is no reason for his doing So He can earn
great deal more money by giving sparring ex-
hibitlons than he can in the ring There is not
hall or garden in New York or any other city
large enough to accommodate Sullivan's fol-
lovers I In case any thing like good man is pit
What chance would Jim Elliott have against
'Elliott is the only man know of that would
have ghost Of chance with Sullivan. He is
great deal quicker, and can strike much
harder than Sullivan can and, besides. his
blows are of more cutting and Furnishing char
acter."
''What about the disparity in their ages?"
That amounts to great deal Sullivan is
much younger, and at present is elated over his
great success But you must remember that
ne has never been compelled to stand up for any
time against ANYTHING like severe punishment
He might fight five or six hard rounds, but after
that no one can tell what he would do Fight
ing In the prize ring, like everything else, has
It's peculiarities, and the chances are if Sullivan
came in contact with strong, quick man. who
gave him more than he bargained for, he might
lose his head, and that would be the end OF him.
It is well established that some of the very best
fighters have lost fight purely through losing
their temper"
"Do understand you to say that Jim Elliott
would have no chance to stand up before Sulli-
rules? ?"
ITO tell you the truth, would rather not see
Jim do it; but If Elliott fights Sullivan at all,
according to the Marquis Of Queensbury rules,
he should meet him in q ring on the earth. and
not on a stage. There, at least, he would have
great deal in his favor, for he knows every inch
Of twenty -four foot ring from experience and
Sullivan does not. / do not want to interfere,
but my advice would be to Elliott not to attempt
it,"
"a good deal has been said about EIliott's
eyes failing him. Is there any truth in it2n