Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-09
IT'S NOT FIRST CLASS
The ,Sullivan-Kilrain Fight
Examined by Pringle.
A FEW WISE PREDICTIONS.
Jake Did Not Thoroughly Master His
Mentors Tactics. -
COMPARED WITH OLDEN FIGHTS
The Battle of Yesterday Made But Poor
Showing.
A FEW WISE PREDICTIONS.
COMPARED WITH OLDEN FIGHT
THE DECADENCE OF THE PRIZE RING

One of the most popular prize fights, and
one of the most disappointing that ever took
place since the days of Figg took place yes
terday. Few people who know anything
at all about prize fights will for a moment
hesitate to question the popularity of any,
thing of the kind if it is on a national scale.
After all, there is pluck, as Lord Talverton
said, in a man who will stand in front of
another under even circumstances and be
beaten by weapons that nature only gave. A
sentiment similar TO this was expressed in the
British House OF Commons when such a brave
man as John Gully, then a member OF the
House of Commons and an ex-champion of
pugilistic circles, was assaile6 as coward. 1t
is not too much to say that no man Is coward
who faces another in A-foot ring on the turf.
However that may be, or whether 1t is moral or
otherwise, Sullivan and Kilrain fought yester-
/. Gay and the latter was beaten. He was, TO his
credit beaten like man.
The details of the fight will show in general
that the readers Of this paper have not been
mIsled as to the result. The fight
ranged amid bluff and bluster and the result of
it has probably surprised everybody concerned
Or Sunday said that Sullivan would likely
win. To make sure of what / really did say
snd to have some sort of credit for predictions
that now and again appear in The DISPATCH,
reproduce statement that made on Sun
day, and here's what sand:
merely say that l would sooner back Sulli-
van than Kilrain, but / would certainly not
bet two to one on Sullivan. But il is
hard to understand how Sullivan did not learn
something in his Mitchell fight. If he is not
wiser and a better ring tactician now than he
was then he had better wash his hands of ring
fighting. / believe he will display more knowl-
edge on Monday. if the fight takes place. 1t is
these two points then that lead me to favor
Sullivan's chances more than those of kilrain,
rfrr1 III
bined with better knowledge of the ring than
when he met Mitchell
Now what 1 want to say as to our prediction
of the result is read that's we sald on Sunday.
The fight will not go on record as one of the
most glorious. shall have more to say about
it in a comparative sense on Sunday. What 1
say now is that all reports go to prove that it
was not one of the best. The fight as a scien-
tidc affair cannot rank with that of Savers and
Heenan, indeed it was not third-class COM
pared to that encounter. Kilrain. as has always
been stated in this paper, is not good second
class man. He tried to follow out the tactics
of second grade fighter, Mitchell,
and was beaten. Mitchelrs tactics
against Sullivan in France would
men like Mace. Goss, in his Young days' or
even as big and slow man as j. c. Heenan.
Mitchell wasundoubtedly little enamored of
himself and his tactics when he made a draw
with Sullivan in France. He has labored hard
TO imbue the same knowledge of ring tactics to
kllraln that he himself has, but kirain is not
Mitchell after all. Yesterdays fight, according
TO the very excellent report that appears in
this paper. sho as that kilrain has learned one
thing only. He can keep out OF the way, but
cannot injure an opponent by doing so. Keep
ing out OF the way is the first principle of a
battle, but keeping out of the way must not
mean and never did mean to go near a man or
Al opponent that one wanted to down.
-
Mace kept away from an opponent but only
a very short time. He always edged away
toward an opponents left until an opportunity
came to strike, and he hit with effect against
bigger men than Sullivan. Kilrain hadn't these
tactics, and we must come tothe conclusion that
boxing on the turf is not good it used TO be-
Time and time again have said that Kilrain
was not a second class man as a fighter and 1
now say that Sullivan is not in the front rank
! never heard Of a first class man, that is ring
lighters, saying: come up to me-" A good
man goes to his foe and corners him. A man
of Sullivans strength and his reputed skill
ought to settle q man at any point or any stage
of legitimate fight. Altogether, yesterdays
fight does not at all teach us or in any way show
that the principals know as much about prize
ring fighting as did our brave old country1nan
Jack Heenan. Heenan was never in the ring
half day. PRINGLF