The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-30


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JOHN L. SULLIVAN.
UNDER THE LONDON PRIZE RING RULES.
This fight will differ materially from tho
majority of those which have taken place in
America in the last eight years, rs it will be
conducted under what are known IS 1.-THE
latest rules of the London prize ring" These
require that a roped Enclosure, technically
known as 1.-The ring" shall be pitched on
turf, that the men shall fight with bare fists,
that they shall be naked from the waist up,
that no blow shall be struck below 1.-THE beltn
encircling the waist, and that tripping and
wrestling is permitted, but neither antagonist
shall take hold of the other below the line of
the belt.
Each round lasts until one of the contest
ants is knocked down or is thrown to the
ground, or both fall together in a clinch.
IN that event they are given rest of thirty
seconds, and at the end of them "timen is
called and the man failing to respond to it at
the expiration of eight seconds is adjudged
the loser by the referee This official is joint
y chosen by the men or their representatives,
and has full control of the pugilists, under
the rules, from the time they begin to fight
until a decision is reached, and from his due
tum there is no appeal.
OFFICIALS OF TIE RING.
Besides the referee who is the judge of the
battle, there are timekeepers who stand to-
gether and keep the time of the battle. 1t is
very important that these men act honestly
and fairly, for often in critical times few
seconds added to mans resting time does
wonders in restoring him when out of breath
or shocked by a blow. Consequently each
man appoints timekeeper, and each of these
watchers is a check on the other. Each man
also has an umpire whose duty is to look out
for his principal and see that his opponent
does not foul him in any manner, in which
event he Immediately appeals to the referee
and calls his attention to the matter
Each man has two seconds and often other
attendants. The seconds groom him for the
fight, pick him up and carry him to his cor
ner if he is knocked or thrown down, and
carefully attend to his injuries if he has re-
ceived any. In the resting spells between the
rounds they refresh him by sponge baths and
by tanning him, and, il short, by every
means in their power endeavor to keep him
as strong as possible. They also watch the
fight closely, and advise him from time to
time how best to avoid injury at the hands of
his antagonist, and TO inf1ict the most upon
him.
SQUARE RING"
= The ring" in which the men contend is
made by driving eight stakes or posts into
the ground in such a manner that when en-
twined with inch ropes they form a square
Enclosure twenty-four feet each way. The
top rope is about feet inches and the bot
tom one about feet from the ground. The
men toss coin for choice of corners, and the
winner generally takes the one which will
cause the sun to shine in his opponents eyes
while he is fighting, as he is in duty bound to
take the one diagonally opposite him. A
short straight line is drawn in the center of
the ring, which is called the scratch, and
at the end of time" after each round, the
men are required to toe this line, or rather to
advance as near it as circumstances will per-
INIT
This method of fighting differs materially
from the one now commonly used in English
and American contests, which are mostly
fought under a modification of the rules of
the Marquis of Queensberry, an English no.
bleman of sporting proclivities His rules |
forbid wrestling or hugging and prescribe |
that the men shall wear boxing gloves on !
their hands Each round lasts three min |
utes and no longer, and there is a full minute |
rest between each round If a man falls or
is knocked down, he is given ten seconds in |
which to regain his feet and guard, and if he |
does not respond to the call of time then he .
is the loser. In this country most fights IN
der Queensberry rules are for stated num-
Der of rounds Contests under the London .
rules are always to q finish, though some
times through mutual agreement the men |
agree to make the contest drawn battle.
1.-THE STRONG BOY OF THE HIGHLANDS"
John L. Sullivan is probably the most IA
nous pugilist that ever lived. He was born
of Irish parents on the Highlands of Boston
about thirty years ago. Hisfather is a small
man, not above five feet five inches tall, and
never weighed above $50 pounds in his life.
His mother is a very large, powerful woman,
and 1t is by the maternal side that he inher-
Its his great physical powers. He is not
tall man, being less than five feet ten inches
high, but he possesses most powerful frame,
and his ordinary weight when not trained is
about 235 pounds His face is rather spare
tof flesh, but his jaws are wonder
fully square and resolute His arms are
not unusually large for an athlete,
but the muscles of his shoulders and back are
phenomenal in their greatness. They enable
him to propel MS fists with tremendous power
and force. Sullivan began his fistio career
In his native Boston, and was at first known
as ''The Strong Boy of the Highlands he
first attained national reputation by nearly
knocking Joe Co.'S insensible by blow in
boxing bout in theatre. Co.'S had twice
fought for the championship Of England with
Jem Mace, the cleverest boxer that England
ever produced, and afterwards twice fought
for the championship of America. he was
defeated for this title by Paddy Ryan, and
then match was made between Ryan and
Sullivan for the title and s., 500 side. This
fight took place at Mississippi City on the 9th
Of February, 1882, and was won by Sullivan
1Io