The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-01-19
peter JACK SON

The consensus of opinion among the most
well informed sporting men in New York
seems to be that Jackson in the language of
the ring, wouldn't be in it if Sullivan was
lit" These are the sentiments of Charles
Calvin, E. F. Mallahan, Arthur T. Lumley,
Billy Edwards and W. E. Harding 1t is
thought by some of these gentlemen that
Jackson is not London prize ring fighter.
All of his battles have been fought according
to Marquis of JQueensberry rules, and, as q
rule, with gloves. He is regarded to be
like nearly all the other negro pugilists-lack-
ing in heart, which is only synonym for
courage On account of his phenomenal
length of reach-his fingers touching his
knees when he stands erect-he has been able
TO keep all of his antagonists SO far at arms
length. But should he get up against man
who is able to break down his guard and get
few pile driving blows in on his stomach,
it is thought that Mr.. Jackson would fall
forcibly into the pugilistic soup The truth
of these sentiments, however, is yet to be
demonstrated. 1t certainly would surprise
the sporting world if the greatest fighter of
modern times should be overthrown by a
negro.
The talk of pitting the American against
the African suggests talk of the negro prize
fighters who have attained to eminence in
the history of fsticutfs. In the whole range
of fighting with the fists, there were only
three negroes who can be truly said to have
been worthy of classification with the kings
of the turf. These were Thomas Molineux,
Robert Smith and Bob Travers,n whose real
name was Charles Jones. All of these were
American, who on account of naturally row
ino Il ic,Nnc in IT,,
first to make marked impression upon the
bodies of contemporaneous bruisers was Mo.
lineux. He was heavyweight of herculean
build and pronounced ugliness. 1t is said of
him that his body was q marvel of physical
perfection, and that his bust was pet model
for statuary. His battles extended over a
period of ten years, including 1905 and 1913.
His most notable fights were with Tom Crib,
then champion of England.
The opinion has often been expressed that
MolineuX would have won the first of these
two battles were it not for the fact that when
Crib was in an exhausted condition the fight
was stopped to give some one an opportunity
TO bet a 60 note OH the result. Molineux,s
last battle was fought with George Cooper at
Galway, Ireland, when he was defeated, and
retired from the ring. He fought eight nota-
bic battles, winning five In the latter years
of his life he strolled about England teaching
boxing. In these expeditions he attracted a
good deal of attention on account of the ex-
travagance of his dress. 1t was his habit to
drive into country town with chaise and
four horses, attracting universal attention.
His immortality and love of liquor rapidly
robbed him of his strength, and for a long
time previous to his death he was walking
skeleton.
There was scarcity of prominent negro
pugilists from the time of Molineu1s death
until the year 1868, when Bob Smith, a mi;,-
die weight, rose above the pugilistic horizop
He was born in Washington, D. C. He met
men of the mettle of George Crockett, Bill
Hayes, Bos Tyler, Bob Brettle, Jem Mace,
Harry and Tom, Allen. The latter ne defeat
ed while fighting with bare feet.
About eight years previous to the time ot
Smiths popularity, bob Travers," es'
Charles Jones. He weighed about 1876 pounds
attracted good deal OF attention in Eng
land on account of his skill, and fought some
twenty battles He was defeated several
times, notably by Jem Mace. It is admitted
by prize ring historians that Travers might
have won the championship of the world,
Ouo AO iN>hCo 1IdNeIS Is Aulll living
in England at an advanced age In the opin-
ion of some good authorities, he was the best
negro pugilist who ever fought on English
soil.
The last, and the one who promises to rank
in history with the immortal Molineux, is
Peter Jackson. He is native of the West
Indies, and was born in 1861. In fighting
trim be Wei9hs about 200 pounds. He stands