Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20

cess here. There is another feature that wish
to mention. Those who have been and are try.
ing TO establish the game here have not taken
the best means Of doing so. In advertising
the game they have spent their money and
labor among the "Dloods'' of society, while the
fact remains that the game is one entirely for
the working classes. If ever it is a 'go" in
England, il will be because the working classes
support it. the more wealthy classes win not
This catering to the "bloods" has been q great
mistake, indeed, and it is surprising that
Americans should act so. During the week
have noticed that the leading sporting papers
have ignored the game here, which goes to
show that when, year or two ago, said that
there was great prejudice here against the
game. l was perfectly right. The London
Referee is about the only paper that know
of that took an interest in trying to get
an account of the opening games.
There is another element that will work, and is
working hard, against the introduction of the
game into England. The business people who
deal in sporting goods are watching Spalding
Bros. with a suspicious eye. The Britishers
don't want Spalding here with his great sport
ing goods establishment, and if baseball is a
success he will come. Altogether there are
many elemen at work against the introduction
of the game here.
Sinvin and McAuliGe.
There is quite boom In boxing here Just
now and just as was the case in America a few
years ago money and money only, is the object.
among the Britishers, and it is difficult to tell
what is sound and what is not sound. At the
time of writing there is controversy going on
between Slavin and McAuliffe. The former so
far has been hard to please, and although it
was understood that the two men were to fight
at the Pelican Club, Slavin refused to go
there. claiming that Lord Lonsdale refused to
allow his Slavin's, friends to be present This,
to some extent, may be true, but the correct
statement is that Lonsdale only claimed
the right to refuse the admittance
of ''all Objectionable persons" But
it does seem strange that Slavln
should turn his back on the Pelican Club after
Its members treated him SO handsomely after
his fight with Smith. 1 am persuaded, however,
that this trouble, like many others, has been
caused by the under-current work of opposing
newspapers. There are two daily sporting
papers, and one of them is resorting to any,
thing to get the patronage of brulsers and any
body else IN that line. Doubtless the struggle
TO be stakeholder for the proposed match has
had much to do with the hitch. But
there is every prospect that the two men will
box for So 000 side at the Armonde Club
down Walworth Road. That club has made a
good offer, which has been accepted by both
men, although while am writing no articles
have been signed. A primary condition Is that
the club puts up $500 as a guarantee that Nc
Auliffe will get fair play. 1t, therefore, seems
that the contest will take place.
Last evening Billy Madden stated that Nc
Aulitfe would fight Slavin at any place where
fair play would be guaranteed As to the
probable result of a contest between Slavin
and McAulitfe, am Of opinion, that all being
well, the American will win. The conduct of
the Australian in arranging the present con-
test seems to bear out the statement made
by many authorities here to the effect that he
is not of the game kind. am in position to
say that McAuliffe is better boxer now than
he ever was. and he has had lots of experience
since he met jackson. While this is true, no
doubt, am not going TO say that he is really
hrst-class man until he proves it. He is more
powerful man than Slavin and. from what
can learn, is a better boxer. The general opin-
ion. as have said, is that Slavln is not game
man. If this be true. McAulitfe will certainly
defeat him. At present SIavin is on a tour
throughout the provinces and is doing well.
His great stronghold is his length of reach, but
in McAuliffe he will meet a man with as long
arms as himself. Everything considered, it
seems to me at the time of writing McAuliffe
will be the victor.
Dixon and Wallace.
Long before this is read, DISPATCH readers
will have learned of the result of the Dixon
and Wallace affair. The American won, and
probably we are all content with that result
But to me the contest if such it can be called,
was very funny one, If 1 am permitted to use
that word. There was nothing remarkable
in it save the fact that Wallace who
is credited with being one of the gamest men
ever sent from Birmingham, showed scarcely
about the details of the alleged contest, but l
have few words TO sag about the subsequent
proceedings of the two bantams and their
friends. No sooner was the affair over at the
Pelican Club than they went into the provinces
and commenced an engagement boxing against
each other in the principal cities. Now am
in position to know that these engagements
were made before the Pelican Club affair came
of. This being so, there is any amount of
room for a little figuring Wallace had great
name here, and certainly man who could de-
feat him would be the kind of chap that every
body interested in boxing would like to see.
But if Wallace was defeated on his merits by
Dixon it only shows that the English standard
of boxing among "bantams" is below that in
America, because l hold that Dixon is not the
best man in America at his weight. At any
rate / am inclined TO think that the English
standard is short of the American, because in
the various boxing resorts which / have visited
the performers have been far below what we
see ordinarily in America. THIS is somewhat
surprising, because there are hundreds of
young men studying and practicing the manly
art' nightly. or course the American style
and the English style are very dissimilar, and
each has its good points. The little fellows
however, seem to cling to that old-tashioned
style of low guard, and am of the opinion
that the new style of American boxing is
superior to that
Middle Weight Champious,
Bob Fitzsimmons, the Australian middle
weight champion, has just issued a challenge
here to fight any man in the world at middle
weight. He particularly mentioned the names
OF Wall, Pritchard and ALI Mitchell. The lat
ter has to-day replied to the challenge, and
states that he will fight the Australian for any
substantial purse that may be offered by a
reputable club, and bet of S., 900 on the out
side. Mitchell also adds that If Fitzsimmons
does not want to come to England he. Mitchell,
will take his expenses and fight at California.
Mitchell, l know. means business, and it is
really surprising to me that he should be SO
ready to accept the Australians offer.
Mitchell is considered the worst middle weight
in the list have just mentioned above, and If
the Australian champion cannot defeat him he
may as well return home at once. a man who
cannot defeat Aft Mitchell will have precious
little show against men like Wall, Goode and
and Pritchard, if the latter is in form. 1t is
likely, however. that Mitchell will Journey to
America and meet Fitzsimmons there. The
Englishman has not much backing. and proba-
bly, when s., 600 is put up for him there will be
little more behind him.
garty against Alf Mitchell, but failed. 1t is
useless nowadays TO try and make a match un-
til big purse is offered. because mo purse, no
match" A good purse is the demand of every
not granted no stake money is forthcoming.
Well, think that a man like Fogarty would
have good thing against Mitchell If a substan-
tial purse were offered for them to fight for.
If Mitchell gets to America expect to see him
meet more men than Fitzsimmons. even though
the latter may defeat Mitchell. The latter IN
sIsts in calling himself the English champion,
and that reminds me that England is as full of
champions as America
The Pedestrians.
A few days ago 1 had tour among the
pedestrians, that is the sprinters and distance
runners, in the North of England. There is