Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23

was thoroughly beaten, and probably nobody
was more surprised at the events than Kessler
himself. Since the affair, have read many
foolish things which have been said about La
Blanche. say foolish. because the contest and
its result does not at all prove than Kessler is
ANYTHING like better man than La Blanche.
1t does prove. however, that what has often
been said in this paper is true-that is, that La
Blanche was living in a way that would soon
settle him, just as many better men than La
Blanche have been settled. But there
about La Blanche's defeat. He was
simply caught mapping" Although in no con-
dition for fistic encounter he felt certain that
ly unknown man, Kessler. He was deceived.
kessler's wind lasted and La Blanche's didn't.
That's all there was in it as far as nave been
able to learn. Why, the best middle-weight, in
my estimation, who ever llv ed-Tom Belcher-
suffered his only defeat under conditions slmi-
lar to those that brought about La blanches
mistake. Belcher went and fought Dutch eam
when he (Belcher) knew he was not In any
thing like good condition. But he thought ne
was good enough to defeat the little Hebrew
and he was mistaken. However, La Blanche is
in position now that forces him to insist on a
contest with Kessler. The latter may be good
man. know very little about him.
Rs
Pugilism in General.
Finally we have been definitely Informed
that Jack Dempsey and Bob F1tzsimmons have
signed articles to fight at New Orleans next
January. Should they fight, I'm certain that
we all hope they will be in their best form.
There will be some uncertainty about FitZ-
simmons until he weighs In. If all reports are
true. Many people who profess to know him
well state that he will have difficulty in getting
down to l5S pounds and Dempsey declares that
he will not fight him if he is an ounce
over 154 pounds. 1t may, therefore,
be that by getting down to l54 pounds
Ettzsimmons may impair his strength.
However, he has some shrewd men behind him,
and they ought to know how things are going
Austin Gibbons has been making considerable
noise during the last few days regarding his
ability to knock out almost anybody his weight
except Jack McAuliffe. He seems to have
that feel disposed to say at present on this
point is that Gibbons had better let Myer
alone. 1 don't mean that the Streator pugilist
is an extraordinary man. He is not; but
mean that Gibbons is aspiring too high. and he
may find out that he is not as good as he
who was defeated by Overton not long ago.
The recent decision in the test case of the Cali
fornia Athletic Club means that we may ex-
pect great boom in boxing contests in the Far
West during the winter. There will be re-
newed vigor in the boxing business, because
than ever as far as the law is concerned. There
will now be opportunity to test the merits of
several 'stars" who have been talking SO much
fight lately. There will be opportunity TO test
their respective merits as far as the particular
form of club fighting permits Slavin evidently
desires to be out of it, and considering that
Corbett recently declared his anxiety to meet
him l see no reason why Corbett should not
be given an opportunity to face Jack
son. We are still without anything like
a correct measure of the Australians as COM
pared with our best heavy-weights. McAuliffe