Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05
Is Dixon an extraordinary man at his weight?
l have failed to find any proof of this in his
record, even taking in his last success.
nivop,s Career

Is Dixon an extraordinary man at his weight
have failed to find any proof of this in his
record, even taking in his last success.
Dixon's Career.
Mark, 1 am not contepding that Dixon Is not
a good man for his ounces but have yet to
learn that he is extraordinary. his career does
not show that he is wonder, because he has
had some remarkably tame encounters His
first contest with Mccarthy was one he
fought a very long time with only one
hand and then managed to secure q draw.
No matter how we look at this battle we
don't find any glory in IL for Dixon. His con-
test with Wallace in England was burlesque,
and there was nothing above the extraordinary
in his late fight with Murphy. will no doubt
be asked why did he defeat Mccarthy so easily.
In answering this. there are two facts to bear
in mind. One is that since Dixon fought Nc
Carthy the first time he has been improving,
and the other is that Mccarthy has been de-
teriorating. There is no doubt in my mind on
this point. M cCarthy is vastly inferior to-day
compared with what he was when he first met
Dixon. and had he not met with an accident on
that occasion, he would have won. Well, l
have never held Mccarthy up as wonder, and
fail to see any more reason for terming Dixon
one than in the case of Mccarthy. The former
is a useful and plucky little glove fighter.
What he would be in a 24-foot ring with natures
weapons only don't know.
The Middle-Weight Championship.
1t is not unlikely that during the next few
days we will have lots to talk about regarding
the middle-weight championship. Some time
ago pointed out in this column that as soon as
Fitzsimmons arrived in this city he would be
definitely challenged to fight for the middle.
weight championship Of the world. either un-
der prize ring rules or under Queensberry
rules. The man who will challenge him is Ed
Smith, of Denver, now in this city, and the
challenge am told, will be so liberal that it
will be difficult for the Australian to decline it.
Smiths challenge is to be to the following eff
feet: He will fight Fitzsimmons to finish with
gloves or bare fists, under any rules, for 81 900
side and any purse that may be offered by any
club. A challenge of this kind has the ring Of
business and fair play about it; in it can beseen
the desire to fight for glory as much as can be
seen the desire to fight for money. Time and
time again have argued that as soon as a lat
ter-day pugilist gains victory and lays hold of
something called a championship title, that
man carefully avoids all known good fighters
This has been the custom for years. and
whether it is the custom in other countries or
not don't know. but it is a fact that as soon rs
pugilists come here from other countries they
fall in line here. l say it as fact, not through
any disrespect that while our champions, real
or alleged, have all kinds of excuses to offer
against meeting hrst-class men, or men thought
to be good they without hesitation undertake
to meet any recognized and bona fide ''duffer."
am not at all inSinuating that FItZsimmons
will decline to make match with Smith, but
am pointing out what has heretofore been the
custom.
Ed Smiths Claims.
30 far it has been the objections of Fitxsim-
mons and others that the man who challenged
them had no record and was without reputa-
tion. OF course later pugilism has come to a
stage where there is more or less force in this
reputation idea Pugiism, or our alleged
pugilism, is now almost entirely business,
chiefly show business and we all know what
that means in the way of getting attractions.
But Ed Smith has had much buster career as
pugllist and much more pugilistic one than
FltZSimmons. Smith has fought his way up
under many difficulties, and despite the fact OF
his recent defeat by Godfrey, I am inclined to
think that he will win his next battle, 10 mat
ter whom he fights. Smiths record is one
grumble very much. And Smith will pied ge
himself to fight at l54 pounds or at l5S pounds.
just as FitZsimmons requires. Smith is only a
middle-weight and has never, as far as know,
in this country been within % pounds OF
his weight when in q contest. Why. ne
than he is now. Well, 1 trust that
if Smiths challenge is issued in proper form
that Fitzsimmons or Hall will respond to ii
like men who wish to do business. am not
one who believes that Fitzsimmons will abso-
lutely decline to meet any mlddle-weight, but
it may be that he will try to defer the meet
ing of good man as long as possible. He may
urge his expectation of meeting Pritchard as 4
plea for delay in the SuIith matter. but
Pritchard will not meet Jem Smith until next
August, and surely Fitzsimmons will not be
disposed to wait that long. But if Fitzsim.
mons will fight Ed Smith and the latter wins
he will fight Pritchard for all the money de.
sired. In word, then, FItzsimmons canRo.
reasonably decline to make match with Ed
Smith for the middle-weight championship
without forfetting his claim to the title. II