Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-17

had they fought against each other in their
prime. O'Baldwin was q remarkable man,
and the cleverest big man have ever seen.
After Mace and Coburn fought their fake
near New Orleans Mace went to New York
and challenged o Baldwin to fight for big
stake, and put up forfeit of $500. .O'Bald-
win was only given nine. days to cover the
money. I wired for Ned to come to Pitts
burg and he came, and what a sight he
was. His pants were about six inches
too short, the bottom of his vest was
about four inches above the top of his pants
and his arms nearly foot through his coat
sleeves. Well, asked him about fighting
Mace and he was delighted. We soon got
the $500 and forwarded it to New York,
much to the surprise of Mace. But Mace
knew he had no chance at all against O'Bald-
win and that's all there was Of it. O'Bald-
win and Wormald were matched, and while
hold that Wormald would have beaten
Sullivan in prize ring, O'Baldwin would
certainly have defeated Wormald if the
battle had gone on. A year or so before
Joe Coburn died met him in New York
and we talked The old-time affairs over He
boxed with both Wormald and O'Baldwin
and asked him his opinion about them. I
remarked that we were getting old and that
both Wormald and O'Baldwin were dead.
He replied very earnestly: fO'Baldwin
was the best man I ever knew. I couldn't
have stood three rounds against Ned in a
fair fight That's nay opinion of him." This
opinion, coming as it does from such au-
thority as Coburn and the friend referred to,
cannot but be interesting to those interested
in prize ring matters.
The Approaching Big Battle.
Interest is still increasing in the jackson
and Corbett fight, and as the day of contest
approaches the rumors regarding the men
become more numerous. Corbett's friends
and admirers cannot fail to admire his great
confidence regarding the result. Here is
what he says about the affair to friend:
'It appears to be the general impression in
the East that Peter jackson is certain to
defeat me when we meet in the California
Athletic Club to fight for $4,000. jackson
may be able to knock me out or render me
unable to continue the contest, but every
body, friends or foes (and 1 do not think I
have many of the latter), may rest assured
that / shall do just as much hard hitting,
and display just as good generalship as
jackson.
81 never saw a boaster, believing. in deeds
and not words, but you can chronicle that
Jackson will have to fight harder and longer
than he ever did before to defeat me-
'T look upon jackson as one of the lead
ing heavyweight pugilists of the times, and
will allow that am only a novice compared
with him, for he has been fighting longer
and travelled further than I have done.
jackson has defeated George Goodfrey, Joe
Patsy Cardiff and Jem Smith,
and fought a draw with the Australian
champion, Joe Goddard. Probably I could
have accomplished the same feat had oppor-
tunity offered. Should I defeat jackson,
you can rest assured I shall consider that
have mortgage on the championship belt,
which Frank P. Slavin holds, and will be
only too ready to represent America as the
champion, it being my native country,
against Slavin or any other man disputing
the heavyweight championship of the
world"
Pugflistic Affairs in General.
Another rumor is in circulation regard
ing John L. Sullivan. This one is to the ef-
feet that the one stating he had resolved to
retire from the ring was incorrect. 1t is now
stated that Sullivan will not leave the ring
entirely, bnt will be prepared to fight as
soon as his show engagements are over.
This is as little as he and his friends could
say, in view Of the fact that they intend to
visit Australia. 1t would be great loss to
Sullivan to visit Australia as the retired
champion. 1t would certainly be more
profitable for him to go there as the imam
to fight anybody on earth" This
would have drawing effect and no mis-
take. I suppose this will be the programme,
and it will pay. But don't believe that
Sullivan will ever fight again, and he would
be foolish to do so. The example of Dempsy
10 ha H. IL
a point that gave him all the glory he
wanted, or oughtto have wanted He could
then have retired from the business an un-
of value to him in business. But he didn't
do this, and went and suffered two
defeats. Away went his glory and
prestige, and to-day his name is
never mentioned. This defeat buried him
entirely. Well, Sullivan runs the same
risk as he is just as likely to be defeated as
was Dempsey.
There has been nothing of Importance
said during the weeks regarding the Hall
and Fitzsimmons affair. Indeed, I have
scarcely seen the affair noted at all. At
one or two places Hall has been saying
what he will do with Fitz, and suppose |
that the latter, in another part of the coun- |
try has been telling what he will do with |
Hall. 1t still remains to be proven to my |
that they are going to fight for |
a purse of S12, ,000
Slavin and Kilrain are training for their |
Knockout contest, although both men are
keeping a little quiet, the general opinion
among the Eastern talent is that Slavin |
should knock Kilrain out in six rounds if |
he wants to. Muldoon and Cleary have |
Kilrain in charge. 1t must not be forgot |
ten that Kilrain is to have quite nice sum |
Of money even if he loses Isn't it interest |
ing to note how the fortunes of the prize
ring vary. Not very long ago thousands of |
people deemed Kilrain Sullivan's superior. |
To have said then that anybody would |
Knock Kilrain out in five or six rounds |
would almost have been pugilistic treason.
And now here we are with a man whom |
good Judges think can knock Kilrain out in |
/ very short time. This goes to show that
Kilrain has been living in the past on a
reputation that was false.
There is nothing new among the light
weights and feather-weights except that
Larkins very decisively defeated Hagen, of
last Monday night. Garkins
s a good man and he defeated another good
me when he beat Hagen. PRINGLE.