Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-12

worked scheme on the police and brought
off the battle sooner than the announced
time. could well understand that, but for
the life of me 1 couldn't understand how
Pritchard could knock Smith out in four
rounds in battle under London prize ring
rules. This was too much for me to swal-
low, and 1 came to this conclusion: eff
that report is true the fight was fraud; but
/ don't think it took place" That wasn't
probably very terrible conclusion to come
10, but it was the opinion that struck me on
the impulse Of the moment Well, the fight
did not take place, and according to the
original agreement it will not take place
until next August. But now that the
matter has been introduced, we may as well
have a little talk about it, as nothing
of more Importance is on the board. Were
I betting man with lots of money
/ would bet 100 to / quite a number of
times that Pritchard will not knock Smith
out in four rounds under prize ring rules,
providing, of course, Smith don't want to
be knocked out. 1t is, indeed, gentle read
er, very difficult thing for one man to
knock another out in four rounds under
prize ring rules, and if Smith desired to
stay, feel sure that no man in the world
could knock him out in four rounds under
the rules named. Certainly, it is possible,
but il is not likely to happen. But / don't
think that Pritchard will knock Smith out,
in "A rounds, and, to be plain, / don't think
he will knock him out at all. True,
Pritchard is vigorous, active and pluckv
little fellow, but if everything is right, L
fail TO see how he is going to Outright
Smith in prize ring battle. Most assuredly
I am writing about this matter under
great disadvantage, because we have nothing
definite regarding the conditions of the men
nor of the transactions that may be going on
regarding the battle. That is very great
disadvantage, ard readers must allow Tor 1t.
l am dealing with it on general principles.
Tn nv estimation Smith is Just as clever as
Pritchard he hits a harder blow, and is
much stronger. Pritcharl has pluck on his
side no doubt, bat as looked at both men
some time ago they seemed both determined
fellows There is another feature in tins
fight. 1t is amusing to find two men like
Pritchard and Smith fighting for the En-
glish championship, when in that country
there is a man like Slavin. l firmly be-
lieve that Slavin could defeat both OF them
in one day.
Slavin's Refusal to Fight jackson.
Few if any people would be surprised TO
learn that T. P. Slavin declined the offer of
the California Athletic Club to match Jack
son against him, Slavin, for SO, 900 purse
has better things in view than that. He is
anxious to meet Sullivan in Australia, and
if an engagement of this kind can be
brought about it will be much better for Sla-
vim than going to San Francisco Most as
suredly many people will allege that Slavin
is afraid to meet jackson. An opinion of
this kind is absurd, for certainly Slavin is
willing to face any man under reasonable
conditions. Some persons have stated that
Slavin showed cowardice when he declined
to put up forfeit to fight Sullivan next
winter. Now it always strikes me that
people who talk or write in this fashion
about cowardice are very, very prejudiced
against the man or men with whom they
are dealing. Why do those people not
state that it is because of cowardice that
John L. Sullivan won't fight any more
under prize ring rules? Mark, 1
don't say that Sullivan dare
not fight again under these rules,
but ask this: eff Sullivan had wanted to
fight under prize ring rules and Slavin or
anybody else had declined, what would
these out-and-out supporters of John L.
have said?" Now let US be fair. What
would they have said? Why, that Slavin
or the somebody else was afraid; that he
was coward. But Slavin makes an offer
that is very reasonable, viz, that if Corbett
and jackson fight again he will fight the
winner. This is fair, but I have an idea
that Corbett and Jackson will not fight
again for a very long time, even if they
fight at all.
Kilrain and Billy Woods.
An approaching event of interest, that is
if original intentions are carried out, is the
proposed battle between Jake Kilrain and
Billy Woods Originally the contest was
fixed to take place on July 81 and I have
noticed no change. This time Kilrain has
to face big and powerful young fellow and
1 will not at all be surprised to see Kilrain
come off second best once more. Woods is
quite an active man and is stronger than
Kilrain.
The parties managing Hall and Fitzsim-
mons are now booming their men for all
they are worth and every day something
can be read regarding them. Hall declares
that he will pulverize Fitz and the latter
says he is dying to get at Hall merely to
wipe up the floor up with him. Thus mat
ters stand to-day between them.
PRINGLk