The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-25
VIRTUALLY A WINNER
COrbett Comes Out of the Draw
a Victor.
LITTLE PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM.
Would Have Downed Peter IL He Had
Possessed More Experience-Next
Fight with siavin.

San Francisco, May 24-[special. 1.-THE Cor
bett-Jackson fight continues to be the absoroin
topic ia sporting circles. The contest was
genuine surprise in several respects and the
result is also unusual, for the opinion IL
unanimous that Corbett was virtual winner.
Nine times out of ten an unfinished contest
leaves the matter in more doubt tnan
ever. Each side claims victory and adduces
endless arguments to show that its
man would inevitably have won had the
fight been finished. In the present case,
however. there is no claim that Jackson would
have pulled out victor II the decisive nnisn
had been reached. The best Judge In the woria,
Jackson himself, has publicly admitted his ina
biiity to win, and all men who had money Oh
him bless their stars that the California Ciuo
waived its precedents against permitting draw
and stopped protracted contest
A cleverer boxing match between heavy
weights probably never took place, but a. an ex-
hibition of fighting the contest was not excit-
ing. The display OF skill was admirable, put,
except In the thirtieth round, when Coroett
suddenly turned the tables on jackson and
slogged him into his corner, the spectators never
once howIed with delight that oyerspreads the
ringside when Knockout seems likely. Almost
from first to last the critical crowd around the
ring sat still and silent and watched the scientinc
competition very much as IL they were attend
ing an ordinary theatrical performance MOI
drop OF blood was visible during the fight ana
the long drawn-out rounds were not relieved by
a single knock down. Altogether it was one OF
the most peculiar fights imaginable. 1t was
splendid exhibition OF skill, but it is very doubt
full If many of the patrons OF fistiana who saw
IL would pay $50 again for another SUCH treat.
If Jim had been at the business longer ne
would never have given the referee sucn
chance to stop the battle. II he had won sew
eral hard thought matches like Jack Dempsey,
L.
he would never have let the colored Hercules
get breathing spell after his display Of weak
ness in the thirty first round. He would have
continued to force the pace. II he merely
kept clinching with the Australian, the game
would have been his, for Peter was getting Zee
bier every round, and ii ever man wanted TO
Quit in hasty order he did. His flag of distress
was at the masthead, and Jim showed himself
lacking in experience not to have embraced the
golden opportunity. His seconds also were der
elect, but doubtless they, like himself, thought
it better not to press their good luck too hard
and risk defeat, Tor there is always last chance
in a fight, and q battle is never won till 1t ID
lost.
Corbett comes out of the late battle the undls-
puted champion of America Jackson went
through the country meeting all corners and
beating the best Americans pitted against him.
So Corbett is the rising star, and his next hard
contract will probably be with Slavin. Can he
hold his own with the hard hitting white Aus
tralian, is the important question with ring
goers now Certainly he could hardly have
done it last Thursday night. The man who would
have backed him TO do so would have been
foolish, even If Corbett were destined
to be the greatest champion the world ever saw.
Experience is absolutely necessary when man
aspires to the top round of the ladder, and Jim
with his one finish fight against Choyinski
would have been poor subject TO back against
a hard headed and listed Australian who had
had a wonderful lot of real ring experience
with all kinds of men.