Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-12
THE NEW CHAMPION.
An Estimate of Corbett BY One Who
Saw Him Defeat Sullivan.
JOHN L. WAS A REAL FAILURE.
Reasons Showing That the Young Cali
fornian Is Not Hard Hitter.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY
The party of Pittsburgers who journeyed
to New Orleans to see the three big glove
contests returned home in many respects
sadder and wiser men. Every man In the
party was thoroughly disappointed not to
say disgusted at the one-sided nature of the
contests, particularly the contest between
Corbett and Sullivan. The Pittsburgers
were fine lot Of gentlemen, many of them
being very prominent in local business cir
cles. Several of them invested consider
able on the big contest, but they did not
grumble at losing their money on Sullivan
so much as they complained about the mis-
erable show he made. Had he made any
thing like contest hardly strong word of
condemnation would have been said against
him.
The Worst of It's Kind.
There never has been in the history of the
prize ring a more one-sided contest than
that between Corbett and Sullivan, and
there never was a man with any pretension
to championship rank who made worse
effort than did Sullivan, and in estimating
the merits of Corbett this fact must not be
lost sight of. On last Wednesday evening,
John L. Sullivan was no more fit to take part
in glove contest than an elephant is to
run sprint race. He was fat, stale and
haggard when he entered the ring and gave
no evidence at all of activity aud vigor
The very first round showed conciusi vely
that he was huge deception and disappoint-
ment. His famous right hand was no good,
he could not hit with 1t, and he was as slow
on his feet as turtle. Before the fourth
round his wind was affected and his seconds
were pouring water on him. At the end of
the third round Jack McAuliffe said to
him:
"John, go in and fight round. You are
getting the worst of the boxing"
Sullivan replied, "By - cannot fight.
Beyond the shadow of doubt Sullivan
was at this early stage completely gone and
there had not been any fighting yet worthy
the name. From that on Corbett with the
utmost safety had nothing else to do but hit
the big man and make target of him with
impunity.
Now, the above is faithful description
of the man Corbett had to oppose, and COM
mon sense prompts the question, how in the
world could he do other than defeat Sulli-
van? Why Jack Dempsey would have
beaten him.
Fi'z Could Have Beaten Him.
Fitzsimmons would have Knocked. Sui,
ivan II six fcsfaes IN short there is not t., a
Prominent pugilist in the world to-day who
would not have defeated John L. Sullivan
easily on Wednesday. He was always over
rated, but at New Orleans he was more so
hn -. e.
box, nor could he fight at close range.
There is no desire here to detract from the
victory of Corbett, but it must not be for
gotten that he only did what number of
other men could have done, and did it
sooner. Comparison is everything. and
when compared with Sullivan Corbett
looked to be an extraordinary man. A $40
horse looks like flyer when compared with
a 2:4O nag, and it is certain that muny people
who are proclaiming James j. Corbett as the
greatest wonder known in the history OF
the ring" iorget that he was only victorious
against man who at best was never first
class, aud who on Wednesday last was only
fourth or fifth rate man.
Corbett is remarkably, may say won
derfully, qnick man, but there is no reason
at all to show that he is anything like a gen
ufne "slugger." The day after the contest
sullivan remarked to me; "Corbett hit me
squareIy at least 40 times, and there was not
a Knockout blow among the whole lot
When fell was exhausted, and at no time
could have hit Corbett even though had
fought Kilrafn, and they were no use to
meagainst Corbett. But / was compelled
to fight, as had no money, and what could
1 do"
Corbett Not a Hard Hitter.
fully concur in what sullivan says about
Corbett's hitting power, and the last round
fully bears out the opinion. In that round
Corbeta saw that Sullivan was a complete
" q nd ,oad4 ~, CT
ach with his lett hand. Sullivan dropped
his hands to protect his stomach, and then
Corbett landed his right on SulIfvan's ear.
Corbett then had nothing else to do but 20
at Sullivan right and LETT, and ut last Sulli
van was hit on the face and neck a dozen
times. Finally Corbett put on every ounce
Of his power and hit Sullivan with his right
hand {, on the nose and then Sullivan fell over.
Now, most of this time Sullivan's hands were
hanging at his side Well, then could Sullf-
van have kept his feet so long If hard hit.
Ter had been in front of him? Nobody who
yes.
If Sullivan had been at all active Corbett |
you'd probably never have gone near him. |
re would nave Kept away just as he did |
lgalnst jackson. This is certain because ne, |
JorDett, kept well away from Sullivan as long |
is the latter showed anything like agrees |
veness and it want until Corbett was alb
olutelv safe that he commenced to lead
II battering sullivan he just had as easy Il
ask as a small boy would have in infllcting
on pinioned man.
Jackson's Chances Against Corbett
Corbett is one of the most scientific box
Is in the world, but it is going too far to
ay that he is any better than Mace was at
lis best. he is a gentleman and worthy of
is honors, but his defeat OF Sullivan was
ot great achievement. He has better
1en to fsce and IL lie consents to meet Jack
ON he may not shine so gloriously. Joe
GODDARD, who has seen both Corbett and
ackson fight, assured me that jackson is n
etter man than Corbett, both men fit and
Iell. But the new champion has discov-
red that he will lose caste to fight any
lore colored men, so it is not likely that
he pair will meet again. Corbett also de- |
lines to meet anybody Tor some time, and |
oDoby can blame him. Let him make bay
vhile the sun shines.
The Olympic Club will have no more col.
red performers in its building Public fee;-
IL vas so strong against Dixon there that.
hould another colored man contest in the |
lub's arena, the building will be blown nm.
The receipts of the three contests have |
lso been greatly exaggerated On the Mon.
ay evening there were only 400 people, in
!udfng deadheads, to see the McAuliffe and | ,
Iyer contest. Mr.. T. Prfngle Hawthorne. n
ub member, told me that the club would |
o well to clear S25, 900 on the three contests
e said that city politicians demanded anv
umber OF free seats and had to have them. !