Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-08-14
BOXERS GOSSIP.
MACON MCCORMICK TALKS ABOUTTH TROUBLE
IN SULLIVAES CAMP.
The Chances Of Oorbstt Defeating the Big Fellow
at New Orlsans-Sullivan's Awful Training
Does Not Reduce His Flesh Materially.
Sksllsy's Game Booker.

trouble In the sullivan camp WHICH arc
worrying the big fellows partisans just
at present. The Belgians well knew
the dread portend OF the faint, dull roar
which smote their ears, but the reports
which have been afloat In fstic circles
heresbouts for the past week have been
so vague and so mysterious that those
who hear them are left In quandary OF
fear and anxiety. Two weeks ago all the
reports from Sullivan'S training quar-
tiers were couleur de rose. Jon l..
was working like horse, and his
condition was so satisfactory that
Phil Casey, his trainer, aud Char
ley Johnston, his sole and
only hacker, were delighted. Then
came the hot wave. The big fellow
worked like a beaver all through the
week 1t lasted. Every day his stomach
was swathed in rolls Of thick wooden
blankets, which in turn were bound
around by wide rubber band. Then,
dressed in heavy clothing, he did four
teen miles day over the deep, heavy,
sandy roads of the neighborhood at his
best possible pace. When he got back
to his quarters persplration would drip
looked as red as boiled lobster, In
fact as though it was parboled. Then
he would be laid on wide plank and
rubbed down so hard with rough
towels that his skin was nearly worn
off him. This is a terrible ordeal for
any man to stand; but In Sullivan's case
it was made still greater hardship by
the fact that HIS feet were In bad con-
dition, and that at the end OF the week
he found that he had only succeeded In
reducing his weight one half pound.
The air was filled with reports. One
was that Sullivan, disguised with the
fruitlessness of his hard work, and so
lame in the left foot that he limped per-
ceptbly, had refused TO continne 1t, and
so Casey had left him. This was
promptly denied. The next announce
ment was one which lent color to the
original one, for it was seml-oflicial and
was corroborated. 1t was that Sulli-
van, on account Of his sore heel, would
let up on his hard work for couple OF
DAYS, in order TO give his feet rest and
his chafed heel chance to heal. II he
succeeds In keeping his weight down to
900 pounds while resting, Sullivan will
be fortunate indeed He will be lucky
II he does not increase five or even ten
pounds.
II the truth is ever known, II will
not surprise me II the facts are these:
Casey wishes to prepare Sullivan for a
long flight, and for that purpose he
would like to see him enter the ring at
not over 210 pounds, or even lower, II
possible. Sullivan found that after the
terrible weeks work above detailed,
that IL was impossible for him TO reduce
that low by work. That being the case
and believing that he can stop Corbett
in few rounds, he does not want to
torture himself further In vain attempts
at reducing his bulk. Robinson has
been called In TO see II he can't devise
some means OF taking the superflnous
fat off Sullivan'S stomach, other than
by walking and towel rubbing. II he
can he will prove himself wonderful
trainer indeed. The result will be
awaited with the greatest interest.
The match has been poorly made
one all around. 1t is the first one in
which Sui Ivan bound himself to fightto
finish according the Queensberry rules.
All his other contests under these rules
were for a limited number Of rounds,
and in such contests "the Champion"
has always had great advantage, for
the showing he made invariably gained
him the decision, even though he
twice with Laffan and Cardiff) was In
serious danger OF defeat. Had the COM
ing contest been made one Of ten or fif-
teen rounds, 1t is dollars TO cents, that,
barring accidents, the worst that Sulli-
van could have looked for was draw.
For this reason, l say that from Sulli-
vanesque point Of view the match was
not as well made as 1t could have been.
On the other haAd heamourt OF money
involved is too great. The purse Itself
1925, 0O) is the richest prize the ring has
known; but when il is remembered that
there is also $40, 600 of stake money de-
pending on the result, 1t Is no wonder
that many shake their heads In appre-
hension. Forty.fve thousand dollars is
too much money for ring contest.
II Corbett continues to train on as he
has until the day OF the battle he will
go into the ring In better condition
than he ever was before In his life. He
is big, strong and active, and appar-
emily as confident as though the result
bad been declared in his favor. By the
way, was told by a theatrical gentle
man who saw the fight between Peter
jackson and Frank Slavin, that the
next day after the battle he asked jack
son what he thought of the outlook for
Corbett in the coming fight, when he
replied: II don't see why Mr.. Corbett
should apprehend any great danger in
fighting Mr.. Sullivan. l have had some
experience with Mr.. Corbett, and he Is
the most marvelously clever man l ever
met" Peter ought to know.
l am told that Mr.. Reynolds, the
young Brooklyn builder, who is Jack
Skelly's hacker, will go to New Orleans
with SIS, 600 in his pockets to bet on
Jacks chances against Dixon. He GER
tainly has faith in his protege akin to
that which moves mountains. Dixon is
carded to start for the Sunny South in
a few days. He and 0'Rourke feel con-
fdent that the pledge Of the Olympic
Club will be made good to him, and
that in its ring he will get fair play.
He aske no favor. Neither does Sicily,
for that matter. Jack is very decent
young fellow. His hacker, Mr.. Rey-
nolds, visited New Orleans with me to
see the Dempsey-Flzslmmons fight, and
he came back with very favorable i'm
preston Of the hospitality and square
ness OF the Crescent City.
Jim Smith refuses to box Joe Choyin-
ski in this country, and If the California
boy is sensible be will not agree to fight
Smith at his own game (old-style rules
and a gang) In England. think he and
Peter Nolan, Of Cincinnati, would make