Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-21
4 REVIEW OF SPORTS,
Pros and Cons of the Coming
Battle Between Cor.
bett and Sullivan.
THE CHANCES OF BOTH MEN
A Chief Reason Why the Champion Is
Likely TO Defeat the Californian.
JEWETT'S SPRINTING RECORD.
The Wonderful Performances of Nancy
LlnAs and ial lointer.
THE CHANCES OF BOTH MEN
JEWETT'S SPRlNTING RECORD.
i-ADTNG FEATURES OF BASEBALL

glove battle between Joha L. Sullivan ant
James j. Corbett Judging from the inter
est now manifested in the event, it will bt
one of the most exciting glore contests thai
has ever taken place in this or any othel
country. All sorts and conditions Of mel
ere more or less interested in the coming
Iattle, and its importance is keeping in the
Background even such big contests SIS those
ietween Dixon and Skelly and Myer anG
McAuiife.
During the last few days there have been
columns and columns written about the
"tig battle EVERYBODY who is in any way
publicly identified with sporting affairs has
talked about the affair and made ''predlc.
ton, and the date of contest is getting SC
near that to-day propose to say something
about the probable result OF the contest
A day or two ago was reading the opin.
ion of 200 or 800, more or less prominent
sporting men on the contest now under dis
cussion. 1t was remarkable how large num-
Der tipped Corbett as the winner,
and it was also very amusing to note the
number of rounds some of the Projectors
stated would be necessary to finish the con-
test Duncan E. Harrison is sure that Sui
livan will be beaten in one round, and DOM
mick McCa1ery is Just as certain that Sui
Ivan will win in four rounds 1 mention
these as samples, and also to show that in
the majority of cases outside influences in
erfere and cause men to say what they
don't believe.
D. B. Harrison doesn't for a moment be-
lieve that Corbett will deeat Sullivan in
nne round; he only wishes that such would
H. HI - Il
there was between Harrison and Sullivan.
And 1 cannot think that McCafrev really
believes that Sullivan will defeat Corbrtt in
four rounds. Dominick has undoubtedly
so warmly espoused Sullivan's cause be-
cause the Manhattan Athletic Club, which
employs McCatfrey, is on the Sullivan side
eel sure of this, because not very long
ago, during conversation with
me, McCaffrey did not c'ass Sullivan very
high as pugilist and declared that Corbett
was the best boxer he, McCafrey, had ever
met
EIcCaffrry's Very Fad Reasoning.
Dominick McCaHrey, in long statement
published in an Eastern paper, displays the
fact that his conclusions are more the effect
of animose than good reasoning. He stood
in 'front.' of Sullivan more than six rounds
and wanted to go on to finish. Later Me-
Caffrev was in front OF Corbett and got such
4 drubbing that he (McCaffrey) declared to
me that he would leave the business ior-
ever. He plainly told me then in Corl tt
he had met his superior and L gave this
statement to the public at the time and in
this paper
According to the foregoing declarations
and rraSonings Corbett is better man than
Sullivan because McCafrey always claimed
in my hearing that he snouid have been
awarded the fight against Sullivan st Gin
cinnati. But now McCatfrey states that he
will fight Corbett anv number OF rounds or
to a finish. McCaffrey will do no such
thing except it may be ior about four
rounds, and l don't think he would last
that long at this stage of his lite. Dominick
never was what we cali call a pugilist, and
my great lear is that Corbett is more or less
of the same class.
l have drawn atteL tion to McCaffrey's
statement and to Harrison's prediction to
show that in discussing the probabiIitles of
the coming encounter we must separate oCr
svmpathies from the exercises OF our under
standing and allow iac,s and records to
guide us. On this occasion it will be my
endeavor to do this and l want it distinctly
understood that what l write are merely
opinions and NAV not be as correct as the
opinions of other people. 1 am not in
fEllible and what have to say to-day may
be greatly at variance with the results OF the
battle " hen it is over.
Probabi lilies OF thu Battle,
To name the winner OF the Sullivan and
Corbett contest is, in nv estimation, one of
the most difficult problems there has been
for long time in the pugilistic world.
Both men have strong q .alities that recom-
mend, and II is foolish to dispense with
COrbetts chances bv wave of the hand.
He has ci aEce to win, and better one
than many people believe, and we're it not
tor one thing L would now venture to say
that he would win. Well discuss that
presently.
have always held that John L. Sullivan
has been an orerrated man as pugilist
say so state and particularly refer to Sui
livan as a prize-ring fighter under old-time
rules. 1t is not likely that anybody will
dispute this conclusion, as t e truth of it
has been demonstrated so often. Nobody
can forget the difficulty Sullivan hal to
down man like kilrain in the prize ring
That effort alone, without citing others, is
proof sufficient that Sullivan has alwavs
been far short OF what his friends have
claimed for him as prize-ring fighter
But Sullivan as glove fighter and under
Queens5erry rules is another thing. That
is Sullivsn's own game, and do not let me
rutf1e the temper of ANYBODY when say
that he even has not done snything verv ex-
-tfaordinary at that. He is powerful, tolera-
bly, active and has good eve and quick head
His wonder ul power has enabled him to
rush in aud use his tremendous right hand
and deal terrific blows on his opponents
But we must observe that the majority of
John LIS. opponents in glove contests have
been of the most inferior class and that
when in front of very clever boxers his
great right hand has not been 20 successful.
Nov, do not let US forget this, because it is
very important. Where men have stood I'D
aud fought Sullivan he has beat them down,
but when his opponents have been shifty
be has been in difficulties
In Corbett he will meet the shiftiest man
he has ever met, because Corbett has the ad-
vantage OF height and reach. The latter in
tends to be as shifly as he can be and
to keep Sullivan on the run all the time
This is the most important feature of the
question. VIII Sullivan be entlced to run
about the ring? 1t he is so enticed he will
be beaten as sure as we live. Don't be
fooled. Sullivan is not in the best of con-
ditlnn, and very wise friend of mine who
saw him recently says he will not be so on
the day of the fight But do not believe
that John L. Sullivan, now in full knowl-
edge of his shortcoming, will allow himself
to be weared to death BY chasing Corbett.
And il there is no chasing to be done, We
may have another farce such as the Corbett
and jackson affair was.
A Few ord, about Corbett.
Corbett and his friends do not for one
moment hesitate to say that Sullivan will
have little chance to hit james j. By this
it is meant that Corbett intends to kee D out
of harms way as long as he can so as to
have Sullivan winded and worried. This
is quite legitimate and wise plan. But if