Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-12
JAMES J. CORBETT.

that no man ever entertained greater respect for John l.. Sullivan's prowess and honesty than do. When was but a boy he was the recognized champion of the world. That proud position he attained by genuine hard fighting and not by windy utterances. I rejoiced as much as any man in this broad domain that an American had met all corners from every section of the globe and had never been compelled to lower his arm. It is a well known fact, however, that | the great Bostonian brooks no rival near his throne. When first began to attract the attention of the sporting public by reason of some fstic-perform- ances which they thought possessed a slight bit of merit, notably the defeat of Kilrain at New Orleans the year fol- lowing his battle with Sullivan, the ''big fellow'' began to speak in the most disparaging terms of my ability and courage. This, too, of a man he had never seen and could consequently form no estimate of his qualities of head and | heart.
 Next he declared in Boston that he could knock me out in. four rounds. l That caused me to speak for the first time. gave an exhibition in Brooklyn about this period and offered the | mighty man from Boston the entire gate receipts If he could make good his words. He did not see fit to accept, and | Dominick McCaffrey, the man who stood Sullivan off for seven rounds at Cincinnati in 1885, took his place, with what results the public are familiar. l stood all of Sullivan's ''roastings" with out descending to retaliatory measures, first, because knew that he had his hands full in this line with "bombastic sprinters'' from abroad and, second, be- | cause he was the first American who at tained the proud eminence of being the | worlds champion. I wanted no inter change of journalistic ''courtesies" with my countrymen, whatever I might do with foreigners.
 All this, thought, was past and for gotten when met Sullivan out west and afterward spared with him at my benefit in San Francisco, just prior to his departure for Australia. At that time the ''big fellow'' was in very poor con dition, weighing something like two hundred and seventy pounds, and had been requested by his manager to ''play 1ight,'' as "Su1ly could not box for keeps" just then. In fact, Sullivan was in such bad form that it was determined by those nearest him to have us box in dress suits instead of ring costume so as to conceal his obesity from the eyes of the public. We boxed and kept my agreement. l ''played light" Judge of my amazement and indignation then when Sullivan announced immediately after, as he also did few days ago that I asked him to '1et up' on him That statement is false and he knows it. I never have challenged Sullivan nor never would have challenged him
 because, as I said before, he was an American and held the proud title o1 "world's champion" I was gunnine for foreigners who schemed to pull him down from his high pedestal by ''Chantilly methods''-viz., running spiking, fouling and other tricks peculiar to British sprinters. will say this, however, that it has always beer the dearest wish of my heart to meet Sullivan. While I never gave expres sion to the conviction, as did not wish to be put down as boaster, it has al ways been my earnest belief that could defeat John l.. was convinced of il
 after our San Francisco meeting.
 could hit him when and where I pleased
 and stop or evade his fierce rushes
 Rushers have been whipped before, an6 am confident John l.. Sullivan can be Inquiring friends have asked what shall do in the event of defeat at thu
 hands of the great Bostonian. To that , I will simply say this: ''I did not go intt the fighting business for the mere love oi
 the sport, but to get what golden glory
 could out of it. determined as sooI as possible to reach the top of the fad 3 der if it lay in me, and then retire. | ] Sullivan whips me my occupation, hk' othello's, will be gone. I will seel
 ether Aelda.n