Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-13


colors of amateurs will be called down.
Doings of the Leading Boxers.
Matters are becoming quite lively among
the leading pugilists and boxers as far as
matchmaking is concerned. There are sew.
eral big events arranged, but the chances ol
the coming together of Mitchell and Cor
bett are not as good as they were. Strange
to say, James j. has changed his mind and
declines to meet Mitchell until 12 months
from now. Only a short time ago when il
did not look as if Mitchell would come to
this country Corbett was willing to fight
him at any time, but since Mitchell has de-
clared that he can be here to fight in Feb
ruary or March Corbett has shifted to next
October or November
Many people are asserting that Mitchell
is only blufing, but don't think he is II
is very likely that Mitchell will come to
this country with Jim Hall, and if he does
he is as sure to be willing to fight Corbett
as we live. To be sure, don't say that
Mitchell will defeat Corbett; chances are
strongly against him, but he is not afraid to
fight, and depend upon 1t if he does not de-
feat the American champion he will give
him lots of trouble. Mitchell is getting
older and is not as good as he was. He may
think he is, Just as lots before him have
The Maher and Goddard Battle.
So far have had little or nothing to say
about the coming contest between Peter
Maher, of ireland, and Goddard. the
Australian. Their contest is scheduled for
December s and already there is consid-
cradle interest in it. Both men have a
strong following and betting on the result
will be heavy.
There is q notion prevailing that Goddard
is one of the worst fighters who have come
to this country, and people who believe
this, of course, will expect Maher to win.
Well, now there is no good reason for
thinking that Goddard is not dangerous
man for anybody to meet. Twice he has
beaten Choynski and once fought an eight
round draw with Jackson. He also defeated
Joe McAuliffe without very much trouble.
There is nothing to show that all these con-
tests were not honest and that Goddard won
them on his merits. 1 am aware of God
dard's exhibition with colored man named
Butler at Philadelphia recently, but that
cuts no figure with me. In these scratch
contests the very best of men frequently
make poor showing, and all of us who
have taken an interest in boxing can re-
member many instances of the kind. The
fact that Goddard held his own with Jack
son and defeated Choynski twice is what
must guide US, because if anybody the name
Of Butler is better man than Goddard it
only makes Butler rank higher.
Not long ago Goddard said in my pres
ence: almost anybody can hit me-" He
is not a scientific man, but q desperate
rusher, and think requires more knocking
put than any man before the public This
kind of a fighter may suit Maher better
than Fitzsimmons, although don't expect
it will. cannot make my mind up to think
that Maher is as game as he should be to be
successful fighter, and cannot see how he
can keep Goddard away from him. If he
cannot do that then the Jig will soon be up
with Peter. True, the latter may have i'm
proved since he met Fltzsimmons. but it
that form that l cannot for a moment think
he has done so. Besides he has had no prac-
tical opportunity to 90 so. He has been
boxing at shows ETC., had a few barroom
fights, and is the same wild tempered Peter
Maher that he ever was. He has had no
bona fide contest, and besides be has never
met q man like Goddard. He is not the
punisher Goddard is, although he may be
more active.
After comparing the two men in all re-
spects that L can think OF, it seems to me
that Goddard's chances of winning are much
better than those of Maher, and that IL all
goes well and the better man wins, it will be
Goddard. or course am of opinion that he
will try and win.
Hall and Fitzsimmons in Luck.
Those two Australian pugilists, Hall and
Fitzsinmons, have fallen heirs to n nice
little fortune. The Crescent Athletic Club,
of New Orleans, has agreed to pay them no
less than $4,000 to fight a battle with gloves.
OF course, it will be understood that almost
all or the entire amount of the above sum
will go TO the winner. That may be done,
but one cannot help thinking that $40 OG0 is
600 000 a nia( a for and W oil know
that $40, 900 is q very large sum in the esti-
nation of men who have to fight or box tor
a living.
A glove contest for q purse of $4,000 is the
most remarkable circumstance in the his
tory of pugilism. 1t is also one of the most
foolish things that could have occurred,
simply because it is out of all proportion to
the worth of the performance. If tie Cres-
cent club members have nothing else to do
with their money they may feel thoroughly
with their action, but If 1t is purely
a business venture it is one of the most
stupid that could have been made. Such like
purses cannot but be injurious to boxing.
Not for one moment would think that
Hall and FitZsimmons would act oishon-
estly, but they are only human, and If their
actions in the past are to guide us they are
just as prone to make ''denl" as any two
men j know of. According to FitZs1mnons'
own story he "faked" fight with Hall for
the small sum OF S75. Now it is only natural
to think that when SIS acts as a temptation
$50, 600 will act as very powerful magnet
indeed. 1t is impossible to avoid the con-
viction that purse OF SO 600 will act as a
most powerful incentive to two pugilists
&c do wrong. This opinion will prevail
whether it is a correct one or not.
And there is another strange thing about
the proposed contest. The Coney Island
preferred purse of S.. 600 less Talue. 1t will
require deal OF explanation to make this
refusal salts actory to me-
As to what the proposed battle will be If it
l.. l., ,S,nr
Both men are very clever, and ii Hairs con-
test with Pritchard was all right he (Halll
must be n very good man and probably Fitz-
simmons superior.
The Champion Lightweights.
Last Sunday lack of space prevented my
saying anything about the proposed battle
between Dick Burge, the English light
weight champion, and Jack McAuliffe, the
American champion. In many respects the
contest promises to be one OF the most in
teresting we have had for a long time. The
winner would be an international cham.
pion, but he would hardly be a worlds
champion. because the Australians would
object until their lightweight champion Is
beaten.
On public form McAulifTe has much the
better of Burge. The latter is quick and
clever young fellow, but he is more OF a
boxer than fighter. l do not think that
Burge is one whit more active than Nc
Auliffe, and l am sure that he is not as
tricky. Burge defeated Jem Carney on q
foul when Carney was having the better of
his man. When Carney met Burge he
Carney was not as good as ne
was when he met and fought a draw with
McAuliffe. Burge also had the worst of u
contest with Frank Harrison, who was very
easily beaten by Tom Ryan. All this goes
to show that Burge is not terror.
On the other hand, McAuliffe is an un-
beaten man, and when in anything like good
condition is n terrific opponent. Besides,
the English have not had a first.rate light
weight Tor a long time, with the exception
of Carney, and it does not seem that Burge
is any improvements on the standard that
has existed sO long AT nresent am cer-