Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-02-21

comparatively little Is known OF Peter
Maher by the sporting public. The
Irish champion Is an unknown quantity,
and while he has never beaten boxer
who had a ghost OF show Tor the
worlds championship, yet there are
many men who would back him even
against John L. Sullivan. The best evil
dence OF this is that a $1,000 forfeit Is
waiting In New York TO be covered by
the hackers Of the mighty ,Bostonian.
Should Maher be successful In the COM
ing fight with Bob Fitzsimmons IL Is
quite probable that he may be matched
against Sullivan, who has expressed his
willingness to try out the Dublin man.
This battle, should it be arranged, will
be a notable one, and the winner OF II
will be made richer by S35,OOO-quite
fortune in itself. Could SayerS, Heenan,
Yankee" Sullivan, McCoole, Coburn,
and the other old-time champions come
out OF their graves and hear this they
would certainly agree That they had
lived before their time, for when they
fought IL was rarely for more than ST.
600. Whether Peter Maher would be
worthy opponent for Sullivan is ques-
tion which will be answered by the con-
test in the Crescent City early next
month. II Fitz whips him it will prac-
tically wind up career which VIII nave
been on the Sky-rocket order in such an
event. Two years ago Peter Maher was
employed in a brewery OF Guinness, IN
Dublin. He was reckoned handy man
in case OF an argument at that time, but
that he would ever aspire to the cham.
pionship Of the world was not dreamed
OF by his companions.
Peters first real fight was with bully
named O'Brien, which took place in the
brewery yard. There were no stakes, but
the contest was conducted under prize
ring rules and it lasted nearly three
hours. Maher put his man to sleep and
this victory made him popular man,
for O'Brien was disliked by everybody.
In 1883 Maher entered an amateur COM
petition given by Tony Sage, OF Dublin.
Jack Sullivan. who was recognized as
the amateur middleweight OF the coun-
try, was Makers first opponent IL TOOK
Peter eight minutes TO finish him. An
hour later. Martin O'uara, a six-footer,
went against Mdhoi' Wv 1919 W."
enough for him. He made claim to
the referee that Peter had a hammer in
his right glove. BY this time Maher
had gained quite local reputation and
efforts were made to bring about u
meeting between him aud professional
named jim O'Doherty. They fought
six rounds in Dublin and the police
stopped the bout but not before
ODoherty was practically beaten man.
Peter then entered a tournament in Lon
don and beat three men in the preim-
inaries. In the finals Bob Hair met
him. They spared three rounds and
Hair was given the decision. Maher
had decided advantage and IN the
Judgment OF many spectators u was
clear case OF robbery. Tony Sage Inn
mediately posted forfeit and offered TO
bet $500 against 500 that Maher could
knock Hair out In three rounds. This
offer was not accepted. All Bowman,
OF London, challenged Maher early In
1889, and they fought In Dublin Tor 500
n side. Bowman was knocked out In
the sixth round, and this victSry gave
Maher some standing As pugllist, Tor
Bowman was considered good second
class man. When Gus Lambert went
to England Charley Mitchell took hold
Of him and backed him for $500 against
the Dublin boxer. Lambert weighed
nearly two hundred pounds and was the
favorite In the betting when they faced
each other at the Pelican Club Feb
ruary : last year Maher took about
five seconds to size up his man. Then
he sailed in vlciously and knocked Lam
bert down four times iE rapid success
sion. The last blow effectually settled
the Canadian. The fight lasted fifty
eight seconds. Maher now sought
match with Pritchard but the latter de-
clined to fight again with any man
above his own weight. In October last
Tony Sage sent Maher to this country
10 try for the worlds championship.
After he defeated number OF inferior
men, his manager, Billy Madden, sue
ceeded in raising $1,000 forfeit to
match him against Sullivan for double
that amount. Jimmy Adams, the book
maker. Warren Lewis, Gus Tuthlll,
Dave Holland, and Madden all figure In
the forfeit. They are all sportsmen and
each believes that Peter is a second Sui
liyan. He has thus far shown himself
TO be a hard hitter, fairly good ring
tactIcian and possessed OF more than
average cleverness. bubbles" Davis,
Jim Dauly, Jack Lynch, Joe Godfrey,
"Sailor" Brown, Jack Smith, and Jack
Follon were all beaten by Maner in
short order. His performance 10 Madt-
son Square Garden-knocking out two
men in less than two minutes-was 4
feat which would have been considered
wonderful even IL John l., himself ac-
complished IL. II took Peter jackson
three rounds 10 whip "SailOr" Brown,
one OF them. The maA whom Maher Is
going to fight next month is big enough
70 be in the heavyweight class, and
clever enough. too, for that matter. He
can FIGHT al I65 pounds or az 40 pounds,
as occasion requires, and he appears 10
be pretty strong az either weight. Fitz
is a hard puncher aud = quicker man
than the Irish champion. IL IL more
than likely that Maher will be second
choice 10 the betting but the New York
delegation will carry a good many dol
lars 20 the ringside 20 be wAged on the
Dublin man.
Peter Maher is @ years old. He will
weigh not over 10 pounds when be
meets the Australian, and IL Is GER
tainty that his physical condition al
| that time will be excellent, for Madden.
| is a good trainer. In the matter OF
| height and reach Fitz will have an adj