Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-24

than O'Brien could have been secured in the
United States to meet Fitzsimmons. and it
may be that the Olympic Club finds this fact
out when it il too late.
Tho Sullivan and Corbett Battle.
1t is wonderful the public interest there
Is taken IN any contest that John L. Sulli,
van is to take part in. Although he and
Corbett are not to meet for about 10 or IL
weeks yet everybody who is at all inter-
ested in sporting affairs hardly has anything
else to talk about During the last week or
two have received numerous letters asking
why don't write more about the Sullivan
and Corbett battle than have been doing.
All this interest is because the newspapers
for years have advertised Sullivan more than
any other pugilist has been advertised In the
history of the prize ring. Very shrewd men,
financially interested in his movements,
have seen to this extensive advertising, and
it has been successful Were Sullivan to
merely stand on his pugilistic record there
would be little enthusiasm indeed, and
say this with fairness to him and due re-
spect to his powers.
It is often unsafe to come to definite con-
clusions about big and important battle
two months before it takes place. do not
propose to do it at present, but there are q
few features that can be discussed now and
with interest to all of us. There is a notion
more or less prevailing that Sullivan will
finish Corbett in II or 15 minutes This Is
. very unwise assertion on the part OF any
body True, such thing may occur, but
most certainly the chances are tremendously
against it. We must bear in mind that Cor
bett is not going to New Orleans to be
knocked out in any such time, and he is
lust about as able to keep out of the way as
any body connected with the boxing busi-
ness.
Sullivan himself has been talking loudly
about knocking Corbett out" in two rounds.
This is simply blowhardism of the rankest
kind, and don't believe that Sullivan be-
lieves any such thing for moment. l can
we'll remember when Sullivan and his
friends talked just as extravagantly about
what John was going to do with Mitchell
when they met in France. I argued that at
least Sullivan wouldn't down Mitchell in 80
minutes if at ali, and everybody laughed at
me. We all know how that contest re-
suited and that event, together with Sulll-
vans contests wish Burke and McCaffrey,
should make us all q little cautious in our
statements regarding Sullivan knocking
Corbett out in two, four or six rounds
The Big Men and Their Training.
Sullivan the other day was quoted as say
ing that the only times he has been in good
condition were in his battles with Flood
and Ryan. If this is true then we never
need hope to find him in good condition
again. But if he was at his best against
those men we still have little to 60 on, as
both Ryan and Flood put together would
hardly make good man.
But man of Sullivan's strength should
be in good enough condition to last three or
four rounds in a Queensbury rule contest
with comparatively little preparation.
What mean is that with only little prem
aration he should be able to keep up his
hurricane style for three or four rounds and
if his style is as effective as many people
think, he should be able to down his man
in that time. But he did not down Nc
Caffrey or even a man like Jack Burke.
The truth is, know of no really good man
Sullivan has knocked out in real short
order. This is not sentimental talk, but an
impartial appeal TO the facts of history.
What claim is that Sullivan must be in
very good condition to defeat Corbett, be-
cause if he is not Corbett will tire him, and
we saw what Sullivan was like when he got
winded against Mitchell in France. Well,
I have grave fears about Sullivan's getting
into good condition. A friend of mine who
saw Sullivan the other day tells me that he
has a very big paunch on him and he (my
friend) cannot see how Sullivan is going to
train it off Just as sure as we live, if Sullivan
rushes through his work to reduce his
stomach the latter will become so fevered
that it will take more than human power to
prevent John from drinking very copi-
ously.
On the other hand, Corbett is training
without hitch, and is, am told, in the
very best of condition. The question with
ME then is mostly one of condition. If Sui
livan could be put into the ring fully able
to make the fighting and retain his wind he
would as surely defeat Corbett as L am writ
ing now. What now say is, do not let
these exaggerated notions of Sullivan's
abilities lead US astray, but let
US look at the matter impartlallv and from
q standpoint of experience. PRINGLE