Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-26


that would just give the best in England
all the rowing they wanted. The great idea
is il we want to have the champion crew in
this continent we will have to take time and
make one; and if we take time I have great
confidence in our being able to make win
nerS
| Foot Ball Prospects for Next Season.
Although it is only early summer vel
there is little activity commencing among
the football players preparatory tor next
fall. have had several letters on the sub
ject already and the writers all want to
know whether or not there is to be league
in this section next season. While nothing
has been definitely settled about the matter
yet, it is almost certain that a league will be
organized.
1t is quite true that the local league OF
last year was not much of a success. but the
experiences of that effort will serve to make
another one more successful. There is no
reason why football league here should
not be highly successful if everybody con-
nected with it wants to act honestly and
fairly. The prospects for football playing
were never better in this city, and antici-
pate that there will be more of it here this
fail than there has ever been. This being
so, it might be well for those interested in
the sport to get together as soon as possible
and have matters talked over. II is none
too soon to make dates, and that means 1t is
none too soon to start and get teams to-
| gether.
What have just said refers particularly
to Association football but there promises
to be the same amount and probably more
activity among the Rugby rule players. 1t
is safe to say that the rivalry among the
local teams this fall will be stronger and
| keener than ever. That is just what we
want and that is Just what will make the
game more successful this year than it has
ever been. There are some good players
| here and cannot see why we should not
| be able to make up special team that
| would give the best team that would come
here a good argument for supremacy.
But the officials of our local football or
ganizations should at once secure dates with
some of the leading teams. Most certainly
there will be enthusiasm enough here this
| fall to make any kind of an engagement
profitable one if the teams are good. With
| favorable weather there will be lots OF
| money in football this fall, and the clubs
| that secure engagements with the best teams
will make tie best successes.
johnson and Dixon Battle To- orrow.
Tomorrow night is the date for the great
feather-weight contest between Fred John
son, of England, and George Dixon, Of this
country. The battle takes place at the
COney Island Athletic Club, and is one of
the most important that has taken place
among the 'little 'uns" for long time. 1t
is one of the most difficult to come to any
conclusion about that I have had to deal
with. There are some excellent judges of
pugilism who think that Dixon will win,
and there are just as good judges think that
he won't
Readers of this paper will know that I
have very great respect for Johnson's
abilities as a pugilist. He has proven him.
self to be a fighter of the best kind, but do
not think he has ever met such a good
feather-weight as George Dixon, and we
have not very much to guide us as to the
comparative merits of the two men. Some
time ago Dixon defeated what was then sup
posed to be the best teather-weight in Eng
land, viz, Nunc Wallace. But Wallace
was not as good a man as johnson. That is
beyond dispute, and, despite the many state
ments to the contrary, L am certain that
Dixon defeated Wallace without much
trouble. The question then is how much
better than Wallace was Dixon than John
son was?
After fully considering the matter have
come to the conclusion that as TAR as COM
parisons can be made Dixon has the best of
it l allow for johnson improving, of
course. l am aware that it is very danger
Gus to come to any conclusion on the mat
ter, as / feel satisfied that johnson is a
rattling good man. So much so that while
I anticipate his defeat would not bet
cent Of odds on Dixon. While prefer the
chances of the latter am frank enough to
say that bis defeat will not surprise me. A
friend of mine returned frow New York the
other day and spoke very highly of both
contestants. He told me that he wanted to
bet few dollars on Dixon, but if there was
no johnson money here he would take 2 to
1 and back the Englishman. This is just
how I feel on the matter.
Dixon is quite tricky boxer, and that
means that he probably will not be induced
to do more than his share of leading. If he
is as free in leading off as many of the little
chaps are he may get the worst of it, be-
cause johnson is ever ready to take advan-
tage of anything and if 1t were to come to
question of inside fighting should fancy
johnson. But Dixon is an exceptionally
built young fellow and ought to be able to
keep ont of harms way to q very great e1-
tent 1t is because OF this that think he
will have a shade or two the best of the
Englishman. Like the first contest be-
tween Dixon and Mccarthy it may be a long
one, or it may be as short as the contest be-
tween Dixon and Wallace. I am inclined
waiting fight of it as he generally wants to
have things ended as soon as possible. He
will be in excellent condition and so will
Dixon, if reports are true.
If the contest is brought off successfully
it will go long way toward establishing
the fame of the Coney Island Ath-
letic Club. That is a new organization and
it is aspiring for first honors in the way of
an athletic club. This would indicate that
the club officials will see that everything Is
iairly and honestly carried out
John L. SulIivans Latest Challenge.
Alter all, there is something very interest
ing about John L. Sullivan. John is not
disposed to stop at anything when he feels
inclined to demonstrate his proves as a
fighter Of men. 1t has long been an estab-
lished fact among the followers of John L.
that nobody on earth was capable of stand
ing in front of the terror from Boston. He
is evidently of that opinion himself, and ac-
cording to newspaper reports he has threat
ened the man in the moon. John L. de-
clared to the Boston people that if he could
only get "one swipe at that fellow in the
moon" there would be no moon left. The
good hearted Sullivan has many tremendous
threats and challenges in his time, but his
desire to knock our good old moon into OBJ
livion with his fist eclipses ALL Lovers,
poets and others who take delight in moon
light rambles ought at once to petition John
to ALLOW the moon to remain for another
generation at least
Of course, Sullivan was a little "moon
struck" when he was talking SO extrava-
gantly, and that fact suggests to us the
question: Does he intend to get into good
condition to meet Corbett? Just as true as
we live he will need to be in good condition
for that affair; not because of the punish
ment that Corbett can give, but because of