Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-08
RECORDS OF THE FIGHTERS.

The New Champion Only 26 Years Of Age
His achievements Prior to This
Fight-what Sullivan Had Accom-
pIished-Lives of Both Puxilists.
James j. Corbett Is Californian by
birth, and, like Sullivan, is of Irish
descent He was born in San Francisco on
September 1, 1866, and has just reached his
fullest physical development. Corbett is
the opposite of Sullivan in many respects
He is a born boxer, instead of natural
fighter. He learned to box before he
acquired his strength. The only doubt
critics have entertained as to his greatness
as pugilist was that he did not possess suf-
ficient power to injure such an opponent as
Sullivan. Corbett has grown broader, has
gained in flesh, and this contest has de-
termined how much he has added to his
striking force.
Corbett's rise to fstic fame has been
rapid, and he has won legion of admirers
all over the country. He is dashing fel-
low, a snowy boxer, a man Of intelligence and
nerve, and depends as much upon his quick
perception and perfect GOODNESS and self-con-
troll as upon any ability to land his blows
He grew up like boy intended for some of
the quieter pursuits of life, but was fond
of athletics, and when he became member
of the Olympic Athletic Club he was soon
a leader in sport, learning to spar, to play
baseball and to do many things requiring
agility and accuracy. The exercise did not
prevent him from continuing his business
pursuits, and he was employed in the Ne
vada National Bank while keeping up his
boxing studies
Oorbetts First Fight at 1s.
At IS years of age he was inveigled into
bout and won it so handily that he discov-
cred all at once that he was q fighter of
promise. After that he finished Mike
Brennan, the Port Costa giant, in three
rounds Corbett was fairly launched upon
his pugilistic career, and fought several
heavy-weights around San Francisco. The
best known of these battles were those with
Joe Choynski, Corbett injuring his wrists,
but pluckily winning against his game op-
ponent He also defeafed Duncan Costello,
Frank Glover and Frank Kenealy. He
fought four-round draw with Jack Burke,
all these feats being accomplished before
Corbett was 10 years of age
After Kilrain's fight with Sullivan, the
former arranged an affair at the Southern
Athletic Club A clever heavyweight was
desired to make the sparring contest inter-
esting, and Muldoon and Kilrain selected
Corbett as the easiest mark. ,Corbett came
eagerly, full of self-confdence, and an
nounced to all new made friends: "Wait
until you see me, you'll like me-" It was
Corbett's first appearance in New Orleans,
and he surprised everybody, Kilrain in
cluded. He sent both hands in from the
mn he foa
fusillade for six rounds
Brilliant Boxing, Not Hard Hitting.
1t was not hard hitting but brilliant box
ing, and as Kilrain did nothing to offset it,
the referee unhesitatingly gave Corbett the
decision. After Kilrain's long fght,with
Sullivan, the affair made Corbett's reputa-
tion. He went to New York from here,
and the manner in which he outpointed
Dominick McCaffery in four rounds added
to his reputation.
Corbett's most important ring encounter
to date was that with Peter jackson at the
California Athletic Club, which resulted
in a draw after 81 rounds were fought
Both men found each other so clever that
both were a little timid about mixing"
Since then Corbett has spared about good
deal, and duplicated Sullivan's offer to men
to stand up four rounds while on his tour
Corbett lays claim to having knocked out
couple of dozen, some outweighing him by
40 pounds Before going into training for
the coming contest be gave an exhibition in
New York, and knocked out three men in
one night, including Joe Lannon.
Corbett is tall, handsome and shapely,
and stands feet u inches 1t is said that
he only weighed 176 pounds when he met
jackson, and his friends hold that the differ
ence in weight alone is sufficient to tell the
story of his improvement.
Sullivan and His achievements.
John L. Sullivan was born in Boston on
October Is, 1858, of Irish parents and he in
herited his physical strength from his
mother. He grew rapidly and solidly and
at an early age attracted attention by the
easy manner in which he disposed of oppo-
nents in the boxing arena After the Ryan
Goss mill in 1880, Prof John Donaldson
announced his anxiety to box with any one.
Sullivan accepted his challenge and they
met at Cincinnati in December of that
year. Sullivan had Donaldson al his mercy
during the four rounds, but Donaldson
claimed that he was sick, and arranged
fight with hard gloves, which took place on
December %, 1880, in a Cincinnati room.
Sullivan here won his first battle, knocking
Donaldson out in 10 rounds. A short time
Rookie and Joe Goss, the latter in two
Billy Madden then took hold of
the young champion and in New York he
knocked out Steve TAILOR in two rounds
On Nav 16, 1881, Sullivan met John
Flood, New York heavyweight, and after
eight rounds Flood had to be carried out of
the ring. The fight lasted 16 minutes. At
that time Paddy Ryan, of Troy, N. Y, was
the champion, and efforts were made to
bring the two together, but Ryan would not
fight for less than S., 0O0a side, which Sulli-
van found hard to obtain. He finally at
tracted the attention of Mike Mcdonald, of |
Chicago, who agreed to risk the money on
him, but he afterward withdrew, and Billy |
rather than have the match fall |
through, backed Sullivan with 81, 800 on his |
own account
Meeting of Sullivan and Ryan.
Sullivan and RYAN met at Mississippi |
City on February z, 1882. Sullivan then |
weighed 1876 pounds and whipped Ryan in
nine rounds, knocking him down in the |
first and holding the lead throughout Sui
livan's next fight was with Jimmy Elliott, |
who agreed to stand up before him for four |
rounds. Sullivan's first blow almost settled |
the business and Elliott went down in three |
rounds. Tug Wilson then came over from |
England to stand up before Sullivan for |
four rounds. Wilson, on July II, 1882, by 1
repeated falls, managed to hold out the fotr |
rounds and got his money. On May 4, 1883, |
Sullivan attempted to dispose of Charley
Mitchell in four rounds, but the match was
stopped by the police in. the third round |
after Mitchell had been fought through the
ropes Herbert Slade, 201 pounds,
came over from Australia to
meet Sullivan and was knocked out in three
rounds on August 6, 1888, in New York.
In the latter part OF 1888 Sullivan, in a