Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-08

each other and enforcing these charges in
strong language and frequently with
fists can give the professionals
cards and spades A few days
ago at q meeting of the
Executive Committee of the National Cross
Country Association, according to pub
llshed reports, there was real Donnybrook
Fair kind of time. Several athletes had
been aspiring for championship honors, and
OF course some were disappointed. The
Pastime A. C. charged members of the
Xaviers A. C. with professionalism and
vice versa. j. P. Lloyd, of the New York
A. c., charged S. T. Frecht and w. j. Hart,
of the Prospect Harriers, with assaulting
him at the end of championship race. OF
course, the cases were referred to COM
mttees.
Now, all this squabbling and quarrelins
proves that amateur athletes are becoming
more numerous every day. The time was
when we we're even pleased to learn of any
activity of any kind among the amateurs,
| but 1t is different now. They are so numer-
Gus and so good in quality that champion
ship honor is very great thing, and hence
the fighting for it.
While it is not pleasant to read of the
| quarrels, it is perfectly right that no oppor-
tunity should be lost to prefer charges
| against amateurs whenever there seem to
| be sufficient grounds for such charges. A
man who neglects this duty is certainly no
| friend of amateurism, and should not be re-
tained in its ranks. Looking out for
grounds for charges is the best way in the
world to keep amateurism pure, and that is
what we all want. During this athletic
season the officials of our local athletic
clubs are in duty bound to keep a close
lookout for violations of amateur rules, and
in every instance where suspicious cir
cumstances are found charges should be
made.
The Worlds Champion PugiIist.
During the weeks stay of John l. Sulli-
van in this city numerous questions have
reached this Office asking if he is champion
pugilist of the world. Certainly he is not,
and it is an attempt on the part of his man
ayers to defraud the public to announce
him on their show bills as such. What is
more, Sullivan has never had the least
claim to the title of champion of the world.
His first championship fight was with
Ryan, whom he defeated; but Ryan was
only champion of America, because when
RYAN defeated Goss, the latter was not
champion OF England. Sullivan only made
draw with Mitchell. John L. third
and last battle for championship honors
was with Kilrain, who was beaten. But
kilrain was not a champion bona fde, even
OF this country, and certainly not of any
other. 1t is very easy to see, therefore,
that John L. Sullivan at no time in his his
tory has been really champion of the world.
Under the old and recognized rules of
prize fighting Sullivan and others would
have forfeited their title by refusing to
fight within reasonable time, and this
rule, which is at present ignored by every
prominent pugilist both in this country and
N nu1Q haoo At chn
fair to everybody. Sullivan and others of
lesser note talk about people wanting to
make matches simply to make capital out of
the fact of being matched For instance,
Sullivan says that Corbett is reaping a
golden harvest by the advertising he is get
ting because of being matched to fight
Sullivan. Dear me! how soon this
could be all stopped, if the
old championship rule was enforced.
When a man makes q match only allow him
a reasonable time to train and get into con-
dition. and that would stop all show taking.
But depend upon it, neither Sullivan, Cor
bett, Mitchell nor any of the stars" would
consent to this They are all eager to get
big matches on hand far enough ahead to
allow of long tour in show company.
This is, in fact, one of the most essential
elements of modern pugilisr. Without it
we most assuredly would not have such men
as Duncan B. Harrison, Brady and Parson
Davies identified with pusilists. They are
not in it for the sport of it, but for the
money that can be gotten from a very
gullible public. This is just as true as the
TACT that we are alive.
Plimmer and Kelly.
Tomorrow night what promises to be
very lively battle for the bantam-weight
championship of the world will take place
between Billy Plimmer, the English lad,
and Spider" Kelly, of Harlem. There
has already been some heavy betting on the
result at odds of 800 to 500 on Kelly. L
don't think that there ought to be any odds
on the result at all; indeed, 1 will not be
surprised if Plimmer defeats the little ter
ror of Harlem.
Both lads are clever and game little fel- |
lows. Each has fought good fights, and !
asked to do since he came to this country.
And just mark my word that if he does not |
defeat Kelly he will give him the hardest |
struggle he has ever had
The following opinion of ,Jem Carney re- |
garding Plimmer will be OF interest:
81 know every inch of Billy, from the |
soles of his feet to the top of his nut-and a |
harder bunch of flesh for boy never saw.
1 have seen him fight the best lads that |
England has produced, and he made |
monkey out of all of them. Take nv tip, |
and if Plimm er did not show up we'll in his |
former experiences in America it was be- |
cause he had something up his sleeve I |
know what he went there for; it was to meet |
Kelly, and you can take my word for it |
that it will be surprise party for the New
York lad-when they meet in the ring"
The Pugilists in General.
There has been any amount of talk about
the contest between Ed Smith and Joe
Choynski. Statements have varied, but |
pm firmly convinced that Smith had much
the better of Choynski A friend Of mine
who saw the contest and on whose word I
can rely assures me that Smith had much
the better of his man and that Parson
Davies knew it, but for business reasons had
lalse reports sent out by telegraph regard
ing the affair. Of course believe this and
also believe that Smith is very good
man and q better man than some of our
pugilistic stars
Johnny Reagan has the nerve to come to
he front again and ask to fight poor Jack
Dempsey. Reagan's desire al this stage of
Dempsy's lie goes to show that Rea-
,an is not of the most genuine stuff Let
he fallen hero rest. He played good part
md has had his day.
Pritchard says he will fight Fitzsimmons.
If he does, it will be great battle, and it
nay be that Fitzsimmons will meet his
Waterloo. 1 don't say he will but he will
,ave to fight, and fight very hard to hold
lis own against Pritchard. PRINGIE
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