Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-28
A REVIEW OF SPORTS.
Final Remarks About the Battle Be-
tween Fitzsimmons and Maher.
THE PROBABLE WINNER IsNANED.
Hopeful Signs ofa Settlement Of the Trouble
Among the Amateur Athletes
TIE WESTERN LEAGUES BAD POLICY

The WESTERN LEAGUES BAD POLICY
Doubtless everybody at all interested In
| sporting matters is anxiously waiting the
result Of Wednesday nights battle between
Fitzsimmons and Maher. It is wonderful
the interest there has developed In the
affair, and only shows what skillful adver-
tising can de in bringing latter day boxers
to the front and getting for them as much
money for big glove contest As would
have kept old-time pugilists going for a life
time. I was just reading the other day
about the efforts necessary to get together
25 sovereigns as a stake to match Tom
Sayers against Collina It really took
seven persons to contribute to the stakes
before the famous champions portion was
| complete. And he went into q severe
course of training for that battle, and Of
course won 25 sovereigns from the Collins
party.
Just fancy battle like that for $3.50 all
told and nowadays couple of youths who
were only selling matches on the street the
other day would be insulted were they
asked to fight four or six rounds for 81, 900
purse or anything like it. Here we have
Peter Maher fighting for purse of $10,0
and he has never fought anything like real
battle in his life. don't mention this in
disparagement of Maher, not at all
only mention 1t to point out that he is a
very fortunate man to be living among
those who are deemed the pugilists of to-
day. know of no man who has come so
ir%o Ia. Ga
class work as Peter Maher. He has sud-
denly jumped out of obscurity and leaped
into an arena to contest for the big sum of
$40, 900. When such inducements are held
out who can blame managers" schemers
yr whatever they may be, for misrepresent-
ing, blowing, defying, or in short anything
that will bring their proteges prominently
before the public and make that public be-
lieve veritable fighting wonder has
fnallv landed among US If the public
is willing to pay the piper Of course we will
never be short of those wonders who seldom
do, but who are always a-going to knock
everything and everybody out of sight.
Probabilities OF the Battle.
But no matter how easily Maher may
have stepped to prominence the fact re-
mains that he is to meet Fitzsimmons next
Tuesday evening. The question is what
will he do? A correct answer to that is
what we want, and suppose is what wen
not get until Tuesdays contest is over.
Three weeks ago had much to say as to
the probable outcome of the contest. At
that time was inclined toward the chances
of Fitzsimmons and after, thinking every
thing over as carefully as can am still 50
inclined. It is quite true that manv of the
ablest judges of pugilistic matters think
otherwise, but despite that fact cannot
avoid the conviction that Maher does not
know sufficient about fighting to defeat the
very active and tricky Australian. IF the
contest was going to be one in which Maher
could always be within reach of Fitzsim-
mons the Irish champion couldn't well lose
But what I rely on most is the fact of
Fitzsimmons' activity. We know that he
is very clever fellow and has good judg-
ment. He displayed both against Demp-
sey, and we also know that many very
clever men often tried to corner Dempsey
and couldn't Fitzsimmons did 1t in very
short order. Well, then, if the Australian
brings into play his cleverness Maher may
be bothered much more than he is anticipa-
ting. His calculations NAV be all upset,
and when this is the case in prize ring
the disappointed man very often gets
'smuddled." have seen it happen often.
If this difficulty should overtake Maher he
will be beaten. Regarding the respective
weights Of the men have little to say be-
cause do not think that the difference is Of
very much Importance. If the Australian
is in good condition at the weight he will
fight at he should be heavy enough to tackle
anybody.
But Maher may be wonder and if he. is
nv selection will be wrong. If he is IS
clever as Fitzsimmons will be mistaken.
MI l. = kLck H., = l.
about Maher and content myself with the
belief that he is not class enough to cope
with FitZsimmons. The betting on the re-
suit is sure to be heavy and those of us who
make bad predictions need not blush, be-
cause the contest is certainly a difficult one
to deal with.
Ryan and Needham.
The Naher and Fitzsimmons affair has
taken almost all interest out of the Ryan and
Needham contest which is to take place to-
morrow evening. 1t Is extremely pleasing
that the date has been changed, because If
these two welter weights had contested in
opposition to the bigger attraction they
would have had very slim patronage; GER
tainly patronage much below what they
are worth.
Ryan and Needham are both good pugt-
lists; they are much superior to the modern
glove boxers whom we know as great
pugilists," and they both have fought some
very hard battles. They have met before,
and then Ryan was hailed the victor after
an argument of rs rounds. Needham COM
planned that lack of condition lost him the
battle; but the contest was really too long
for that excuse to have much weight. He ID
reported as being in very good condition
this time, and so Is Ryan. This is satisfac-
tory, and, both men being all right, want
to put myself on record rs saying that Ryan
will win.
Jackson's Departure.
Peter Jackson quietly left our shores tor
England to get ready for his proposed con-
test with Slavin on May 80. Peters stock
has gone wonderfully down in the United
States during the last year or two. His star
has been on the wane ever since he failed to
defeat Corbett in their miserable affair and
particularly since Corbett has made such
poor efforts at fighting. For the life Of me I
cannot see how jackson is going to defeat
Siavin. The Britishers have q very. high
opinion OF jackson simply because they saw
him at his best and at that time ho was q
good one and no mistake.
But time has not dealt with Peter as It does
with wine. Peter has not improved and
question very much whether he could have
beaten Slavin when he, jackson, was at his
best. But still have . notion that strong
efforts will be made to stop the contest in
London.
Pugilists in General.
Mitchell and Slavin continue to dodge
round and make money. In this respect
they are like all others Of their class, only
Mitchell is much shrewder than anybody
else. Their appearance at New Orleans
Wednesday night is nothing more nor less
than business engagement to make money.
Whoever they meet will amount to very lit
tie, And I am fully persuaded that they
will leave this country without meeting any
body except on purely "business" terms.
hof m vth al 40