The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-03
CORBETT AND JOHN L.
The Californian Discusses His
Match With the Champion.
WHAT HE WILL DO If HE WINS.
Jim Will Train Honestly and Be in Con-
feated Will Have No Excuses.

l have been asked to explain why I so
eagerly accepted the challenge of John L.
Sullivan for finish fight at New Orleans
for the worlds championship, especially
as his defiance was not aimed distinctly
at me but more directly at those arrant
pugilistic humbugs and windy orators,
Francis Patrick Slavin, of Australia, and
Charles Mitchell, of England. l dislike
exceedingly the idea of rushing into
print to explain my position, as the poll
ticians put it, for fear that 1 may be
classed as an orator and letter-writer and
not as fighter. The eloquent Mr..
Mitchell and the verbose Mr.. SIavin ap-
pear to enjoy monopoly of this sort of
thing, and do not wish for moment to
infringe one iota upon their exclusive
rights. Besides, they need it in their bus
ness and do not. ~,
am constrained, however, to narrate
the moving causes which led me to accept
Sullivan's challenge in a sportsmanlike
manner, while the laxative foreigners in
dulged in mere belligerent correspond
ence at the safe distance of a thousand
miles or more. l wish to say that no man
ever entertained a greater respect for John
L. Sullivan's prowess and honesty than l
do. When 1 was but boy he was the
recognized champion of the world. That
proud position he attained by genuine
hard fighting and not by windy utterances.
l rejoiced as much as any man in this
broad domain that an American had met
all corners from every section of the globe
and had never been compelled to lower his
arm.
1t is weli-known fact, however, that
the great Bostonian brooks no rival near
mis- throne. When first began to attract
the attention of the sporting public by
reason of some fistic performances which
they thought possessed slight bit of
merit, notably the defeat of KilraIn at
New Orleans the year following his battle
with Sullivan, the "big fellow" began to
speak in the most disparaging terms of
my ability and courage. This, too, of a
man he had never seen, and could conse-
Quently form no estimate of his qualities
of head and heart.
Next he declared in Boston that he
could knock me out in four rounds. That
caused me to speak for the first time.
gave an exhibition in Brooklyn about this
period and offered the mighty man from
Boston the entire gate receipts if he could
make good his words. He did not see fit
to accept, and Dominick Mccartney, the
man who stood Sullivan off for seven
rounds at Cincinnati in 1885, took his place,
with what results the public are familiar.
stood all of Sullivan's ''roastlngs" with
out descending to retaliatory measures,
first, because / knew that he had his
hands full in this line with "bombastic
sprinters" from abroad, and, second, be-
4 ~. A ri.
tanned the proud eminence of being the
worlds champion. / wanted no inter
change of journalistic ''courtesies" with
my countrymen, whatever l might do
with foreigners.
All this. thought. was past and for
gotten when met Sullivan out West and
afterward spared with him at my benefit
IN San Francisco, just prior to his depart
ure for Australia At that time the "big
fellow" was in very poor condition, weigh
ing something like go pounds, and / had
been requested by his manager to play
light" as "Sully could not box for keeps"
Just then. In fact, Sullivan was in such
bad form that il was determined by those
nearest him to have us box III dress suits
instead of ring costume so as to conceal
his obesity from the eyes of the public.
We boxed and / kept my agreement.
''played light" Judge of my amazement
and indignation. then, when Sullivan an
nounced Immediately after, as he also did
few days ago, that asked him to "let up"
on me- That statement is false and he
knows it. l never have challenged Sulli-
van, nor never would have challenged
him, because, as l said before, he was an
American and held the proud title of
worlds champion" l was cunning for
foreigners who schemed to pull him down
from his high pedestal by ''Chantilly
methods"-viz., running, spiking, fouling
and other tricks peculiar to British sprint
ers. Will say this. however, that it has
always been the dearest wish of my heart
TO meet Sullivan. While / never gave ex-
preston TO the conviction, as did not
wish to be put down as boaster, it has
always been my earnest belief that could
defeat John L. | was convinced of II
after our San Francisco meeting. l could
hit him when and where | pleased and
stop or eyade his fierce rushes. Rushers
have been whipped before and am conf
dent John L. Sullivan can be.
Inquiring friends have asked what
shall do in the event of defeat at the hands
of the great Bostonian. To that | will
simply say this: II did not go into the
fighting business for the mere love of the
sport, but TO get what gold and glory
could out of 1t. determined as soon as