The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-21


pounds great deal when little men
are considered.
At a meeting Of certain sporting
| writer's and men interested in pugilism
held in my Office some months ago the
following weights in the several classes
were recommended but. sad to say,
were never adopted Bantam, rs
pounds: featherweight, rs; special
class 1875; lightweight 135; weller
weight, 145; middleweight, 155; light
heavy weight. 165; heavyweight, all
over 165 pounds.
The above weights if adopted by au-
thorized representatives of pugilists ana
those interested in the sport, would end
all controversies Fighters could then
obtain the championship in the several
classes without fear OF dispute. AS at
present arranged. that is, if there is
any arrangement at all, few pugilists
know where they stand. There are
nearly as many classes as there are rep
resentative pugilists. This should not
be. BY all means let US hold congress
and settle this vexed question once for
all
George Dixon, the present feather
weight champion, has caused the largest
amount of argument IN his class 1t
has been claimed that he can fight at
112 pounds. This l dou bt, however.
Dixon has grown considerably in the
last two or three years, or since he
fought Cal Mccarthy. He has hardened
in every way, and if his manager says
that he can fight at 112 pounds it is
charity to state that he is elongating
the truth. Dixon, however, is one of
the most successful fighting machines
OF the century
In the lightweight class (so-called)
there have also been many disputes
The latest argument occurred at.the
time when it looked as though Jack
McAuliffe and Dick Burge might be
matched. McAuliffe held out for the
lightweight limit as he understood it,
1873 pounds Burge and his supporters,
although first holding out for 133
pounds, afterwards wanted to fight at
catchweights 1t was clever trick on
the part of the Burge people, but it did
and could not, to save his 'bleedin'
life" get to 1873 pounds.
A uniformity of weights would sim
plify matters and end world of doubt
If the weights | have mentioned were
generally adopted. pugilists would
know just where they stood and we
would have no use for any of the half a
dozen or more special classes.
In referring to fighting machines
the names of three men who can sue.
cessfully lay claim to their titles are
recalled They are first, Jack Nc
Auliffe; second, George Dixon, and
thirdly. Billy Plimmer. These three
men are premiers in their different
classes. The first is pugilistic wonder.
| can not remember the time when |
saw McAuliffe in condition-that is to
say. in such shape that his friends could
confidently say that ne was perfectly
fit He has led a life that would have
killed majority of other men not in
the ring.
fights in fact, in some instances the
night before, he has looked on the
good things of life when they were
very red Everyone has noted the re-
suit of these battles. He has whipped
his men easily and quickly.
Wonderful pugilist! There has never
been one like him. Even John L. Sui
Ivan, the wonder of the fighting world
for years, was never his equal. But
will he always remain the remarkable
fighting machine of the generation?
No, not unless he takes care of himself.
Some day he will enter the ring hog
fat, and his antagonist, if well and care
fully trained. will out-point, even if he
does not whip him and Jacks reputation
will be swept away like chaff before
summers breeze. Nature, when abused
to the utmost, will revolt. No one
wants to see McAuliffe's Waterloo come
in this way. He, better than anyone
else, knows that the world, and es-
pecially the sporting part OF it, has nc
use for a loser.
Dixon as a fighting machine, is in
many respects no less remarkable than
McAuliffe. He does not live so hard.
and in the heads of O'Rourke is well
taken care of. He has been fghsing
for years, and vet there is no deprecia
bic decline in his powers He works
twice day for eight or nine months
each year, is always in condition and
fit to fight for his life at any time. He
is a bundle of muscles and energy.
Billy Plimmer also appears cut out
for human fighting machine. He is
without nerves, hard as nails, com
pactly built and terrific punisher for
a little man. Even his eyelashes APP
pear to add to his capacity as a fighter.
They are capa bic of being reduced and
the same can be said of every other
part of his anatomy. He IS little
English bulldog in pugilistic way
boy, in fact, who viii be hard TO beat
These three men-McAuliffe, Dixon
and Plimmer-are the true fighting ma
chimes of their several classes. ! doubt
if the sporting world will ever see their
like again.
The moneymakers Of pugilism are
attracting attention. do not mean the
men who make money out Of their
fists, pure and simple. but the pugilis-
tic actors now touring the country.
There have been two or three money
makers and now another has been
added to the list Jack McAuliffe. Jack
Will make money fast. but whether ne
will keep il remains to be- seen. The
other two are John l. sullivan and
George Dixon.
Champion James j. Corbett? Yes. ne
is a money maker. but il IS q question
if he does as we'll rs sullivan. Dixon
has clever manager who saves part OF
his winnings and earnings