The herald., 1893-09-25
A LETTER FROM SOLLY SMITH,
The Youngster Tells How He
Lives and Trains.
He Gives Reasons for Thinking He
VIII Best Dixon Tonight.
He IL In Perfect Physical Condition.
His Opinion OF the Dixon-Piim-
mer Cole Reviews
Bis Battle.

Solly Smith, the Los Angeles featner-
weight, will tonight fight George Dixon,
the negro champion in that class. There
are comparatively few men who think
Smith vii! win, yet there is no reason to
suppose the contrary, except for the
fact Of Dixon's long-continued success.
AS matter Of fact, there 10 so little to
choose between the two, that barring
the precedent Of Dixon's many victories,
the betting should be even instead OF
100 to go as 1t is. A prize fight, like q
horse race, is easier to guess after it is
over, and tonight whichever way the
contest goes there will be lotof Il told
you 60" fellows. but the writer is
strongly of the opinion that Solly will
win and that the fight will not be long
one.
The following is letter from the Los
Angeles lad to the s. F. Chronicle which
will be found of interest:
AspURY PARK N. j., Sept. 15.-When
step into the ring of the Coney Island
Athletic club on the night of September
25th to dispute with George Dixon his
right to the title OF cham pion feather
weight OF the world l shall be as near
the state OF physical perfection as faith
full work and the unceasing care OF skill
full trainers can make me. Caesar was
not more confident of the subjugation OF
Gaul than am that shall win from
the hitherto-invincible colored lad the
crown he has worn and has 80 well
defended the past ak years. My fiesh
was never harder, my body never more
supple, my head never clearer, and my
confidence is as firm as my muscles.
My trainers, Seward Smith (my
brother), and Jack Oliver, will tell you
that they are not very soft either.
! have seen Dixon twice in the roped
arena. The first time was on the night
OF his easy victory over Pierce before the
Coney Island Athletic club. The second
was his recent meeting with Billy
Plimmer in Madison Square garden,
New York, the result of which so sur
prised the entire world of pugilism. l
watched his tactics-his feints, blows,
guard and every movement. He had
sore need of all his skill, and the occa.
sion brought out all his science.
saw that terrible double leit," and
also saw, as did Plimmer and $4,000
spectators, that it failed of execution.
am not afraid Of that left. It was
useless against Plimmer, and what the
Briton did l can do, and more. Before
that bout, which ended so ydisastrously
for the colored champion, 1 was conf
dent that could whip him.
Now that have seen and studied my
man in action know it. He is rimble,
clever with his hands and feet and
good general. He possesses nothing |
haven't got. And yet il Dixon and
Plimmer ever meet in finish fight the
colored lad will best the English
man. Anyhow that is my opinion.
do not look forward to an easy vic
tory, for must concede that my adver-
eary is more than clever, and the battle
will probably be interesting. Speaking
Of hard contests, have been in the ring
four years In the past is months l
that ever gave me any sort OF fight was
Van Heeet, whom, as you know, met
before the California club in San Fran
cisco, December 29th last. Van was a
good man, and he was game. 1t took IA
rounds to settle matters satisfactorily y
both-or at least to me-and it was one
of the busiest hours Of my life.
NY first match OF any consequence was
Will Odn ulHnOACJ dJOuO @ J1bl anu q
half ago. Dan was champion bantam of
the coast and he had an army OF support
era, who freely prophesied that would
be in peaceful slumber before the tenth
round. Well, you all know how it was.
Dan took nap himself iE the fifteenth l
don't like to refer to my chase for Sc
rounds after Sprinter Siddons. 1t makes
nv legs ache even now. Then came Van
Heest, and I'll shake his hand with
pleasure any time. because he is the
nerviest, gamest fellow / have ever met
for money and honors.
Some OF the eastern papers were very
busy after my meeting last July in Chi
cago with Johnny. Griffin criticising the
way in which pulled down the purse
and stakes. 1t was defined as huke,
chance blow, over-coni ideEce on the part
OF Griffin, who "'all but had me out"
and more rot OF that sort. | never talked
much about the affair, because don't
20 in for newspaper notoriety. but now
want to say this:
OF all my victories in the ring during
the past four yeare-and have an un-
broken record Griffin was the easiest
game / ever ran against. The east
thought the only man on earth who
would have a chance with him was
Dixon. Figured on and trained for q
meeting with q com bination of skill,
nerve and strength. He was SNAP"
l knew it in the first round, and he
learned it when he woke up after the
fourth, He wanted return match. So
say they all. There never WAS man
on earth who was fairly beaten that
didn't howl for ''another chance"
am snugly quartered here at Loeb
Arbour, just outside of Asbury PARK,
in one Of the most delightful Wales in
picturesque New Jersey. With me
are Zick Abrahams, my hacker
and manager, and the man who
brought me out; Seward Smith. my
| brother and trainer, and Jack Oliver, his
assistant. We occupy the whole of
Daviss cottage, 9 handsome and roomy
house, Just back of which is two.story
barn, where l have my training roomH.
The place is only Jew hundred yards
| from that where Corbett trained for his
| fight with Sullivan, and about one mile
and half from "The Farm" where the
big Californian is preparing for his con-
troverEy with Charlie Mitchell next
December.
My present methods of training do
not differ materially from those i have
employed formerly. The entire lower
floor of my training quarters use as an
exercise room. The second floor s de-
voted to q shower bath and is aleo q
place for resting after the rub down. |