The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
C0RBETT AND MITCHELL.
REFEREE ECKHARDTs ESTIMATE
OF THE RIVAL CHAMPIONS.

the Great Battle viii Surely Take
Place-The Winner VIII Probably
Capture 100000 Prize Money.
tCoDpiGhtj
By John P EckhGrdt. O6iciaI Referee Of the
Coney Island Athletic Club.
New YoRK, March 4.-There can scarcely
be any doubt entertained now that James
J. Corbett, champion pugilist Of America,
and Charles Mitchell, the premier Boxer OF
England, viii meet in the rope arena
next December and battle for the worlds
championship. The greatest gladiators Of
the old and new world will have every pos
sible incentive TO attain the need of vic
tory. TO the conqUeror it means fame and
fortune. This is proved by the wonderful
career Of John L. Sullivan, whose renown
pervaded all portions Of the universe and
whose mighty arms conjured up gold like
the wand OF a magician. Corbett, too,
since his defeat Of Sullivan, is known at
points Of the compass where the names OF
Benja min Harrison, Grover Cleveland and
Chsuncey NJ. Depew were never heard OF.
He has also gained wealth aud could retire
now upon a competency if he were 80 dis
posed. With the prospects, then, of endur-
lug fame before them ana the riches which
follow in the train of success, why should
either principal funk from match once
entered iutol
True, large contingent of the sporting
public are skeptical about the sincerity of
both champions. They declare, with some
show Of reason, that Corbett and Mitchell
could both very easily afford TO put up
$4,000 forfeit for a fight which is to take
place away of in December next, ten
months from the present time, and make
81, 900 a week, or $50. coo in ten months, and
then decide 10 save their comelInes3 and
laugh TO scorn clubs and matchmakera
Seventy thousand dollars net gain, these
critics aver, is a pretty penny to turn with
out receiving a mark Of a bruise. or
Mitchell especially are the talent suspicious
They point to the Englishman's record, and
declare that he has always been the most
fnnicky man living about making q match
This may be true in regard to jack Demp-
sey, AL Greenfield and Jem Smith, for in a
battle with them he had everything to
lose and nothing to gain, but the
moment he had an opportunity to
get on a match with the ex>cham-
pion Of champions, JOHN L. Sullivan,
heImmediately seized is and put not the
slightest obstruction In the way OF Its con-
summation. In a contest with Sullivan he
bad everything to gain and nothing 60 lose
and 1t is upon the gallant fight he put up at
ex-champton, bhat the foundation of bis
fame rests. Now, as on the match with
Sullivan, the willy Briton again sees the OPP
portunity Of his life before him. Indeed,
Mitchell believes grander opportunity is
afforded him. To whip the man who
whipped Sullivan means life OF affluenoe,
luxury and ease for all time to come.
Mitchell, should he succeed in defeating our
champion, could make 81, 900, 900 Ia ten
years and never be forced to meet another
aspirant for fstic fame. Indeed, it is safe
to assume that no amount of threats, en-
treaties or objurRRtions could cajole the
shrewd Englishman into another match.
Again, should fortune favor Mitchell the
Briton would kill two birds with one stone
He would become the idol Of the British
sport ting public, with whom he is now un-
popular, and he would also win the good
will of thousands and tens Of thousands Of
Suilivan's supporters, who, justly or I'M
justly, bitterly hate the present champion.
At one stroke Mitchell, II fortunate, as
have endeavored to show, would regain the
standing he lost years ago, both in this
country and in England. That means that
he can make q fortune in each Of them.
Moreover. Mitchell really believes that be
can whip Corbett and is naturally all the
more anxious for battle. | doubt that
he ever believed in the bottom of his hear
that be could defeat John L. Sullivan, when
that giant was in his prime, yet he had the
nerve to face him. Why, then, should he
funk from a match with a man whom he
thinks he oan oonqueri
AS TO Corbett, l am convinced that he is
eager 20 meet Mitchell for two reasons:
First, IN the language Of On eminent states,
man, FOR personal comfort and satsfaC-
tion, and second, because he opines that
the pugilist who whips the Englishman will
be the most popular man in this country.
He is positive that he can perform the feat,
and would dance for joy to be given the op-
portunity.
Now as to the argument raised by that
class Of skeptics have mentioned who be-
lieve that neither man will fight, but forfeit
$4,000 each on the day OF battle after
''cadding" eighty odd thousand dollars in
exhibitions. That is, think, puerile ia the
extreme. Such a course would ruin the
future Of the fighter attempting 1t. He
could never again appear on a public stage.
What lovers Of sport, be they American,
English, Irish, German or Australian
most admire in pugilist Is courage. 1t
even outclasses cleverness in their estima-
ton Let them once think that a champion
10 counterfeit and lacks this prime requisite
his gladiatorial days are numbered. He
could not make dollar where be made a
century" before. What chastity is 20 a
woman courage is 20 a fighter. When
should be peculiarly their own the world at
once gives them, as my friend Pat Sheedy
Gays, the marble heart
Yes, it a dollar TO a doughnut that Cor
bett and Mitchell will fght-but wherel
All, there's the rub. The battle will cause
N my opinion, more international interest
than the Corbett- Molyneaux, Heenan-
Sayers, Sullivan Mitchell, Kilrain-Smith,
or any other international contest. The
two fneu, with the possible exception of
Peter jackson, are unquestionably the clev-
crest living. The majority Of people believe
that they are the greatest Caucasian fight
ers breathing, and naturally the most in
tense interest attaches to the contest.
Representative clubs, north and south,
will undoubtedly make big bids
for the fight, but whether
they will reach the colossal figures
demanded by Champion Corbett lie prob
lemstical. Seventy-hve thousand dollars
Is a tremendous sum to take a chance on,
but this will say, Judge Newton and his
confreres of the Coney Island Athletic Club
are public spirited and game men. II there
Is any possible chance TO secure that contest
these enterprising gentlemen will seize it,
Il is their ambition TO have the heavy
weight championship Of the world decided
at the club house by the sea, and if our
southern friends expect that battle they
will have to put up the hardest kind of a
hard fight to secure it,
Corbett, see, gives us the preference.
other things, that is stakes purse aud non.
maRtsterial lnterferenCe hang aoual vuh{Io