The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-19

OItu rel erec he should occupy the
same position as tho many glorious and
old time referees that have preceded
| him.
AS 1 am on The subject of reforms
| pugilistic it will not be out of place to
refer to the subject of weights. So
| confusing are the weights nowadays i'll
the several classes that the novice is
bcwildcrcd. Sporting. editors are
| almost daily called on to answer the
| queries of correspondents on this topic
| Especially has the fcathcrwcight limit
been n subject for much argument
| For years the featherweight limit in
England has been 1l6 pounds, but in
this country, this limit, by usage and
|.cnstom, the best criterion. has been 12a
| pounds. This makes difference of six
pounds, Il great deal when little men
are considered
a. meeting of certain sporting
writer's and mon interested in puglism
held in my Office some months ago. the
following weights in the several classes
were recommended. but, sad to say,
were never adopted; Bantam, 1l5
pounds: fcatherweight, ll5; special
class, 1875; lightweight, 135; wcltcr-
weight, 1I5; middlcwcight, 10; light
heavy weight, 1868; heavyweight, all
over 1865 pounds.
The above weights, if adopted by au-
thorizcd representatives of pugilistsand
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 arc rep
rcscntativc pugilistS This should not
be. by all means let us hold 4 congress
and settle this vcxcd 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
III pounds This | doubt. however,.
Dixon has grown considerably in the
'ast two or three years, or since lie
fought Cal Mccarthy lie has hardened
in every way, and if his manager says
that he can fight ut liz pounds it is
charity to state that he is clongating
the truth. Dixon, however. is one of
the most successful fighting machines
of the century.
In the lightweight class (so-callrd)
there have also been many disputes.
The latest argument occurred at the
time when il looked as though lack
McAuliffc and Dick Burgc might bc
matched. McAulffc held out for the
lightweight limit as lie understood IT.
l3S pounds Burge and his supporters
although first holding out for l3:i
pounds. afterwards wanted to fight at
catchwcights. 1t was II clever trick on
the part of the Burgc people, but it did
not work Burgc is IL wctcrwcight
and could not, To save his .'blcedin
life" get to 1913 pounds.
A uniformity of weights would sim
plify matters and end IL world OF doubt.
! f 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 Il
dozen or more special classes
In referring to fighting machines
the names of three men who can sue
ccssfuliy lay claim to their titles are
recalled. They are first Jack Me
Auiffe: second, George Dixon. and
thirdly. Billy Plimmcr. These three
men arc prcmicrs in their different
classes. The first is Il pugilstic wonder.
can not remember. the time when
SAW McAuliffe in condition that is to
say, i'll such shape that his friends could
confidently say that he was perfectly
| ii t. lie has led life that would have
killed IA majority OF other men not in
the ring.
lust previous to his more recent
| 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 puglist. There has never
been one like him. Even John l.. Sui
| Ivan, the wonder of the fighting world
for years, was never his equal Bnt
will he always remain the remarkable
fighting machine of the gcnerationn
No not unless lie takes care of himself.
Some day he will enter the ring hog
| fat. and his antagonist, if we'll and care
! fully trained, will out point, even if lie
| does not whip him and Jacks reputation
will be swept away like chaff before a
summers breeze. Nature, when abused
To the utmost, will revolt. No one
wants to see McAulitfcs Waterloo come
in this way. He better than anyone
else, knows that The world, and cs-
pccially the sporting part OF it, has no
use for loser.
Dixon, as IL fighting machine, is in
many respects no less remarkable than
McAuliiic, lie does not live so hard.
and in the heads of O'Rourllc is well