Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-10
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Americans as well as Britous usually
assume-to growl. do not wish to be
considered as entering the baby plea,
but l think the action of Referee
O'Donnell In awarding the decision TO
Billy Plimmer, of England, over me, on
the occasion OF our recent four round
contest at Madison Square Garden, was
not exactly in accordance with the
strict rules Of fair play.
1t is not fair to take away the reputa-
ton a man has spent years in building
up upon the result OF a four round bout
unless one Of the contestants Is either
completely knocked out or is worsted at
avery point in the encounter. This
principle has ever obtained In this
country, now the home OF manly art.
The same rule holds good in England
and Australia, the two next best sight
ing countries on earth. Had not
that rule prevailed John l.. Sui
livan, Peter Jackson, Jack Demp-
sey and Jack McAulitfe would
have had their regulations seriously
endangered II not irretrievably lost on
more than one occasion. When John
L. Sullivan broke his arm on Patsy
Cardiff's hard head some years ago. it
was all he could do 10 stay the four
rounds and Cardiff more than held his
own, yet the referee called IL draw.
So, too, with Peter Jackson, when, ILL
prepared, for a bruising contest, he
went up against Joe Goddard in Aus
tralia for four rounds. Peter, so
printed reports say, had the better OF
g., In ho
four big Joe, these same reports
maintain, reversed the tables and had
slightly the call on Peter. Yet the re-
fierce decided the affair draw. Jack
Dempsey had twice or thrice the same
experience in his career and not many
weeks ago bold Jack McAuliffe had a
shade the worst of it in four round
bout at Philadelphia with Horace
Leeds, a comparative novice. Yet the
referee in Dempsey's case and the re-
fierce in that OF McAuliffe's did not
take away their regulations by decid
ing against them.
No finish fights alone should either
make or mar man. A champions
reputation should he either won or lost
In battle to the end. Four, six, eight
or ten round bouts should not count.
Many champion has had far and away
the worst OF it In the first part
OF the battle and yet won
haudily at the termination Of the en-
pagement. Witness the famous bat
ties between John Morrlsey and
John C. Heenan, Tom Sayers
aid Bill Perry, THE Upton
sasher," and Tom King and Jem
Mace. In all OF these contests Nor
risey, Sayers and King had away the
worst OF the encounter in the begin
ming, yet they won the good fight.
How unjust in these cases IL would
have been in the event Of magisterial
interference at the first part Of the
fray to have given the stakes and the
title OF championship to the man APP
parently having the better OF It'll
So with limited round contests. 1t Is
unjust to take away a champions good
name even though he should have
bit the worst OF it, In these affairs
the widest latitude should DO permitted
aud the greatest genera sity exercised
by the referee.
| am not only willing but anxious to
fight Billy Plimmer to finish. II
am as fortunate in my coming battle
with Solly Smith, OF California, for the
featherweight championship Of the
world as was in my contests with the
champions Of America, England and
Australia, will lose no time in making
overtures to the little Englishman. l
am willing to meet him half way in any
plan looking to 4 meeting. As cham
pion In my class l cannot be expected
TO make all the concessions, as Billy, or
some iudiscreet friend for him, says l
must. 1t takes two TO make contract
and he must make some concessions as
noI I