Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-02-02
CORBETT AND MITCHELL
THE MEN WHO MET IN THE RING
AT JACKSONVILLE, FLA.

Charles Mitchell was the most
important event in the annals of
the prize ring. It marked a turn
ing point in hstic athletics. Cor
bett belongs to the new school Of
scientific boxers, representing
perhaps the most advanced ideas
in that line of pugilists. Mitchell,
while not strictly identified with
the old line, received his earliest
impressions and much of his ear
lier training from the old bare
knuckle boxers and was reared Ill
that pugilistic atmosphere which
was largely responsible for the
longevity the rules of the Lon
don prize ring, and for the tardl-
ness with which those of the
Marquis of Queensberry crept in
to public favor on either side of
the Atlantic. The fact that the
champions of England and Amer
lea consented to all encounter I'M
der the latter rules and under the
restrictions imposed by the artl-
cles of agreement IS proof in it
self that the new school Of pugl-
lism has already crowded the old
into the rear.
There had been no great event
in the prize ring since the defeat
of John L. Sullivan by Corbett in
September, 1892, and the class
and the records, as we'll as the
standing and the titles of the two
men gave the contest from the
very day that it was first suggest
ed an unusual degree of inter
national interest and of inter
national Importance in sporting
circles. They both are young, as
years are reckoned nowadays,
but they had both been fighting
as an occupation almost since
they were boys. Mitchell is five
years older than Corbett, but he
fought his first pitched battle
when he was only 1o years OF
age, while Corbett was IS, and
had, perhaps, longer training
than the Englishman prior to
coming OUT as fighter.
CORBETT'S RECORD.
James John Corbett was born
in San Francisco, Cal, Septem-
Der I, 1866, of Irish parents. In
1884 he made his first appearance
in a professional way, his oppo-
nent being Dave Else1nan, whom
the Californian disposed of very
easily in two rounds. He then
defeated Duncan Mcdonald, of
Butts, Montana, in four rounds.
At the Olympic Club Corbett de-
feated Choynski in one round,
and later, on a barge in the Sac
ramento river, i'll a hard fought
battle of twenty seven rounds, he
knocked him out second time,
breaking his own hand in the en-
counter. Jack Dempsey backed
Choynsk1 in this fight.
This latter victory by Corbett
had been preceded with the
knocking out Of Kike Brennan,
the Port Costa Giant, ," and with
an eignt-round bout with Jack
Burke which was declared a draw.
Corbett was then only 10 years
old, but he went on from triumph
to triumph, defeating in rapid
succession Jim DAILY i'll two
rounds; Frank Smith of Salt Lake
City in three; George Atkinson in
two; and Frank Glover of Chicago
in two. After his barge battle
with Choynski there was four
round meet for points between
Corbett and Joe McAuliffe, in
which the former easily got the
decision. Prof. John Donaldson,
who has been one Of COrbett's
trainers for this contest with
was easily defeated by
the Californian, while the latter
was still an instructor III boxing
at the Olympic Club, and net
long after this, Prof. VIM. Miller,
the Graeco-Roman wrestler went
down before him in four rounds.
The only other victory of any i'm
portance prior to Corbett's battle
with Jake Kilraiu, was that over
Dave Campbell, of Portland,
Oregon.
On February u, 1890, Corbett
met Jake Kilrain, OF Baltimore,
in a six-round glove contest be-
fore the Southern Athletic Club
of New Orleans, for a purse of
$500 and was declared the Will
ner. On April IA, 1890, at the
Casino, in Brooklyn, N. Y, he de-
feated Dominick Mccartney III a
sharp and hotly-contested battle
during the fourth round.
In the summer of 1890 Corbett
issued a challenge to fight any
man in the world for S. 900 a side
and on the night Of May 21-22,
1891, Peter Jackson, the negro
met him in San Fran
cisco for a purse of $4,000 offer
ed by the California Athletic
club. At the close of the sixty
first round both men were physi-