Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-25
Greatest in the Annals of the Prize
Ring.
new and OLD SCHOOL OF BOXING
History Of the Corbett-MitcheII
Match.
RECO RDS OF THE MEN.

| belongs to the new school Of scientific
boxers. representing perhaps the most ad-
| vanced ideas in that line of pugiiists.
Mitchell while not strictly identified with
| the old line. received his earliest impress
sions and much of his earlier training from
| the old are-knuckle boxers and was reared
| in that pugilistic atmosphere which was
| largely responsible for the longevity of the
rules of the London prize ring and for the
hardness with which those of The Marquis
| of Queensbury crept into public favor on
| either side of the Atlantic.
| The fact that the champions of England
and America consented to encounter under
the latter rules and under the restrictions
imposed by the articles of agreement is
proof in itself that the new school of pugil-
ism has already crowded the old into the
rear.
There has been no great event in the
prize ring since the defeat of John l.. Sui
Ivan by Corbett in September, 1892 and
the class and records as well as the stand
Ing and the titles of the two men gave the
contest from the very day that it was first
suggested an unusual degree Of internal
tional interest and of international i'm
portance in sporting circles. In order to
fully appreciate this condition it will be
necessary to glance at the records of the
two men. They both are young, as years
are reckoned nowadays, but they had 10th
Deen nghting 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 sixteen years of
age. while Corbett was eighteen and had
perhaps, longer training than the Eng
iishinah prior TO coming OUT a lighter.
Corbett's Record.
James John Corbett was horn in San
Francisco. Cal, September /. 1866. of Irish
parents. and received good education in
the public schools Of that city and at the
College
in his teens. he was employed in a bank,
and later held a clerkship in the same in
stitution. His first instruction in boxing
was received from Professor Walter Wat
kins OF the Olympic Athletic Club. In 1884
ne made his first appearance In a profess
sional way. his opponent being Dave Else
man, whom the Californian disposed of
very ea silly In two rounds. He then defeat
ed Duncan Mcdonald Of Butte, Mont in
four rounds. At the Olympic Club Corbett
defeated Choynski in one round. and later
on barge in Sacramento river, in a hard
i,ousnt battle OF twenty-seven rounds. he
knocked him out a second time breaking
his own hand In the encounter. Jack
Dempsey backed Choynski in this fight.
This latter victory by Corbett had been
preceded with the knocking out of Mike
Brennan. the Port Costa Giant" and with
an eight-round bout with Jack Burke. which
was declared draw. Corbett was then
only nineteen years old. but he went on
rapid succession Jim Daily in two rounds,
Frank Smith Of Salt Lake City in three.
George Atkinson In two. and Frank Clio
yer Of Chicago in two. After his barge bat
tie with Choynski there was q four-round
meet for points between Corbett and Joe
McAuliffe In which the former easily got
the decision. Professor John Donaldson.
who has been one Of Corbett's trainers for
this contest with Mitchell was easily de-
feated by the Californian while the latter
was still an Instructor In boxing at the
Olympic Club. and not long after this Pro-
fessor William Miller, the famous Graeco-
four rounds. The only other victory of any
importance prior to Corbetts battle with
Jake Kirain was that over Dave Campbell
Of Portland, Oregon.
On February II, 1890, Corbett met .Jake
Kilrain of Baltimore In a six-round glove
contest before the Southern Athletic Club
of New Orleans for purse of $500, and
was declared the winner. On April Ia. 1880.
at the Casino, In Brooklyn. N. Y, he de-
feated Dominick McCaffrey in 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
5000 a side, and on the night Of May 21-22,
1891. Peter jackson. the negro pugilist.
met him in San Francisco for a purse Of
$4,000 offered by the California Athletic
Club At the close of the sixty-flrst round
both men were physically unable to con-
tinue the battle but the referee decided
hours and three minutes, and was one of
the most stubborn fights in the history Of
the prize ring.
On the night of September 7. 1892, Corbett
defeated John L. Sullivan Of Boston before
the Olympic Club Of New Orleans for a
stake of $4,000 and purse of s25,vtN,
thereby securing the title Of American
champion. The battle was finished in the
twenty-first round, Sullivan being complete
ly knocked out.
From the time of Tom Hyer, in 1s49, up
to the defeat of Sullivan. in 1892, every
pugilist who had earned the title of Ameri-
can champion had fought for it with bare
knuckies and according to the London
prize ring rules, but by the terms Of the
agreement between Corbett and Sullivan
their battle was with gloves and under
Marquis of Queensbury rules the cham
pionship being won for the first time under
such conditions. and the conditions of to-
days contest were practically The same
MftchelPs Record.
Charles Mitchell was born of Irish M ron i,
in Birmingham. England, November "a
1861. His first fight was with Bob Gun.
bingham at Birmingham, on January IL
1873, for 70 side. He defeated his antag-
onist in fifty minutes. Next he worsted
Z. Smithers. on November %, 1879: then
rought to draw with Bill Kennedy. and
hnally defeated Billy Grey, 1.-The black"
VINO weighed l1G pounds, Mitchell Weighing
i32-at Manchester, in one round of eleven
mn uteS- IneSe mills were followed by one
with Caryadon, the Belgian giant in Ant
Werp' Tor 1000 francs, the young Britisher
peatlhS MS opponent in four rounds and
sixteen minutes. His next victory was over
rom Iully, and on June IT, 1851 he fourbt
JACK Burke to draw at Ascot darkness
ending the fight. in December lSS2 Mitch
ell won the championship of England in
biliy Madden's London competition
The belt which he earned in those con
tests is a massive silver one.
soon after Mitchells arrival in this ,oun
Try IN 1883 he defeated Mike Cleary. and
at Madison Square Garden, on Nav ~ he
Doxed with John l.. Sullivan and succeado.,
IN knocking the American champion down
out the police stopped the fight IN the th.r.
round. meeting between VIM Sheriff.
the RUSSIAN, and Mitchell al Harry HilTs
on Long Island was decided to be a draw
and on March 20. 1884, Mitchell defeated
Joe Dennins in four rounds, his next tat.Ie
pelng with Jake Kilrain in Boston--a draw
In May, 1884, Mitchell defeated Billy Ell
wards in a notable battle at Madison Square
Garden, and in the following October
fought four rounds with Domnick Nc
Caffrey at the same place, the referee de-
clarinS the fight draw.
The next match made by Mitchell was
with Jack Burke Of England at Chicago.
and at the end of the tenth r,un1 Mitchell
was declared the winner. A meet with
Patsy Cardiff at Minneapolis ended in q