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

boxers, representing perhaps the most ad-
vanced ideas in that line of pugtlists.
Mitchell, while not strictly identified with
the old line, received his earliest impress
sions and much Of his earlier training from
the old bare-knuckle boxers and WAS reared
In that pusilistic atmosphere which was
largely responsible for the longevity of the
rules of the London prize ring, and for the
hardness with which those of he 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 lon' =
livan BY Corbett In September. 1892. and
the class and records as well as me 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 interna-
tlonal 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
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, a longer training than the Eng
iishnan prior to coming OUT as a lighter
COrbett's Record.
James John Corbett was born In San
francisco. Cal, September /, 1866 of Irish
parents, and received good education I'm
The public schools of that city and at the
college, or the Sacred Heart. When a boy
IN ms teens, he was employed In a bank
ana later held clerkship in the same in
stitution. His first instruction in boxing
was received from Professor Walter Wat
kins OF the Olympic Athlete Club. In 1884
ne made his first appearance i'm a profess
sional way. his opponent being Dave Else
man, whom the Californian disposed of
very easily 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
fought battle of twenty-seven rounds. he
knocked him out second time, breaking
his own hand in the encounter. Jack
Dempsey backed Choynski in this fight.
This latter victory by Corbe.t had been
preceded with the knocking out Of Mike
Brennan, the Port Costa Giant" and with
an eisht-round bout with Jack Burke which
was declared a draw. Corbett was then
only nineteen years old, but he went on
from triumph to triumph, defeating in
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 a 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-
10 (yrapcO-
Roman wrestler. went down before him In
four rounds. The only other victory of any
importance prior to Corbett's battle with
Jake Kilrain was that over Dave Campbell
of Portland, Oregon.
On February II, 1880. 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 H. 1890,
at the Casino. in Brooklyn. n. Y, he de-
feated Dominick Mccartney in a sharp and
hotiy contested battle during the fourth
round.
In the summer of 1890 Corbert issued a
| challenge to fight any man in me world for
| 5000 a side, and on the night of May 2l-22
! 1891. Peter Jackson. the negro puSilst.
met him in San Francisco for purse of
$4,000 offered by the California Athletic
| Club. At the close of the sxty-flrst round
both men were physically unable to con-
| that 1t was a draw. 1t had lasted four
! hours and three minutes, and was one of
! the most stubborn fights in the history of
| the prize ring.
defeated John l.. Sullivan of Boston before
the Olympic Club Of New Orleans FOR a
| stake of $2O.UOo and purse of S2J.TO,
thereby securing the title of American
/ champion. The battle was finished in the
twenty-irs round. Sullivan being complete
| ly knocked out.
! From the time of Tom Hyer, in 1910, UP
| to the defeat of Sullivan. in 1892. every
/ mi at w hf had aDp n fHa tsI
| can champion had. fought for it with bare
knuckles 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-
DAY contest were practically The same
! MitchelI's Record.
| Charles Mitchell was born of Irish parents
in Birmingham, England, November %.
| 1861. His first fight was with Bob Cun-
bingham at Birmingham, on January II.
1878. for e. side. He defeated his antas-
onist in fifty minutes Next he worsted
c. Smithers. on November %, 1879; the,
fought to draw with Bill Kennedy. and
finally defeated Billy Grey, "the black. -
who weighed 176 pounds. Mitchell weighing
i3.-at Manchester, in one round of eleven
minutes. These mills We're followed by one
Wa az yduoH, the belgian giant, in Ant
Werp lor 1,OoO francs the young Britisher
beating his opponent in four rounds and
sixteen minutes. His next victory was over
Tom Tuny, and on June 10, 1881 he fought
Jack Burke to a draw at Ascot darkness
ending the fight. In December, 1882 Mich
ell won the championship of England in
Billy Madden's London competition
The belt which he earned in those con-
tests is massive silver one
soon after MitchelPs arrival in this ,o,,n
try in 1883 he defeated Mike Cleary- and
at Madison Square Garden on Nav ~. he
boxed with John l.. Sullivan and slcceadat
In Knocking the American champion dowr
but the police stopped the fight IN The th.rj
round. meeting between WIN. sheriff
the Prussian, and Mitchell at Harry uiII's
on Long Island was decided to be a draw
and on March &C. 1854. Mitchell defeatet
Joe Denning in four rounds, his next lattle
being with Jake Kilrain in Boston--a draw
In May, 1884, Mitchell defeated Billy En-
wards in notable battle at Madison SQUARE
Garden, and in the following October
fought four rounds with Dominick Nc
Canrey at the same place. the referee de-
c!aring the fight draw.
The next match made by Mitchell was
with Jack Burke of England at Chicago
and at the end of the tenth rpun1 Mitchell
was declared the winner \ meet with
Patsy Cardiff at Minneapolis ended in q