The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-25
sketches of the COntending Pugilfsti
-YVhx All Snarfa re reused.

Why All Sports Are Aroused.
All things considered, today's battle be-
tween James ]. Corbett and Charles Mitchell
is the most important event in the annals
of the prize ring. 1t marks a turning point
in fistic athletics. Corbett 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 earlier
training from the old bare knuckle boxers and
was reared in that pugilistic atmosphere
which was largely responsible for the longe-
vity of the rules of the London prize ring,
and for the tardiness with which those of
the Marquis of Queensberry crept into pub
lie favor on either side of the Atlantic. The
fact that the champions of England and
America consented to an 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. Sullivan by
Corbett in September, 1892. and the class
and records, as well as the standing and
titles of the two men, gave the contest from
the very day that it was first suggested an
unusual degree of international interest and
of international Importance in sporting cir
Il
dition, it will be necessary to glance at the
records of the two men. They both are
young, as years are reckoned nowadays, but
they both had been fighting as an occupation
almost since they were boys. Mitchell is five
wears 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
Englishman prior to looming out" as
fighter.
CoRBETTS CAREER.
James John Corbett was born in San
Francisco, Cal, September l, 1866, of Irish
parents, and received good education in
the public schools of that city and at the
college of the Sacred Heart. When boy
in his teens he was employed in bank. and
later on held clerkship in the same institu
ton. His first instruction in boxing was
| received from Professor Walter Watkins of
the Olympic Athletic Club. In 1884 he
made his first appearance in professional
way, his opponent being Dave Eiseman,
whom the Californian disposed of very
easily in two rounds. He then defeated
Duncan Mcdonald of Butte, Montana, in
four rounds At the Olympic Club Corbett
defeated in one round, and later
River, in a hard fought battle of twenty
seven rounds. he knocked him out a second
time, breaking his own hand in the encoun-
ter Jack Dempsey backed Choynski in this
| fight This latter victory by Corbett had
| been preceded by the knocking out of Mike
| Brennan, the ssPort 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 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 Glover of Chicago, in two After his
barge battle with Choynski there was four
round meet for points between Corbett and
| Joe McAuliffee, in which the former easily
got the decision. Prof. John Donaldson,
who has been one OF Corbetts trainers for
| feated by the Californian, while the
| latter was still an instructor be
| fore the Olympus Club of New Orleans for
a stake of 1000 and purse of $25, 600,
| thereby securing the title of American cham
pion. The battle was finished in the twenty
| first round, Sullivan being completely
knocked out.
From the time of Tom Hyer, in 1840. p to
| the defeat of Sullivan in 1892, every pugilist
| who had earned the title of American cham
pion had fought for it with bare knuckles
and according to the London prize ring rules,
| Corbett and Sullivan their battle was with
| gloves and under the Marquis of Queens
| berry rules, the championship being won for
| the first time under such condition, and the
conditions of todays contest were practically
| the same.
| HIS VICTORIES.
| On February IL, 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, 1890, at
| the Casino, in Brooklyn, N. Y, he defeated
/ Dominick McCaffrey in a sharp and hotly-
contested battle during the fourth round
In the summer of 1890 Corbett issued q
| challenge to fight any man in the world for
| So. 900 a side, and on the night of May 21-22,
1891, Peter jackson, the negro pugilist, met
| him in San Francisco for purse Of $4,000,
offered by the California Athletic Club. At
the close of the sixty-frst round both men
| were physically unable to continue the battle,
| and the referee decided it was draw. 1t
| had lasted four hours and three minutes, and
was one of the most stubborn fights in the
| history of the prize ring.
On the night of September z, 1892 Corbett
| defeated John L. Sullivan of Boston.
CHARLEY MITCHELL.
Charles Mitchell was born of Irish parents
in Birmingham, England, November "a,
1861. His first fight was with Bob Cunning
ham at Heebey Oak, Birmingham, on Jan
uary II, 1878, for G5 a side He defeated his
antagonist in fifty minutes. Next he
/ worsted C. Snnithers on November *, 1879,