The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-12
RING GOSSIP.
The Dixon-0' 0'Rourke Split and Other
Contemporaneous Bits of News.

| were not especially surprised TO hear that
| the famous firm of Dixon a. O'Rourke
had broken partnership. When this re-
| port first came to my ears / took no
stock in it, whatever, and not un-
| til j was sure that George Dixon
| was in Boston did / succumb to what
| has proved to be a fact. Dixon and
| O'Rourke at loggerheadsl For years they
have been closely connected with every
| pugilistic deal, always dividing profits,
and always appearing to be in perfect har-
mony with each other. What is the cause
OF it all? That is question to answer.
So many uncertain answers are given
| to this query that nobody outside
| OF the two men themselves know the zeal
cause OF the rupture. Had 1t been that
| O'Rourke and Wolcott had severed
connection, would not have been at all
surprised. as Tom has said right along
that it was on account OF no love that he
had for the welterweight that no looked
after his interests, but simply
| from financial standpoint.
can't stand the sight OF him." he would
say, "and I'd be glad il somebody would
come along and knock his block off,
when he was not In the ring" Then, in
referring TO Dixon, he would continue,
'I like that little fellow, and would do
anything in the world for him. He is
always amiable, willing to take advice
and the most unostentatious boy in the
ring today.
Now they are quits. The most plausible
that can obtain came directly to me
through John J. Quinn, Peter Maher's
backer, this morning, he being in re-
ceipt of the telegram and letter from Tom
O'Rourke asking him to lot Maher take
Dixon's place and share In the receipts.
He declined the offer with thanks. 81
have 1t es follows" said he. "After
Dixon boxed Critic he left off his sweaters
and took a severe cold. He kept with his
company, however, as long as he could
hold up, and then he left the show and
came to Boston. Before Dixon left his
company, O'Rourke tried to get Billy
Plimmer TO take his place, and also
wired me his offer for Peter Maher, as
have said. In my opinion, the show
business being none too good just now,
Dixon used excellent judgement in laying
off for rest at this period. That's all /
know about it," There is possibly a
chance, however, that Dixon has returned
home for the following reason: 1t will
be remembered that there is license
issued for boxing exhibition in
Music Hall, Boston, for March s, the
date upon which he was TO fight Marty
Flaherty, of Lowell but which was after
ward Cancelled. 1t would not seem un-
| reasonable, therefore, to suppose that
Dixon will be one of the attractions for
| the date mentioned, and has returned
home to get himself into some kind Of
shape. Then, again, there is rumor that
| Dixon has been drinking heavily OF late,
| and has got himself into such Trim TINT
| he was no longor fit TO appear in public
exhibition. Still another, and which, by
| the way, take more stock in than any
other, is to the effect that O'Rourke's
uneven disposition had riled the colored
man so that without q moments hesi-
| fancy he decided to sever the connection
and go his own way. O'Rourke's dispo-
siti5n shows itself when seconding his
men in battle. For instance, in many
| OF Dixon's contests where a referee felt
justified in not giving a decision, O'Rouke
would not lose moment in denouncing
| the judge OF the bout in unmeasured
terms, aud hurting al sorts OF ungen-
tlemanly epithets at the referee.
| Dixon, on the other hand, would only
smile and shake the hand OF the man who
| decided the set-to. This spark of nature
1
(, inclined, therefore, 10 believe the differ
ence between the fighter and the manager
sprang from the seed which o. 'Rourke has
sown. Yet, Notwithstanding the fact
that they are at loggerheads, shall be the
most surprised man in the country il / do
not hear very shortly that the two have
kissed and made up.
1 1T FDs
TO contest for the middleweight cham
pionship OF New England under the au-
spices Of the Charlesbank Athletic Club
in Boston on the evening OF Thursday,
Feb. 2i, are in the prime Of condition, and
are ready TO jump in today, IL called upon,
TO battle for supremacy The result OF
this battle will be watched with great
interest, for besides the championship, a
slight feud will also be settled.
The unfortunate wind up OF Mike Dono-
vans benefit in New York the other night
will, without much doubt, prohibit spar
ring for good throughout New York
State, and the blame lies wholly at Denny
Buffers door. Denny, being a brother
in-law OF the New York Athletic Clubs
fistic tutor, was naturally chosen to
nll the place of referee. When the
time came TO announce the winner OF the
Ahern- Hayes bout, although Hayes had all
the better OF Is, Denny awarded the de-
cision TO his protege, Ahorn. This en-
ragged Hayes, and he jumped up and went
at his rival, hammer and tongs. The con-
sequence was both men were arrested and
locked up. II was oil Buffers fault. This
IL not the frst occasion that Denny has
precipiiatcd the professor into trouble
owing TO his partiality. and he should
have profted by his experience. DON
ovan, however, might have well known
hat Butler had more than passing in
terest in Ahern, md consequently should
not have permitted Lin 10 pass judgment
in contest Of tnis sort. ~ 10 natural IA