Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-25

FITZsIAfMoNs' TERRIBLE RIGHT ARM.
and myself will figure. Tommy Ryan and
Mysterious Billy Smith will battle FOR the
velterweisbt championship of the world,
Steve O'Donncll of Australia and Peter
Maher of Ireland for gold ana glory anu
possibly Jack McAuiiffe and AID Lavlshe
for the lightweight championship Oh the
world.
This will Enthusiastically be the greatest
fistic carnival ever held in any country ana
it is bound to mark an epoch III the MS
tory of fistiana. Additional interest Is
lent to the affair from the fact that win or
lose it will be the last battles IN which
Corbett and McAulitfe will take part and
that if McAuliffe and l win we Will be
the targets at whom myriad challenges
will be leveled by ambitious aspirants for
fistic fame 1t is an open secret that, IN
the event Of my defeating Corbett, Peter
Maher, the Irish champion, should he con
uucr O'Donnell, will be after me hot foot
with challenge for battle. O'Donnell,
too, should fortune favor him in his mill
with the Irishman, says he will challenge
me: so do big Paddy Slayin, late of Aus
tralia, now OF London, and a host of others.
1t is good and wise saying that one
should never count his chickens until they
are Matched. l have been asked by so many
kind friends all over the country, however,
through innumerable letters what would
do in the event OF my winning the cham
pionship that 1 take this method of declar-
ing my intentions. | am now an Amer
lean citizen, and 7 glory in my adopted
country Should I have the good luck to
wrest the championship from Corbett,
will strive to keep it where it belongs-in
America. Of course I can't take cogni-
zance of every challenge hurled at me, but
any "defi' properly backed from man in
the championship class will receive prompt
attention whether that man comes from
England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia,
America or elsewhere. OF course l de-
mand IL proper period of rest after cham
pionship fight, such as has always been
accorded to champions before embarkin9
in another venture. As far as Peter Ma
hers prospective challenge is concerned
(for everybody almost seems to think he
will defeat O'DonnclD L have simply this
to say: l whipped Peter once fairly and
don't see why l should be compelled to es
say the task Il second time. According to
the logic of events, it should only be an
unboaten man l should be compelled to
face, but I am willing TO waive that point
and may take on Peter again if the in
ducements be sufficient.
1t is rather embarrassing for me to talk
about myself, but L am asked lot OF
pointed questions, SO here goes
"Do think l can defeat Corbett?" Ev-
cry mail brings this query. To be candid
and with no feeling OF egotism l reply that
l honestly believe l can otherwise l would
never have made the match. Mind you, l
don't underrate the Californians powers
one whit. He is clever, shifty, strong and
enduring. l know, too, that he is Ia
inches taller and some so pounds heavier
than /. How then, it will be naturally
asked, can give these odds away and OK
poet to winf will tell you. My reach is
nearly as great as Corbett S and | am quite
as strong, if not stronger, in the points
where fighter most needs strcngth-that
is, across the shoulders, chest, arms and
muscles of the back. My blacksmithing
work in early days did that for me. Ex
perts agree that l am tho harder hitter
and as | think am fully as clever rs jim
with my hands, as shifty on my feet and
rs enduring, l argue that / should land
quite as often as the Californian, and if l