The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-17

he feels that he has the advantage. A well
and hard-fought round of four minutes dura-
ton will tire out any man, for it is the pace
that kills, and in this kind of glove contest
all other conditions being equal-the difference
actual work performed in the torn of re-
slstance only, between the larger and the
smaller man, even II no blows are landed, will
shortly exhaust the smaller of the two
These rules do not cover the conditions that
would occur In actual combat, but those of the
prize ring do. No match can be fought out
under strict Queensberry rules, except by the
most cool and expert. and cannot recall one
that have witnessed in which the rules were
not violated by the principals or referee. 1t
may be commended by some that match could
not be fought with gloves under the prize ring
rules. That is a mistake. The clinching takes
place anyway, and the falls from wrestling on
properly padded floor would be no more than
what actually takes place in wrestling match
and less harmful, less brutal and more humane
than the beating the weaker man is compelled
10 receive I'LL the end OF the round. AS it is,
the practice of boxing under Queensberry rules
does not fulfill its purports, does not develop
real bona-fide champion pugilists, and in most
cases simply proves that the taller, heavier and
stronger man is the biggest.
1t has never been contended that good
little man can whip good big man. but the
records show that men of moderate size pos
that properly exercised enables them to over
come the other; hence the worlds greatest
Wrestlers, rough and tumble, and prize ring
lighters have generally been men OF moderate
size
There is very little use of arguing as to the
relative merits Of the old masters of the prize
ring and those of the modern boxer under the
present rules, as they cannot be brought to-
gether. But it isan incontrovertible fact that
the champions OF the present day have gained
their positions by defeating their physical in
terlors, while many of the champions OF the
London prize ring gained theirs by defeating
their physical superiors. Again, champion
is only at his best in his lifetime, and that
does not cover a period of many years. Real
champions are but occasional products, and thus
the new and younger often gains his position
by the physical deterioration as well as by the
advantage he gains from the study of the
methods of his predecessors.
Inregard to skill-thanks to the gymnasium
it is more common and general among the
people than formerly. Much has been added
to the science of boxing, but not nearly so
much as generally supposed. Very few of the
blows OF the modern boxer were unknown to
the masters of decade ago, while much OF
the actual science OF real fighting is unprac-
ticed, If not literally unknown.
Boxing as science is primarily intended to
enable man to defend himself successfully
against the attack of his physical superior as
well as to overcome him, and any system that
teaches the hopelesSness of such possibility is
radically wrong All experts know that the
taller man has every advantage in standing off
and delivering his blows from distance,
equally well do they know that the smaller
mans chance is well nigh hopeless except by
infghting, clinching and wrestling. The
Queensberry boxer haggles at slight differ
ence in weight-the London prize ring fighter
Vi lO4 successfully IOugnG anu ueIedletl
all weights To what conclusions do these
facts portend? They certainly do not show to
the advantage OF the modern boxers as class,
and make comparison futile Individual cases
are OF little use as citicisims, but q series OF
such form certain incontrovertible facts. All
know of the great skill of Corbett and Jackson,
neither of whom has ever faced his physical
superior, and has little to fear from smaller
men under Queensberry rules.
Sullivan in his prime at 200 pounds drove
the doughty 150-pound Mitchell through the
ropes at Madison-square Garden and barely
escaped defeat at the hands of that same
Mitchell under London priZe-ring rules at
Chantilly. Edwards, the greatest lightweight
superior weight and strength of Mitchell under
Queensberry rules. Dempsey, the nonpareil,
in the prime of his youth and strength, utterly
failed to overcome the then veteran and prac-
tically retired the London prize-ring fighter
Donovan and barely saved himself from utter
defeat under Queensberry rules. '"This was
one of the very few matches that ever took
place from which any deductions can be drawn
as both men were masters, age on Donovan's
side, youth on Dempsey's, but limitations OF
rounds to his possible disadvantage. Thus
does the record go on, with exceptions few and
far between, the physically superior conquer
and faulty Queensberry rules. These rules
should be changed and radically new ones SUBJ
stituted for amateur contests. Respectfully,
L. r. FUIDA.
Professor George F. Green of the Olympic
Club viii be rendered farewell benefit by his
many friends on Tuesday evening at Odd Fell
lows Hall. Among those who have volun-
teered their services are Young Mitchell, Ii. L.
Clark, George Meihling, Paul Bornhartt, Joseph
Sutton and Fred Everett, Louis Tronchet and
f. Lastretto, j. Cathcart w. Hallett, S. Carter,
j. Mckinley, F. Brown, I. Eggert, j. Harrison
and many other celebrities. The master OF
ceremonies states that the entertainment will
be first class in every particular and well worth