The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-17
CAN KILRAIN Do 1T
GREAT INTEREST CENTERS In HIS
FIGHT WITH O'DONNELL

I'm His Day Jake kiIrain Put Up Many a
Hard Battle, Even Scoring Majority
of Points in a Fight with Sullivan, but
He is Old Now and Corbett's Boxing
Partner VIII Make Him Strike Lively TO
Night--sulIiyan will Challenge the
Winner at the Ringside.
Boston, March 16.-The greatest in
terest in the pugilistic world centers
around the contest which takes place
between Stephen O'Donnell and Jake
Kilrain next Monday night ut the Suf
folk Athletic club Of this city.
Whether Kilrain, in his second pugil-
istic life. is capable of the deeds Of
Kilrain Of former years remains TO be
seen. Close observers Of pugilistic
events believe that Jake is not at
present equal to the feats that made
him famous years ago. In support of
this opinion they point to Kiirain's
long absence from active competitions,
and argue that such inactivity makes
an athletes movements slow. IN order
10 offset this drawback it is claimed
Kilrain would have to train hard for
many months. Basing their opinion on
the lines indicated, the critics also say
that kilrain has taken on conSidera-
BILE flesh during the period of inactivity
mentioned, and that he will not have
sufficient time TO properly prepare him
self between now and the date set for
the contest His vitality, they claim,
viii in consequence surely be weakened
nv the fnr.aI strain ii VIII he nlIt TO
and this viii, it is believed, injure his
chances Of success against SO clever
and strong an athlete as O'Donnel.
Then, too, Kilrain, has not lived q
model life, and il is a serious question
in the minds of sporting men whether
Kilrain could successfully stand
severe course of training. Past ex-
perience seems TO have convinced the
knowing ones that youth and strength
always triumph over athletes who have
been careless Of their moral obligations,
hence their unwillingness to believe
that the Kilrain of today is capable of
the brilliant feats Of the Kilrain OF by
gone days.
ONE OF THOSE WHO FELL
Instances of the defeat of once great
pugilists who led gay lives by younger
and more careful livers is eloquently
illustrated in the defeat of Sullivan and
Mitchell by Corbett, Dempsey by FitZ-
simmons. and Cal Mccarthy by Dixon.
VIII Kilrain's name be added to the
list? Who knows? Kilrain in his day,
the smart set admitted, was n great
fighter, and they profess to believe that
if he had not lived in Sullivan'S time
he might have been the champion. Kill
rains victory over Mitchell, when both
men Were in their prime. aurgurS well
for the Baltimorean's clevernesS, the
critics think. Kilrain is unquestio1a-
IL
Is especially skilful and effective With
mis- left hand. During Sullivan's reign
as the king Of all fighting men Kilran
was the next best man.
If Kilrain had been allowed TO fight
SlaVin in his own way when he met
the Australian in Hoboken in 1891
many good judges believe he would
have outpointed Slavin in the ten
rounds. he, however. followed the ad-
vice of William Muldoon and Mike"
Cleary, his seconds, which was to mix
It up with SIavin, and in the sixth
round he received terrific uppercUt
that lost him the battle. While it is
true he STAYED three rounds after re-
ceiving the blow, he never fully recoV-
cred from its effects. In his dazed con-
dition, however. he displayed remark
able generalship. SlaVin, with all his
strength and superior condition, was
unable TO finish his man.
MADE SULLIVAN WORK.
Prior to Sullivans defeat by Corbett,
the man who gave the former champion
the hardest struggle during his ring
career was Kilrain. In many of the
rounds in his fight with Sullivan Kill
rain scored the greatest number of
points, and it was only SulliVan'S SUI
perior strength that eventually won the
battle. Kilrain'S with 'Jem" Smith
was another victory for the Baltimore
man which showed his sterling qualities
as a pugilist. He, however, did not re-
ceive official recognition for his work.
the referee being intimidated by the
gang of thugs behind the Englishman.
The battle was declared draw, after
Joe rounds had been fought, although
Jake" clearly had the better OF it.
Kilrain's record is much better than
O'Donnells. and if it were not for the
fact that the opinion prevails that he
has gone back he would easily be
the faNorite in his coming contest with
ODonnell. a comparison of the eX-
hibitions the men made against George
Godfrey, which is the only lire Ameri-
can sporting men have on O'Donnell's
ability as fighter, faVOrS kilrain. The
latter met Godfrey when "Old Choco-
late was in the prime of his pugiliStic
life. and defeated him after forty-fiVe
rounds of hard fighting. O'Donnen
fought Godfrey eight rounds in Boston
a year ago. when the colOred man had
long been regarded as a has been To
the surprise Of every one, Godfrey kept
O'Donnell busy avoiding his vicious
swings, jabs and uppeTcuts, and many
thought that old Chocolate" had
demonstrated his superiority over the
Australian sufficiently to have earned
the decision. The referee. however, for
reasons best known TO himself, declared