The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-11
THOMAS sUARKFY.

Ian Billy Smith, Aleck Greggains, Joe
Choynski and Jim Corbett and not yielded
to defeat is indeed worthy of the highest
consideration.
had Just returned from an European
trip, and / found Sharkey the talk OF the
town. He must have magnetic power, for
on the occasion Of his metropolitan debut at
Madison Square Garden on Aug. 81 prot
ty nearly all the great fighters of the world
the big fellows anyhow-were there to
size him up. Among those l saw were
Peter Mahcr, Paddy Slavin, Jim Hall,
Steve O'Donnell, John Flood, the first
great fighter that fought John L. Sullivan,
and George Godfrey. Like myself, Maher
and Slavin were there to take an accurate
measurement of him with view 20 future
business.
can readily see how he whipped so
many good men and came within an ace
of trouncing game Joe Choynski and
clover Jim Corbett. He is a miniature
Hercules, built solidly from the ground
up, hard as granite and as resolute as
bulldog. He doesn't know what fear Is
and Is game TO his hearts core. The steely
blue eye and mastifilike jaw plainly show
that While not II graceful boxer, he
knows more about the game than the av-
eragc observer would credit him with.
His idea Is TO take punch or two, so as TO
get close TO his opponent and land one in
return. AS he is n really virtuous chap
and has never drunk spirituous liquors or
used tobacco in bis life and has always
done hard outdoor wcrk, he is MS rugged
as "a rock, and ordinary punishment affects
him but little He can hit pretty strong
pilc driver himself, and IL the man in front
~ L. l,. tucsY atnl oh hn Dc
bound to suffer before long from Sharkey's
punches. To be sure, he could not show
himself TO advantage with grand old
John L. Sullivan tho other night, as 1t
was friendly bout, and the young fellow
was afraid of hurting the old lion, but /
got pretty rood line on him at that.
have studied Sharkcy carefully, and
have come TO the conclusion that weak
puncher, or clever jabber, as it is the polite
thing TO call that sort Of pugilist, will
have n mighty hard task TO whip Sharkey.
Not ono Of them would have ghost OF
show to do IL in any four, six or eight
rounds That is why Corbett failed to
whip tho sailor lad in San Francisco.
Corbett is not knocker out He is n
ekjllful jahber, like the late Jack Demp-
sey, Who first wears his man out with left
hand stops ard only uses his right TO set
tie him when he gets him groggy.
i will gamble all am worth that / can
/ whip Shdrkey in four rounds, and 1 think
i know two other men who can also DO the
trick. These are Peter Maher and Frank
j. Slayin. l know more about the gamc
than Sharkey. so do Maher and Slavin. L
can hit hard. So can they And, make
no mistake about Ii, no matter how strong
or game n man may be, II he is hit with II
fearful jolt on the right spot he will go
down and out sure. That spot Is on the
Jaw near the chin. There is nerve
center there which connects with the brain,
and that center struck with terrific force,
oblivion follows The recipient won't
wake up for some minutes after. Cor
bctt cannot hit sush a blow---at least a
blow Of sufficient strength for Sharkey's
iron nerves. i can, / know. So can Maher
and Slavin. Corbctt's only way to whip
Sharliey would bc by wearing him out.
Sharkey fights for all the world like Kid
Lavignc. He burrows into his man, and
it will take powerful hitter as well as u
skilliul Jabbor 10 keep him away.
III Shnrkcy whips Corbett, will gladly
take him ON for "a finish fight for am
convinced that lao il gladiator, heart and
soul
There would be no need Of chasing across
continents Ia arrange battle with him.
Peter Mahor, Frank i. Slavin and Jim
Hall. tcc, nrc hungry for battle with
Sharkcy II nc has the good fortune To de
feat Corbott. think am entitled TO first
call, however, rs have bcntcn Maher ana
Hall and virtually Slavin, inasmuch as
Hall, the man i whipped, has defeated
Slavin. -, But am counting my chickens
before they are hatchcd. The battle has
not yet been fought, and really IL is notan
seasy thing To decide w ho will win It. lt
will bo consummntc clcvcrncss against
oakli;e strength, deep craft against un-
yielding courage. Sharkcy, we all know,
has tremendous endurance. Corbctt onco
had. Has tissiI Intion impaired bis stamina
beyond rccovoryY That Is o question which
sportsmcn are seriously considering The
way Corbctt Is dodging Sharkey and his
hacker about setting n date and battle
ground makes mo think he Is trying 10
gain all the timc he can. Hcwill arranga
that when he feels sure he IL iit and well.
and 10 ~ n dollar 20 n doughnut he will be
% and well when hc enters tho ring
Wlli Corbctt whip Sharkeyf On form he
should As stated before. however Cor.
bctt IN not hard hitter and depends on
wearing iis man out with left hand jabs
and finishing him with good right hand
knocks when ho has him groggy. Sharkey,
however. appears 20 be an exceptionally
tough fellow sort Of human rock, like
John Morrisscy OF old-who actually likes
punishment. MorIissey, it will be rspsrn