Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-02-27
FIGHTERS TALKING.

Announcement of Slayin That He Is Ready
to Meet corbett for $4,000 Side II
Fight Between the Champion and the Ex-
champion Cannot be Arranged.
London. Feb. "a When Fitzsim-
mons defeated Maher representative
of the Associated Press was instructed
to ask Manager Fleming of the National
Sporting Club if that body could be
induced to put up purse for Fitz-
simmons and Corbett. The reply was
that under no circumstances would the
club subscribe a cent for contest in
which Corbett was one Of the prin-
cipals; but, il was added, any other
American pugilist might apply with
fair prospects of arranging match.
The objection to Corbett is based on
the very bitter tongue lashing he gave
the National Sporting Club when he
returned to the United States after his
appearance here. The members of that
club claim that they treated Corbett
with every consideration and that he
repaid their Kindness by abusing them
to the utmost.
The Associated Press representative
was notified to call upon Secretary
Stevens of the Bolingbroke Club and
eventually placed the matter before
that gentleman. After some necessary
consultation with his organization Mr..
Stevens said tho club would give
purse of IS, 600 for Fitzsimmons and
Corbett TO compete for and would
allow the contestants $500 each for ex-
penses. These are, it is understood,
absolutely the best terms obtainable and
it is hoped that the offer will be
promptly accepted or refused. Tho
fairest treatment possible will be melted
out to both men and it will be case
of may the best man win."
Should Fitzsimmons refuse this
offer or fail to. accept it with tho
Frank Slavin stands ready to meet
Corhett before the Bolingbroke Club.
| Slayin already has an offer in the
| Sporting Life to meet Fitzsimmons for
S., 900 side, the fight to come off in
England; or he will bet S., 600 that he
| can stop Corbett in six rounds.
| Under these circumstances there
seems to be no obstacle in the way of
bringing Fitzsimmons and Corbett to-
| gether in ring here for fair purse.
The purse offered is not as large as the
purse offered in America, but the ex-
penses OF the pugilists will be small,
comparatively and compensate for diff
ference in the size of the purse.
coRBETT ACCEPTS.
Cleveland, o., Feb. "a. james j.
Corbett was shown the Associated
Press dispatch from London this morn
ing, stating that the Bolingbroke Club
of that city will give purse of So, 900
and 800 each expenses for match
between himself and Fitzsimmons.
Corbett read tine dispatch carefully and
then said: g | will accept the PROPOSE
tion. The Associated Press may state
that if the Bolingbroke Club will for
ward the articles Of agreement l will
sign them without delay. As to the
bluff made by that 'second-rater'
Slavin, who has been defeated about
80 times more or less, shall pay no
attention to him, as | do not deem his
idle talk worthy of any notice. In
fact l will listen TO no proposition from
now on, except one that will result in
fight between Fitzsimmons and my
self. He is the man the people want me
to meet and he is the only man / am
after. / will deposit as much money
as the Bolingbroke Club desires to
guarantee my sincerity in this matter
and shall anxiously await some further
word from tho officers of that organiza-
tion. -
Corbett added: "Mark what say,
that man Fitzsimmons will never
meet me. He is simply blufling for
the sake of the little advertising he ex-
poets to get out of it. !"