The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-23
Denver Ed Smith Challenges
Corbett to Fight in
South Africa.
THE CHAMPION LAUGHS AT IT
Another Conference Will Be He'd
To-Day on Referee-How
the Pools Sell.

Not more adorned than Adam under
the blossoms of the Garden of Eden, Tom
Sharkey, in the pink of condition, climbed
into pink silk lingerie after his bath and
rup down yesterday afternoon in Oakland.
He strips muscular wonder.
The few friends who were gathered
around him in the dressing apartments of
the Acme Athletic Club were inclined to
Josh the sailor lad on his elegant under
wear. This was said in plain words:
"Get onto the drawers p
Sharkey is no marine at repartee. He
got back at them quickly and in these
words
Nothing is too good for the Irish. I'll
buy suit of another color next Wednes-
day night after | meet Corbett."
Sharkey is easing up in his work. Yes
terday be put in only about an hour, and
took an unusually good rub down at the
hands of his trainer, Needham, and an
assistant He will train a little to-day,
but on Wednesday, on the eve OF battle,
he will not do any hard work at all. Need
ham says that on Wednesday Sharkey
will take a short walk to keep himself
lImbered up and the bellows of his lungs
in good order. The remainder of the day
he will rest. He weighed III pounds yes
terday. He will weigh in for the fight at
III OF IT'S. He will wear green trunks and
the red, white and blue in the ring.
When asked Yesterday what line of at
tack or battle he anticipated from Corbett,
he said:
Il do not know what he is going to do
ana do not know what FIJI do till get
into the ring. A man in the ring never
KNOWS till he gets there. The training is
about over now; and you can depend on
this-I'll do some of the fighting. ] never
felt better in my life or in better condition,
and if l am licked it will not be from lack
of condition. What's more, plI stay the
four rounds all right"
will you put up any money!
Sure. l do not know how much. l
can't tell till the betting opens, but I'll
stand to win or lose quite a roll."
Not desiring to put his enemy il posses
sion of his plan of battle, Sharkey re-
fused 10 say what tactics he expects to
pursue. This much Is certain, that the
big crowd at Mechanics Pavilion to-mor-
row night will see in the sailor lad TWEEN
ty-fOur- year-old fit to make the battle of
his life, and he realizes his opportunity.
That portion OF the usual programme of
training for pugilists which has been
neglected or omitted most by Needham
and his charge Is sparrlng. The most of
the work has been IN punching the bag,
skipping the rope, tossing the big, heavy
medicine ball and laboring at the wrist
and back machines.
If this fact signifies anything it means
that Sharkey will not attempt a scientific
sparring- match with the scientific world s
champion, but will, on the other hand de-
vote his attention TO defense, and putting
W that kind of a defense which will best
enable him to stay four rounds.
At the same time 1t must be remem-
bered that he SAYS he does not intend to
run away, but means to do some of the
fighting. He has q right-hand SWING and
an upper cut that pleases even himself, for
while bOmbarding the bag he has been
noticed time and again to smile to himself
at the way he does. Sharkey says: eff
hit Corbeut he'll 90 down like the rest OF
them"
The champion pugilist of the world is
training right up to date at the Olympic
Athletic Club. He worked pretty hard
yesterday, perhaps harder than ever. This
fact may mean either that Corbett is de-
termined to put Sharkey to sleep in one
round, or that he is beginning TO realize
that he may have more Of a contract on
mis- hands than he first understood. The
champion is in fairly good shape, and ii
he makes the battle that his friends know
he is capable OF making, their money saws
IQdJ J0e sailor ldQ Will not last long.
i will all be over in about fifteen min
utes anyhow. From the rate at which re-
served ceats are going people will spend
about $50, 600 TO see fifteen-minute show,
and under any condition Corbett will get
half the money.
This is rapid age; anything over $500
minute is making money with some
speed.
Corbett has system of training of his
II hot Of
gladiators of the ring. 1t has been the rule
with him, even in finish fights. to work as
hard as ever on the day of the fight. Tbs
fact that he kept right up to the scratch
yesterday points out that he will continue
at it up to and including Wednesday.
Corbett had a good deal of sparring
exercise yesterday-more than usual. He
kept two men busy defending themselves
and gasping for breath. He spared with
Hislop and George Green, Young Cor
bett" The former is a heavy weight spar.
ring cele brity OF the Olympic Club. He
made Corbett keep his fists up all the
time and made good showing. Green
went at the champion hammer and longs
but Corbett managed to remain on his
feet. Green takes advantage OF the oppor.
tunitv and is learning something.
There was the usual game of handbalI.
1t was a very lively one, and was played bv
Corbett and Harlo against Hampton and
Pockwitz. The champion and his partner
were not in it yesterday at this game.
They were beaten two out of three.
The public betting will open tomorrow,
and possibly it may begin tonight. Cor
bett is the favorite on this side of the bay
but most if not all of the Oakland money
will go up on Sharkey. Hundreds have
been admitted to see him train and
he is a favorite over there on the four
round proposition.
The sale of general admission, or gallery
seats, will open the night of the contest at
the box-otfice.
The representatives OF the principals in
the Mechanics Pavilion pugilist event
have met on the subject of the referee and
had a conference. In fact, they had two
conferences, and without result.
snag has been struck on the question
of VINO shall decide the bout, and the ap-
pearances are that it will require a good
deal OF jaw bone to remove it. A great
deal of jawbone was used yesterday after
noon, backed by some stubbornness on
each SIDE.
In the afternoon the name of Alex Greg
gains was proposed for referee. There was
some objection to this from both sides,
and after the mere mention OF TWO or
three other names the meeting broke up.
In the evening another meeting was
held in Corbett's saloon ON Ellis