The San Francisco call., 1896-02-25
Jackson Is Entitled to That Honor
Under Queensberry
Rules.
CORBETT AND THE ENGLISH.
Tom Sharkey and the Trained Sea
Lion Who Will Wrestle and
Catch Fish.

The National Athletic Club has an
nounced that its next entertainment will
be held at the Auditorium on the evening
of March II.
The principal event on the programme
is an eight-round boxing contest between
Alexander Greggains, the boxing in
structor of the San Francisco Athletic
Club, and Tom Sharkey, the heavyweight
puglist, who has defeated Billy Smith
and "big" Miller in contests that were
spirited and of comparatively short dura-
ton.
Greggains will train in the vicinity OF
the Six-mile House and Sharkey has
selected training quarters at the Seal Rock,
where he can watch the warships passing
i'll and out of the Golden Gate during his
leisure hours.
1t is said that Sharkey will emulate the
famous New Zealand fighter by having as
one of his attendants q sea lion, which is
now being trained to wrestle Graco-Ro-
man and catch-as- catch-can by Deacon"
Jones. Billy Jordan is of the opinion that
the sea lion will prove much more agree
able companion than Fitzsimmons' land
lion, which is liable to resent an insult at
any moment, and that would mean the
defeat OF the great pugilist in less time
than 1t takes to count ten seconds.
Sharkey contends that if the sea lion
should ''get on his ear" over some imag-
mary grievance he, Sharkey could very
easily make the salmon catcher of the
Pacific Ocean come to time by giving it an
upper cut under the chin or La Blanche
swing ION the point" of his jaw. The
pugilist has an idea that when the lion
will thoroughly understand the art of
wrestling he can be trained to retrieve fish
fro 7 hnn Iot ~,
proves successful Sharkey will embark in
the fish business ana supply his numerous
friends with fresh salmon and sturgeon
during the lenten seasons.
The contest between him and Greggains
should prove most interesting because of
the different styles of boxing they will
show on this occasion. Gregga,ns is very
quick and shifty and will certainly puzzle
Sharkey in many ways. 1t is claimed th at
the fireman cannot hit hard and that he
relies altogether on his ability to land fire.
quently, and, by systematic course OF
labbing, wear his opponent out.
Greggains adopted this manner of fight
Ing when he first engaged in contests to a
finish, but now that he has grown heavy
and strong 1t can be safely said that be
will stand his ground and return compli-
ment for compliment. The boxers are
almost on an equality so far as weight is
concerned, and Greggains will certainly
have an advantage over Sbarkey in height
and reach. AS the bout will be decided on
the points scored during the mill the spec
tators will certainly witness sharp and
exciting contest from start to finish.
The proposed match between Eldridge
and Hawkins has fallen through. 1t has
been learned, and on good authority, that
Eldridge knows little or nothing about the
game of fsticuffs and that Hawkins would
have decidedly soft snap should he be
matched to box the alleged fighter whom
Pat Archibald boxed in Los Angeles The
National Club would confer great favor
on the fraternity who love to witness a
clever bexing contest if it would refrain
from giving preliminary exhibitions oi
fisticuffs between raw recruits.
According to late dispatches the London
Sporting Club, the embers of which Cor.
bett insulted when he was rusticating in
England, has positively refused to offer
him any inducements to fight under its
auspices.
1t was thought that the next great battle
between the giants of the ring-Corbett
and FitZsim be held in Lon
don's great boxing club, but the English
men still retain grievance against the
ex-champlon, and, in all probability, it
will be many moons before ''Bob" and
Jim will settle their little dispute re-
garding the alleged championship ques-
ton, as Corbett IS averse to meeting Fitz-
simmons anywhere outside of club Where
he can be sure of having proper protection.
AS the London prize-ring style of fighting
is now obsolete and seldom thought of
the championships of the present day are
fought and won under.Queensberry rules.
country it will be remem bered that Peter
Jackson challenged John L. Sullivan, and
that the latter refused to meet him because
of Peters color.
According to Queensberry rules, which
make no reference to black or white, Sulli-
van lost the pionship when he re-
fused to meet Jackson after the latter had
posted a forfeit and challenged the then
American champion in accordance with
the rules which govern the present and
only fair style of boxing. Corbett and
Jackson met some time after Sullivan S
refusal to fight the heavyweight cham
pion of Australia, and the contest. which
was decided before the old California
Club, ended in a draw. Jackson now
held the championship of Australia, and
of America also, according to the rules of
Queensberry.
The colored pugilist left this country
for London soon afterward and won the
cham pionship of England by defeating
Slavin. 1t will therefore be seen that if
championships are to be decided and de-
termined in accordance with Queens berry
pion of the world.
Corbett subsequently, whipped Sullivan,
and then claimed the championship of the
world, which is a very empty claim, all
things considered. Jackson, however, to
prove to the sporting people of the world
that he was prepared to decide that mooted
question between him and Corbett, chal-
lenged the latter to a return match, and
Corbett got out of second contract by stat
ing that he would not fight him before the
Gentlemen's Club of London, which he
dubbed very one-sided body, and that no
American could get fair play under its
ruling. Itwas for this and other uncompli-
lmentary remarks that the London club
has refused to recognize Corbett in any
champion of the world to-day under
Queensbery's ruling.