The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-20
WILL RE-thItR THE RING
Corbett to Challenge the Winner
= Ct the Big Fight.
ANXIOUS FOR A 60 WITH FI4z
But There Must BE Some Substantial
Guarantee That ..Lanky Bob" VIII
Appear-Gemleman Jim's Resigna-
tion. of the Championship Had
String to 1t.

Philadelphia, Jan. 2O.-Though James j.
Corbett is the retired champion heavy
weight, he is still the center around which
revolves all things of interest pugilist ic-
ally
In conversation with number of news
paper men at Green's last night he :poke
rather warmly of the Misrepresentation
to which he had been subjected during the
Hot Springs episode, and animated that he
resigned the championship through disgust
and with q view OF escaping the unpleasant
notoriety created by the failure IF his
proposed fight with Fitzsimmons.
or the latter he spoke with the greatest
contempt, and detailed the course Of urat
fiascp from the morning the match was
made in the Herald building until 1t aached
its abrupt conclusion by the refusal ~ tie
Fitxsimmons party to enter Hot Springs
But what is of more interest to the pub
lie was his practical announcement IF his
re-entry into the ring. Said he: ''Waal
resigned the championship l resigned 1t
temporarily, and when the proper time
arrives will again demonstrate that am
still the champion"
AGAIN TO FIGHT FITZ.
In reply to the question if he would IL, ct
Fitzsmmons In a limited round contest,
assuming that Fitz was successful in his
coming meeting with Maher. Corbett I'm
hesitatingly replied:
Yes; but / shall certainly insist u" n
conditions which will guarantee Fitzs'n-
mons appearance in the ring. / wall de
posit $50 600 as guarantee OF fnJ up
pearance, and will demand that some re-
sponsib!e party will put up the same amount
to insure FitZsmmons' presence. If either
of us defaults, the money to go to The one
showing up.
II will waive the side bet, and be satis.
fled tofight for the purse alone. The Dallas
Hot Springs fiasco cost me SIS. 900 in cash
alone, to say nothing of the money lost by the
cancellation Of theatrical dates, and l
don't propose to take any more chances"
Corbett seemed to be particularly ag-
papers in the East on the part he pla yed
in the Hot Springs failure. III l do
not prove in black and white, and to
your satisfaction said he, that did
everything in my power to bring off that
fight and that Fitzsimmons did every
thing he could to prevent it, then | can
do nothing"
= Then he produced two letters. One
was from G. W. Murphy, the foremost
member OF the Arkansas bar, in which
that gentleman declared Chancellor Mar
tins restraining order as being without
Jurisdiction, and only used by the Fitz-
simmons party as a pretext to avoid a
meeting. The other letter was from
George Siler, one OF the original candi-
dates for referee named by Fitzsinimons
and objected to by Corbett.
This letter was in reference to Corbett's
proposition, made after he sa w that there
was no chance to get FitZ to fight in
public. to have the mill pulled off in the
presence of only four newspaper men,
lust for the fun Of the thing. and with
Siler as the referee. In his letter Mr..
Siler said that Corbett had made the only
proposition possible under the circum-
stances. and deplored the fact that the
other side could not see its way clear to
accept.
HE WAS RIDICULED.
'.In short said Corbctt. after he had
put the letters away. II did everything
in my power to pull off the fight. and for
doing that l was held up to no end Of
adverse criticism, and no little ridicule.
FitzSimmons. on the other hand who never
had the slightest intention of meeting me,
and whose course through the entire pro-
ceedings was one big bluff, has been made
a god of in some quarters.
HE said that he would not fight me
under the auspices of the Florida Athletic
Club, and yet he is going to fight Maher
under the auspices of that very same club
He declined to fight me in private for the
fun of the thing, with George Siler as
referee. and yet / see in today's Press
that Siler is going TO referee his bout with
Maher.
% IF Dan Stuart were inclined he could
tell an interesting story OF the true inward
ness of the Dallas and Hot Springs affair.
and he may after the FitZsimmons-Maher
go. Stuart sunk some money in the Florida
Athletic Club. and he not unnaturally wants
to recoup himself. Under the circumstances
he does not want to antagonize Fitzsm-
mons, but in the end the facts will come out
1sut as have stated them.
II will be in the ring again at the right
time. i put Jackson on the shelf and
put Sullivan and Mitchell out of the game,
and what I did once can do again. In the
meanwhile propose to work as hard as
know how to equip myself for theatrical
work. SO that when I'm whipped or Two
old to follow the fighting game I will have
legitimate means Of earning livelihood.
and not be dependent upon the kindness Of
my friends"
In regard to the rumors that had been
printed about his waiting health. Corbett
said laughingly: 81 was never in better
shape in my life. and If you have any
doubt about IL come up and see me have
rough-and-tunble go with Mcvey at the
National tomorrow night"
And his looks carried out his word. He
appears to be twenty pounds heavier than
when he was here last and the extra
pounds are made up of good. solid flesh
Joe Corbett. the retired champions Younger
brother, who has signed. with Baltimore
for the coming season. was with the party.
he MEANT MURDER