The times., 1897-03-14
COMPARISON OF THE MEN
Corbett Has Seemingly Regained the
Vigor Of His Younger Days.
The Champion Is Prepared for a
Long. Battle-Fftz Talks About
Excitement in the Ring.

In treating OF the present condition of
Fitzsmmons and Corbett it might be as
well to hark back to other ring encounters
in which they figured. This, for the pur-
pose of showing how they acquitted them
selves on former occasions when appar-
emily trained to the hour. Corbett was
doubtless at his best when he faced
Sullivan. He was as Timber as an eel
and no degree of exertion appeared to
tire him. 1t was a case of sound
mind in sound body, for he was as cool
as a cucumber, and he did not make @
single mistake while taking the big fel-
lows measure.
When Jim met Mitchell he betrayed signs
of irritability. This was accounted for
by the fact that Mitchell had said insulting
things about him. 1t was remarked by
old fight chronlclers that the Sullivan
Corbett fight was a chivalrous struggle,
while the Mitchell go was more in the
nature OF grudge fight.
Inthe Corbett-Sharkey four rounds in San
Francisco Jim's condition gave out per-
ceptibly. He had no complaint to make
prior to entering the ring, but when i twas
all over he stated that Indulgence In
French dinners and careleSsness in
the matter OF working 100 much indoors had
affected him when the critical moment
arrived. Some people would not have it
that way. They said that the excitement
told OF Corbett and that he was not the
cool-headed, physically perfect Corbett of
old.
There is no denying that the excitement
OF the ring is one OF the most acute tests
of condition. 1t is something that no
fighter ca n provide for in his training, and
when the pinch comes it makes manifest his
weak points. THERE'S this to be said, how
ever, If il was excitement that weakened
Corbett when he had his whirlwind clatter
with the beamy sailor, there was some
excuse for it,
1t was a night of wild excitement. The
champion was looked to to shatter the ma
riner's aspirations with series OF rapid
rushes and lightning snashes, and from
the moment the starting gong tapped even
the spectators were tiptoeing. The main
question, OF course, is how VIII Jim hold
himself together If the coming contest is
on the rip-tearing lines of the Sharkey
match. Delaney and White contend that
Corbett is prepared for any kind of a mill.
Jim himself says the same. They are con-
vinced that physically and mentally Jim
is at his very best, and If Fitzsimmons
beats him they say 1t Will be freely con-
ceded that FitZsimmons could have done
the trick at any stage in Jim's career
So far as lungs and muscle are concerned
Corbett is in marvellous trim. The man.
ner i'll which he will acquit himself If
the fight is on the hurricane order can
only be surmised. Good authorities are
inclined to think that he will keep his
wits about him and prove himself to be
a great general. He may try to shorten
the fight, but il Will only be when he
feels that he has sized his opponent up
completely. There was an argument as
to the effect excitement has on a man
in the ring one day at Cooks Grove, and
FitZsimmonS said:
II never get excited. / think that
fighter who becomes excited should get
out of the business. If it can be traced
to some physical defect it goes to show
that he has been too long at the game and
should retire. A pugiiIst in possession of his
faculties has no more right to get excited
than has an actor who is appearing before
the people every night of his life. Why,
when fought Sharkey a bench fell down
see out of the corners of my eyes that peo-
pie were turning their heads TO look, but
did not avert my glance for second. 1
just sazed straight at my man, and l think
that is sufficient proof that my mind is
always on makinga good and careful fight,
and nothing else
Up to the time that Fitzsimmons met
Sharkey it was never limited that he had
degenerated in any way. On the contrary,
it was generally believed that he was gain
ing weight year after year: that he was
biting harder and becoming & m ore formida-
bic in every respect. However, he says now
that ne is getting lighter. Still he claims
to he in the best OF condition. He GER
tainly goes through his work in manner
that intimates that he i S in excellent trim,
albeit it can be noticed that he breathes
more heavily than does Corbett after
boxing bout or scuffle with his wrestling
partner.
The weight of the men, OF course. cuts