The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-07

ular opinion, if nothing more, would
make him so.
1t cannot be said by any means, how
ever, that Fitzsimmons has no admirers.
He has many followers who believe in his
ability to knock the Californian out and
while they are not as many as the Corbett
men, it can be said that the Fitzsimmons
followers are among those better posted
on puglisitic affairs and the records of
both men.
Joe Ullman, probably the most promi-
nent fighter in Savannah thinks that Fitz-
simmons is sure winner. He bases his
opinion on the records of both men and
their showing in former fights.
The betting on the fight in Savannah has
amounted to almost nothing so far as is
known, but there will most likely be lots
of small bets between now and the day Of
the fight. The odds on Corbett are being
reduced every day and by the day of the
fight even money will probably be the best
that can be had AS the time draws
near for the battle interest and speculation
as to the result grows apace.
Every move of the big fighters is
chrontcled and in the Importance of news
the fight is second only to the Inaugural
ton of the new President. Both Fitz-
simmons and Corbett claim to be in the
best of condition, and both aver that they
are ready to enter the ring right now.
! Both are taking every advantage in the
way of training, and when they meet on
| st. Patricks day, unless an accident
should befall one of them, they will prob
| ably be the two most perfect conditioned
fighters that have ever entered a prize
| ring.
Fitzsimmons weighs about 1862 pounds.
! but says he will get down to 1853 before
the fight. The question of weight is a
most important factor to consider Many
| battles have been won where the winner
attributed his victory to his weight. Both
| men refuse to give out their weight, and
zealously guard from having the report
ers get at it, 1t is probable, however.
| that Corbett will weigh anywhere from
ten to twenty pounds more than Fitz.
Fttzsimmons does not concede that this
will be an advantage and says that 1t
| will not worry him if Corbett weighs as
much as thirty pounds more. He says
| he is convinced that he can put the t'g
man out under any circumstances.
Larry Mcdonald and Jack Sommers will
appear at the Pastime Athletic Club
| Tuesday night in a six round CO. These
several times and both are clever with
the gloves.
They spared a red hot four-round go
last week and the coming contest is look
| ed for to be warm and spirited. McDon-
| aid is known to be one of the best boxers
in his class that has ever spared in Sa-
vannah. He is hard fighter, a terrific
| hitter and able TO stand lots of punish
| ment. Sommers is said to have grown
much cleverer than he was when he first
came to Savannah and Larry win have
a hard tussle to keep up with the New
| Yorker.
Cockey Holmes of Australia and Cock
ney Banner of Savannah will meet in a
| short bout, and there will be several other
| preliminaries.
Billy Whistler. well known in Savannah
| is matched to fight Tommy White twenty
| five rounds in Albany, ". Y, March H.
| After this il Is said Whistler will come
to Savannah where he will remain some
l time, and probably take on a match.
| John L. Sullivan, the idol of lovers OF
| pugilism and for thirteen years cham.
| pion of the world, announces that he will
| challenge the winner of the Corbett-Fitz-
| simmons fight. He says the purse will be
no object, and he will agree to meet the
winner on any equitable terms and any
where.
Sullivan says he has been taking good
care of himself, and thinks he can get in
condition to fight. Moreover. he thinks
he will put up hard fight. and intimates
| that he has more than a chance to win
1t is a most unlikely thing that Sullivan
| will ever enter the ring again. He is
doubtless playing a practical joke on the
newspaper boys or working them for a