The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-03-18
THURSDAY MARCH 1S, S97
COrbett and FitZSimmOnS.
GREATEST OF ALL FIGHTERS, PAST OR
PRESENT.

PRESENT.
Their Equals Perhaps Never Lived
lien of Great Physical Strength and
Development, With Science and
Skill Such as No Other Fighters
Ever Had.
In view of the big fiistic event which
took place yesterday between Corbett
and FitZsmmons, the following Will
be read with interest:
Carson City, New, March 9.-When
Corbett and Fltzaimmons put up their
hands in the ring in Carson City, New,
on the 18th inst, the two greatest light
ers in the world will be face to lace. Cor
bett and Fitzsimmons are not only the
two greatest fighters OF their own time,
but of all times. Those who can recall
the most brilliant lights in the history
of pugiisIn say that the great lighters
of those days were to Corbett and fItz-
simmons what the tallow dip Is to the
electric light
Certain it il that no fighter oil tins
generation, not even the mighty Suiil-
van, could compare with them In his
style and in his day, Sullivan STOOD
head and shoulders above the fighters OF
the world, but in his day-until the ad-
vent OfCorbett and FItzslmmOEs-heavy-
weight fighters, comparatively speak
ing were mere nOviccs. Around Sullivan
and men of his class, COrbett and FItz-
simmons could go az the cooper goes
around barrel, when he is putting on
the top hoop. There is not part OF the
barrel that the cooper does not touch.
There IL not Il part oil the anatomy Oh
the fighters of the old school that Cor
bett and Fitz could not land upon Mt
will and Corbett and Fitz would be no
more afraid of these old fighters getting
back ut them than the cooper would be
OF the barrel returning his blows.
These gadiatOrs of the ring are the
recognized leaders of the new school of
pugilism-the school which depends
upon science mainly, with that science
founded upon the rocks of endurance,
strength and agility. 1t is n school that
WIS introduced by them. Corbett WAS
the first heavyweight to show how SUI
periOr it was to the old school style,
which to some extent was based upon
science, but which, rs IL matter OF fact,
rested almost wholly upon ability to
give and take punishment. In the md
dleweght ranks Dempsey, it il true. WAS
in IL measure the precursor OF the new
school. He fought scientifically, but ~
Il glance at his record or n recollection
OF his fights will show, he did not know
half SO much about the Knockout blow
rs do the nOvices of these days.
1t remained for FitzsimmOns, then II
middleweght, to show that science and
strength, coupled with the ability to
knock a man out, could go hand III hand,
and the first pronounced demonstration
he gave in this country was when h" land
Dempsey himself low in New Orleans,
conquering him and the mddew"lght
championship of the world with an ease
that was dazzling to the spectators OF
the mill. As u matter OF fact, Dempsey
was one of tn" most overrated men that
ever held championship. When he was
mt his best it took him the best part of
day to whip Johnnie Reagan, and no
one ever suspected Reagan OF being i'll
the championship class. In Dempseys
list of victms-and they number more
than twoscore-there is not u single
good man. He was II lucky fighter.
And now the leaders of the new school
nre to settle the question OF supremacy
as between them once and for all. They
will meet without fear OF interference. No
favor is asked for or conceded by either.
Standing ut the head of pugilism as they
do, they have agreed upon the issue.
The title OF itself is not the empty honor
which some deem it to be. The man who
wins it probably will find that tits worth
100000 to him. Then there is the
stake of $25,O0O-the 1900 purse
and the side bet of $4,000. Added to
this are the royalties which the company
Is to pay to take pictures OF the
fight. The kInetC cope, showing the
fight, will be placed in every English
speaking country on the globe. and
there can be no doubt that the profits
from them will be immense. How great
these profits will be it is difficult to say,
but according to a conservative estimate
they will reach 100000 to 100000.
SO that in addition to winning the
championship and the glory or notoristy
that will accompany 1T, the winner OF
this fight will gain an ample fortune
will gain more money than II majority
OF mankind earn, not to speak OF saving,
in whole lifetime.
1t is little wonder then that Corbett
and FltzsimmOns have devoted them
selves SO assiduously to the work of fit
ting for the contest. Everything that
they have or hope for depends upon the
ISSUE To Corbett victory means large
addition to the handsome fortune which
tie already has amassed. To him defeat
means oblivion. Fortunately for him.
sell, pugilism is not his sole means of eN-
Istence. He has invested largely in the
atrlcal enterprises and slowed some OF
his money away in real estate. Should
fltzsimmOns conquer him he will disap-
pear from the pugilistic horizon rapidly.
Unlike Sullivan, who was spendthrift
and popular, he has boarded his every
dollar. and instead OF the friendship has
earned the contempt of the men who oc-
cupy the first place in the business which
he has chosen to follow.
Defeat does not mean so much for
FItzsimmons. Processing to be the
champion of the world, he goes into the
contest with Il selfattaching grip to his
title He has said that if defeated he
still will be the middleweight champion
OF the world. But this plea should not
be permitted to rob Corbett of any OF
the honors which will belong to him if he
Is returned the winner. If he wins his
victory will determine the question OF
fact as to which is the best man in the
world, and he and his admirers will be
and will have good reason to be well
pleased with triumph over this man,
who, styling himself the champion of
the world, and fearing his ability to de
fend the title wants to lean upon the
middIeweight honors. But whichever
man wins it may be set down without
fear OF contradiction that that man is
the best fighter in the world, and, per-
haps, the best fighter that ever was in
the world.
thprp IL choose
from between the men. There is little
more than perceptibe difference in
height, the advantage being in favor OF
Corbett. They are nearly evenly
matched in point OF reach, and if they
weigh in public it will be found there is
not much difference between COrbett. the
acl. loll1rad han n1,d E'itr