Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-11

linQulsh his title through default by refus-
ing to fight Sharkey or the deposed Corbett.
The kangroo will be regarded popularity as
the daddy OF the bunch, the ace in the
heavy weight deck unless he positively de-
clines to DO battle again. sharkey's great
ambition is to take on Fitz one more. There
Is no doubt Of his sincerity In the chal-
lenge he has issued for the special benefit
Of the Cornishman. And he can command
the backing to cover any stake that Fitz-
simmons can scare up. He is comparatively
well-to-do, as the wealth Of boxers is
counted. He Is worth at least $40, 900, and
will risk 5000 Of his own cash for a stake
to meet the red-topped champion. Fitz
claims that the ex-sailor would be 80 much
dessert for him. II this is actually so he
could find no easier method Of picking up
a bit Of coin.
Many admirers Of the stuffed mitt artists
are finding q heap Of satisfaction in re-
calling that John l.. Sullivan, during all
his stormy career as q fighter, was never
mixed up In q fake. The big 'un had many
inexcusable faults, but no one could ever
say that he was dishonest or that he acted
In bad faith in any of his matches toward
the public. John L.. left that sort Of thing
for his successors. Red Robert Fitzslmmons
admits that he quit" to Jim Hall in
Australia for q consideration. He also fought
sharkey in San Francisco under a pull. 1t Is
said. in order to win a large bunch Of coin
from the books, wagered on the length of
the contest; that Is to say, sums Of money
were wagered that Fitz would finish the
sailor In a certain time and the champion
was allowing Sharkey to stay. Mccoy and
Corbett signed one private set Of articles for
their fight that never occurred and q second
set for the public. The recent Corbett-
Sharkey fake Is fresh. While Sharkey may
not have had 1t arranged to win, it Is never
theless certain that. though the articles
called for q stipulated purse. the men were
fighting under some other agreement for
a percentage.
Jimmy Barry. the Chicago stuffed mitt
artist who seems to be more entitled to the
bantam championship laurels than any other
bifer Of his poundage. declares that he will
retire from the ring after his coming
twenty-round battle with his old rival.
Casper Leon. on December %. He figures
on pocketing the fat end Of the 81, 500 purse
In this setto, and this. with the dough he
has on hand. will be suficient to set him
UP in legitimate business. He is quitting
because there Is not enough In the boxing
game for him. Barry's career has been al
most a continuous performance under the
direction Of Dame Success. He won his first
engagement Of prominence by defeating Pete
Shea in four rounds at the old Roby arena.
Later he sent Johnny German to the floor
In eleven rounds before the Crescent
Athletic club Of New Orleans. Then fol-
lowed his first meeting with Casper Leon.
whom be beat in twenty eight rounds at
Lemont, ILL.,, after a desperate fight. He
met Leon again In Chicago in a ffteen-round
Journey. which the police stopped In tho
fourteenth round when Leon was on the
verge of . collapse. He beat Steve Flanagan,
Jack Ward and Jimmy Anthony and drew
with Sammy Kelly.
Dave Sullivan and Oscar Gardner will