The times., 1898-01-05
.c0RBETT HOT FTER FiTl
Thinks He Is the Real Cham-
pion and Ready TO Fight.
HIS EYE ON LOST LAURELs
VIII Not Meet Maier for tue Reason
Irishnan in His Class Be-
lieves He is More Popular Than
Ever

Louisville, KY, Jan. Aim Corhett
is still i'm q bad huinor over Fitzsinmons's
aclions, and demands a fight with Fitz.
The Australians uitinatuin of match
first with Maher was like n dose Of bad
tasting medicine.
BAH" said Corbett, today. Why
should I fight Maher when Fitzsiinuons
whipped him I'm one minute and thirty-f1ve
seconds, and came out OF the ring without a
scratch? ! fought FitZsinmlons fourteen
rounds and gave him the worst Furnishing
/ me ever had; and then was down on the
! floor ten seconds for the first time in my
! life, and came out OF the ring without a
scratch. Yet that Cornishuian wants me
10 go and get reputation. When l made
the demand OF FnZsininons he was not in
my class, and / was Justified, but his cN-
cusas are absurd. am All American born
and raised, and il is the one aim of my
life 10 bring back the championship. l
have crowded FitEsilminons up against the
wall, and ana going TO keep him there
until show the American people just what
sort of a man claims title 10 the cham
pioHship, and if public opinion does not
force that cur TO fight again il VIII not be
my fault
'.Do You expect match with Fitzsim-
mons again.
mo. He win never get into the ring
with me again He knows that 1 can
whip him and he is going TO keep out OF
my way Why, he cancelled an engagement
in Chicago just because lie heard that l
was to be- there a. the time. What would
You call that but an at OF cowardice?"
What do You intend To do If you can't
get another fight with Fitzsmmons?''
Retire from the ring and never fight
again. The only inducenlent for me to
enter the ring again is the championship
of the world, for under no other circuul-
stances will l fight. 1 am tie real cham
pion, and ii is not my busin, ,ss TO go around
fighting third raters. The only man will
fight is Robert FitZsimmons and the prize
must be tie championship of the world.''
How about o'RourEe,s statement that
there is an understanding between Fitz-
simmons and yourself, and that YOU VIII
meet llim?"
''O'Rourke never said that: he is too
much of man. Willie Green is responsible
for that statement and anybody who knows
him knows how much there is in it,"
When asked about his recent letter and
proposition To FitZSimmons, coTbett said.
IF fhzsimmons is confident that be can
defeat me, there is a chance to pick I'D
neat sum outside of the purse money
Not only would he do that, but he could
find public favor by meeting me again.
He is fast losing ground with the public
by his cowardly actions. BY gaining a
decisive victory over me he could estab-
lish himself firmly and make a fortune.
But Just wait and see. The last proDo-
sition OF mine is not a marker TO what
l am going TO make. l never expect To
get fight with him again, but | want
it TO 20 down on record what sort of a
man he is and what propositions made
TO him. j have not lost anything i'm popn-
larity by my defeat at Carson City, and
his actions have cost him q great deal
Ever since the fight / have been play
ing 10 crowded houses, and that is more
than he has been doing. Why doesn't he
accept my challenge and make some
money? j am keeping myself in condi-
tion' so, il by any accident he does meet
me again, he will find me right,