Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-01-26
JOHN L. SULLIVAN.

them. Right here at tho outset / have no
hesitation in saying that the way both OF
these men havo acted-Corbctt in the past
and Fitzsimmons at the present time-has
been and is disgraceful. Neither has acted
like champion. Corbett started the ball
by telling Fitzsimmons when he challeng-
ed him to beat lot of men, Creedon,
Hall, Maher and Choynski, before he would
deign to consider his challenge. The Aus
tralian gives tit for tat and has the impu-
denco to triflo with the public by telling
the Californian to go and defeat Maher or
Sharkey, two good men whom Fitzsim-
mons conquered, before he of the freckleS
will consent to cross arms with him.
The public should not stand for any
such nonsense Make these alleged fight.
ers fight or get out of the business Let
the public give their shows a frost until
they sign articles to fight. Let the press
roast them instead of printing their airy
nothings until they consent to get into the
ring. Press and public can force the issue.
That fighter mover breathed who could
stand in T." InSr &C. public opinion. 1t
MI IlOw hin GowA as it has many a
greater man.
Think for moment of the insolenco of
this Australian and tie ridiculous figure
no cuts. First he wina the championship
fairly enough. for saw the fight, although
many people think it was fluke. Then
no Immediately 'retirc., F" although he bills
himself as champion and hugs the title.
Then comes in this al, ged promise to his
wife "neyer TO fight again" as stiffener
against all challenge. lily comes the
farce OF The wife cut 80 apron string
and letting this strCl .oCse, free to
fight again, when i.s-,..-,.I are getting
low, as tho Australians enemies say. The
farce is completed Hy the most ridiculous
proposition-ac, anco of challenges it
purported to be ever heard Of. 10 one
challenger, Corbett, Fitzsimmons says,
$50 fight another man, and if you win
I'll meet you." To the other challenger,
"Kid" Mccoy, who dared him to battle
for tho worlds middloweight champion
ship, which title Fitzsimmons also holds,
the Australian says, BEAT q first class
middleweight and then / will battle you
for the middleweigh championship. I'm
like Corbett, Mccoy, anxious to force Fitz
into the ring, quickly accepts the condi-
ton and says, "Pick out your middle
weight, and when whip him l will in
sst on your keeping your word and meet
ing me-" The Australian shows his in
sincerity by promptly picking out heavy
weight, Joe Choynski, man he fought a
draw with and whom he could never be
induced to meet second time. Even at
that, the boy-for Mccoy is really nothing
more-neyer weakened. lie speedily
agreed to meet Choynski at 1862 pounds
four pounds above the middleweight limit,
a weight which Joe can easily make and
above which he rarely fghts. But the
other side won't have it. My private opin-
ion is that Mccoy will eventually agree to
meet Choynski at any weight SO as to get
at Fitz, and fureher believe that he can
whip the plucky Californian at any weight.
In that event have strong suspicion,
practically amounting to conviction, that
Fitzsimmons will dodge Mccoy and take
on Corbett The "Kid" at middleweight
is far more dangerous than Corbett at
heavyweight, and nobody knows that bet
ter than Mr. Robert Fitzsimmons. Mccoy
can easily get to middleweight. / do not
believe that the Australian can and be
strong. He is no longer the lanky freak"
he was when he beat poor Jack dempsey.
He has grown tremendously broad across
the shoulders and deep through the chest
vince that time Even his spindle legs
Aaye filled out. When he fought Corbett
at Carson City, he declared. and has ever
since maintained, that he weighed but 156
pounds. George Siler, the referee Of that
battle, gives the official figures as-Cor-
bett, 1873; Fitzsimmons, 172H. Siler, OF
course, speaks the truth. Vanity led Fitz-
simmons into uttering pleasant little db.
Re wanted the public to look upon him as
wonderful mana middleweight who
was the worlds greatest gladiator. II
Fitz should ever in a reckless moment con-
sent to meet Mccoy at middleweight, put
your money on the handsome young chap
from Indiana. The American will win
to q moral certainty.
New right here az this point wish to
enter us strongly as I can protest against
the conduct OF this man FitzSimmons.
It's Lnsportsn.anlike. Neither 70 nor any