The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-07
DECADENCE OF
PUGH.ISM SHOWN
BY RECENT FIASCO.
Naughton Fears for the Future of
BoxinE-Beheves COrhett and Nc
vey Conspired to Break Cp the
Fight mt the Critical Moment.

Promoters OF pugilistic pastimes-aye. ana
the pugiiists themselves. says w w
Nauehson. IN the San Francisco Exam
liner, had. better don their considering caps
and begin 20 think up schemes for rsStor-
ing and maintaining the confidence OK the
public
II something IS not done along these
lines boxing will soon De numbered among
the professional sports that have languisn-
ed. In this category we already nave wres-
Ting pelestrianism and rowing.
In the light OF recent happenings IN the
prize ring il would be wise 10 institute GER
tain reforms without delay. Among. other
precautions agains; crookedness IL might
not be bad idea 10 have iron posts and
shackels by means OF which seconds or the
Mcvey stripe could be securely moored out
side the ring while the rounds are IN prog
ress.
Another innovation that would be regard-
ed as boon by all lovers OF square slug
ging is a patent, non-splitting purse,
The developments OF the Sharkey -l'orbett
contest give point To these suggestions. OF
course no one supposes that trlckery was
unknown or purses unhalved in fights which
preceded the AFFAIR in question. bur the
standing OF the men in the present instance
seems 10 make the offanse biaeker. II Is
something akin to a scandal in high life.
Since my return from New York have
been fairly besieged by persons deSireus of
gaining the fullest information possible re-
garding what they please to term the fake
OF the century, I have also received a
number of letters from Examiner readers
in the interior. with requests for enlight-
eminent on certain points.
One gentleman. writing from Marysville,
says al the conclusion of his letter: How
do you size the thing up now that IL mas
grown cold" and | think a reply 70 him
will be reply TO all who have written or
asked questions in person.
| do not believe the Cornett-Sharkey fight
was fixed in order thatsa large amount
of money might be won In bets. All ru-
mors to the contrary. there was very little
betting in New York, and I am informed
on good authority that here in San Fran
cisco the wagering was much lighter than
II is when contests of less Importance hang
in the balance.
In New York at the last moment Corhett
was a lo-to-l favorite. In this city the
odds on him were 10 TO 6. Had It been a
betting swindle those 'fn the know would
nave furnished Sharkey money in such
volume that Sharkey. and not Corbett
would have been the top-heavy favorite
at the hour OF entering the ring.
1t looks 10 me as though Corbett and
McVey concocted the scheme by which the
last named was TO break up" the contest
MIN at any stage of the affair.
Corbett In all probability fought TO the
best or his ability for eight rounds and had
hopes OF winning When he took his chair
at the end OF the eighth round he in ali,
likelihood gave his big henchman the sig
nal that he had about reached the limit of
endurance and the interruption in the
ninth round was the result
This. as B.erce. the Brilliant. used to
strav
dividual opinion" but such as it Is | offer
II 10 those who have asked for it II was
the opinion / held after thinking the mat
ter over on the morning after the contest.
IL is the opinion / stick TO now that the
affair has grown cold
The contest made thoroughly clear that
Sharkey has improved his knowledge of
boxing. and that Corhett has become SLOW
er and has lost his power 10 punish. A
number of good judges of the game in New
York expected to see Jim frisk around the
sailor like humning bird around flower
but so far as footwork and fistwork are
concerned there was little or no DISPARITY
NO better proof of the sailors improved
ringmanshp should be needed than tho
manner IN which he rushed Corhatt and
uoWhed him with a right handler on the
ear In the second round. This and n left
swing INTO Corbetts stomach In the sey-
enth round were the two most furnishing
blows delivered during the contest. Pos
sioy the last mentioned blow had some
| 'hins To do with Fastening the end
But Sharkey. while neater and faster. did
not have the vim displayed in other con-
tests X may be that the stringent rules
tanned his stubborn pride and made him
iearfui OF losing the fight on 4 foul: but TO
IA man up tree II looked as though the
sailor was as tired his opponent ar Ger
tain stages Of the mill
DINERS beside myself noticed how fire.
quently the sailor died away" after a spell
OF fast work. and were puzzled by Il. when
| he fights again it viii be interesting to
note now his strength holds out. II seems
hardly reasonable 10 suppose that his glory
as rusher has faded already He surely
mas had neither training nor destination
suinc.tnt 10 deplete his wonderful store OF
vitality; Vet tbs fact remains that he was
| both weary Of leg and heavy of arm In his
fight with Corhett
Go