The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-09
BLUNT's OPINION OF DAILY
The Famous Fistic Critic Says
Jack Is a Wonder.
WILL AST0NISH LAVIGNE
Clever OF Hand, Shifty of Foot, an
Excellent Judge of Distance and
Knows the Boxing Game Back
wards - Sale of Tom Tucker -
Bought for Trading Purposes.

When Sam Fitzpatrick made the state
ment some time ago that he was ready
to match Jack Daily the Washington boy
against the redoubtabe Kid Lavigne,
many ring followers united and said he
didn't mean it; and when it was an
nounced that the match had been made,
these chaps shook their heads and pre-
dicted that Jack had at last ran against
an obstacle that he could not overcome
But as good judges of fighting ability as
any of these doubters differ widely from
them as to the possible outcome of the
Cleveland meeting. One of the most ex-
perienced men in ring affairs in this
country Is Bill Blunt, the fistic critic
of the Police News. Discussing the com
ing battle in Cincinnati the other day
Blunt said:
This is the contest that is liable TO
fool the closest observer, of boxing mat
tiers On paper the Kid seems to have a
bunch, but II comes as close to being an
even thing as any contest that could be
arranged Of course, ii Is well-known
fact that | have been Lavigne man ever
since / saw him beat Jerry Marshall
four years ago, but you don't want TO
underrate this DAILY. He is one of the
fastest and strongest boys in the business
and easily ranks next to Lavigne among
the light weights. He has been coming
very fast during the last two or three
years, has been taking them on as they
come has never avoided q match and
has never, up to date, had decision
given against him. He is clever with
either hand, shifty on his feet. an excel
lent judge of distance, and he knows the
boxing game backwards. There is no
question as to his gameness, and withal
he has a wise head. In addition to this,
he is being handled by one of the best
trainers identified with the sport / refer
to Sam FITZPATRICK, than whom there is
no smoother in the business. Sam has
been connected with people like Joe
Choynsh, Peter Jackson, Young Critic,
and he also trained and handled Lavigne
himself in a dozen of his important bat
ties. Fitzpatrick has been uniformly sue
cessful with all the men he has managed,
and while he fully appreciates the enor-
nifty of his task. that Of using Daily as
a wedge to unplace the champion. his
confidence in his ability to do so is al
most astounding.
Il had letter from him the other day,
and although he was free to admit that
Lavigne was as wonderful a fighting ma
chine as ever lived he said that he was
| sure DAILY would make the Saginaw lad
| take second money. Sam, as rule. is
| slow 10 make a prediction, but in this
| case he seems positive. 1t is but natural
| to suppose that he has great confidence
| in his man, for he has seen DAILY battle
successfully many times under his own
| management. But after all it is only a
matter of judgment. Many people who
| follow boxing affairs agree with F'itZ
while many others look upon the champ
| to win. While | cannot say that | have
the same views on the subject as Fitz-
patrick, | will say that | expect DAILY
to put up a terrific. slashing contest, and
| those who are lucky enough to be pres
| cit will witness a contest such as was
| never seen in this vicinity before. The
| men are about evenly matched, both are
| training faithfully for the go, and in adj
| dition to the financial end of it. the
| title of light weight championship hinges
| on the result. 1t can be seen at a glance
| that the incentive is great enough tC
| make both put forth their best efforts
| Dick Burge, the pride of England, wants
| a chance at the winner and he says thai
| a swell purse will be offered by one o
| the prominent London clubs. 1t is moro
| than likely that Burgess offer will be &C
| cepted by the winner. Burge had on.
| chance at the champion, and although
| he put up a great fight, he was decisivell
| beaten. He evidently is not satisfied, anC
| has hopes of reversing the decision if ht
| is given the opportunity | will be II
| Cleveland on the 18th. and I'll be sorely
disappointed If It doesn't prove to b,
| one of the greatest and most rugged
fights in ring history
| While Tom Tucker has been sold to tn,
| Brooklyn Club, ii is not certain that h.
will play ball with that club. The dea
| whereby Tucker was transferred wa