Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-10
TO-NIGHTS BATTLE.
Both Mccoy and Sharkey Are in Fine
Condition.


Condition.
A telegram New York City, on to-
nights battle between Mccoy and
Sharkey, says:
New York, January 9.-Some uneasi-
ness has developed among patrons OF
boxing owing to the attitude assumed
by Kid Mccoy on the question OF hit
ting in clinches Mccoy says that I'M
der clause Is of the articles which
Sharkey and he signed for the fight
tomorrow night, neither can hit while
the other has hold of him, and that
the holding constitutes a clinch. Nc
Coy's position is said to be at variance
with an express understanding between
the two men at the time the articles
were signed, and, while agreeing with
the letter of the articles, is declared
to be contrary to their spirit The
verbal agreement, it is represented,
was that a man night hit so long as
both hands were free. Than Mccoy
should have raised the issue ALMOST on
the eve of the contest is regarded as
an evidence of apprehension on his
part that he may not be able to cope
with the eX-marine at all points of
the game.
If the articles are strictly carried
out, all a man will have to do when
in tight place is to place his hand
on the others shoulder, and this
would according to the articles, con-
stitute a clinch.
Sharkey and O'Rourke, his manager,
say that they will insist upon adher-
ence to the verbal agreement, but Nc
Coy has declared that nothing but
what is duly set forth in the articles
will go"
George Considine, manager of James
]. Corbett, who was a Mccoy admirer
up to yesterday, has switched, and is
now ready to bet on Sharkey.
While | have been of the opinion
that Mccoy will beat Sharkey," Con-
sidine is quoted as saying, Il have
changed my mind, and now think that
Sharkey will defeat Mccoy. l am
ready to bet 5000 to 81 900 that Sharkey
will win, and I expect to have no
trouble in getting my money covered"
The admirers of Sharkey are betting
their money on the sailor to beat Nc
Coy, but they have given up hope or
getting any better odds than 100 to 80.
Tom O'Rourke has made two big
bets. The first one is with Joe Vendig,
the bookmaker, 5000 to 81 900 on Shar-
key. The other bet is with Con
Keefe, of Boston, at the same odds,
and for the same amount as the one
with Vendig. Sam Fitzpatrick has bet
81 900 even on Mccoy.
Mccoy quit training yesterday and
will come from Asbury Park to the
Cadillac Hotel in this city, where he
will remain until an hour before the
fight starts.
Sharkey will only do light training
to-day and tomorrow, such as punch
ing the bag and exercising with the
onepound dumb bells.
Another telegram says:
The fact that Mccoy tipped the beam
at 1862 pounds yesterday is another
feature that has caused comment.
Some of the wise ones are wondering
why Mccoy is getting down to the mid
dleweight class to fight a heavyweight.
There is some speculation in regard to
the Kid getting on the scales publicly
and showing his weight, something he
never did in any of his other fights.
This, some of the knowing ones say,
is STALL on the part of the Kid.
That he is framing up" an excuse for
himself in case he is defeated They
argue that Mccoy, should the decision
be against him, will point to his weight
and say: Il failed as a heavyweight
because l went out of my class. | am
still the champion middleweight."
| cannot see why this is a point to
be dilated on. If Mccoy is at his best
at 1862 pounds l see no reason why
he should attempt to come in at
heavier mark. All the extra pounds
he carries above his best condition is
a hs2dicap. not a benefit There are
other little circumstances that the
"over-suspicious" are pointing to. For