The Anaconda standard., 1899-11-18
Gossip Of the
Sporting World

The modern boxer has good reason to
congratulate himself upon his fortunes
as contrasted with those of his prede-
cessor who earned his living within
the ropes. Where the old-time pugii-
list was obliged to scurry across the
country in company with his trainers,
hackers and supporters in search of
a spot where the "mill could be pulled
off without fear of interference by the
mnions of the law, the modern boxer
rests in a we'll appointed hotel until
he hour of battle approaches, when he
is driven to comfortable, well fur
nished club house, wherein boxing con-
tests are held with the direct sane
tion of the authorities.
The old-time fighter battled in the
open air, exposed to the fury of the
elements-hail, rain or snow-as long
as the principals and spectators could
brave their unpleasant surroundings.
Also there was added to the troubles
of the pugilists the prospects of an in
definite period to be spent in Jail, if
convicted by the authorities of having
engaged in prize fight. The modern
boxer has no inconvenience of the
foregoing kind to trouble him. More
over, the system of training as prac-
ticed by athletes of the present day Is
far less severe than that in vogue
among the fistic heroes of past age.
The old-time fighters were dosed with
physic by their trainers previous to be-
ginning the work of preparation for
battle, in a fashion that would con-
sderably astonish a modern knight of
the gloves if his handler was to sug-
gest such course of treatment. The
actual training exercise was also Of
nature calculated to break down the
system Of any man who did not pos
sess the constitution of a bullock and
nerves of steel.
A good many of the leading fistic ex-
ponents of to-day are products of the
gymnasion, and would probably have
shown to but poor advantage If ex-
posed to the rigorous treatment of the
old-time trainers. Kid Mccoy and jim
Corbett, two of the cleverest men that
ever donned a glove, are examples
of athletes who owe their success in
the world of pugilism more to manu-
factured than to natural strength
There are other examples too numerous
to mention of boxers who are con-
structed on the nervous PLAN" and
who trust to brain work and skill to
win battles rather than to the rough.
natural strength, as did the fierce old
timers who bore their foemen down by
dint of sheer Drawn and muscle.
The quality of endurance was per-
haps the most necessary factor in the
makeup of a pugilist in the London
prize ring days. The conditions under
which he fought demanded the quail
ity in question, and without it he could
not hope to attain to eminence in his
chosen PROFESSIONS
The Marquis of Queensberry rules
have altered matters in this respect,
and although a certain quantity of en-
durance is absolutely necessary as the
framework of a latter day boxers
SKILL yet it not infrequently happens
that clever but slightly built expon-
ent of the art is enabled to defeat an
antagonist of Herculean mold, who
would have crushed him if battling
according to the ancient standard.
This transition from the epoch of
strength to that of science has natur-
ally resulted in placing the fistic ex-
perts on a higher intellectual grade.
There are, of course, many exceptions,
but in the majority of cases the rank
and file of modern boxers do not pos
sess the beetling brows and bulldog
visages which were generally true in
dications of the animal characteristics
of the old-t timers.
The latter gentry undoubtedly had a
hard time of it when viewed from an
up-to-date standard. There were no
regular managers and no large ath-
letic clubs; the unfortunate pugilist
had to humble himself to the ground
in order to obtain noble patron, and
when he did succeed in winning bat
tie his earnings were mere pittances
compared with the purses given the fis-
tic fraternity to-day. AS a general
rule he ended his days as the propri-
etor of some public house. or sporting
resort. where sparring matches with
the 'muffiers," /. e., the gloves, were
held.
There is one form of resemblance be-
tween our boxers and the old-timers-
a decided aversion to saving money.
There are some wise ones among the
present fistic professors who are saw
ing up for rainy day, but they are
not very numerous.
The boxer has a plain course mark
ed out for him. His career is neces-
sarily a short one. The period between
his goth and 30th years constitutes his
hay making time, for seldom does a
o. hi