The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-06
CURRENT SPORTING TALK.
JAMES C~0BTILLE's OPINION ON THE
BIG GLOVE CONTEST

As prominent sporting men come to town
for the big glove fight next week they hunt
one another up and indulge in criticisms Of
both Sharkey and Mccoy with the idea OF per-
fectinR their lines on the contest. One of the
most conservative patrons Of glove fighting Is
James Colvillc OF Boston. whose long expert
ence in pugilism as a hacker. referee. time
keeper and manager is calculated to make his
opinion worthy Of consideration. Colville got
here yesterday and after paying a visit to
Sharkey's training quarters he said to a re-
porter OF TIE Sun:
Il should like to ace Sharkey win. but be-
fore l bet on him there are several things /
want to know about his condition. In his
nRht with Corbett he showed signs OF wearl-
ness In the eighth round. which did not satisfy
me-. even though l bet heavily on Sharkey.
simply '..duse / knew he was in better physi-
cal trim than Corbett. What l wanted to find
out to-day was whether Sharkey's wind will he
better than 1t was during his fight with Cor
bett. II II is he will receive a good chance to
win. but II It isn't Mccoy may surprise those
who think the sailor has a cinch. sharkev is
q powerfully built man whose surplus Of
muscles makes 1t a difficult matter for him to
stand fast fighting unless his bellows are in
1rst-class trim. Mccoy Is undoubtedly a
speedy fighter. which will compel Sharkev to
work a trifle harder than when. he faced Cor
bett. That is an important point to consider.
As far as his being able to get to Mccoy goes.
/ should Judge that Sharkey can do 1t. because
he did 1t with Corhett. The fact that the sailor
actually outboxed Corbett in the first two
rounds and also scored n knockdown proved
that Sharkey does not lack cleverness. He
has better legs than Htzsimmons and can use
them with much more stiffness than the
champion. but the latter has better hands and
consequently can hit harder. II FltZsimmons
YVES to fight Mccoy next Tuesday night he'd
probably be a big ~favorite on what he has at
ccmplished. Snarkey ought to be the pick Of
the public. too, because of.his record. but from
what | hear l shouldn't be at all surprised II
Mccoy is a favorite at 10 to Z.
Mccoy is certainly Il great boxer and is also
cunning. but whether he possesses a lighters
head or not we have yet to learn. Mccoy has
failed to give the public a good line on his
ability as an opponent Of heavyweights. yet
those who know him believe he has every quail
ity OF a successful puGilist. He may turn out
to be the most wonderful fighter OF the times.
and then. again, he may be one of those phe-
round. There's one thing about him. that
kharkey NAV be able to bring out, and that Is
jected to a hard heating in fact. nobody has
ever hit him a blow powerful enough to rattle
him tiE bi ! s%n nnd hv that ma 81, SSna moey f Is a mGr 6IaP 93T AVER
That he has improved steadily under the care
of O'Rourke. Dixon and others there can be
no doubt. and it is also certain that he has pre-
pared himself carefully for the coming, mill.
Still. ! shall not feel confident OF his ability to
win until | am convinced that his wind has
been made perfect"
George Considine. Corbett's manager. has
been asked FIRE luently for an opinion on the
fight and to all inquiries he has made this an
while my sympathies are all with Shar,
key and ! you'd like to see him beat the Kid.
1nnoLnnt Gharlay ohnn1I ha fp ynrifa In fha
t Esst."ff believe Ell Mccoy viii win because he viii
also be in better shape than Corbett was in the
recent fight,
actly. 1885, pounds and would enter the ring
15s int tip the s scales al i / he sb sq pks onto @ s she nonS st
dent OF success that he declares he will bet any
amount, with Mccoy on the result at prevail
ing odds. providing the Aid Will put up his
own money.
Coy battle on next Tuesday night began in
real earnest Yesterday Followers Of the ring
with rolls Of greenbacks. but despite this no
one seems inclined to plunge heavily on either
New York A: C., it is said. are with Mccoy. and
Prof. Mike Donovan is holding o lot of stake
'spadS F arr HfuS a 10 p spsah en- " Omaha n Oe sP %aq.
who is among the latest arrivals, brought a
s S1Pdie F f mgRo said Hi tha hl% as ia far back as he eAf knew sx;
only a, few sports, from his: city would at
tend the, mill; 9Wing to the fact that they
bett bout. Parson Davis sent word yes
terday that he would reach town from
the min. 1t is also said that a number of
prominent army and navy officers from Wash
Tom O'Brien. the bookmaker. has $3.50 to back
Mccoy. Charley White, Tom Broderiek,s
% eTen Cp t made sk !T9 wf He has ys' $3.50 m OF sl} 20
speculate the same way. Eddie. Bull has been
Entrusted with 500 G0 to back Mccoy; Bull has
Miller, hacker aud manager Of Jack bonner.
Is prepared to risk $500 on sharkey. Billy
dimes Of 500 against $3.50 on Mccoy. He
says he has $500 more to To- put up at the u same
succeeded il, getting a customer Tor a few
hundred on s]harkey; Bangs told The Sun re-
RR RFas5 '3 farmer ne vas 81 'f I0ndq no. F aEo o IS IN mtS 9SH.
thinks Mccoy will win and wants to back him.
d Marh Fram s9 a fr fea{ Ne wh Fss stated s 4 lsf, . na 1he e1he OF
Thev are expec'ed here by to-morrow's
IS fssfb' "eklpE him Il me HieN Hotel, IqrIbor9u i
Gilsey, Hoffman House and Hotel .Bartholdi
AsRuRY PARE, Jan. 5,-On account of the
Eain to,day kid Mccoy was "a OBLIGED ig to a; abandon
nasium exercise. He boxed ten three-minnte
rounds with the puTRSSht I bag z and ,Rd,, was nc not in in
Kids trainers to be a strong factor in bis favor.
Regarding the statement Of Tom O'Rourke
that MrCoy's weight on the night Of the fight
would be nearer 165 pounds than 1853 pounds,
and his willingness to bet $3.50 on It; the Kid
telegraphed the following message to sharkey's
manager:
Make that bet $500 and I will agree to weigh in at
mean what yOu say.
Mccoy said tonight; "O'Rourke is, doing all
this talking for. a feeler. and might be willing
to lose 500 in the hopes of getting me t2. re-
duce my weight so az to weaken myself. If he
will make the bet $500 / will oblige him. l
can scale 1913 pounds much casierthan Sharkey
can lSO.'
Mccoy is the favorite over Sharkey in Wall
street. and yesterday 10 to 8 was offered that
the Kid would win. The Wall street men OF
sporting tendencies say chat they favor him In
;he belle, that his scientific spa rrinR WILL stand
points. A'few large bets have been made In
the financial district upon the result. They
$1,000 TO $500 that Sharkey will win. The
Mccoy man who took the last named bet tried
to duplicate 1t. finally Offering to bet 81 900
even unon Mccoy without drawing any more
Sharkey money.