The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-23

in the ring in fifteen minutes, or forfeit a
fortune. And he generally succeeded
When he failed it was because he had
ben wrestling with John Barleycorn, his
greatest enemy. And that was not often.
1t has been asserted that Sullivan lodged
certain battles The claim Is unjust to
the great boxer. He was afarid of no
man living He fought once too often.
He knew it. His true friends were
aware of his physical inability to make
a successful fight when he was pftted
against James J. Corbotte but Sullivan
held the Californian in such contempt
that he went into the ring contrary to
his own good judgment. and suffered the
only defeat of his brilliant career.
RYAN AND DEMPSEY.
OF all the fighters Of the day, the near
est to championship form after the
heavyweights is Tommy Ryan, a second
edition of the lamented "Nonpareil,''
Jack Dempsey. Ryan is not up to the
Dempsey mark, largely because of his
desire to make money easIly-something
Dempsey had no opportunity to do. While
Dempsey sought the best men Of his day
and class, even going out of the latter
to get battle, Ryan is constantly cast
ing about for something easy" be-
lieve Ryan can defeat Mccoy He was
once defeated by the now practically ex-
ploded Hoosier boxer, but it is known
that Ryan went into the ring totally un-
fit for bruiSing contest. He discovered
his error when it was too late. He was
worn down by man he had failed to
credit with the ability to which he is en-
titled, and he fell before him. Then the
men met a second time and the result
was unsatisfactory. 1t was said that
Ryan had the better of the argument,
while that assertion was offset by the
friends of Mccoy with the claim that
Ryan was in his home town and that he
had arranged with the police to inter-
fere. which they did. Ryan is getting
along in years. He must do something
soon, if at all.
COVERS ALL CLASSES.
The -decaderce In fighters covers all
classes. There may be some who give the.
matter but surface thought who will
say that there is no room for. such an. as
sertion. Let them point out the great
men, Of today's ring heroes. They cannot
do. it. Where is the -middleweight cham.
pion, such as was Jack Dempsey2 Who
can fill the place vacated by lightweight,
champion McAuliffe? Where is there an
other George Dixon? Who has taken the
place of Jimmy Barry? In not one of
the classes can there be found as great
men as once wore the title of champion
There are many promising aspirants.
But they are not yet entitled to class
with men who carved fame out of many
hard-fought battle. From Fitzsimmons
to the little fellows there is but one really
great undisputed champion of the ring
in America. ,f-
THE CAUSE OF 1T.
Greed for gold is responsible for exist
ing conditions in the ring. When Tom
Sharkey had fame offered him he lodged
IL by refusing to meet man he was
afraid would defeat him and thereby re-
duce his drawing powers as a theatrical
boxer. Corbett was the first champion to
assume that position. He would not fight
so long as the public would pay money
to see him box some victim on theater
stage. He was a false alarm as a fighter
from start to finish. Such men as Sulli.
van, Heenan and that class of fighters,
would nave made short work Of Corbett
in the days when championships were
won on the turf Fitzsimmons is the
nearest to Sullivan of any Of the cham
plons of modern times. He is not afraid to
fight. He Is compelled to go out Of his
class to get a match. AS a middleweight
he Is unconquerable. There is not a man
living who would have chance with the
Cornishman at the middleweight limit.
There may be Improvement of existing
conditions at any time. The day is not
far distant when the fellows who go out
eAAiu win Oiic pdltle ana Cnen take to the
"stoige," will be tabooed There ia a
time coming when a champion must ha a
hghter, and not an actor. So long as
fltzslmmons wears the toga II will he
defended as 1t should be. But. as T have
said, F1tz is soon to be out of If. Ape
VIII do that for the Cornishman. whose
wonderful career since he came TO
America has stamped him the pugilistic
marvel of the decade. Clubs are spring
ing up all over the country There will
De the incentive Of great gain for those
who reach the topmost rung of the LAD
der of pugilism-or boxing. That ro.v
have the effect of bringing to the front
new timber, out of which NAV he n,sda
champions. But the material is 40 va
lacking. There are few who can he -
garded as promising aspirants for tba
honor. Certainly not McCoy-nor sbar-
key,nor, perhaps Jeffries. Judgment "a
TO the Dig oo1lermaker should be reserved
untii ne Is tried out in his battle with
f1tzsimmons That will show what thara
is in him. 'neie
SULLIvAN'S GOOD SENSE
Latest reports from John T. s,11,,,o
are all good. The once mighty eIedta+or
is attending strictly to business nnr,o
days. He has turned his back unon +h.
VINE that is red-also that which is wbfta
he is beginning now where he should
nave begun ten or fifteen years ago And
yet sullivan Is as popular today as he ever
was. His name will rank with those ~
the most famous heroes of the ring. ertar
that OF his accidental conqueror Is for
gotten. -W1nu ioi
Aqueduct Races