The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-31
SPIKE SULLIVAN TELLS
Of HIS RECENT FIGHTS
Speaking of Martin FIaherty, He
Says He Could Put Him Out
in a Punch

The clever lightweight, Spike Sulli-
van, hasn't forgotten that Worcester
looks like big dot on the map of the
world, even in his successful career.
He corresponds with Worcester people,
and his letters show the honorable
Spike is as facile WITH the pen as he is
in dealing hooks that put his opponents
to sleep. The last letter which he
wrote to a Worcester man, tells his
opinion of Martin Flaherty, brother of
Joe Flaherty, now of Worcester.
Spikes last battle was with Flaherty,
and, with only a few seconds to go,
Martin closed his eyes from one of his
Spikelet's jabs and didn't come around
on time
Spike says in his letter he has been
taking the best possible care of him
self His words also show that there
has not been the slightest bluff on his
part about the condition of his hands.
Every follower of the ring knows that
Spikes hands have been sore Tor sew
eral fights, but his repeated winnings
led many to think Spike was INDUCING
in what they would call little game
of bluff They were the more readily
inclined to believe it because they
know full we'll Sullivan is a shrewd
fellow.
In his letter he says among other
things: "As to myself and my present
condition, I am feeling as strong as an
OK, but very tired. My hands have
been quite bad, but are rounding into
shape again. I must say that after
my fight with Popp, neither Erne,
O'Brien nor Cans would have a ghost of
a show of staying 25 rounds with me
on condition that l was well. If you
look at it in the proper light,
CONSIDERING STYLE, ABILITY,
taking and giving punishment, compar-
ing our ring tactics, physical and
mental ability and consider the men
that the four of US have met, you can
see there is only one on whom to put
the coin. Nothing in the world would
please me better than to meet the whole
of them this season"
After telling what excellent care he
has taken of himself for several
months, he says his arms are an inch
greater in circumference and his ex-
pansion four inches more than it was.
1.-THE trouble is, l have hit those fell
lows too hard. / have fought twelve
times in three months and knocked
them all out. In my contest with Ken
ny, would not take chances of send
ing them in too hard as I had to be
careful of my hands for fights that
were coming. With Popp l simply
played for the wind. If 1 worked on
his jaw he would have gone out in two
rounds.
IT could put Flaherty out in five
rounds if l cut loose, but in the first
round | suffered pain in my left hand
and so took the safe method. / kept
sending in easy ones until the 18th
round. When left my chair in the
goth / took "a chance, even if l would
hurt my hands, and every one left a
mark. Finally the foundation Of Mar
tins guns gave way, and one good
punch put the city of
LOWELL IN THE REPAIR YARD
for more than an hour. But l must
say that Martin is a hard piece of
timber, as gritty and game as any one
before the public. He can do his bit
of work well, and he doesn't lose time
in putting in fouls either. His elbow
kept going on my left ear for the time
we were at it. and my ear shows the
proof of it today. My doctor tells me
il win be all right. IN few days"
Sullivan concludes by reference to his
battle with George McF'adden. which