The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-13
SPORTING NEWS.
Tommy Ryan Is a Smart Adj
Vertising Pugilist.
Keeps His Name to the Front
With Little Fighting.
AVOIDS HARD MILLS
Says a Sporting Authority in
st. Louis.
Sharkey Will Take a Trip to
ireland and Rest.
AVOIDS HARD MILLS

ST. Louis, Dec. 81 do not think
that Frank Mcconnell need be afraid
of Tommy Ryan at $50 pounds said a
well known follower Of pugilism yes
terday. Really. do not see where
Ryan gets his apparent right to be re-
garded invincible. Just take a peep at
his past performances and you viii see
that he is not all conquering whenup
against the right people. It is true that
he has done what people believe is n
shade above his class He has COINED
them into believing it and has beaten
good men like Tommy West and Jack
Bonner Yet he was almost as heavy
as they were when he turned the trick,
though, no doubt, he can fight good
deal lighter
What did he do with Billy Smith. a
man who does not want to meet Nc
Cornell? He beat Smith at MinneapO-
lis many years ago, but Smith more
than wiped that defeat out at COney
Island when Tim Hurst called it Il
draw. Smith had Ryan beaten to death
in the eleventh round when the police
interfered and stopped the contest.
Hurst managed to jolly the officers into
letting it go on. Mentime Ryan recOv-
cred somewhat. Smith, too, can fight
some pounds less than Ryan.
Tommy never sought Joe WalcOtt'S
game; in fact, he has always avoided
the awful negro. He could not be in
duced to meet George ByerS after that
shifty negro beat Tommy West and
Jack Bonner. He did beat the Coffee
Cooler but there was a time in the
game when the English AfrO-Ameri-
can BritOu had him going. and going
fast, for I saw it. Jim Ryan, George
Green and Dick O'Brien were beaten
by many and then by Ryan.
Tommy is the smartest of the lot in
picking up marks and easy money. He
will take on a mark and split the
money with him just to make a little
bit. He win even give the dead one
H. IL . h..
other way. Look how he fought Bob
Douglas here, Charley Johnson at Hot
Springs and many others.
All this talk about his fighting Nc
Coy is buncOmbe. Mccoy beat Ryan
when he CNIcCoy) was not as good
man as Mcconnell is now. Afterwards
he drew Mccoy into a throW-dOWn at
Syracuse. Ryan hustled through q few
rounds, did most of the leading and
stalIng, Tented and made a showing.
Mccoy always careful, was biding his
time. Finally, in one round, Ryan made
q tremendous 'stap and the police stop
ped the race when he was a bit ahead,
just as they did when Jack NcAuliffe
had a lead on Austin GibbOn many
years ago. Mccoy cut him to ribbons
at Maspeth in Is rounds. and then Nc
Coy was 20 pounds lighter than he is
now Ryan has not improved a bit
since that time. Mccoy was the light
er man when he beat Tommy. Ryan
gave it out that it was to be fake
that Mccoy was not to train and only
wanted a good losers end, which is a
highly honorable excuse. much on the
same lines F'itz made for his lay-down
to Jim Hall.
"All in all, 7 cannot see much in Ry-
an beyond his extreme cleVerness in
passing up good men and taking on
'stiffs.' He has not fought a good man
in years-nOt since he fought Mccoy.
He got a go with Jack MOffatt upon
promise that he would not knock him
out He let Mofatt do 20 rounds and
lose the decision at Dubuque. He has
avoided Jimmy Handler. George Gard
ner, Joe WalcOtt and Billy Smith for
years. Even Dan Creeden feared him.
He asked an impossible sum to box
Creedon. He is one grand STALL the
biggest and strongest the ring ever saw
and hope soon to see the day that he
will get his beating"