The evening times., 1900-02-07
WITH THE BOXERS.
Inclination tO RfdicuIe- the Coming
COrbett-JenrIes Fight.

tOrbctt-JenrfeS Fight.
Followers Of glove fighting are low en-
gagged in heaping ridicule on the proposed
pugilistic encounter between James Cor
bett and James Jenries for III, heavy
weight championship. When TIE match
was first made IL was not taken seriously.
for the reason that Corbett had pretty
well convinced experts that his best days
as a pugilist we're at an end. With chal-
lenges from FitzsimmOns, Sh8rkey. and
Ruhlin ignored. Jeffries was accused Of
making arrangements with Corbett for
gate money. picture-taking" contest. In
which he would practically have a sure
thing" The champions manager, William
A. Brady. was also accused OF making this
match in order 70 keep Jeffries out OF
gTuelirg encounters. so that he might not
lose his magnetism on the road. 1t WAS
originally planned TO have the fight next
September. but the date was unexpectedly
changed 70 March, the explanation given
By outsiders being that Jeffries was not
drawing the looked for gate receipts in
the theatres Of large cities.
Stories OF Job" have been in circula-
tion for some time. The statement that
Corbett is TO receive the referees decision
and Jcffries is 70 get all the money. though
denid with emphasis by those directly in
terested can be heard in any OF the local
sporting resorts. Men who bet heavily on
fights refuse 10 believe that Corbett has a
chance 10 win II the battle is on the level
They say that If the eX-champiOn could not
stand the "gaff" with Fitzsimmons ana
Sharkey. he certainly cannot make an i'm
preston on Jeffries. who has summarily
beaten both OF the sterling pugilists Cor
H.
worked conscientiously for both Fitzsim-
mons and Sharley. Jim has been taking
excellent care of himself during the past
year and probably believes he can fit him
self for Jenries. with such completeness
that he will have a look in But even
should Corbett enter the ring in prime
shape. experts say that he will be unable
TO hurt JeGries with his blows. which he
cannot make as powerful as the ones
rained upOn the present champion by the
Cornishman and the sailor. Then again
Jeffries' bulk weight strength. cleverness.
and tremendous hitting power are believed
to be a combination that Corbett cannot
possibly break up. No stock is taken in
the prediction that Corbett will be able
70 stay away and thereby get the decision
on points for the critics are pretty sure
that Jeffries will not hesitate 10 force mat
ters and beat his man down quickly.
Kid McCoy's announcement that he will
fight no more does not surprise the know
ing ones who patronize glove contests.
The wallOpng that he received al the
hands Of Choynskis not long ago is believed
to have had something TO do with his de-
termination TO quit the ring. ChOynski
wanted return match. posted $500 for
felt with the Broadway Athletic Club. and
waited several days for an answer. Nc
Coy came TO time with the winner take
all dodge. which seffectually blocked all
chances Of a match. Prior to his meeting
with ChoynslIi. and just after his signal
victory over Maher. Mccoy showed an ca
gerness to meet all Of the heavyWeights,
including Jefries ana Fitzsimmons. RfteT
his bout with ChoyBAEi. however, Mccoy
| possibly thought that II he remained in
the arena he would strike much harder
game and. therefore. with good sense, he
/ decided to withdraw. As a middleweight
| exclusively. Mccoy could give cards and
/ spades TO any man in that class, barring
| perhaps Fitzsimmons. a meeting with
/ whom would have been one of the best hs-
| tic magnets
Jack O'Brien's failure to meet Frank
| Erne again cannot be explained By his in
! innate friends. OBrien's fine showing
I against Erne- at .Coney Island several
months ago convinced many that the loca
| pugilist had an excellent chance to be-
come the lightweight champion. Although
| Referee Siler called the bout draw at the
| end OF twenty-five rounds, a majority Of
| tn spectators thought that ErBe had beer
| bested. especially for the reason that h
was knocked down twice with clean stom
ach blows and was also OutfOught 20 sucl
I an extent that in the last round he wa'
| hanging on in the clinches. Many persons
/ say that Jack was afraid to meet Ern,
| again. but this is hardly probable. Th'
| most plausible story is that O'Brien hai
suffered a physical breakdown. due Il
| overtraining. and that he went to Ho
/ Springs TO rest up. O'Brien has been fight
/ ing steadily for the last three years, an'
his rise from the ranks has been rapid
| Those who know him do not believe tina
| he can be Justly charged with cOWardiee.