Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-02-18
"PUGS I MADE FAMOUS"
Tom O'ROurke, the Manager O
Fighters, Tells of His Experiences

Fighters, Tells of His Experiences
The majority of men interested in
the art Of boxing think that one OF
the easiest positions in the world is
that of manager of pugilists. 1t is the
manager who hits the happy medium
among all the pitfalls who is success
full with his charges, provided they
are good men to begin with l attrib-
ute great deal of my success in the
management of Dugilists to the fact
that | am in a position to act as a sec
ond and can generally give good advice
to man from the ringside. | always
watch both fighters very closely dur
ing the rounds. and if | see my man
is getting the better of the argument
| let him go along as he thinks best.
Whether man is winning or losing
it is always the best plan to keep on
"jollying' him along and make him
think be is bound to win and that the
ether fellow is getting the worst of 1t.
It is of the highest Importance to keep
boxer in a good temper when in the
ring and not let him get worried 1t
is half the battle gained if he has con-
fldence in himself and in his manager.
manager of pusilists was this: | was
living in Boston, and Ike Weir, locally
known as the Belfast Spider" boxed
a lawyer in the town and received a
trouncing at his hands. The Spider
and his hackers thought that he could
do better and challenged the lawyer to
another go for $500 a side. | saw the
first encounter and was so impressed
with the ability of the lawyer that l
offered to back him
Some OF the friends of the young
lawyer heard of the affair and per-
Guaded him not to fight any more. 1t
must be remembered that pugilism in
those days did not hold the high place
in public estimation that it has since
attained.
When Ed. Holske. who was back
ing Ike Weir, heard that the young
lawyer would not fight, he generously
refused to take the forfeit and gave
to take his place.
Going along the street one day,
saw Jack Havlin driving coal cart.
He had taken part in few unimport-
ant fights previous to that time, and
| had taken a fancy to him and
thought he had the markings of fight
er. So / stopped him and asked him
if he would meet Weir. He jumped
at the opportunity and fought him for
four and a half hours in the woods in
Rhode Island
Soon after that I saw George Dixon
beat a man who was sixteen pounds
heavier than himself, and | took charge
OF him. wanted to match him
against Cal Mccarthy, who was then
the featherweight champion. Then, as
every one who has followed boxing will
know, after a battle with Joe Murphy,
which Dixon won in seven rounds, he
was matched to fight Mccarthy. The
battle took place in Boston. lasted
seventy rounds, was declared a draw.
A little over year later the two met
again in Troy, N. Y, and there George
won in twenty-five rounds, capturing
the championship, title he held until
it was wrested from him last month by
Terry McGovern. Had George met
him in the. shape he was in five years
ago he would have won.
Dixon is a good example of the old
style fighter, of whom John l.. Sullivan
is typical. Prodigal of his financial
as well as his physical resources, he
parted with his money almost as quick
ly as he got it. He is the only CRATE
full fighter l have ever met in my
whole career, and I have had to do
with good many in my time.
l have quite a string of fighters in
my care just now, including Tom Shar-
key, Mysterious" Billy Smith, Bob
Armstrong, Joe Wolcott, George Gard
iner, of Massachusetts, and Henry
Lyons, of Chicago. These are all good
men at their different weights.
1t will be noticed that seem partial
to colored fighters, and so | am Ne
gloes are gamer than whites and can
stand more punishment. Take Wal
colt, for instance. In some of his
fights he has taken punishment which
l don't believe any white man of his
size could have withstood Walcott is
to-day better than he has ever been.
Last year he made the best showing
Of his whole career in the ring. Wal
colt and Dixon have long been chums.
and the latter's defeat at the hands
VI hNbOfCld blOhc w diCoCt all up.
There has been good deal of talk
recently Of a party of American fight
ers going over to Europe to fight in
Paris next summer. 1t is quite likely
that some may go. and l am perfectly
wiling for any OF my string to make
the trip if reputable man takes hold
OF the affair. However, l think that
there will be too much going on and
SO much money hung up in purses on
this side of the water during the next
few months that the majority of the
fighters will find it pays. better to stay
here. TOM O'ROURKE.
We examine the ewes for glasses