Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-25
THE RING.
Writing from New York city Macon

THE RING.
Writing from New York city Macon
says:
The prospects for another heavy
weight championship fight this year are
far from bright, albeit Bob Fltzsimmons
and Tom Sharkey. who are to box on the
25th down at the Coney Island clubhouse
by the s=a, ave promised that if the
victor is not too much disabled in the
encounter to have a reasonable chance
against the champion, he will meet JEFF
fries during the week following, ere the
Horton anti ca boxing law kicks the
bucket.
That little "if' settled the question so
far as Jeffries was concerned. He knew
thai there was every reason to expect a
rafting fight when Fitz and Sharkey
came together. and that if they fought
six eight or ten hard rounds neither
would be in a fit condition to go up
against him a week later. and so he has
virtually called the match off.
TIL attitude Of Fitz, Sharkey, Corbett,
Mccoy ct al. who have been proclaim
ing for months past their eagerness to
get a chance at the championship. re-
minds me somewhat of the attitude of
the Hibernian laundress who was a de-
position of several hundred dollars in a
savings bank. concerning the solvency
of which some adverse reports We're
atoat. Calling at the bank she demand
Ell her money.
How will you have it. madame, in
large notes or small bills?' asked the
aging teller.
'Hev yees got ito" inquired the lady.
"Certainly." was the response.
Then I don't want it, was the an
sWer. but if yees haven't got it. I want
il right away" AS long as Jeffries was
exported to be in a semi-crippled con-
dition with his right arm encased in a
plaster of paris handage. all the above
named gentlemen and Gus Ruhlin, too.
We're eager and anxious to get a crack
at him. and We're sorry. oh. so sorry,
hat his crippled condition prevented
him from Immediately acQuiescing to
their requests. Now it appears that he
is ready and willing to fight ere the ides
of September arrive, but none of the as
p:ran.s for the championship are ready
| to tackle him. My own private opinion
publicly expressed is that there is not
one Of the heavy weights who is break
ing his heart because he can't get a
chance at the big boiler maker. They
may say what they please, but actions
speak louder than words.
OF course. there is a possibility that
when Fitz and Sharkey meet either man
may be "~stopped' or put TO sleep in
jig time BEIGE the other has been hurt
:; materially. bat there is hardly a posi-
+; Li.ity of such an occurrence. Sharkey
is q good deal better man now than he
/ was when he met Fitz in Frisco. 1t
was claimed at that time, and often
since, shat Fitzsimmons let up on the
sailor on that occasion in the interests
of certain poolropm people of San Fran
; cisco. W h We're laying odds that he
(Tom) would not be knocked out in six
rounds, Fitz denied this. So did the
poolroom men, but there is a suspicion
extant that there was some such ar
rangement. However, there is very lit
tie likelihood of any deal or, ar
r~angcnlent," in the present case. There
is no noolroom betting of any conse-
quence h~ereabouts on fights. In fact
considering its importance and the rep
utatiun of Fitz and Rubin. there wa
comparatively little betting on their con,
test. I doubt if there was $4,000 wageret
On it in all New York. ! haven't heard
Of more than half a dozen men Wh'
wagered over a thousand apiece on 1t
and the biggest bettor among the 10
only owns up to losing about 1000, am
he is a truthful man. A very short tish
het ween Fitz and Sharkey would excit'
a good deal of disgust and cause an!
amount of unpleasant talk. Still boti
men are remarkably hard hitters. Eithe
is capable of putting the other out will
a punch if he can land it in the RICH
place. Still. | don't think there will b
any such result. If Fitzsimmon's lief
hand comes around all right. | look t
see him defeat thu sailor in less than l
rounds hut / may be mistaken.
, There are but few echoes Of the Fitz
| Rubin affair. Nearly every one | hav
: talked with about it is of the opinion
l that Rubin i 20 cast in the champion
ship mold. Said one of the best sport
: ing srribes in this vicinity to me tn
} other day: Macon, you're right abou
Rubin. He lacks not only ferocit
! which IA champ;on fighter should nave
but also initiative. He is slow and stoli
. and not at all uuick-Witted in actor
From my seat at the ringside ! coul
: hear Corhett coaching him and adjur
! ing him in the most earnest manner t
t "hit first. D0n't let him jab you tina
Wav," but Corbett's advice and urgin
WAS in vain. Even after that bell
= -unch in the second round Gus ha
plenty of opportunity to make his super
: Tor haigh and reach effective If n
d would only take the initiative, but h
couldn't be made to do this no matte
: how vehemently he was urged. He
p'ucky and will stand Il terrible gruel
s ing. hut when faced by a quick. skillft
d man who is ferocious and a hard hitte
his chances of success are not great
d For myself | do not think Rubin wi
S ever fight again as he has fought in tn
n past. Fitz nearly punched the stomac
5, ) out of him and the remembrance as we
: as the effects of that punching are like
= to remain With him for years, and b
v that time his pugilistic days will
over.
FitZsimmons made a good bargain Il
l. Sharkey and himself in getting the Ses
o side tConey Island) folks to put up
IS $4,000 purse for them to scrap for. The
e wiz cut it in two "even un,' and tt
d halves will be we'll worth their best e
IS forts.
don't believe thai there is any iu
= ground for the i~nsinuations that ha,
/. been made that fighters who have boxt
n before the Twelfth Century Athlet