The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-01-21
COrbett in Training.

tOrbeff In training.
Jim Corbett is at Lakewood preparing for
his go with big Jim JefTries. which is
scheduled To take place, where. deponent
sayeth not. on the 18th Of March, and JEFF
fries IS 10 follow his example very speedily.
Cnrbett'S task Is u very tough one. 1t is to
regain vitality. Five years ago he was in
superb physical condition. and at that tim.
there was not a man in the ring that he
couldn't go round like a cooper round a
barrel. or defeat with marvellous ease. The
Old song tells US that the mill Will never
grind with the water that is passed" Cor
bett is now in his thirty-fourth year. and
many think that il VIII be a matter OF I'M
possibility for him 10 regain the full form
he had when he defeated John L. Sullivan
or Charley Mitchell.
Jeffries. I am told. has taken on a great
deal Of weight lately and ne will require
a good deal of work to nit him for as lively
a contest as he may expect with Corbett.
lie Won the championship in a very un-
scientific and unrIly way Fully one-third
of the time he laid his huge bulk down on
Sharkey's frame, and compelled him to sup
port il. Had the rules of boxing been prop
erly enforced this would not have been per-
mitted. and had the contest taken place in
the National Sporting Ciu of London, |
feel certain that Jack Angle, II referee.
would have warned JrffrieS the first time
he practiCed this method of holding on
and on its repetition would have disqualified
him Any one has only to view the bio
graphic pictures Of this affair, watch in
hand. to verify this statement.
Now. If Corbett gets into form and tho
referee does his duty. the eN-champion's
speed on his legs and the enforcement of
the rule will be an almost absolute guar
antee that the tactics which were successful
with SharEey Will not win against Corbett.
However. Jeffrjes has nine years the best
of COrbett in age. and within the past two
weeks We have had in the case of George
Dixon versus Terry McGoyern and exempli-
cation Of the fact that youth will be
served" Jeffries. too, il a far stronger man
than Corbett ever was. and consequently
hA aNNgThE . 4. 10 ns.A to II nrl n
lot of punishment. He is a hard hitter.
also; so, taking one consideration with the
other, l think that the chances should favor
his winning.
Corbett has considered all these things
carefully. He EaS plenty of opportunities
to gauge himself with Jefries. for the boil
ermaker was one of his sparring partners
when he was training for his fight with
tftzsimmons nj Carson City. Though Cor
bett is as brave a man as ever pulled off a
shirt in a ring, he Is anything but q fool.
and he has not made this match with his
eyes shut; As he said the other night in
may fool some of the wise guys"
Lmvigne. Trip to France.
The sudden departure Of Kid Lavigre
for France was a surprise to the
sports hereab0ut. Some Of the rapers think
that he has gone to the other side in quest
of = fresh match with Dick BurGe. while
others think that he Will seek a contest
with Charlemagns. the French savotte
champion. The Saginaw Kid is not a bril-
liant coHversdtionali>t nor is he exactly
the kind of man a wealthy chap would
choose for a travelling companion. IL is SAID
that he went abroad in the latter capacity
viii a wealthy French clubman. The Kid
tried very hard to get into form recently.
but found that ms efforts We're unsatisfac-
tory. His mOyemnts on the other side will
be awaited with interest.
In my letter last week in talking of the
report that Tom Shdrkey might sever his
connection with his manager. Tom
O'ROurke, ! intimdtCd that he might change
his rnind-in fact, | him to do
o-when he met O'GOGrke. They did meet
heart talk. the cX-marine SAW the error oc
his way and the result WAS that things with
are now 'aS they Were
| think SharSey is wise in hanging on to
O'ROurke. Tom is certainly one of the
most capable managers and seconds l have
ever known. II IS true he is "'on the make
b 4 so is Nj. Sharkey, and | feel sure that
O'R9urke's assistance. than he
could if he padded his own canoe.
C'ROurke has freshly demonstrated his
ability by bringing about a
sparring coalition for the coming week in
between Terry McGovern and
George Dixon.
| fear that the testimonial benefit for
Dixon has received somewhat Of a check
through the unfortunate affair between Me
Coy and Choynski. 10 seems to have stopped
everything here abOuts in a fiS;ic way. / am
sorry to say. Let us hope that tine dark
clouds that now lower ever the home OF
will soon be disDelled and that
shine Of prosperity once more enlivens the
game. its promoters will be wiser In reality
than they were when they thought they
were wise guys in capital letters.