El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-04

Written Especially for The Herald by
The situation regarding the cham
pionship contest is exactly the same
throughout the whole country "a 1t vas
seven years ago, when Corhett. then
the champion, was matchc1 10 nSht
Fitzsommons and defend his title.
That fight was to be pulled off in
DaIIss. but Governor Cuiherson put
his foot down on it with such force
that the senate immediately passed
bill prohibiting pugilism within the
state.
Tie affair WI OF the verge of fall
ire through when the officials at Hot
SrriI gs notified Dan Stuart to bring
the fight off in their city. oherlng all
kinds of inducements and protection
The affair was thoroughly advertised
and Stuart arranged for a regular ifs
tic carnival having matched Tommy
Ryan and Mysterious Billy Smith,
and Peter Maher and Steve O'ronneli
as a sort of ring warmer to the great
event. But when Fitzsimmons left
his training quarters at Corpus Christi
and started for Hot Springs he was
arrested at the Arkansas line by order
of Governor Clark. The order read,
ARREST Fitzsimmons and bring him to
Little Rock. If you cannot bring him
alive then bring him in pieces. Cor
bett was also arrested but both were
discharged on their promise not to
fight in Arkansas. That ended the
fight at that time.
Maher and O'Donnell went east and
fought at Marpeth, Long Island. Ma
her won the fight in short order and
was at once matched to fight Fitz-
simmons.
Corbett who had already defeated
Maher at Jacksonville. Fla, seemed to
thing that the Irishman would defeat
@Lanky Bob and just before the fight
took place at Langtry. presented Maher
with the championship belt saving he
was going to retire from the ring.
The sports of Ell Paso we'll know the
been pulled off in this city. Only two
blows that counted were struck. Fit@
hit Maher and Maher hit the floor.
The fight did not last one minute.
Corbett reclaimed the belt and
through the efforts of Dan Stuart was
again matched to meet Fitz. Foxy
Dan Stuart had managed to secure the
prize fight bill which is now on the
statute books of the State of Nevada.
After Corbett gave the champion
ship belt to Maher, Richard X. Fox OF
the New York Police Gazette, who had
presented the belt to the champion
when the defeated John L. Sullivan
proclaimed that when champion was
defeater or refused to defend his title
that the belt should be given to him
(Fox) and he in turn would give 1T to
the one who really deserved it. Thus
when Corbett lost the championship
to Fitzsimmons at Carson CITY on
March 18th. 1895. he turned the belt
over to Fox who inturn gave 1T to
Fitzsimmons. But as was stated in
The Herald a short time ago. JenrieS
holt ok n
when he defeated FitZsimmons the
belt was turned over to Fox but Fox
wanted one of his men to referee the
fight and Jeffries would not stand for
it, whereupon Fox said that James j.
Jeffries should never own that belt
After trying in vain for two years to
get possession of the belt Jeffries has
now filed suit against Fox for the belt
or $500. the recognized value OF the
belt.
Corbett also wants another trial and |
should such a thing happen that Rubin
should win the match on February 10.
he will likely be accommodated. But
Jeffries will not fight CorbetJ again in
a limited number of rounds. He how
ever says that he will fight him to
finish. Jeffries recognizes in Corbett
the best boxer of the age as well as
the most scientific fighter and he we'll
how near he came to de-
feat at the hands of the ex-champlon
who was able to land on the big boiler
maker almost at will and but for care
Iessness in the twenty-third round
would have won his fight and the
:
Corbett knows well where he made
his mistake and if he gets another
chance it is dollars to doughnuts that
ne would win. Jeffries knows that
,nly too well and it is not likely that
hey will ever meet again.
fight from being pulled
IF in Cincinnati the question naturally
rises. "Where can the chamionship be
lecided?"
TweEty-nine governors were asked {
hat in case the contest at Cincinnati
ell through. would they permit con-
est in their state. Twenty-six of these
answered No" Governor Sadlec. of !
Nevada, however says the men may C
ght it out in his state. Dan Stuart is r
ow building an arena there and ar +
angling for a fistic carnival for the r
pring-
Despite his statements to the con- f
-ary. FitZsimmons again aspires to
ne championship and will fight the win
er of the Cincinnati contest at Car S
on Cnty early in the spring J
n
There is now a probability of an r.
merican crew from the University of S
going to England this
ear to compete in the Henley regatta
1t was the intention at first to have :,
lie Cambridge or Oxford crews to n
America but although the PenIsyl- n
ania ere whas always been very fast