The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-03

Former Worlds Champion Would
Have Been a Marvel Today-Was
Practically Alone at His Came )
Mitchell a Clever Fighter-Jem
Mace Compared With Cor
bett-other Ring Masters r,

sJohn l.. Sullivan would have been q
great fighter had he been of later date"
said Billy Madden, the Nestor of mama
gers Of pugilists, who is In Seattle I'M
charge OF the interests Of Gus Rubin.
II have heard many OF the wise ones
say that John L. would have been made
to look like q novice by the new pre-
miers Of the ring, but differ from them
on that proposition.
II will admit that the new men are all
right-there are some good ones among
them. and some who might have made
John L. extend himself. but when hear
them say that the big fellow would
have been outclassed it makes me smile
they don't know John as I knew him.
He was marvel. Strong as lion, and
as brave as knight Of old. He was
champion Of the world before he knew
anything about boxing. But he learned
later on, and he was not slow at the
game in his finishing days in the ring.
Yes my money went on Corbett when
the men met in New Orleans. But the
John L. Sullivan who fought that battle
was not the John L. Of old. And I
brought John out, you know.
There is another clever man with the
gloves" continued Madden. II refer to
Charley Mitchell. He was handicapped
by being light. But he was wonder at
the game of feint, land and get away.
There have been none better.
"And let me say right here that there
never lived greater boxer than Jem
Mace. He was as finished an artist as
any man who ever entered ring. And
he possessed an advantage over some
in that he nursed his strength and wind.
While C0rbett is a skilled artist at box
ing. he has never been greater than
Mace for the reason that he makes too
many motions-covers too much ground
sort of wears himself out.
1.-THE defeat of Corbett by Fitzsimmons
was due largely to the fact that Corbett
worked too hard. He wore himself
down and the Cornishman did the rest.
Remember, I do not mean to detract
from the greatness Of Corbett as box
err. He was wonder at his best. No
c!everer man is known to the ring. But
I repeat. Mace excelled him in nursing
his resources. And Mace was a good
timer and Judge of distance. He could
tell when an adversary was about to
lead, and took advantage Of what fol-
lowed.
mccoy Is another great boxer. He.
like Mitchell. is handicapped by lack Of
avoirdupois. Mccoy is tricky, too. He
insists upon using bandages. and they
are unfair to boxers who meet him.
True, his opponents have like privilege,
but it would be better were the band
ages barred. Mccoy is one of the most
skillful men of ring history. Had he
been blessed with more weight he would
have been dangerous to any of the
champions.
Naturally" said Madden, IT consider
Rubin the best of all the present aspi-
rants for the championship. He is
young, and strong. and clever. and as
cool as an iceberg in the heat of battle.
eli has met defeat at the hands of Fitz-
simmons, but that is no discredit, for
any boxer is liable to lose against the
Cornishman, who Is certainly a star.
II believe Rubin is Jeffrles' master.
He has met defeat at the hands of Fitz-
bcilermaker. and mis- showing on that
occasion certainly stamped him the
equal, If not the superior. of Jeffries.
Time will show. We go to San Fran
cisco to force Jeffries to do business or
get off the track. I think he will come
to time He must in order to retain his
title-at least with the discriminating
public. All we want is battle. and may
the best man win."-San Francisco Bull
etin.