Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-26
THE GREATEST PUGILIST
McGOVERN APPEARS TO OCCUPY
THE PEDESTAL At PRESENT.
Has Beaten Three Champions in Diff
ferent Clnsses-AIl Other Records
Warred by Defeat.
From the New York Telegraph.

From the New York Telegraph.
. .'Who was the greatest pugilst Of the
nineteenth century," is the question that
Is now agitating several debating clubs. 1t
is not a fair question, for no one alive
today can go back one. hundred years and
say from experience what were the abili-
ties of early fighters. Very few can say
from actual experience what were the
merits OF fighters fifty years ago How
ever, had the questioner asked who was
the greatest fighter in the last twenty five
years a rational answer could be returned.
Modern followers of glove contests know
nothing Of the Heenans, Sayerses and Maces
of the squared circle, except what they
have read, and the reports Of their per-
formances are decidedly hazy.
In considering the modern lighters one
naturally begins with John l.. Sullivan.
He, no doubt, will have many supporters.
but it does not appear that he can claim
the honors. While he had much success.
yet the caliber of the men he met was
not great The best heavyweight he ever
defeated was Kilrain, certainly not top
notcher. Sullivan did not meet the really
dangerous men of his time-Jackson. Sla-
vim, Goddard. Mitchell. a middle-weight
fought Sullivan thirty-nine rounds to a
draw. While Sullivan had deteriorated
when he faced Corbett, yet the latter won
gladiator's friends. Sullivan will always
be popular, owing to his generosity. his
bluff heartiness Of manner and his good
heartedness, but he will not shine as the
greatest fighter Of his time.
Corbett a Great Boxer.
Corbett, who succeeded Sullivan as
champion, has a good claim to the title
Of best boxer of the age, but is so de-
ficient In the fighting instinct as to Grip
pie his record. Corbett had. unparalleled
skill as a defensive fighter, but he lacked
the bulldog spirit that marks the real
fighter his defeat by FitZsimmons and
Jeffrfes proving that he had no claim to
the title of greatest fighter of the age
-Fitzsimmons has claims to the title, for
considering his age and service In the
ring, he is the most remarkable heavy
weight boxer in the ring. His record Is
marred by a" disgraceful defeat at the
hands Of the present champion, and even
his two sensational victories over Rubin
and: Sharkey fail to wipe out the stain
At the. same time, all things considered
F'itzsimmops is the greatest heavyweight
pugiiist of the age.
: sJeffries the, champion. has not yet been
defeated but in the main his perform
ances have been so disappointing he would
hardly be considered in the award of the
title of greatest fighter of the age. He
is also lacking in the fighting instinct, de-
pending on his weight and strength to ex-
hanst an opponent.
Rubin. and Mccoy are outside the posi-
bilities.
No Special Class.
The query, however. has not special ref
erence to one class, but to all. Going to the
middle-weigft division, the present cham
pion, Tommy Ryan, is a very clever scien-
tific fighter, with but one Knockout against
him. and that by Kid Mccoy. While Ryan
has given away much weight, yet he has
steered clear Of hard propositions, and APP
pears to be continually searching for easy
problems. He could not be considered the
greatest fighter of the age.
In the welter-weight division. Matty
Matthews, present holder Of the champion
ship title; Rube Ferns, previous holder, or
Bifly Smith, cannot be considered as pos
sessing phenomenal qualities.
George Layigne was unquestionablys one
of the greatest fighters that ever held the
light weight title. but his record Is marred
by a succession of notifying defeats in
recent years. MeAuliffe. previous holder OF
the title, was an excellent man, but bis
record fails to show victory over lem
Carney. the English champion, who, as a