The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-09
.FITz IS POPULAR
No Fighter Since Sullivan Has
.. Been More Liked.
JOHN L. AND JEFF COMPARED
"Reminiscences of Former Cham-
pions-How Pady Ryan Won
the Title From Goss.

markable and at the same time
the most natural things that can
be imagined. Probably no champion,
save possibly John L. Sullivan, has ever
won the favor of the public as has the
lanky Australian. Corbett never was a
very popular champion, and Jeffries has
had the crowd against him in nearly every
fight he has entered.
One Fitzsimmons adherent remarked
the other day before the old mans last
battle, that Jeffries' style was not cham
pionship fighting. This might be
answered simply by the remark that any
style that wins championships and holds
them against all corners is championship
style. On the other hand, it might be
said that in many points-hitting power,
ability to endure punishment, and lack OF
skill in boxing-Jeffries style of fighting
much resembles Sullivan's. Yet the lat
| ter was popular and Jeffries never has
| been.
True, in one way Jeffries does not re-
semble Sullivan. He is not as aggressive
fighter, preferring usually to wait for
his man to come to him, rather than
| forcing the battle himself and to this
may be traced his lack of popularity and
the lack of public confidence in his proW-
ess. Like Sullivan, however, he has
won his battles by sheer hard hit
ting and his own ability to take punch
ing.
! Sah ANY
In the latter respect, indeed, he is more
remarkable than Sullivan in the latter's
best days. The Boston man never took
such punching as Jefries got from
F1tzsimmons two weeks ago, and If he had
it is pretty certain he would have lost
his title much sooner than he did. The
fact that Fitz, who disputes with
Jeffries the possession of the hardest
punch in the world, and Sharkey, another
| ha RI hitter IN nf all the other
men Jeffries has faced since he first en-
tered the ring-the fact that not one Of
these men has ever been able to put the
champion to the grass or even to stag
ger or weaken him, shows the Cali
fornian up in class by himself.
But to return to Fitz. The blacksmith
has won the hearts of the American peo-
pie, because of his unflinching gameness,
his clean, aggressive, open style OF
winning fights, his long service in the
ring. his temperate habits. his countless
victories over men to whom he gave
pounds and pounds of weight, and for
; dozen other reasons which might be
: named. By many he is considered to be
5 a more wonderful man than Sullivan.
r George E. Kent, the well-known local fol-
r lower Of sports, discussing the Aus
t tralians last battle fell into a reminis-
t cent mood, and talked Interestingly not
D only of Fitzsimmons, but of Sullivan,
Paddy Ryan, Joe Goss and other heroes
$ of bygone days.
Master of Ring Science.
d whether Fitzsimmons would have
t whipped Sullivan when both were in their
r prime said Kent, lis something which
t OF course can never be sett led, and it is
e a pretty hard thing to even theorize
s about. Both men were hard hitters,
a gluttons for punishment, and game to
the core. Fitz, however, had Sullivan
hn9tPn in
other matters, FitZ is past master in any
thing pertaining to the prize ring. He has
been swindledout of thousands of dol
lars. because he had no business head,
and was too good natured to insist upon
a what was due him. In his less important
battles, before he became champion. the
promoters would time and again decline
z on some some pretext, to pay him what
d they had agreed. Fitz would simply say
e Cali right and walk out Sullivan now
z would have said Come in with that
+ dough, and id quick about it
It "But fighting is an altogether differ
n ent proposition now from what it was
when the London prize ring rules were in
: vogue. In the old days of bare knuckle,
|, finish fights, a man had to be much more
d rugged and healthy than a man who takes
d part in modern big glove limited round
: bout. In those days the theory of a
e lighters trainer was to work a man so
= hard that if the training didn't kill him,
his opponent couldn't.
:. II remember we'll when Sullivan first
n came into prominence. There was an ex-
e policeman named McGinnis Bishead Nc
1t Ginnfs, the boys used to call him, who
e kept a sort of gymnasium in Boston, and
e, nearly every night there was an i'm
promptu battle there. Some pretty good
d fighters belonged to that gymnasium, and
of one day Sullivan surprised everyone by
knocking out the best man there. So we
/ i,
. man to trim this young fellow. We picked
out our man and got a professional tc
train him, and put him In against Sulli-
van, but he lasted just as quick as tie
IN other.
How Ryan Became Champion.
''Then Sullivan got a manager and
! trained up until he finally whipped Paddy
Ryan and won the championship of Amer.
2 lea. Paddy Ryan was a young Irishmar
who got the title from Joe Goss in a Pc
culiar manner called default. They fought
out in the country around st. Louis, anG
in Ryan's corner were a bunch of tn.
u toughest sports that the country evel
. produced-the old tough St. Louis crowd
dr. which was as tough as the Lord eve1
made man. In ten rounds Goss cut Ryan,
face into ribbons. made his chest ant
ly stomach into mass of raw flesh, and hat
n the big fellow ready to quit. Cos
as reached about to Ryan's shoulder, am
n actually had to jump from the ground t
r reach his face Ryan turned to his back
1t ers between rounds and told them tha
nd he was going to quit, that he had ha,
n enough s.
e ".An right. Paddy. said one of them
Mt You see these stakes? Well you cal
es take your choice Of letting Goss put yo1
as out with his fists or letting us put yol
er' out with these ring st axes -.., .'
Ryan knew they were all as good a
their word, and he concluded he woul
rather face Goss than his seconds. So h
staggered around the ring for a fey
of Grounds more, until Goss actually droppe
ga from exhaustion, although he had hardl
IT. scratch upon him. -. = E.&=
St THAT was the way Ryan won the cham
pionship, and Sullivan took it from hin
to Then came Corbett, then Fitz and no,
to Jeffries. But those two. Sullivan an
I'd. Fitz, in their prime were the greate es
ey men the country ever produced, and
Ter would be pretty near toss up to sa
in which one was the better of the two."
lot
'or Rejuvenation of Kimble.
"a The surprise Of the N. C. A. circuit to da
"a is the rejuvenation of Owen S. Kimble ii
ga dark-skinned rider from Louisville who
second in the championship score and wi
has been a hard proposition for Frank Kr
3 u,er. tOld Kaintuck', has been racing 4
bo 3e