Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-02
FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS.
Corbett Has the Championship
 Bee Buzzing Once More.

Corbett Has the Championship
 Bee Buzzing Once More.
 He Has the Whole Thing Planned Out
 For Meeting Between Himself and
 the Winner of the Big Go--Clarence
 Ritchie After Austin Rice-Al Smith,
 the Coronation Stakeholder, Will
 Leave Saturday
 James J. Corbett has the champion ship bee buzzing in his head once more. The former champion has not given up hope of winning back the title, and, ill fact, is more sanguine of capturing the honors than ever before. Ks an eyl- dence of Corbett's sincerity one can only watch his actions. He has given up city life altogether and has taken up quiet quarters down at his summer home on Long Island, where he IS working himself in condition for an other battle The former champion IS wise enough to know that if he IS given another chance at the champion ship he must be in as good condition physically as he was when he fought Fitzsimmons Although Corbett was knocked out ill his last match he showed he was in superb shape to withstand the rushes and blows of the big boilermaker for twenty-three rounds. Corbett has the whole thing planned out to a nicety. He is the strategist, and, by the way, the diplo- mat of the prize ring, and few of hls plans have gone amiss. He has an idea that he will some day win back his lost laurels, and that day, according to the Californian pugilist, is not far away. Some individuals believe that Corbett is wasting time in training, as they can't figure out how he can get 8 match on with Fitzsimmons if the latter wins from Jerffies. But Corbett evidently sees his way clear. Of course he looks for Jeffries to retain his title, and ill this case he has been promised a match with the champion, which would mean clear sailing. On the other hand, Fitz- simmons would hardly refuse to give Corbett chance to fight him if he won the championship, because it is a well known fact that the Cornishman be- IGNGS IudJ uG COuIu lIdk0 SuOTC WOIh of the man from whom he won the championship at Carson City in 1897. Corbett is not particular who wins the coming battle so long as he gets fight with the winner, but there is no doubt that Corbett would prefer Jef- 1 fries if he had his choice of selection. He can play all around Jeffries and make use of his most effective point l iabbing-w Fitzsimmons is forever on the alert and, then, again, is a bet ter ring general and has more skill than the huge westerner If Jeffries wins from Fitzsimmons it is said that Corbett will fight him in September. l If Eitzsimmons is the winner it will remain for him to say when the fight will take place, if it ever is arranged. CorDett has informed his brother Har- ry who is now in Frisco, to look after his interests and make match just as soon as the proper time arrives for ac- l ton. Corbett himself is of the opinion that he will be called upon to meet Jeffrles and he is training accordingly
 There are many people who did not 1 think 1 was sincere" said Corbett when I announced that I wanted to 1 light the winner of the Fitz-Jeff 90. | Well, you will find me on deck at the proper time. l am going to train along and will be ready to fight some time in September. Jeffries has promised to hgive me a fight if he wins and I have every reason to believe that he win keep his word. F'itz and I are good friends and I think that he would give me another go if he was successful in downing the champion. I will be in shape for either one so it does not make much difference to me who car ries off the honors. I am getting stronger with every additional week $ work and with the present system that am following will get back into my old time Form before very long,"
 Clarence Ritchie, the western feather Weight, who has just returned from an extended trip though the west where ne met with more or less success, is anxious to try his hand with some of the eastern boxers. Ritchie would like very much to get on a match with Ans tin Rice, the "iron man. of New Ton don, or any of the Philadelphia boxers who enter the ring around 122 pounds There is some talk of putting Rice and RItchie on as a preliminary to the Cor pett-McGovern bout to be held at New London.
 Al smith, who has been selected as stakeholder for the National Sporting club in the coming international fchts VIII leave for the other side on Juna oinlth holds the purse of $5OO0 offered TOT the Sharkey Ruhlin go. as well as the side bet of $2,500 made by the fight CTS at the time of signing articles.