The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-01-12
SHARKEY-M AHER BOUT CENTER
OF PUGILISTIC INTEREST
Heavy Weights VIII Battle jana airy 1I-McGovern-Sulivan Fight
Next Battle of General Interest, VIII Be Pulled Off at Louis
vile on Waslingtonis Brthday-General Fighting Gossip.

Chief items of interest in a pugilistic way
IN the last week have been the reports
anent the various candidates for the heavy
weight championship. and the incumbent
Of the title. Both Corbett and FItzsim-
! mons blossomed out for a few brief mo-
ments last week in connection with cham
! pionship talk, only to have the week close
without anything definite being done.
Until January Il. most interest will prob
ably be taken in the work Of Tom Shar-
key and Peter Maher. who are to fight on
that date. These heavy weights should
put up Il good battle. and while both are
distinctly shop-wOrn. they are said TO be
in trim To furnish an excellent bout. Such
a match in the happy days of the Horton
| law would have attracted universal at
| tention among followers of the prize ring.
Maher is said TO be greatly incensed at
| the illusions TO poor old Peter" made in
various sporting papers. and announces MS
intentions of showing his critics that he
is in as good trim now as he ever was.
Few believe that he will be able TO con-
found his critics by any startling exhibit
tion or revival of form. however, as II IS
generally conceded that he has had enough
Of it and has seen his best days.
He is reported. however. to have retained
distinctly more than Il shadow of his old
punch and this should make him an eX-
tremeIy dangerous man still. Peter always
was able to make his blows felt when he
landed, and so long rs he possesses even
a share of this old property, he should
hold his own against any heavy weight
who is widely known at present.
Several acquaintances Of Peters. cVi-
IDENTITY with the intention of teasing the
big freshman, have spread stories about
Makers financial experiences in the days
when he arrived in this country fresh-rom
the old sod. One of these anecdotes, re-
Gently printed in an Eastern paper, Is to
the effect that Maher while in the height
of his success as 4 boxer. was approached
by a promoter who asked him to 30 on for
a few rounds with some dub boxer, mere
II as an excuse to get the gate money.
Peter had not quite mastered the Amcri-
can style Of currency at The time. but al
ways had i shrewd eye for the money just
the same.
III give you twelve hundred dollars if
you'll go on for six rounds" the promoter
said.
"Begorra, I'll not do thot same" respond
ed Peter. with great dignity, III go on for
wan thousand dollars and not Il clint less.
The promoter at once came to his terms.
Following the Sharkey-Maher battle will
come the McGovern-Sullivan bout at Louis
Vile on Washington's birthday. Sullivan
Is going to have Il hard task set before him
when he meets the former featherweight
champion. as Terry viii probably train with
greater care than ever before. in the hope
of fighting his WAY back to his lost laurels.
Tn. announcement that ne is to have an
operation performed on his nose before the
night, however. is not recaiVd with much
enthusiasm by his supporters. as they be-
lieve that The fight will follow too closely
upon the operation to make any surgery
advisable. Terry's physicians state that his
breathing apparatus will be greatly i'm