The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-25
In THE PRIZE RING
Review of Career of John L.. Sulli-
van, Who Was Forty-four
Years Old Last Week.
Young Corbett's Showing in Fight
With Bernstein Is Criticized =
Gardner After Bout y

John l.. Sullivan, ex-champion heavy
weight, who celebrated his forty fourth
birthday last week. was in many ways one
Of the most remarkable fighters that ever
stepped inside the squared circle.
Sullivan was one Of the old school of pu
gilists. When he flourished ping pong
and handball were not part of the train
ing schedule. The pug of the eighties
used to run ten fifteen miles a day,
clothed in heavy sweaters and then finish
his impromptu Turkish bath by a snooze
between two feather beds. The idea Of
the trainer was to put his charge through
the toughest course of sprouts Imaginable
If the training didn't kill him, reasoned
the coach Of those days, no fighter born
Of woman could.
But alcohol also was one of the essen
tials of the prize fighters life. Sullivan
was the hardest drinker, he was the
hardest hitter. 1t took a long time for
the booze to weaken his mighty muscles,
but little more than ten years ago John
BarIeycorn and Jim Corbett combined
their forces to down the once 1nvincible
pug.
Sullivan says he has spent 81 900, 600 on
whisky, but has now taken to seltzer and
ginger ale. Had he changed his diet
twenty years earlier he might even now
be champion. Much discussion has been
caused by the question whether Sullivan
in his prime could have whipped the best
Of the men who have succeeded him.
That he could have beaten Corbett is not
questioned by the majority. That he
could have beaten Fitzsimmons or JEFF
fries, supposing he met either of these
men, is another problem. But Sullivan is
only year or two the senior Of Fitzsim-
nous, and had he let whisky alone, might
to-day show up even with either Lanky
Bob or the latters conqueror.
C,,11{ I, -.toft1 Of hn11 md
he continues the water cure, should be
good for many years.
Young corbett's Mistake.
Young Corbett, the champion feather
weight, made only a fair showing against
Joe Bernstein at Baltimore last week
According to all accounts the champion
barely held his own up to the time Bern
stein broke his hand. AS Bernstein has
been defeated by Benny Yanger, and broke
even with Kid Herman, this does not show
Corbett up any too well. OF course he
was not in condition, but he has been Sc
verely criticized upon this point. It is
felt by the followers of pugilism that when
they pay their money to see a champion
pitted against second rater, they
are entitled to see the champion
show his best gait
Moreover, If Corbett keeps on making
matches right and left with men out OF
his class, and does not keep in shape fol
these bouts, he will receive a severe men.
tai and physical jolt some night when one
of these same third raters shows unex.
pected strength. For confirmation of this
Young Corbett is referred to a gentleman
named Mccoy. 49, =, =
Gardner Wants a Match.
| Alex Greggafns has issued a challenge
| on behalf of George Gardner for match
| Eoh vcir n,
Kid Mccoy, for $4,000 side, the bout t
take place in this city before the club Of
| fering the best terms.
| II issue this challenge said Greggians
| because Gardner wishes to meet any o.
| the men mentioned. Jim Corbett Is going
about the country with a chip on hi:
shoulder looking for fight with Jeffries
| while FitZsimmons hardly throws ava.
| the gloves after his last match before h
is out talking for another.
| "Gardner is out for the heavyweight
championship. While he Is willing to pu
on the gloves with Jim Jeffries he woule
first prefer trying out some of the men tn
champion has whipped. He is certain HI
| can take the measure of Fitzsimmons, ant
is confident Of his ability to whip Corbett
| "Gardner is a much bigger man than h
| looks. When Fitzsimmons was here a
the time of his battle with Jeffries Gardne
compared measurements with Bob, ant
beat him at every point. Fitzsimmons wa
surprised, and turned to me with the re
mark that Gardner was much bigger thai
| he looked
If Champion Jim Jeffries adheres to hi
statement, made several days ago, ex
Champion Jim Corbett will have to mattel
on a Is and 25 per cent basis. Jeffries, t.
secure fight with Bob Fitzsimmons, wa
compelled to agree to almost an equal di
| vision Of the purse and that, he SAYS h
will never agree to again. Judging from
this, his match with Corbett, which, re
ports say, Is scheduled to take place mex
May, has not as yet been ratified despit
the champions statements to the effec
the match has been arranged.
The latest in this far away matc
cropped up last week, when it was learne
that Corbett injured his right leg; beloy
the knee, while going through his dali
stunts at the Chicago Athletic association
gymnasium. Reports have it that it wi
be a year before Jim recovers the use o
his injured limb. Should this prove tn
case, Jeffries will be compelled to loo
elsewhere for an opponent, that is, If h