The Washington times., 1903-01-04
BOXING GAME IN FAVOR
WITH NEW WORKERS
Sport May Be Made Legal by
Legislature.
HAS BUT LITTLE OPPOSITION
Many Championship Battles Would Be
Decided-Joe Cans, Lightweight
Leader, to Tour Abroad.

The sporting fraternity. as well as
many others who love the Istic art,
have their eyes trained on Gotham.
where the supporters of the game in
that city. with heavy financial backing
entertain high hopes of getting a bill
through the new Legislature Of the En-
pire State.
There seems less opposition now than
ever before. many prominent men hav-
ing declared themselves in 'avor Of
permitting boxing contests throughout
the State. under some State direction.
Still others favor q ten-round set-to 1t
is more than likely that three OF four
bills will be introduced, and shat box
ing will be on once more before winter
shall have passed away.
One thing that seems determined upon
and 1t is just and proper-is that
the men who handled the affairs of the
game in the past must keep hands off
They will not be allowed to manipulate
fights to fatten their own pocketbooks
Should any of this class attempt to do
so or show their hand in any way lis
a ten-to-one shot that all hopes Of get
ting bill through the Legislature would
be killed.
Should the game start up in Gotham
its easy 10 see what effect It would
have on other cities in the country
Many of them pattern after New York.
and to lift the ban there would be
Should the measure go through the
Legislature and obtain the approval Of
Governor OdeH. who is already known
to be in favor Of boxing some rare
sport would certainly follow Then it
is more than probable that champion
ship battles would be monthly affairs.
Little fellows and big fellows would be
given a chance To settle their gTiev-
ances and for good fat purses.
Some of those that might look well
would be twenty-or twenty-five round
contest between Jim Jenries and Jim
Corbett. There is no denying the latter
has many supporters, and they regret
his defeat at the hands of the cham
pion. Many there are who believe that
should they meet again he would more
than make good.
It was only the hardest kind of luck
that lost him the fight with Jefries.
The big boilermaker was losing right
along, and until the twenty-third round
when he caught the Pompadour one a
lucky punch in looked sure as if Cor
bett would get the big end of the purse
One equal in interest would be that
between Tommy Ryan, the champion
middleweight. and Jack 'Brien Of PhiIa-
delphia- These two boxers have fought
shy Of one another right along. When
issuing challenges Ryan expresses q
preference for those he = certain of
defeating, and O'Brien takes on any old
thing provided he doesn't look like Ryan.
With the sport running in New York
they could be forced 10 box for a purse
that it would make it worth their while.
And what a rafting bout it would be
two clever, speedy, scientific boxers.
with all other things equal battling for
the middIeweight championship OF the
world, AS drawing card there would
be nothing like it, unless a battle be-
tween Terry McGovern and Young Cor
bett
A contest between the little fellows
would pack Madison Square Garden.
Still another bout that would do well
and mean much money to the principals
would be twenty five round affair be-
tween Joe Cans the lightweight cham
plon, and Jimmy Britt Of San Francisco.
Joe Choynski, the clever heavyweight,
does no1 seem to be worrying much
these days. When asked recently how
much money he had made in the fight
ing business he said:
I've been fighting for the past fifteen
years and have gathered in something
like $40 600, Of which I have managed
to save $50, 600. IT is invested in Chicago
real estate for a cold day"
ChoynsH Will engage in two more bat
ties and then retire.
Few champions in recent years have
put their title in so much danger as. Joe
Cans, nor have they in their years or
service before the public taken so many
chances with their reputation Champion
VI AlD C3tdLli tiJ14 the DOAtE from Ed4lI-
more has been going right along meeting
aIl-comers Jenries. Ryan. McGovern.
Young Corbett, none of them. can match
records with him.
Today he is king of the lightweight di-
vision without a single man in his class
TO say him nay. Unless Jimmy Britt, OF
California, can be induced TO tackle the
negro. it is not likely he will be seen in
This country Tor some time
Accompanied by his manager, Al Her
ford. he viii in the near future 90 TO
England and ireland. \ trip to France
Is also contemplated Cans has enough
theatrical engagements around London
% keep him busy for a month alone.
The d5feat OF Kid Carter by George
Gardiner. in Chicago, this week was no
surprise The BroolIynite, big. game
strong, and willing as he is, could not
match these qualities against the
strength, hitting force, aud science OF /
he big fellow from Lowell
II is not many years ago that Gardiner /
vas regarded as third-rater. For such /
men as Jack Moffet. OF Chicago. and /