The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
BOSTON NOW A MECCA
FOR MANY FIGHTERS
That City Vies with Brooklyn in
the Number of Clever
Ring Men.
RAPID ROAD TO FAME.
Boston Clubs Have Been the
Means of Developing Many
Good Fighters.
RAPID ROAD TO FAME,

BOSTON, Dec. 19.-Boston and Brooklyn
are credited with having brought out more
good boxers and more champions than any
other cities in the country. This brings up
the question of just how the boys get into
boxing. Many of the followers of the
game have wondered where the knights OF
the ring get their start and where they
come from. Popular-price boxing shows
have done more to develop boxing than any
other one thing. and this seems to be the
source of the exploiting of the majority OF
boxers. The idea of popular-price club
shows. as it is called, was started in the
days of the Horton law in New York. The
Polo Athletic Club Of that city was the first
of these 1t gave shows on Saturday nights
and the price of admission was so cents. 1t
was so successful that other clubs followed
suit, two in Brooklyn. Unknown boys were
sent together in the bouts, usually In the
preliminaries of ten rounds each, and if
they showed well. bouts were arranged for
them at longer distances.
After the close of boxing in New York the
homes of these clubs shifted about the
country, until finally a few ardent follow
ers of the game, with more courage than
others, decided to try the plan in Boston.
As in New York, popular prices were
charged, and at first only local boys allowed
to box. These, unknown at first, gained
regulations, and quickly jumped to the
ranks of final bouts. Among these were
such boys as Kid Goodman, the feather
weight, who is now boxing in England and
Ireland under the name of Willie O'Brien.
Goodman is in every sense a graduate and
production of these popular price shows,
as is also Sandy Ferguson. Both were I'M
known to the game at the beginning of 1t
here, but quickly sprang into prominence.
Others are Martin Candle. of Fall River.
who recently lost the decision in twenty
rounds to Jimmy Britt in California. and
who last spring defeated Jack OKeefe.
Chester Goodwin, of Chelsea. defeated
Love in Philadelphia recently. Goodwin
was developed at the Boston Athletic Asso-
citation in amateur boxing. His first ap-
pearance there was about the funniest ever
seen, but ne is now considered one of the
fastest legitimate featherweights in the
country.
Jimmy Walsh, who is undoubtedly one
try, is another graduate of amateur ranks.
His first contest was also at the Boston
Athletic Association. but he showed bril-
mediately piucked from the line and put in
professional events. He started in prelim-
tnaries, but his rise was rapid. He never
has been decisively defeated.
The twin Sullivans, Jack and Mike, are
also amateur graduates. and both to-day
are well known wherever boxing is thought
of in America. Jack Sullivan's recent con-
test with Jack O'Brien in Philadelphia
shows his worth and on next Tuesday he
will meet the same Philadelphia boxer In
a fifteen-round contest at the Criterion Club
in this city. If he wins he will be in line
for battle with Tommy Ryan, the pres
ent middleweight champion. 1t can be
thus seen that he is pretty close to the top.
Mike Sullivan will meet Sam Langford, of
Cambridge, the c0nquorer Of Joe Cans, in
Chelsea on the 31st inst. This will be a
contest for lightweight honors.
Langford is strictly production of the
club show. He has been in the ring less
than two years and was about as awkward
as any boy in Boston when he started. He
developed rapidly, however, and recently de-
feated Joe Cans, the champion Of the world
In the class.
Joe Walcott is another Boston boxer with
| a worldwide reputation. He is known per-
haps as well Jim Jeffries, the worlds
| heavyweight champion. In sense Wal
| colt sprang from the amateur ranks, al
| though he figured In many Of the old Suf-
man who has cared to meet him, and he
| holds the title of welter-weight champion
| and is likely to retain IL for some time.
Scores of other boxers now well and
favorably known claim Boston as their
| home, including Jimmy Briggs, the gamest
| little boy of his weight in the country. II
was the popular-prce boxing show that
| really developed those who began as anna
| teurs.