The Washington times., 1903-12-20
SHORT-LIVED CAREERS
OF MODERN PUGILISTS
Fighters Don't Stay in the Ring as
Long as They Once Did.

In former years a pugilist was not
considered in his prime until after he
had passed -, said a veteran follower
OF the prize ring recently. Nowadays
however. II Is different A fighter who
is still at the top Of his class after his
twenty-eighth year is considered a won
der Of course. there are exceptions
as IN the case Of Bob Fitzsimmons. He
is certainly a well-preserved man, and
II viii be many moons before we find
another Ike him. F'itz is nearly forty
two. but he can Eight as we'll as he did
ten years ago. Then. there are Tommy
Ryan, Joe Choynsl<i and Joe Walcott
ChoynslSi was never a champion, but
he is a great pugilist for all that
Take the old-timers, such as Bar
ney Aaron, Jem Mace. Dooney Rice
and others. They did their best fight
ing after they were thirty. Then there
were Joe Goddard. Frank Slavin. the
late Peter Jackson. Billy Edwards. and
Pete Mccoy. John /. Sullivan was all
in. so 10 speak, before he was thirty
four Kid Mccoy is under thirty and
has been forced to retire, because. ac-
cording 10 his own admission, he can
not fight any more George Dixon lost
the featherweight title to Terry Nc
Govern when he was in his thirtieth
year AcGovern, in turn, was defeat
ed by Young Corbett before he was
twenty-five. Pedlar Palmer won the
bantam championship Of the world
from Billy Plimmer when he was
twenty. and gave way to McGovern
four years later. Although Palmer is
twenty-eight, he has been regarded as a
has-been for some time Billy PIimmer
was compelled to quit the ring before he
was thirty
Kid Lavignc. one of the best light
weights the arena has produced in the
last decade. was all in before he was
twenty-nine. Frank Erne. who sue
ceeded him at the top of this class,
went down before Joe Cans. the pres
ent lightweight champio0. in his tWlt-
ty-seventh year, and now he has retired.
Jim Corbett was knocked out by Bob
Fitzsimmons and lost the heavyweight
championship when he was thirty-one
@Tom Sharkey, although only in his
thirteth year, has been out Of II ever
siace his last fight with Jim Jenries in
1s99. Sharkey always paid the strictest
attention TO his health. too. Starlight
the veteran Australian middl eweight
who has been the trial horse for a num-
Der of the foremost Australian heavy
weights past and present. is stu fight
ing. Starlight is nearly fifty. but the
youngsters have al they can do to beat
him ia decisive fashion
Harry Forbes. who is only a young
ster. having been born In 1879 lost the
bantam title to frankie Nell few
months ago. Forbes has been fighting
ever since 1927. Jack McAulihe was not
more than thirty-one when he retired.
Gus Rubin. who was born in 1872. is
stiil in the ring. but he has never shown
much form since he was put 10 sleep By
Bob fitzsimmOns three years ago Peter
Aaher has been out Of Do for yenrs, al
though he Is stiu a young man. He
was born In 1863. The Sullivan brothers.
Spike and Dave. have been recading in
form for years. yet neither Of them is
over thirty. KID Mcfarland. OF this
city. who was expected 20 fiji Kid La
vfgne's shoes some day. has retired from
the ring Mcfarland was born IN 1875,
but he WIS forced 10 quit boxing
year ago. when he was knocked out
By Joe Cans.
The method or modern pugilists in
training and looking after their health
IS different from that which the old
timers used TO undergo Present DAY
scrappers make twice much money
as some Of the champions did In TIE
past, and they live only for today. -
New York Sun.