The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

meet Hugh McPaC
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Just one week from Tuesday evening
Young Corbett and Terry McGovern are
scheduled to clash before the Hayes Valley
Club of San Francisco in their twenty-round
contest which few believe will go the lm-
II. The bout will decide the feather-weight
title and widespread interest is felt in the
result
While opinions vary widely as to the out
come. most sporting men seem agreed that
II will be punch fight" That Is. that
the first man to get his punch over rightly
will win on its merits. and not on his skill
at boxing. Both boys have Knockout
blows In either hand both are hard, fast
fighters. 1t is not likely that the referee
will be troubled to decide the question OF
supremacy on points.
1t Is doubtful IL any contest can show such
q following of sporting men aligned in sup
port Of either man. No previous champion
ship battle ever saw the contestants so close
there ever a battle where authorities on the
subject differed so widely on the probable
result Of the meeting.
One-haf Of the spJrting world is going to
be badly disappointed by the result of the
affair. while the other half Will be able to
cay complacently: Il told you So There
are cases in pugilIsm when the sporting eX-
perIs were down to a man on the wrong
side-as in the Suilivan-Jim Corbett fight.
when the msr Of the ring Sers
80 cases where the experts were on one
side and the vast majority OF casual fol-
Corbett- Fitzsimmons bout. where Corbett
was picked by the wise set, Fitz by the
multitude. But there never was case
when experts and the general public were
so evenly divided as on the present ques-
ton.
1t is likely that betting. among sporting
men, will be even money and take your pick;
But the volume of small bets likely to be
cast in the Frisco pooirooms has ALREADY
made McGovern shade the shorter Il tts priced ea
favorite over the champion. This is another
where a beaten pugiiist has never before
been favori,e over his conQueror upon their
second meeting.
Eastern sports are down solid on Terry.
westerners are more in favor Of Young
Corbett. Tom Sharkey and other products
Of the ring unite in selecting McGoyeI 1hs to
pick the champion. The Cons.dines have
offered $4,000 In bets upon the champion
and Harry Corbett is also open for wag gers
its man. 1t will have unlimited opportunity.
Summed up, the chances Of the men justify
the evenly divided opinion upon their merits.
long list Of Victories over men wen known
Yoans corbe eaf has newer fought But:
when all is said and done. Young, Corbett
beat McGovern. And the writer beheves ne
Young Corbett is not likely to enter the
ring PUFFY fat and pntr s as as d ne mas
S %iI be IN ali hS o ,Ss With him His light With
Hanlon rejected no credit upon Corbetts
care of himself or his considerable for
that his VII" ring generalship and his capacity
for punishment are his strong points.
1t is doubtful If McGovern could have alb.
sorbed the punishment Hanlon meted out
to Corbett in the same manner the cham.
pion did. 1t Is certain McGovern could not
through furnishing blows. and have kept
his head in the midst Of terrific pounding,
as did the champion. Terry would have
McGovern admits that he Lost his head
and temper when he fought Young Corbett
the first time. He has learned a lesson and
may not do It again. But his temperament
Is not such that he will stand long ngnt
Sh s'f pavs ss tns that
Ing .coliectedly. but can he, adhere to that at
such as the coming fight will be?
Both men have the punch. both are hard.
of par w
have some of the best seconds In the coun,
try in his corner. Both should be in good
ton. It it, viii be in Terry's favor, to Judge
from the past careers of the men Ihat
Is the situation as 1t stands and that Is why
the sporting public is divided as to the
outcome.
Benny Yanger won from Kid Abel last
week, as was generally expected, and
though he failed to knock his man out. he
drubbed him in the stomach until the KID
was about ready to drop. That he stood
the punishment administered reflects credit
on his ability to stand beating.
The fight was the opening contest of
series carded for KANSAS City. the next
number on the programme being the bout
between Harry Forbes and Johnny Kelly.
the coming Tuesday. This bout will be the
opportunity o. lifetime for Kelly. but it
Is doubtful IL he Will prove anything more
than 'runching-bag for Forbes.
Harry, by the way. had an unpleasant ex-
perience last Monday evening at Allegheny.
where he was scheduled to meet Paddy