The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-13
YOUTH Il REQUISITE
OF MODERN PUGILIST
In Former Years a Fighter Was
Not in His Prime Until He
Was Thirty.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
I'm former years a pugilist was not con-
sidered In his prime until after he had
passed thirty" said a veteran follower of
the prize ring. Now, however, it is differ
ent. A fighter who is still at the top of his
class after his twenty-eighth year is con-
sidered wonder. OF course, there are ex-
ceptions, as in the case of Bob Fitzsimmons.
He Is certainly well-preserved man, and
it will be many moons before we find
other like him. Fitz is nearly forty-two.
but he can fight as well as he did ten years
ago Then, there are Tommy Ryan, Joe
Walcott and Joe Choynski. Choynsh was
never champion, but he Is great pugilist
for all that.
Take the old timers. such as Barney
Aaron, Jem Mace. Dooney Harris and oth-
ers They did their best lighting after they
were thirty. Then there are Joe Goddard.
Frank Slavn, the late Peter Jackson, Billy
Edwards and Pete Mccoy; John l.. Sulli-
thirty-four. Kid mccoy p is under thirty and
has been forced TO retire, because, accord
ing to his own admission, he cannot fight
weight title to Terry McGovern when he
was in his thirtieth year. McGovern, In
turn, was defeated by Young Corbett be-
fore ne ne MAS 1wehsytWo Ped1s LA the nrId
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 Plimmer was compelled to quit
the ring before he was thirty.
kid Lavigne, one of the best nght
weights the arena has produced in the last
decade, was all in before he was twenty
nine. Frank Erne. who succeeded him at
the top of this class, went down before
Joe Cans the present lightweight cham
pion. in his twenty-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 thirtieth year. has been out of 1t ever
since his last fight with Jim Jeffries in
1899: Sharkey always paid the strictest at
tention to his health, too. Starlight, the
veteran Australian middle weight, who has
been the trial horse for a number OF the
foremost Australian heavy weights past
and present. is still fighting. Starlight is
nearly fifty, but the youngsters have all
they can do to beat him in decisive fashion.
Harry Forbes, who is only youngster.
having been born in 1879. lost the bantam
title to frankie Neil few months ago.
Forbes has been fighting ever since 1897.
Jack McAuliffe was not more than thirty
one when ne retired. Gus Rubin, who was
born in 1872. is still in the ring, but he has
never shown much form since he was put
to sleep by Bob Fitzsimmons three years
ago. Peter Maher has been out of 1t for
years. although he is still a young man.
Spike and Dave, have been receding in
form for years, yet neither of them is over
thirty. Kid Mcfarland. of this city, who
was expected to fill Kid Lavjgnes shoes
Partland was born in 1875. but he was
forced to quit boxing a year ago, when
he was knocked out by Joe Cans.
THE method of modern pugilists in train
ing and looking after their health Is differ
ent from that which the old-timers used to
undergo Present-day scrappers make
pions did In the past, and they live only
for to-day"