The St. Louis Republic., 1903-03-15
.TWOTOMMY RYANS
FlSTlC DROMIOS.
Middle Weight Champion and
Ordinary Welter Weight
Are Alike, but Only T.
in Looks. n

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
II pusilism can boast of any Dromios. the
two Tommy Ryans. weIl-known In hstic
circles. may claim any distinction arising
from such titles. In build. facial appear
ance and nom de guerre. the pugilists have
points IN common, although it cannot be
said that there is any remarkable resem-
blance between their records of battles.
One Tommy Ryan halls from Syracuse.
and is middleweight champion OF the world:
the other Tommy Ryan comes from Phfia-
delphia and Is welterweight. but not a
champion. Syracuse Tommy Ryan is said
to be. worth close to $4,000. tniiadelphie
Tommy Ryan IS said t. be broke And yet
the two might pass. one for tne otna-. IN
any company wne!e either was but Slightly
known
Although Syracuse Tommy Ryan is nomi-
nally r., heavier of the pair. holding the
mddleweigh, title, in realty he is as light
as hi' Philadelphia counterpart. Syracuse
. can fight at IA; pounds quite readily, and
gees up 10 l5s pounds in case Of necessity
Philadelphia Tomm:- also fuctuates be-
tween the same weights. 8
Both msn have about the same appear
ance in every respect. although Philadelphfa
Tommy Is sightl- the taller of the two
One popularity which would strike casual
observer is the fact that either man has the
slight thickening OF the cartilage In tne
point. This fact, added to the really re-
markably similar contour OF their features,
brings out the resemblance Ss ha s'feaS heeS pbtna
for sixteen years and Is one OF the bestr
known puginsts IL the country. He was
born in Redwood, n. y. IN 1870. and started
hi5 pIigilistic career when he was II years
old Unlike many of his time, who have
been steadily relegated TO the rear, ne has
ism and is still the legitimate middleweishtf
ONE NAME ADOPTED.
His real name Is Joseph foungs and he
states that he is OF French-Canadian de-
He assumed his ring name out Of compE.t
menr to Thomas Ryan. who was Mayor OF
Syracuse when Joseph started his fighting
career For the last two months the mid
dle-weight champion has been at Hot
Springs, but he will be In this city In Few
Welter-weight Tommy Ryan is well
known here where he first appeared in cont
pany with Young Corbett. whom he served
as sparring partner. He fought here for the
first time about one year ago, knocking our
George Block in "a bout at the business
Mems Gymnasium. He next appeared at
the West End Club. losing to Martin Duffy
after fifteen rounds. Ryan is his real name.
He is now in the city. and is trying to get
on a match with some local man.
Syracuse Tommy Ryan will be engaged
structor of the Missouri Athletic Club. Ip
public from Hot Springs last week. apropos
Of the lively discussions in which he has
figured with Fitzsimmons and the general
fight situation. he said:
''I have been here for two months. ana
have not been in trim to hght any one. al
though I took on one bout. In regard to
Fftzsammons, will only say that accepted
the offer Of the Fort Erie Club for a purse.
but Fftz paid no attention to II, and did not
answer Herrman's offer. / have not been
talking about the matter, as he has dcnss,
for am not In the show business, and nck
toriety does me no good. ALJ
"Fitz has retired time and again.. and T
do not believe he intends fighting anybody
II he fights me for the middle weight cham;
pionship it will have to be at 1a pounds,i
the weight at which he beat Jack Dempsey,
and which is the rea. middle-weight limit. ;,
Il will be in St. Louis in q few days cons,
cerning- the offer Of the. Missouri Athletic
Club. will gladly retire to accept this
place satisfactory arrangements are
made, and. as l have been corresponding
with the directors for some time, think
that we will close the deal. am tired of
fighting and VIII c.ose with any reasonable
offer."
When Middle weight Tommy gets here II
will not be surprising II some amusing mis-
takes in identity are recorded In the vart-
Gus sporting haunts Of the city.
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