The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16

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stages of the contest. This fact showed
the speed and the even nature OF the bat.
tie.
SO FAR as the championship is concerned
It seems best to pass the title up for a
time. The fight was at la pounds. and the
alleged "122-pound championship was q
coined title, inasmuch as McGoyern chose
to raise the weight limit for the feather
weight division when he fought Young
Corbett in the East on the fateful day he
lost his title.
That Tommy fought a magnificent battle
d certain. and no detraction from his hon.
ors Is necessary. even II he does not
acquire a doubtful title which AtteIl
coined for his own benefit. Any fighter
can claim the title at some abnormal
weight at which no recognized honos at
tach. To the men who hold champion
ship honors by beating others of their
class. admittedly tho best men In the d.
vision. the right alone rests to wear the
title of champ"
To many persons the right to raise the
limit for any class in a pugilistic encounter
savors of the same heresy as would at
tach to shortening the distance in a horse
raoe. Should n horse owner claim to have
a world heater in some colt or flly. who
ran a remarkably fast trial over a distance
admitted to be below the actual route. his
claims would be received with a scornful
smile.
One trainer tried to make a world heater
out Of a 2-year-old by moving a distance
pole on the old Lexington track. He was
subsequently ruled of for his pains. Many
followers of sport treat alleged champions
at weights outside of the recognized limit
with great disdain.
II must be confessed, however, that In
the absence of definite rules on the point:
there is nothing to prevent the holder OF
a pugilistic title from raising the weight
limit of his class TO anything he pleases.
Bob Fftzsimmons set the frst eEampae
weight limit to 1s pounds. when he found
he could no longer make 49,:
Then the bantam weight title was grad
ually increased and the welter-weight title
went up a pound or two. The feather
weight limit went UP TO III pounds with
one jump. MIR. Terry McGovern thought
he had a snap in the person OF 0Ir. Young
Corbett and agreed to fight him for cham
pionship honors at the heavier limit.
The welter-weight limit seems TO have
gone I'D since Mr.. Joe Wolcott decided to
Increase the avoirdupois. A new class has
been coined. known as the Tight heavy
weight" class.
That there Is a great need Tor the latter
GLASS and that ii Is legitimate enough In
itself is certain. But the raising Of weights
In other classes has turned many titles
into q farce. Or this account, ii seems best
for BROOKLYN Tommy to be content with
his victory. without laying claim TO any
hollow honors or any empty title.
To claim a title may or may not mean
an asset. In Tommy's case it seems hest
TO rest on his laurels. won last Thursday.
Instead OF claiming any titles at some OBJ
scure weight. 1t looks best for him to 80
ahead quietly with his work at the Mis-
souri, Athletic Club. as he intends to do.
and to simply be able TO state that he has
defeated the man who laid claims TO al
the honors in his own class.
Sullivan fought a sterling battle last
Thursday. He made the best " ne
ever displayed In the local ring. And the
fact that he has not gone around laying
claim to empty distinction and to indefinite
titles speaks strongly in his favor.
Terry McGovern marked his return 10
the ring by hammering Eddie Hanlcn all
around the ropes at Philadelphia last
week. So desperately did he attack Eddie
that the Frisco boy had to hang on grimiy
at the end to avoid punches which threat
ened to dispose of him in short order.
Although many tactics of the
camp have not been for the good OF the
boxing game. it is TO be hoped that Terry