The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-10
DOWNFALL OF FIsTIC CHAMPIONS.
PATHETIC SCENES FREQUENTLY FOLLOW THE PAS
SING OF AN ERsTWHILE INvINCIBLE FIGHTER.

| Millions of men and few women
poets have written lines of verse con-
corning the historic prize ring strug-
giles, but few ever hear or can tell of
the scenes that follow the downfall of
hero of the roped arena.
When the shouting throngs slowly
wend their way from the ring side and
a beaten star is led tenderly from the
ring to the dingy partitioned space
called a dressing room scenes follow
that would bring tears to the eyes of
the .stout-hearted. They are truly
scenes of heart interest that occur in
the fighters room after a hardfoughr
battle is lost.
Since the late lamented Nonpareil,
Jack Dempsey. went down to defeat
before the superior skill of Bob Fitz-
simmons and the trumpeters of the
prize ring l1eralded the coming of a
new wonder in the freakish Antipo-
dean, worlds championships have
changed almost with the seasons.
It was in 1891 that F'itzsimmons, a
virtual unknown, battered down the
seemingly invincible Dempsey, and
really broke his heart. To this day the
pathetic scenes that took place in the
losers dressing room at New Orleans
are tenderly. If not tearfuliy. discussed
! by the fight lover of those gone-by
days.
| Poor Dempsey was the pride of all
American sportsmen. He had thrown
aside the cooper's tools to take up pu-
gilism.
A gentlement and a scholar, Jack
Dempsey mingled with all classes and
endeared himself to the lover of mill.
His victories We're clean cut, and it
seemed that the man could never be
born who could wrest from him his
championship honors.
But he was a mere plaything in the
hands of the lanky one, who frequent
| ly begged him to give up a hopeless
| battle and only knocked him out when
| to punish him further would be brutal.
That victory was the making of Fitz-
simmons, one of the most remarkable
| figures in the world of athletics.
| Following the defeat of Dempsey
came the second of the thunderbolts to
American prize ring men-the sensa-
tional victory of Corbett over the
mighty Sullivan, which brought about
the downfall of the second Of the
Three American Jacks" and opened
up new area in the fighting business
| There was q great contrast in the
actions of Dempsey and Sullivan after
the referee had counted the fatal ten
| seconds. The former cried as if his
heart would break, and his closest
/ friends could not console him. Demp-
sey's defeat was his ruination. He
went into rapid decline and died of
what the physicians pronounced a
broken heart. He worried so that he
became a physical wreck and at his
death was an object of charity.
| With Sullivan it was different. Hard
lines. boys he said to the few old
trends who gained admission TO bis
quarters, but I am glad the champ
ionship was won by an American. "
Gaining for bottle OF wine. Sullivan
partook freely of the sizzling bubbles
and soon forgot his troubles.
1t was just like Sullivan. He after
ward remarked: Whats the use OF
crying oyer spilled milk. I did the
same thing to many a good fellow, but
its all in the game
Sullivan had held the championship
for II years A dozen years have pass
ed since Corbett beat down the bulky
Bostonian and in that time there have
been three heavy weight champions