The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-20
MUNR0E MAY TRY
TO PLAY SAFE
IS LIKELY TO AVOID MIXING TT
WITH SHARKEY.
Knockout Is Hardly Probable In so
Short an Engagement - Reports
from the East Say MunrOe Is Inn
proving Fast IL How Much Has
! Sharkey Gone Back.

The bout next week between Tom
Sharkey and Jack Munroe is the only
event of the next few weeks in the
pugilistic world. The fact that the
battle, like all contests in Philadelphia
will be only six rounds, with no de-
ciSion if both m en- are on their feet at
the finish, detracts somewhat from the
public's interest in the engagement.
1t is hardly likely that a knockout will
result in eighteen minutes, altho there
| is always the possibility that the sailor
will land one of his terrific swings.
Munroe is still regarded askance by
the greater portion of the fght-1overs
Of the country. If he can draw with
Sharkey his reputation will be en-
HANGED to such an extent that he may
be able to get a profitable bout in
San Francisco. If he knocks out the
sailor, his fame will be still more in
creased, but it is probable that he will
fight cautiously, realizing how his bub-
BILE will burst if Sharkey puts him
down for the count.
AS regards the comparative strength
of the two men, opinion is divided. It
Is recognized that Munroe was a dub
| when he went east a year ago. Since
then he has improved, but how much !?
Several New York sporting writer's
say that the. miner is getting pretty
good. For some weeks he has been
under the instruction of Kid Mccoy,
one Of the headiest and shiftiest box
ers the country has known. If there
is any man who can teach novice the
game, it should be Mccoy. The pre-
sumption is that Munroe has acquired
a fair amount Of cleverness. He al
ready had a terrific punch, and a rug
ged physique which qualified him to
endure considerable punishment. Ed
gren the New York writer, says that
Mccoy cannot hit Munroe hard enough
to jar him, when the two get together
in training quarters. This is sig
nifcant if true, for the Kid had wal
lop few years ago that came very
near putting Sharkey out. It is also
reported that Munroe has acquired re-
markable speed for man of his
weight This is largely due to Nc
lCoy's instructions. Mccoy says the
has. been drilling him, to Timber up his
muscles, so that he can beat Sharke!
to it when the sailor let's go a punch
IF these reports from the east arr
worthy of credence, Munroe has devel
oped into good second-rate fighter
He wouldn't do to go up against JEFF
fries, Fitzsimmons, Corbett, or proba
bly, against Rubin. Jeffries has tn
miner beaten in both strength and ex
perience. Corbett and Fitz would b
| too fast and too crafty for Munroe
. and Rubin also would beat him by su
perior skill. With Sharkey the cas-
, is different. He is first and last
ward way, and every man he ha
{ fought has found it easy to hit hin
Munroe is said to have a good straigh
left, which may prove useful In Jab
r bling the sailor away, and in strengt
' and endurance there will be little t
E choose between the two
e Another hard point to determine
l connection with the bout is the exter
4 to which Sharkey has gone back. &c
s two years after he took that beatin
from Jeffries at Coney Island he we
n not the same man. He had lost
8 ability to tassimilate a wallop, and ais
0 in speed. He has had no fights for
n long time, however, and as he is
S man Of good habits, it is possible /
k has recovered most Of his sstrengt
: and speed. Were he as GOO
e it is possible he has recovered most I
his strength and speed. Were he !:
as when he fought Jeffries, fe
), would give Munroe even a chant
2 against him. 1t is hardly probable
q is quite as good as he was then, b.
: how much does he lack OF his form,
! speed and strength
e The announcement by Jeffrfes TIL
: he will give the winner of the bout
match, if the affair ends in a knocl
y out, adds somewhat to the interes
|. Jeffries, in common with most fighter
8 favors Sharkey on account OF his grea
3, er experience. In discussing the ma
n ter Jeffries said recently:
= Its rather slow lying around DOR
r nothing, and would just as leave 6
IS back into the game. Attic trainir
IS for battle is by no means easy pla
It / would rather be at work on the roc
d or in the gym than doing nothin
It Munroe and Sharkey can fight it o