The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-12

and when a choleric admirer of the Dur
able Dane made the charge that the
critics throughout the country were so
busy telling theirsreadersy how Corhett
weakened himself pulling off weight
that they couldn't find time to devote
a word of praise to Nelson's fighting
talents.
This is rather a hard slap at the gen.
tlemen who size up past and gone
pugilistic events, and not altogether de-
served in my opinion. The claim that
rapid reduction of weight affected Ger
belts stamina was advanced by MEM
bers of CorbettS training staff and was
very naturally referred to by the men
who make a speciality of sporting COM
ment. For the rest, any words of SYM
pathy that were written in behalf of
the Denverite were a pardonable tribute
to a game fellow who met defeat with
his foot at the firing line and his face
to the foe.
The sport who argued that too many
apologies had been made for Corbett
and too many Sights placed upon Mel
son contended that there was never a
battle of consequence in Corbett's
career in which the weakened by tear
ing off weight excuse could not have
been put forward if Corbett had lost.
There is logic in these words, my
masters. I for one cannot rem mber
a big mill for which Corbett did not
have to make forced marches by night
and also steam out on fight day in
order to protect his forfeit 1t was
only a few days before the affair with
Nelson, in fact. that Corbett. in re-
ferring to his first and greatest sur
prise party with Terry McGovern at
Hartford. said: "I made weight for
But enough of Corhett and his
weight. 1t is the wish of all good
sports and true that he be given a
chance to prove that his most recent
10 6nJ all
tating of all, and as there is every
prospect of a match being arranged
between the Denver boy and the win
ner of the Britt-Nelson contest, we
can afford to drop the subject for
while.
Candor compels me to say that I do
not think that Battling Nelson has re-
ceived proper credit for his ring
achievements. In this respect he is in
the same boat with Jimmy Britt 1t
may be that the fact of the weight of
public opinion being against these
fellows in most Of their contests has
had something to do with it, but the
truth remains that every time either
of them has scored there has been
disposition to regard the victory as
som ething in the nature of a scratch.
The sporting public is always whim-
steal in bestowing favors, of course,
and Bat" or Jimmy, as the case may
be, may develop into a demf-god, but
just at present it must be admitted
JnaG their names lack the. magic OIL
those of defeated Terry McGovern and
Young Corbett.
Still harpfng on Nelson as a kind of
solace to the sport who considers the
Dane belittled, 1 will say that I con-
slider Nelson one of the greatest
fighters of the age. Lean and wiry.
and carrying not shred of waste ma
terial, he is one of the strongest light
weights that could be found He is
as tough whalebone, and, while
neither snowy nor shifty in style. he
scores steadily in every contest he
figures in.
1t has been said that big Jim Jeffries'
speed is best gagged by the rapid man
ner in which his opponent backs around
the ring. and in like manner Nelson's
punching ability is made manifest by
the battered condition of the other fell
lows face He used scarcely anything
but bent-arm blows on Corbett, yet he
pounded the Denver youngsters coun-
tenance until it was unlovely to look
upon.
Nelson has fairly earned the right to
be considered the kingpin of aggressive
fighters. He has made away with Ed
die Hanlon. Young Corbett and Aurelia
Herrera Were Britt a scrapper of the
same order as those mentioned Nelson
would in all probability rule favorite
in the contest which is to take place