The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-27
Largest Colony of High Glass
Fighters That Ever As
sembled Here.
JOHN L. SULLIVAN THE SENIOR.
Veteran Heavy Weight Believes
Mike Memsic Would Have
Made a Good Man in
reknuckle DAYS.

For the first time IN many years St
Louis has become a veritab!s Mecca
for the pugiistic fraternity. Not only
has large colony Of vsIl-known pro-
fessionals settled here but the activity
Of toxins AT the local ring has been such
al To turn the eyes or fight lovers o: the
country 20 the Mound CITY
Among the pugilists already settled here
are John ]. Sullivan. Johnny Rsgan.
Brooklyn Tommy Sullivan and numerous
lesser lights. Ike Lou Curley and pilly
Truemsn. Jim Corbett Is 70 return heTe
FOR the last month Of the Fair. and Fi'z-
simmons would also have been here had Il
not been tor inability 20 make suitable ar
rangerl-nis for a cafe.
Exactly how much excitement ight fol-
lowers missed through failure On the ca-t
OF F!tzSinmons and Corb~tt 10 settle in
this city at the same time f. still being
discussed regretfully by those who would
have liked TO have watched what hap
p"ned should the tvo heavy weights lave
clashed on the street
Corhett and Sullivan are now Old friends
so there is no danger OF a mix-up in that
direction. The TWO have become entirely
reconciled. and have nothing but good
words for each other
Mike Schreck ani Andy Walsh may set
tie here after their last nights battle.
Walsh IS practically local resident at
present Nick Santora has decided to re-
side here permanently. and any number OF
good men are heading this way on ac-
count Of the good cards now scheduled for
the local clubs
Benny Yanger may spend good part ot
the winter here. as several fights have
been arranged for him. Jack McClelland
will get in next week and will remain here
for the greater part of the cold weather.
as will Abe AtteU Harry Forbes is anx-
ious TO get back once more In the local
ring
MEMsICS STRAIGHT PUNCHES.
That Mike Memsic IS a fighter who
would have made his mark IN the old
bare-knuckle days Of the prize ring IS the
belief Of the veteran John T.. Sullivan.
who has seen the Chicago man IN several
battles
Memsic is devoted 70 straight punches.
preferrine this style Of attack rather than
the savage hooks upon which fighters like
Young CoTbett place reliance. Occasion
ally. when his man Is wabbling. Memsdc
IS mainly on the straight punch that he
depends.
To this quality OF straight hitting John
I. ascribes his belief that Mike would
have been a good fighter IN the old days.
Straight hitting counted for lots IN
those days he said. ''as, unless a swing
was directed properly. fighter stood
good chance Of breaking his hand There
was far less risk IN punching straight az
a mans face than IN swinging wildly at
his ribs Swings were generally sent in
from one side, at the stomach or face. so
as 10 avoid all risk OF injury 10 the hand.
Il have seen MeMsic in action and
think his style would have shown TO ac-
vantage in the old times. There Il one
other point that he possesses-that IL. good
shoulders.
I'VE hear a lot about fighters ard their
build nowadays. I've heard men speak as
II Fitzsimmons was disproportfoned be-
cause his shoulders were so broad Then
I've heard Others enthuse over Jim Cor
betts perfect build. Now. just let me
ask what a fighter needs more than a good
pair Of shoulders?
IT'S rixhc there that the driving power
comes in Take the men In every class
that are knockers out, and look at them
Fftzsimmons 10 broader across the shoul-
ders than the average man of 80 per cent
more weight So is Young Corbett. so
is Harry Forbes: so were all the men who
had terrific smashing power In their
punches in proportion to their size
II think Memsic Is going TO be rather
a handy sort Of fighter. and know he'll
give Gardner trouble Thursday. I'm going
10 attend that fight and expect 10 see
good scrap.