The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-03-28
WORKS LIKE A CHARM WHEN
THE sHIFTY OPPONENTS APP
PEAR ON HORIZON
Even Champion Jeffries Is No Excep-
tion-Corbett Fought When 1t
Suited His Fancy.

Some pugiliStS, in order TO aVOld
matches with prospective opponents,
offer various excuses, remarks the
New York Sun. the most popular
seems to be the rest gag, which inva-
Eiably works like a charm. The ex-
cuse habit is equally prevalent among
the champions, although the second
and third raters indulge in the prac-
tice occasionally.
Years ago the fighter VINO would try
to avoid a bout with a rival on some
fiimsy pretext would be looked upon
as a coward. Unless his excuse was
an exceptionally good one he would
Immediately come in for considerable
adverse comment, and if he continued
to wriggle out of matches he would be
altogether ostracized by his protner
professions.
According to the unwritten law in
fistic circles champion should fight
as often as he can get a suitable an
tagonist and the opportunity to hold
these bouts presents itself. Now,
however, any pugilist at the head of
his class who engages in a mill in pub
lie more than four times a year is re-
garded as a freak. Among the big
men the rest cure is extremely popu-
lar. They seem to think that to battle
oft &c hair
and health. Heavyweights, as a rule,
do not fight more than twice a year.
Some do not try their skill against RI
walls as much as once in two to three
years, and image that at this rate they
are doing too much grueling altogeth-
ed.
Jim Jeffries, however, is an excep
ton. The boilermaker would be will
ing to show his form every month now
if he could. But he was not always so
willing-not because he is in any way
afraid but because he does not like
the idea of training. Some scrappers
look upon training as the worst hard
ship in the world. If they could fight
without preparing they would do so
often enough to please their critics,
but it is the strain and monotony Of
the preliminary work they fear most.
When Jim Corbett was champion he
established a precedent by fighting
when it just suited his fancy. He was
imperVious, apparently, to public opin-
over the country 1t cannot be said
that Corbett is lazy, for when working
for a fight he is very conscientious.
He won the title from John L. Sulli-
van in 1892, fought Charles Mitchell
in 1894, and lost his laurels to Bob
Fitzsimmons at Carson City, New, in
1897. He fought just twice in five
years for his title.
Bob Fitzsimmons record in this re-
spect was no better. Fitz waved off
all challenges between 1897 and 1899,
ana consented only to meet Jim JEFF
fries in the summer of that year at
COney Island. Probably Fits Wiling
ness to give Jeffries a match was due
TO the fact that at that time the cham
pion was not the dangerous and devel-
oped boxer he is today. Since Jeffries
became champion up to now he has
met James COrbett, Fitzsimmors and
Jack Monroe twice. Tom Sharkey, Gus
Rubin, and would undoubtedly have
increased this list were there any more
men for him to conquer. Next June it
will be six years since Jeffries became
The heavyweight champion, and his re-
cord is certainly brilliant one.
AS soon as a scrapper attains prom.
lnence ne does not care to risk his rep
utatiOn. He wants to make as much
out of his achievement as possible
But, George Dixon, who was feather
weight champion for over ten years.
fought more times than any premier
fighter in fstic history. Dixon's bat
ties averaged about ten a year, not in
Guiding a number of four round exhi-
bition bouts while touring the country.