The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-23
TIMELY BOXING talk.
Are Negro PusilIsts Being Driven ont OF
the Ring?


The announcement OF Jack johnson OF
California that he is going to sail for Australia,
because he cannot earn living at his pro-
fessiou in this country brings to mind the
invasion OF England by American pugilist +
about ten years 90. At that time the boxing
game receiving hard knock In the United
states. because most OF the cities frowned on
the sport England was the only place at
that time where a lighter could show his
ability without fear Of having the authorities
pounce upon him. Fighters Of reputation were
assured OF royal treatment ahrond. aud were
literally compensated in the way Of purses,
too
one champion after the other made the
trim They we're glad to, because at that time
England IA best scra ppers were what Americans
would regard third raters he Amer
can boxers had no trouble ~ beating their
opponents and they enjoyed the era Of pros
periv But as the wears rolled by the novelty
OF American pugilsts Ia England wore on,
the purses were cut. and England was the last
place on earth that fighter would think Of
visiting to make money. Then again the
sport. with the advent Of the Horton law.
started ~ in this city and everything Vds
ROSY Tor the poor bruissrs
Then there came = check ne law allow
ing boxing in this State was repealed and
the sport hourished in only few of the small
cities san Francisco permits the sport ,
u
to be- cut out ~ that city before long VITA
California out OF the way. the road viii not
be- bed OF flowers for the tighter .,..
johnson j. negro heaSN~eigh' OF ahhiiF
He wants to night lin lefi rIcs but IN" clain-
pion viii have nothing - do with hlh nr
cause of his color Johnson has whipped
everybody IN sight in his class Marvin
Hart agreed TO meet hIn FEW weeks ago,
and the contest Vas as good ~ made but
Hart had drawn the color line. ana no" John-
son is left IN the colo
johnson saws it - question OF starving
or visiting some other cline ne Is "HllhR
and anxious to fight, but cannot get any
thing 10 do In Australia there ~ no prelu-
dice against negro fighters Peter Jackson
lived he better part Of hs ne IN the AM lp9des
and be ca me known 50 a full hed ged Nuetrl IAN,
Other well known ooloret nghters have
come from that country. notably Starlight
and Peter FeliN johnson wants to nght
FELIX. who T. the acknowledged heaYywcight
champion Of Australia. Felix Is popular, and
Johnson thinks that n he secures match
with Felix even though he loses. no NH be
m a position 10 keep he Wolf from the door
Prejudice against negro lighters IA steadily
growing ~ this country. hnd II u continues
a good color,d pugilist VIII be rare thing
in the next ten years or 50. Clubs have
barred them from participating IN bouts,
and when they do appear ne pay Is 80 Door
that they give NJ the idea oil becoming
nvhtrr. and rtter GONE other business
Negroes usually got their first experiences
lu The ring bv appearing IN exhibitions called
battle ROYALS -Four negroes were pitted
together. and the winner the one who
was able 10 be- w and dong ~ the finish
and sometimes developed good mru SOC
Cans started IN this way. so did Joe Walc"tt
and several other colored boxers hf' ~"
royal-~ are not popular nov. ana me- are
seldom held ~ any Of he clubs Whl "v"r
chance q negro fighter has OF getting az
onDortuuity m the rtug now Il through ,us
connection with some white boxer as he
lgfte.'- trainer or rubber And even should
he gaf a- lar As this he is NOR" or ie-s barred
from following up bis adopted profession.
In Enylnnd here ara many toored bowers
but they are not doing ~ we'll The Whites
over there have refused 20 meet them. Alosi
Of the negroes 90 thcr" from America. and
~ there Is no desire 20 them perform.
even gains, rivals OF their own color they
have hard time getting along George
nlentv of matches abroad But II Is because
81 Dixon reputation that he IL thus favored
t,ro.l6 NOT b1v hl1 weekly supply Of cigars
and refreshments In the heydsy OF bis tri-
There il lot Of Interest Centred in the
snnroechine bout between Frenkie Neil
and Dick Hvland which is scheduled 70 he
held At San FRANCISCO nc iatter part o. nus
uunntty Hvland just now looms m ~
raw amateur He has not figured IN any
he his professional debut The preliminary
TAX makes Hyland appear as formidable
and dangerous opponent Thoee who, are
ceive tho surprise NJ his lie when he en-
counters Hyland The latter Is moi vet
IL and is nor developed in strength
friends think that he VIII he heard from
before long As an amateur Hyland has
done veoman work He won forty-three
contests and Of these thiriv-threp were
knockouts He is fast and clever and all
thai he lacks is confidence Amateurs never
have amounted 70 much when they started
ont Rs professional or course there are
erceptions a. in the case OF Jimmy Britt and
Jim Corbeit These two have lived M 20
their promise q = amateurs
About ten years ago every amateur who
thought that he WAS qualified to hold his
own turned professional but their dav was
short Take for instance. lack SICILY.
Eddie Pierce, wild Bill" Hanrahan and Bo
Cunningham There were rated No
amateurs, hut when taev fought for money
thew were not in t. Skely's ambition re-
cevied a decided check when he mct George
Dixon NJ New Orleans in 1907. so did Pierce's.
Jack Dempsey started in the ring as. nm
amateur and succeeded In becoming middle
weight champion. Jack McAuIifTc WAS also
an amateur, hut II did not take him long
70 enter the professional ranks McAulfe
never had cause 70 be ashamed OF his record
But tho rank and nle OF amateurs 80 by the
boards before they real lie that they too slow
for their brethren in the next class Hylsnd
NAV be a wonder or an exploded phenomenon.
His mill With Men win certainly tell the tale.