The Washington times., 1905-04-23
UNKNOVNS OFTEN
STRONG IN RING
Dark Horses Have Won
Many Big Bouts.
C0RBET BEAT SULLIVAN
John L. Was Well Thought of by
Public, But James ]. Won.
Other Cases.
c0RBEH BEAT SULLIVAN

Backing dark horses in the ring in
championship fights may not look like
a safe betting proposition, but it Is.
When, one goes to look back over the
records of. important ring battles, 1t
certainly sounds logical enough. A
pugllist cannot be "doped' like a race
horse.
II 1t were possible. Joe WaIcott would
come as near being the heavyweight
champion as Jim Jeffries, the recog-
nized leader in this class. Walcott
whipped Joe Choynski, who fought the
boilermaker a draw, and so on. says
the indianapolis Sentinel
Get Short End.
Naturally, most of the dark horses
III championship encounters were the
under dogs as far as the odds were
concerned, When the champion of
certain division is matched against an
aspirant, he is sure to be made a strong
favorite. no matter what the reports of
his condition may be. The public knows
what ne can do and expects him to live
UP to his reputation. Invariably the
oCds on his chances are to / and bet
ter.
When Jack Dempsey was matched
against Bob Fitzsimmons. everybody
who thought that he knew anything
about the game concluded that Demp-
sey311ad an siron-clad cinch on the re-
suit, and figured that the Cornishinan
was in for a severe thrashlng. Demp-
sey money was everywhere, and his
friends mortgaged everything they had
to get their greenbacAs, down on him.
Eut Dempsey was whipped just the
same and by man who 1t was
thought had not the slightest chance of
a victory.
Liked Sullivan.
So great a hold had John L. Sullivan
upon the affections of the public that
when he WAS matched against Jim Cor
bett for the heavyweight title in 1892
the large majority of the sports re
fused to box upon the young bank clerk
from California in any other light than
as loser.
In fact. the bout was all along re-
garded as the easiest thing in the world
for Sullivan, and when he entered the
ring, the big fellow was an overwhelm-
ing favorite. They we're laying as mucn
as 5 to that he would win. And when
Corbett knocked the ex-champion out
more than one follower of the ring went
clean broke.
Corbett and Fitz.
The sarae thing was illustrated in the
case of Jim Corbett against Bob Fitzsim-
mons at Carson City in 1897 1t was
ada1itted shat, ,fsitz was a great fighter
and all that, but to defeat a man Of
Corbett's known eleverness and reputa-
ton was thought to be impossible, es-
peciaiIy by u man like Fitz, who had
the worst of the bargain in point of
weight
But again the dark hcrse'' triumphed
Corbett was put away with blow on
the solar plexus.
After the mill the Cornishman was re-
garded as invincible by every one who
thought he knew how to size up a real
mighty pugiiist. But his turn came
when he tackled Jim Jeffries at Coney
Island in 1899. Previous to that mill
Jeffries had not done anything to war
rant any enthusiasm over bis chances.
Then Came Jefries.
He was big and strong, Il is true,
nat had not displayed anything near
championship form. Fitz, SO his friends
said, treated Jeffries as (. joke.
Why" he told them, he is so big
] can't miss him. Just one swat is all
i want and he will go down" The bet
ting was all on Fits side and the mon
ey went down on him in punches
Again the favorite players were wrong
for the big. brawny fighter from the
West took all the blows that Fitz could
send over, and finally knocked Lanky
Bob out. .i&-
Dark horses have upset calculations
among the little men, too. After Terry
McGovern's winning streak. and espe-
ciaily so after he had conquered the
mighty George Dixon in manner to
convince the critics of his greatness, il
was whispered all along the line that he
could not lose.
Young CoTbett,
SO when Terry was matched to meet
Young Corbett at Hartford McGovern's s
friends were laughing IN their sleeves
and were figuring upon just how they
would spend their money. Ring follow
ers remember the outcome of that mill
sretty well. Terry was put to sleep In
Just two rounds, and by man of whom
little was really known In the East.
McGovern's friends thought that their
man had been whipped by a chance
DcW, so another match was arranged
This time the affair took place at San
francisco, and the result was the same.
ONE TROUBLE WITH THE SYSTEM
Il thought you had taken lessons in