The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-13
TIMELY BOXING TALK.
PuEilists who Fool the Public with Prom
ises They DO Not Keep.

Pugllists have devious ways OF keeping
their names before the public. Some resort
to the old method Of repeatedly talking for
publication and AT the same time accomplish
nothing IN tine way OF actual nghting While
othera go ahead and engage III matches re-
peatedly, depending for their popularity
on the number OF contests they win. The
fighter who does this does not need to seek
publicity. he gets II because the newspapers
publish the accounts OF the battles he engages
in. and his name appears often In print
Years ago the newspapers did not pay as
much attention to boxing as at present
Pugiltsts had 10 depend for publicity
on the sporting weeklies. Occasionally
the newspapers would print notice OF "A
fight, but only when the principals were OF
any consequence. Since the advent Of me
well equipped athletic club. with nice chnirs
and easy access. boxing has become unl-
versally popular and the newspapers print
the accounts OF ring doings as a matter or
news
Not so long ago n we'll known champion
heavyweight employed a press agent at "A
fair salary to keep his name before the pubic.
As long as the eN-chAmpion showed dispose.
made good. 40 10 speak; But when the Pn sllist
began to just talS ana ENJOY sweet ioiehess
he was not heard from much through tha
press LAtely when tighter issues chai-
ienge broadcast his def IS usually Accepted.
The man who IS willing TO hght. or appear
10 he does not permit the challenger TO
h1ve any rest lie viii keep on naggnr
his man until his efforts bear fruit. Bob
Fitzsiiuinons thus FAR Was never accused 81
being afraid OF any one. titz is on the road
az the head OF his own tneatriohl coHpahs.
Hc realize, that constant publicity nlean9
irrrcasnd box Office receipts, and he see
that the iron is kept a. hot a. possible Re-
centlv Fit declared his willingness to take
o1rbodv ON for The middleweight title. The
Coruishmau declared that he was the Teat
houoys by beating Hack Dempsey, and that
no one had vrcsted the title from MN. ~
dan. which on the surface lookea uAe oQnh
Gde challenge. was taken seriously by ne
M blio RITZ said that he wanted TO tackle
fack q Brieu OF Phladclphia. rs the pair
haye met already. aud as o 'brien lust now Is
enioving great popularity. the critics seemed
,o'think thar such mill would be the iistic
treat OF the season II arranged. 40, 80. .,o
way 10 New York as Il forleit, the sane 10
co into the hands of George Considine. When
sccentance Of FITS challenge and announce
that his s. Oo0 was also on the way. NeehS
have Lasied Ill n1ye .,ai Inc n,one az ~
aon The way" yet strange 20 say the money,
or H. equivalent in certified check has not
,tss ioet in transit or perhaps II was stolen
nv some persons who have an antipath,
10 fighters with 50 much surplus colaieral
on hand At any rate. there IS no trace on
tho money 70 this day, and nc loss OF ,Slnupn
been notified before this with the IDEA Oh lis
Whatever has happened since TO tho for
IeI,S, M ~ ~ ~ me procedure But ring fol
inVcrs might have forgiven Fitz for his in
discretion in this respect had not the eN-
cbarspion heavyweight been careles,
J enor'rh not 70 take advantage OF a liberal
, purse offered by the san Francisco club ioI
n match between fitz and Ryan or titz ana
n 'prfcn mo sntne 10 br held IN April and 70
be for the mddieweieht title. az ,i5s pounds
Lanky Bob Immediately got cold feet when
{ he read the proposition. He urged that he
copid moi light in April or May or month
] later, that be was tied up with theaulcai
J or md that pinch ne QlQn I Know
! II he ever Intended 20 don the mltts asaln
in a serious bout. The, san Francisco folks
got A shock when they heard this and came
~ tho imrediate conclusion that Fitz never
meant business at all ana that he was only
boosting bis show. Fitz Is not the only
dgb-sr who has n weakness 20 toy with the
feelings OF a patient public. But sometlnles
the method does not pay, and W the end
the scrnpper IL severely scorched. IL IL
legitimate proceeding for fighter TO adver-
tise himself but he ought at least 70 1--we up
TO some things he says.