The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-30
O'BRlEN WILL
HAVE TO REFORM
Must Cut Out "Fixed Fights" From
This Time On.
is KISSED IN HIS OWN TOWN
PHILADELPHIA SPORTING WRIT
Err GIVES HIM ADVICE.

That Jack O'Brien will not have his
path strewn with roses as a champion
goes without saying. His record in the
past has been anything but an enviable
one. This has been frequently comment
ed upon outside of his home town, but
until he defeated F1tzslmmons his acts
in the Quaker City have apparently been
upheld by the press Of that place. since
his victory over fitz at least one sport
ing writer, and he is with the PubNc
Ledger, comes out and gives O'Brien
little friendly advice.
Admits Jack Is Not Popular.
He says: cit is a cold-blooded fact. but
Jack OBrlen is one of the most unpopu-
lar champions who ever wore the pugi-
listic mantle. This is not hysterlcal
statement, but Is based on the treatment
measured out TO the cOnQuerOr OF blIz-
simmons by the public. Even in his own
city, where he should be ltonlZed he mas
been frequently Kissed when he appeared
in public. This is peculiar state or az
fairs. for wherever and whenever George
! Dixon, Terry McGOvern. John =. Sulll-
van and Robert fttzsimmOns, all ex-
champions of the world, appear they are
cheered TO the echo Their defeats are
forgotten and the sports remember thaL
although they are now eX-champlons
they always fought on the level and al
ways played fair with the public.
Fixed Fights the Cause.
why is it then that O'Brien does not
command the same admtratonf lie Is one
OF the cleVerest men who ever wore
scientifio man of his weight in the world
The answer is quite plain. The moment
OBrien is matched to fight the sports be-
the level? Is IL fixed for O'Rrien 10 VIM
And similar questions Tor this state or
affairs the Philadelphia can blame no
one but himself. Before the F1tzs!mmons
h,a.k T.. c. Nleo agA
night he unblUshingly made public
statement that his bout with the Cornish
man at the Philadelphia ball park, July
3 1904. was fixed and that he and
beat each other decisively He further
added that the COrnishman failed to keep
his promise and undertook TO double
cross him This statement coming from
OBrien, who is an intelligent fellow, on
the eve of the battle had a double eff
feet Up to that hour the Philadelphian
was the favOrite in the betting at odds
or 10 to s.. The betting Immediately
switched and FitZsmmons was on the big
end at 10 TO Z. 1t also affected the at
tendance, as the Yosemite club had guar
ceipts were nearly $4,000 less than this
amount O'Briens eleventh-hOur state
ment started the sports to thinking; ana
they soon recalled the night Of Feb. il.
1900. when the Philadelphian was accused
Of laying down TO Young Peter Jackson
N a Frisco ring in thirteen rounds. A
1904 and a subsequent one with Kid Nc
Coy, May II, 1904, and one with Joe Wal
cott. which the latter declares was
fixed did not elevate O'Brien in the es-
umation Of sports in general.
Good Chance to Reform.
''Now that O'Brien has beaten the Sec
ond best heavyweight in the world and
the peer OF al middle and light heavy
weights, he is on the pugilistic pinnacle
His future win be watched closely and
critically. He Is a full-fledged champion,
and should be the American pugilistic
idol. His future is in his own hands. No
one has ever disputed his business aCu-
men. With the same care OF his ex-
cheGuer in the future as has guarded 1t
in the past, when the words eX-champion
are added 10 his name he wiz have plenty
OF this worlds goods. To accomplish this
he must play fair with the public. There
must not be the slightest suspicion at
tached 10 any of his contests When Jack
. Brien Is matched TO meet any one, the
public must feel that he Is out TO win
and never work under one bell If he
disregards these attributes, which a
champion should possess, he will find
l the public very tickle. and Champion
AOBrien viii fail to cause a stir, and as a
tpugilstic money winner he win prove to
Re a rank failure