The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-10-21
ny IA. CoRBETT.
Copyright. 1905. BY the Newspaper
Enterprise Association

Copyright. 1905. by the Newspaper
Enterprise AaaoeiatiouJ
Who Waa Americas first cham
pion fighter
This question IS often asked and
seldom answered.
One critic not long ago said that
Yankee" Sullivan was the first
title holder under the Stars and
Stripes
This claim will not hold water.
Tom liver vas Americas first
ring premier and be won the title
from sullivan.
Hyer was a Yeritahle giant who
came from a long line Of American
ancestry. He Vas six feet two
inches tall aud weighed close 20 1870
poundH From a picture handed to
me by an old New York fight fan
Hyer was Of the tall FaWbuned type.
with arms resembling poles
Little IL known. or rather little
was ever written. about fiYer. and
the ring enthusiasts 10 today know
only his name Ills early achieve
ments we're probably limited to bare
fist fights with rough aud ready
men Of his time
The first fiEht Of any great note
In which HYef took part vas with
Geo. MoCheater. hstier known inI
the early ring history Of this coun-
try A. Country MeCloakey."
flyer had 10 difficulty IN getting
fight with Sullivan. There Was
nons u that fag-ehaxing and mud
singing that eharaeterizea almost
every fight Of the present day.
The two men met and for i6l
rounds blood poured from the two
meas fares believe one old ring
fan Il stiil living who saw that
fight met him ia New York
shortly after my fight with Peter
Jackson.
Hyer used mainly in that battle
left aud right swings. which seldom
failed to cut Sullivan 10 soma dif-
ferent spot. Even suiliyan'a breast
VAS 80 bruised in spots that the
blood almost burst from the veins
After tho battle Sullivan was
taken 70 sit Sinai hospital in Bat
timurn. whore he recovered slowly
from his awful beating.
Nather af the participants In that
battle ever fought again. although
HycT had a fight arranged which
never took place lille right 90 the
championship title was never dis
guied.
The fights in the early days Of
ring history were governed BY rules
which suited the contestants.
The spectators naw that they we're
carried out TO tbs letter.
On tive or three occasions fights
did not take place because one man
did not have enough Of hts support
stH on hand 20 offset the other Eel /
lows croWd.
II was = peculiar method indeed.
but ia those days there was lese
talking and more real fighting
than there ts today.
George Dlxonss battle a. phlla-
delphia a week ago f. another link
ia the chain OF evidence against
prize fighters living too fast No
man ever tried harder 20 redeem
himself In the eyes Of the public
than that same George He trained
like \ Toian and was as enthusi-
aHtic as ever. but when the show
down came Il was plainly evident
that his fast living had done moro
20 make him take the count than
any punishment another man
might deal him.
Tommy Murphy. who opposed
Dixon, IL an unusually tough nut.
lie has fought some good fights.
and Is thoroughly capable OF TAX
ing care Of himself against better
men than n negro who has shot
his pugtliEtie bolt.
The puEilistle fraternity on the
coast In doing its hest TO kin the
goose that laid the golden egg
Mud singing. haekbltlnE. charges
and countereharEes are common
occurrence Nelson's talkatiya
manager seems 90 be largely TO
blame
Personally. I DO not feet like
taking sides except in favor Of clean
boxing. and regardless of whom II
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