The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-26
G0TCH HAS CHANCE
AS a FIGHTER

Billy Muldoon. conceded TO be the for
mer unbea IA BILE Gracco-Roman, champion
wrestler of the world has come out with
a statement TeSarding the pug1llSuc aspi-
ratiOnS Of Frank Gotch. the present
champion of the world in catch-as-catch-
can style. MuldOOn. an athlete Of the mat
whose history is practically COntCmpOUa-
neouS with that Of Evan Lewis. and once
the great man among catch-as-c atCh-can
experts. has sized up GOtch and declares
he secs no reason why the latter should
not go into the prize ring if he so desires
1t has been many years Since MuldoOn
has WreStied before the public. 1t Will
he remembered how the famous John l..
Sullivan was trained and gut into con-
dition TO do his best work by Muldoou-
Billy has not witnessed a public wrestling
match. he says in moro than ten years,
but both before and after his retirement
il is doubtful IL person gave more at
tentiOn to the details that so to make 4
successful fighter or wrestler than Null
doom.
Although NuIdoon's retirement from &C
tive athletics has taken him from the pub
lie view. he follows closely the happen
inCs OF the athletic world of which he was
once so prominent part. and there are
few men who would be enabled to pass
upon the pugilistic qualities of Frank
Gotch better than Muldoon.
There is no reason that I can see.
said MuldOon i'm recent talk why
GOtch cannot become a successful boxer
and have as Good "A chance to reach the
chamuionship at boxing As any other man
Of his physical ability. The fact of his
being "A champion wrestler should not b"
a detriment to him. On the other hand.
instance. il has been proven by his sue
cess i'm wrestling that me has wonderful
endurance. the necessary intelligence,
good Judgment and physical strength
stamina ard t""acity To max" "A Cnam-
I piCn. I've has also The advantage of hay
ing experienced the punishment that one
is sure 70 have TO contend against in
chamoionship contest which makes one
! Indifferent to pain and fatigue
Boxing. however, calls for an entirely
+ different muscular training. I'm boxing
the muscular strain is an upon the eX-
tensor muscles IN wrestling the demand
for endurance and strength depends en-
tirely upon the fleSor muscles For that
reason. # this man tales up boxing he
will have TO give up wrestling. Tor IT the
fleXOr muscles are kept ebnOrmalty de-
velOped. as they generally are in q wrest-
Ter. that viii interfere with the proper
DEVELOPMENT or N" CNtC.-Or muscles.
Tho abnormal development of the fIexOr
I muscles shortc1s the reach and makes
muscles ard that is the ~eason why
wrestlers. as a rule cannot be successful
Z as boxers.
Jack De-~psey. as an example. Was
very promising wrestler in his early DAYS.
hut had 20 give up wrestling altogether
when he took IN fighting. Another thing
to be considered: To be successful at
either game one must not rely too much
/ upon physical strength. 1t is well
known fect that the man Of physician
strength with the proper mind to direct
the use Of that strength is much the bet
ter and will always be successful against
| double that strcn@th with q SOW MIND
TO direct it's use. All of the fighters ply
steal movement must De directed by his
mind A boxer may be able to do a GER
tain amount OF his fOOtwOrk mechanical
i ". but his mind or his brain must direct
the movements Of his hands and they
must be quick. accurate and decisive.
"In other words. Gotch should give up
wrestling and begin his preparation for
boxing by sparring with everybody that
i willing to put the gloves on with him.
| He should not try TO hit hard first de-
pend s~ore on his CuickncSs, judgment
of distance and foOtwork.
1T would take a year or more Of con-
slant practice with boxers of different
style and different sizes before he would
| be fit to go against the SeCOnd-class men.
Then II he succeeds in whipping the
secOnd-claSs crowd he can take a shy at
a chamDiOlshiD.-New York Mail.