The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-05-29
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Copyright 1905 by the Newspaper Enterprise Association
Sullivan and Mitchell O. Joke.

John l.. Sullivan and Charlie Mitchell have been
matched to fight Is rounds at Tacoma in September
cordlng to story going around.
1t is hard to imogne these famous veteran meeting
again in the squared circle
Sullivan has been close to deaths door so often that
when his name is mentioned in connection with the ring
other than reminiscent way, almost provokes laughter
Mitchell is long headed and realizes that such thing
would be next to impossible other than joke But then
this is queer world
Speaking of these two world famed veterans srs up
many stories Of their past relations One Of the funniest
related perhaps happened many years ago France and
today either of the pair will laugh and tell how they spent
short season together in French Jail.
After their fight at Chantilly which, by the way, was
of the bloodest battles in ring history both
rested and penned up in adjoining cells.
Sullivan, who was ON friendly terms with any
man in the ring had nothing to when first put under
lock and key. He English at the ignorant keeper
but he might have saved his breath, he could not make
himself understood.
Finally it dawned upon John L. that being away from
home 1000 5000 miles without friend wasn't the
pleasanest thing in the world, and he grew camer and
broke the ce but Mitchell who felt too we'll af
ter his brusing battle did not respond
Sullivan then hit upon the scheme of pretending that
he had the cramps. He wanted drink of brandy. The
guard came, but could not understand him.
Finally Mitchell took pity the big fellow and ex-
planned in fractured French what was the matter.
Some brandy was brought Sullivan and it had bene
fetal effect him. that he became decidedly pleasant.
Mitchell asked for of the brandy also and the pair
grew much friender towards each other. | J.
few hours later they released and John L. to
show that he didn't intend to forget quickly invited
Mitchell to steak and they dined together Sullitah
from that time has always had spot in his heart
for the great Engshman. This probably accounts for
them being able to frame up fight for their old age.
Ftzsimmons Forfeit Saver.
Bob Fitzsmmons has been known to have the
least bit of least bit of yellow in his makeup but he tells
O q when he a
road that is interesting to his admirers
1t while travelling in Georgia that he ran across
big fellow who having him scared any
he met in the ring and when Bob stripped he looked
mere boy alongside the giant, who outweighed him
nearly 100 pounds.
In the first round the big fellow stepped around the
ring like cat and two three times made passes that
looked dangerous At the beginning Of the second Julian
Fzs manager at that time, instructed Bob to get him
soon possible to the forfeit money
The round was about half through and the big fellow
was going at Fz with great deal of confidence. Finally
Bob worked shift and it all off.
Fitz has hit lot of champions and has several tit
and he has hit ees hard enough to smash the bones
in his hand but he will probably acknowledge that the
hardest blow he landed the against the big
Georgian jaw which saved his forfeit money for him.
Mitchels Influence on Boxing.
Since referring to Charlie MITCHELL another story of i'm
portance because of it's aftereect ring history
to mind have often heard discussed the body blow and
why pugiiss rule paid much attention to its de
veOpment as to the waOp that had the Jaw Tor It's dest
nation ~
Mitchell believe the first who used the body
blow with good results At least he had better idea of its
value than any man faced Fitzsimmons, however,
developed the idea more thoroughly than Mitchell.
Before the Engshman came to this country little had
been heard of the stomach punch and the heart
In fact pugsts paid nearly all their attention to the
and jaw.
When Mitchell met Burke in Chicago in the early sos
the occasion of his first trip here his ring tactics opened
eyes of the sports and the ring present He went
after Bur body and blow after blow landed upt he
had the big fellows ribs oted together and his pump al
most stopped.
From that night American fighters have been using the
Mitchell scheme and it gained many followers. To
day fighters put to the bad by body punches than
by jaw wallops. *r