The San Francisco call., 1905-01-24
LITTLE BOXERS
PREPARING FOR
A HARD BATTLE
Sports Interested in
Neil Hyland
Conflict.

frankie Nell, the little bantam, is
spending strenuous life at Billy Shan
mons road house, near San Rafael, to
condition himself for his coming battle
with Dick Hyland. The lad has been
working like a beaver for nearly two
weeks, and is gradually rounding into
form under the watchful eye of Frank
Mcdonald.
frankie works with Young Corbett,
and the pair have merry time. The
daily three-round bouts are fast and
furious and Trainer Mcdonald has to
frequently caution them about hitting
hard. frankie generally smilesk and
says: Il didn't hit you hard. did, 1.
Bill" Biff, stiff one is struck, and
then both are at it. Neil realizes Hy-
Nmd is a tough customer and is not
taking any chances OF not being right
on the night of the bout. He now
weighs about 117h pounds. The many
spectators who have seen him work,
proclaim him faster than Hyland. AS
Dick has never gone twenty rounds,
the public do not know his real quail
ties.
Yesterday morning frankie, Corbett
and Mcdonald went ten miles over the
hills and all returned perspiring freely.
In the afternoon the little fellow
donned his gym suit and spent more
than an hour punching the bag, skip
ping the rope, shadow f1ghting and
weight pulling. A wrestling match
with Jimmie Rothwell completed the
days work.
Last night the boys OF the camp, ac-
companied by Billy Shannon, occupied
a box at the vaudeville show that visits
San Rafael every Monday evening.
Hyland's admirers are beginning to
increase daily, for the good form dis
played by the amateur at his training
quarters is beginning to be buzzed
along the line and each day is the oc-
casion of pilgrimage to Sheehan's
tavern. If Hyland could only develop
some speed on his feet he would have
ten times as many who think well of
him.
Nothing seems to tire the lad. He
works all day long and seems ready for
more when it is over. Boxers Of every
size and every style are brought forth
and Dick goes down the line each time.
He is a willing worker surely, but not
one who impresses or electrifies the
spectator. He is of the Battling Nell
son order, content to go right ahead
and gradually work himself into form.
Big Jack Mccormack felt the force
of one Of the youngsters wallops in
the body the other day and he swears
it was the hardest he ever took. Dick
managed to bring In one of those jolly
lefts, and when it landed Mccormack
did not feel at all happy. He thinks
Hyland the best small fighter he ever
saw as a beginner.
Dick weighs 123 pounds at the pres
ent time, so the question OF weight will
not bother him in the least. He has
never done ringside weight before in
his life and his manager, Sammy Nc
Clintic, is a bit worried. But the worry
is not shared by the little fighter. He
has not commenced to diet himself vet
and as long as he can keep his weight
down with his present fare, he feels
that 1t Will be easy to take off as much
as he wants when he cuts the liquids
out.
A few bets have already been made
with Neil on the long end at 2 to l..
This price will probably prevail when
the betting opens up within a few
days, but the odds will surely drop to
10 to 4, and perhaps 10 to before the
boys enter the ring. 1t is expected
that there will be lots of Neil money
hoating around when the wagering
starts.