Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-20
ENTER THE RING
FAR TOO EARLY
FIGHTERS MAKE MISTAKE OF
THEIR LIVES
Many Pugllists start Careers Before
They Have Fully Developed Physi-
cally-Hanlon an lIlustra-
ton of This Fact

Terry McGovern, young" Corbett,
Eddie Hanlon, frankie Neil-formerly
names to conjure with. Why are they
not potent still? Each of these men
still is in his twenties; two are just
over the border line from their teens.
Why are they old young men?
These are questions which must be
answered by the promoters of pugil-
ism and the fighters themselves. 1t
is well enough to lay the blame of
fighters decline to the primrose
path and the wine cup.
with some of the boxers the ex-
planaton may hold good, but not with
all The fundamental reason Is that
youths fight too young-before nature
has had time to build up their bodies
to the proper strength; before they
have learned to take care of the hui
man mechanisms as they should be
looked after.
Every one of the men named above
should be in his prime; in fact, Neil
and Hanlon should be rounding out
into ripe manhood.
Instead they, are broken down pu-
gilists, not altogether physical wrecks,
it is true. but unfit to stand the wear
and strain of championship battles.
Each one of these men once was
world beater; each might still be
champion; all are now poor second
raters.
Won Title at Fl
MeGovern started fighting when he
was is years of age, won the cham
pionship at 81. was defeated at % and
became physical wreck at "a years
of age.
He is in the ring again, but is far
from
bett began fighting at IT, won the
championship at 81, lost to Jimmy
Britt at "A and after that went down
hill fast, until now, at rs years of
age. he is only a third-rater.
Eddie Hanlon began fighting at Is,
lost to Young" Corbett at IS and
since then has had no real chance to
go to the top. At 21 he is unable
to take a drubbing, and is beaten by
second-raters.
frankie Neil began fighting at H.
lost two fights to Eddie Hanlon and
one to Harry Forbes and. was whipped
by Jem Bowker for the worlds cham
pionship, receiving heavy beatings.
Recently he was defeated by Attell
and Harry Baker, and while yet a
good man, his beatings have put him
on the downward path. All these men
began fighting before they attained
their growth
Each must have been stunted by the
heavy battles he fought Had they
been able to attain their full growth
and strength so that the stamina
could remain with them they would
be fighting with the top-notchers to-
day.
In fighting, as in racing, the sport
ing public demands too much of the
youngsters. Horses are raced as two
year-olds when they have not at
A,s of.,
they are four to six years old they
are broken down.
Is Same Way with Horses
Harness horses are not worked out
so early, but the tendency is to race
futurity for colts and fillies.
Such grand old campaigners and
worlds champions as Dan Patch
Cresceus, Major Delmar and Sweet
Marie accomplished little until they
were four, five or six years old. They
were allowed to develop stamina.
Lou Dillon was raced young; this
year we have heard nothing of her.
1t does not do to allow fighters or
horses to grow without the proper de-
Velopment, but they should not be
allowed to fight hard battles or run
heart-rending races until they are able
to stand the strain.
BOD FltzSlmmonS did not fight until
he was fully developed; the result is
that he is still in the prize ring.
pugilist should not be allowed to
enter an earnest fight until he has
reached his majority; a race horse
should not be entered in an important
race until it is at least three years
old and never should be driven out
until that time.
Baker is the Youngest
Harry Baker is the latest lad to be-
gin fighting young. He is but IS
years of age. His body shows no
signs of proper development.
He is hardened and fit at the present
time because he has been abnor-
mally trained to it, not because he
developed' naturally.
With proper care he may last many
years, but the chances are that by the
time he is 25 he will be all in.
His defeat at the hands of AttelI
comes too early to affect him serious
ly. Abe Attell is but % and looks
older.
Through his methods of avoiding
punishment he may last many years,
but the chances are that his continued
severe training and the knocks he
cannot help receiving will cause his
early decline
The moment his speed and head
work falter he will be an easy mark
for defeat. Those interested i'm de-
veloping sports to their highest degree
should not force" the development
of man or beast.