Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-21
BOXERS
PICK EASY ONES
jim C0RBET USES WIT AND
EVADES CREEDON
Former Ring Idol Tells How Top
Notehers Are Anxious to Doude
the Tough Propo-
stions

Jim C,rbett is frank nowadays about
the pugiistic game because he is out
of It. In a recent talk he told some In
teresting things about how the cham
pions not only of today but of all time
dodge the hard men, If they can.
THE champion pugilist, irrespective
of class, Is about the greatest sidestep-
per in the business" says Jim. Were
It not for the demand of the public the
man on the top of the heap would go
along after he had landed the coveted
position fighting only men he was
reasonably sure of whipping.
"Of course. in these days of fortunes
in a single battle the conditions might
easily be little different. A pugilist
now needs only to win the title in one
fight and lose 1t in another to have
enough money to live in comfort for the
rest of his life.
But how many of them look at 1t
that way? You don't see Cans falling
over himself hunting a real fight as long
as such easy marks as Herman and
Britt bring in the bacon Neither is
Jack O'Brien noted for the keenness
with which he seeks a buzz saw.
"Attell is reported on the lookout for
some easy money, now that he is un-
doubtedly at the top of the heap in the
featherweight class.
Creedon Asks for Match
"And you can't blame them so much.
I remember once in my career as cham
pion of the world 1 as forced to delib-
erately sidestep an opponent. Shortly
after had defeated John L. Sullivan 1
was playing an engagement in Chicago
and reaping some of the benefits of a
champion pugilist, when the great Aus
tralian Dan Creedon appeared on the
scene. And Dan was after me in
earnest
"At that time I was living at the
Grand Pacific hotel, and with me were
a delegation of fight fans I'D my man
ager.
lone afternoon 1 came into the hotel
and saw two big fellows sitting in a
couple of chairs looking toward the
main entrance. They recognized me at
once And L was just as observing as
they were.
However,, at first made believe that
1 hadn't seen them, and tried to run the
gauntlet without being stopped But
Creedon had made up his mind that he
would either get a match with me at
once or show the world that 1 was try
ing to sidestep him.
"'You're Corbett I believe said
Creedon, and he extended me his big
hand and 1 quickly accepted it, for in
those days to remain long in a single
place meant blockade.
"Of course I knew what Creedon
wanted, and I also knew I didn't want
him as my next opponent. The prin-
cipal reason was that at that time
there were a couple of men who were
better drawing cards than Creedon and
1 knew we'll not as tough propositions.
"How was I going to get out of it?
Creedon solved the problem for me-"
Every time he started to pull out a
wad of gold certificates that he had in
his inside pocket I would grab his arm
and say: Now, just keep that money
in your pocket and 1 will listen to you
FINALLY Creedon grew disgusted with
me. and when I told him that now
had whipped Sullivan I thought he
ought to meet some of the other
heavyweights in America before ask
ing me for a battle, he opened up like
a busted steam valve.
Uses His Wit
"Who was Sullivan and who did he
ever whip, and lot more stuff that
wouldn't sound good in Chicago even
today. Creedon evidently hadn't real
lied the great feeling the American
public had for John l..
81 saw the opening and Immediately
began praising Sullivan and walked
away. The crowd did the rest. No
foreign fighter ever came to Americas
shores who was taught severer les
son on American friendship. or,
rather, hero worship.
"Creedon was lucky to get away with
his money in his pocket. He certainly
took no chances in pulling it out be-
fore the crowd that had collected,
most of whom were worshipers of Sui
livan.
"Creedon was a great fighter and
never appreciated fully either in far
off Australia or America. He was big
and strong and a hard man to beat"
--4%So-