Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-02
Most Fighters Break Into
the. Game Too Early.
Star Boxers Become Physical
! Wrecks at Early Age.
Billy Rhodes Is Better and Martin
Is Released From Custody.

Eddie Hanlon, frankie Neil--former!y |
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 pugilism
and the fighters themselves. 1t is well
enough to lay the blame of fighters
decline to the primrose path and the
vine cup.
With some of the boxers the ex-
PLANTATION 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 human
mechanisms as they should be looked
after.
Every one Of the men named above
should he in his prime; IN fact. Neil
and Hanlon should be rounding out
int" ripe manhood. Instead, they are
broken down pugiIists. not altogether
physical wrecks. it is true. bun unit
to stand the wear and strain of chain
-pionship battles. Each one of these
men once was world bcater: each
might still be "A champion; all are now
poor secOnd-raters.
McGovcrn started fighting when he
was IL years of age. won the cham
pionship at II. was defeated at - and
became II physical wreck at "a years
of age.
young" torbott began fighting at
H. won the championship at y, lost
to Jimmy Britt at "a and after that
went down hill fast. until now. at 26
years of age. he is only a third-ratcr.
Eddie Hanlpn began fighting at u.
lost to Young" cncbctt at Is AID
since then has hid no real chance to
go to the top. At u he is unable to
take a drubbInG. and is beaten by %"c.
Ond-raters.
frankie Neil began fighting at Il.
lost two fights to Eddie Hanlou aud
one to Harry Forbes and was whipped
by Jein Bowker for the worlds cham
pionship. receiving heavy beating;
Recently he was defeated by Attcll
and Harry Baker. and, while yet "a
good man. his beatings nave put him
on the downward path.
All these men began fighting before
they attained their growth. Eich
must have ben stuntcd by tho hnar;
battles he fought. They had been ali,
to attain their full growth ana
strength. 80 that the stamina could
remain with them, they would be
rAGhting with the topnotchcrs today.
.otIn lighting, as in racing, tho sporting
Nvblic demands too much of the young
.6ters. Horses are raced as 2-year-olds
when they have not attained their
strength. BY the time they are -four to
Harness horses are not worked out 50
early. but the tendency is to race the
youngsters. as in the Kentucky Futur-
ity for colts and FLIES. Such grand old
campaigncrs and worlds champions as
Dan Patch. Cresceus. Major Delmar
and Sweet Marie accomplished little
until they We're four. five six years
old. They were allowed to develop
stamina. Lou Dillon was raced young:
this year we have heard nothing of
her.
II does not do to allow fighters or
horses to grow without the proper de-
velopment but. they should not be al
lowed to fight had battles or run
heart-rending races until they are able
to stand the strain. Bob FitzSimmons
did not fight until he was fully devel-
oped: the result Is that he is still the
wonder of the prize ring. A pugiliSt
should not te allowed to enter an earn
est fight until he has reached his ma
jority; a race horse should not be en-
tered in an important race until 1t Is
at least three years old and never
should be driven out until that time"
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 abnormally trained to it, not
because he developed naturally. with
proper care he may last many years
but the chances are that by the time ne
Is 25 he will be all in. His beating at
the hands of Attell comes too early to
affect him seriously.
Ahc AtteI! is but ~ and looks Older
Through his methods of avoiding pun
fshment he may last many years. but |
the chances are that his continued Sc
we're training and the knocks he can
not help receiving will cause his early |
decline. The moment his speed ana
headwork falter he will be an easy
mark for defeat. Those Interested IN
developing sports to their highest de-
gree should not force the develop
ment of man or beast