Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05
JOHN |. SULLIVAN ON
THE ETHICS OF BOXING

Every young man from fifteen to twen-
ty-one years of age should be taught the
manly art Of self-defense," says John L..
Sullivan. the retired pugilist, who is coming
against any rough or tough who might un-
dertake to waylay him on the highway
"A. great many people think that If a
man is boxer or fighter he has got to be
tough or an ugly mug, but such is not the
case A boxer or a fighter can be as much
of gentleman as the banker. broker, ply
sician or merchant, and If the manly art
of self-defense was taught there would be
less murder, less shooting and firearms
used. They would resort to manly means
to settle their difficulties. Now, I have
always advocated boxing as clean. manly,
healthy exercise, more SO than foot ball
playing, wrestling or jockeying. There Is
never time that jockey mounts a horse
in running race that he doesn't take his
life in his hands. There have been fewer
fatalities in the prize ring and contests of
this kind than among foot ball players and
Jockeys.
Statistics will prove that this is a fact
In 1906, during the foot ball season, there
were over fifteen foot ball players killed
and no one knows how many were manned
and injured for life.
Boxing has not improved as an art with
the passing of the years. though there were
not as many boxers fifteen years ago as
now 1t is an evident fact that when l
took up boxing put it on the plane that 1t
now maintains. put 1t In a shape SO that
they could make some money out OF 1t,
both the managers and the fighters. Box
Ing has gone ahead in this country and
deteriorated in England. They have not
had champion in England for long
time, neither heavy nor light weight.
Mitchell was the last champion they had
champion both in this country and In Eng
land in his day. He is still alive. This
goes to show that boxers, or fighters, If
you prefer that term. have lived to good
al ia Spyantv-f0ur of
age, and well and hearty today.
ION what lines was the boxing different
fifteen years ago? More foot racing? The
difference in the style Of fighting? Well,
in boxing fifteen years ago they used to
fight for very small prizes. The boxing
prize was $1,000 for International cham
pionship, or E2O0 in English money.
"Sayers and Heenan fought in 1850, on
the 7th day Of April, at Farnsborough for
81 600 a side for the international cham
pionship Of the world. Spectators broke
into the ring, and the referee declared 1t no
contest Boxing has not improved any.
THE lightweight championship Of TWEEN
ty years ago was fought for by such men
as Billy Edwards, Arthur Chambers, Tim
Collins, Mullins and Patsy Sheppard. Now
they could fight all the light weights We
have today and beat them easily. 1t seems
today the light weights have the honors on
fighting. 1t is a fact that more lightweight
four years than any other class of fighters,
for the particular reason that there don't
seem to be any other classes to fight. In
| the light weight class are Britt, Nelson.
Corbett and McGovern. Jeffries has not
trained for a heavyweight fight for the
past year, nor has Jim Corbett for two
years. There has been no middle-weight
lighting. The middle weight used to be 164
pounds; now they make 1t as high as 1BS
pounds Middle weight, according to Fis-
tainer, was 154 pounds: anything over 154
pounds was considered heavy weight. The
best big man in this country or England,
a;kH nf OF, han.
Morrissey, Heenan. Coburn, Mace and John
Dwyer did not weigh over 165 pounds In
condition, and they were classed In the
heavy weights. These have been in vogue
only within the last ten years. According
to Fistainer, in his day there were only
four weights-feather weights, light
weights. middle weights and heavy weights;
but In this day they have bantam weights,
feather weights. light weights, welter
weights. middle weights and heavy weights
-in fact, they make their own weights"