Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-08
THE PUGlLISTS
THE LEMONS OF
 THE PRIZE RING
There Has Been Many During the
 History of Pusilism in .. America.

demons" from the long records of g majority of the prize ring champions one can take away greater part O1 fistic arena. A careful examination of these ring records will show a large percentage of the victories were scored over men who could not or would not fight, or, in other words were simply false alarms" Go back as far as John L. Sullivan's memor- able career as pugilist and you will find that out of the whole bunch of opponents who met him only fouI were of real class. These were PaG- dy Ryan, Charley Mitchell, Jake Xiii rain and Jim Corbett. Even Ryan was not a really first class pugilist He won the championship from old Joe Goss, who was far past his prime and decidedly out of condition when Ryan took siXty-fve rounds to beat him in a battle on the turf under London rules. Before such men a. Jim Mace or Joe Coburn at their best Goss could not have lasted five rounds III HIS poOr puySlcdl lTlul.
 Sullivan year or so later had Goss out in two rounds with big gloves in Boston, but he let up on the old fellow and allowed him to stay another round Old Joe was certain ly lemon for young John L. that night. Another easy one for Sullivan was George Rooke, whom he knocked out in two rounds. John next drove Jack Stewart, the Canadian cham pion off the stage of the Howard Attn enaeum, Boston, in two rounds, and then went to New York in search ot more soft marks. He found one in Steve Taylor, who lasted couple oi rounds.
 John Flood put up a fairly good argument when he met John l.. on barge up the Hudson river, but Flood was far from being cham pion. Among the other lemons who helped to swell Sullivans record were Fred Grossly, one round at Philadel. phia; Captain James Dalton, four rounds at Chicago; Jack Burns, tht Michigan Giant, one round at Chi cago John McDermott, three rounds at Rochester; Jimmy Elliott, half blind and broken in health from con finement in prison, managed to stay three rounds; Herbert A. Slade, tho Maori lemon from New Zealand, quit cold in three rounds. Fred Robinson was stopped in the second round at D,,tt n, I,f son lasted four rounds at Frisco. Big Al Marx, the Texas Giant, ran off the stage before Sullivan could get 8 punch at him, after which Dan Hen- ry, in a quick battle at Hot Springs had enough in less than a round.
 Sullivan stopped William Fleming in a round at Memphis and Enos Phillip in four rounds at Nashville Frank Herald, another alleged world beater, was beaten to a pulp in two rounds at Allegheny, and Duncan Nc Donald was put away in four at Den- yer. About fifty other quinces were hammered down and out by John l.. who has always included them in his ring record. '-t "..' 'E..
 Jim Corbett, who followed Sullivan as the heavyweight champion, alse has some real lemons in his record including such alleged fighters as Billy Welch, Frank Glover, Ed Kin. ney Bill Spillings. Bob Caffrey,. Jack Smith and Peter Courtney. The fight" with Courtney, big truck man who knew nothing of the game did not reflect much credit on Cor bett. Courtney received $25O ts stay six one minute. rounds with. tre, champion before. the kinetograph at Edison's laboratory in East Orange Gentleman Jim gave his lemon a ter rible beating to make the moving pie lures look real. Courtney had to be filled with liquor to give him cour age. In the fifth round, by mistake i Corbett knocked him out, but moro liquor and a rest of twenty-five min. utes brought the truckman up for m. other round. when he was again knocked out cold. The public pait \ we'll to see the reproduction of this great battle. while Corbett's reputa tion as a wonderful fighter went TIT many points. I
 Bob Fitzsimmon's great fighting record looks we'll in print, with hi: long list of signal victories. but liks Sullivan and Corbett he disposed of many four fiushers and counterfeits such as Arthur Upham. Abe Congle Slattery, Milford Bender. Jack Hiclz- ey. Phil Mayo, Jeff Thorne. Jim Dal,- Ed Dunkhorst. Con coughlin an. All of these men were set tied in one, two or at the most three rounds.
 Big Jim Jeffries is credited in ths records with victories over such thir6 raters as T. Van Buskirk. Dick BaL- sr. Joe Goddard. Pete Everett. thI Mexican Terror: Hank Griffen. Jos Jack Munroe. Jack Finne- gan and many more who were put [ sleep before the spectators had TO seived half theis moneys worth. Jef- fries was in his prime one of the ! greatest pugiIists that ever drew on Q glove. but he always puts the soss Sharkey. Corbett ana others in his official record.
 Tommy Burns. the present cham pion. may be said to have all previous iopnotchers faded in the quality ana quantity of lemon fighters who have gone down in defeat before him. No ,Ody ever accused the following pc-- lons Of having even moderate ability -red Thornton RflTv Wofrh Arshrrr Steele. Ed Sholtreau. Dick Smith 3eddy Phillips. Jack O'Donnell. Tor IcCune. Jim O'Brien. Harry Peppers