Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-24
THE PUGILISTS.
MIKE SULLIVAN
 GOT DECISION
Fight Went 25 Rounds But He Couldn't Put Gardner Out
 Other News.

W0eT NeWS.
 Los Angeles, Cal, April "A .-In the arena erected just outside the city, Mike Sullivan of Boston was
 given the decision over Jimmy
 Gardner of Lowell, Mass last night after 9 rounds that were all in favor of Sullivan.
 The verdict of James J Jeffries, the referee, was popular one. Sul- livan had the science and coolness but lacked the strength to deliver a knockout, although several times he had Gardner at his mercy and slugged away at his opponents un- protected jaw without the. power to bring about an earlier result.
 New York, April 24.--Young Ot- to celebrated his return to the ring in this city by fighting fast draw with Harry Scroggs of Baltimore Ill the star bout at the Long Acre A. c. last night. Otto was, scheduled to fight Dave Deshler, but the lat ter sent word to the clubhouse at the last minute that he was not able to appear on account of illness, and Scroggs was substituted. In the other bouts Young Hyde drew with Willie Delaney. Barney Sunshine beat Tommy Dunn, Sandy Will Hams beat Al Gearing and Joe Tracy drew with Young Waller. .-.
 After the fights Billy Elmer an nounced that he had matched Jim Stewart to fight Jim Barry at FL mer's new club, at No 1,199 Broad way. The fight will be held week from tonight.
 According to the assertion of Jake Kilrain, than whom none other is more competent to judge, John L.. Sullivan is to-day better man physically than when he lost the worlds heavyweight championship to James J. Corbett. Sullivan is 49 years old and he was defeated by Corbett at New Orleans, lin July, 1892, after 21 rounds. In view of his advanced age and the fact that he has not taken part in a prize fight since that time, the statement of Kilrain appears little less than remarkable. 5@ a@ ,t
 ''In the first place." said Kilrain, "Corbett never licked John. The big fellow whipped himself chasing Cor bett. Secondly, Sullivan was not in shape for that encounter. Had he been properly trained and in good condition Corbett could have jabbed him all day without hurting him. Corbett's blows did not worry John, but the latter worked him. self into state of helplessness try ing to catch the fleet footed Cali fornian. Sullivan was 4 to 1 in the betting and he had no more idea that he could lose than if that had been an absolute impossibility. Prior to the bout he refused to train or consider Corbett seriously at any time. He had been drinking to ex- cess for years and was almost a phy- sical wreck. sEa.
 Now, although he is 4s years old, far past the age when an' ath- lete is at his best, I really believe he is in better shape than on the day he lost the worlds champion ship. l will go farther and say that if he would now go to work to get into condition he could put up a better fight than he did against Cor bett. l have boxed with all the heayyweights of recent years ex- cept Jeffries and I know that Sul- livan outclassed them all with the possible exception of Jeff, of whom know little. The superior strength of John over all other heayyweights of his time was too big a handicap for them to overcome. He certainly was the strong boy from Boston. In all his fights he never was forced to go into a crouch. clinch or cover up to protect himself. His jaw was here for the other fellow 10 hit if he could. All John asked was lair chance to exchange blows. He was a physical marvel whose great strength made him impervious to in- Jury. With strong. shapely legs that gave him great speed and agility, ne was equipped with a chest, shoul- I iers and arms that. in my opinion, made him the greatest fighter the game has ever known. barring none. l He has now been on the water | wagon over three years and still has much of ais old strength and speed. |
 am furnished with proof of that act every time We don the gloves. |
 honestly think he could to-day whip any heavyweight in the busi- less, barring Jeffries. providing he ake enough time and thoroughly condition himself. In the 5O-year- i'd division he is in a class by him elf"
 Kilrain is in good condition. con- idering his years. Next 10 SulH- an he is the bess known of the old liners. He is an interesting talker nd his stories of many of his fights Ire interesting. After he lost to iullivan at Rieksburg, Miss, in 1889. lilrain said he had to sneak back O Baltimore. evading the sherifs f every state through which he assed. II bought four or five rail- Oad tickets on different roads and scaped arrest because my friends long the way helped me- said ake. There must have been a oxen warrants out for me"
 kilrain later went tO England and ought Jem Smith. the fight. result lg in a free-for-all wrangle. Jake sserts that he was deprived of vic Dry after whipping Smith by the packers. He later con. ueted saloon in Baltimore and iter was custodian of a park.
 kILLEEN-WILIIAMs.
 Jack KiIleen. the Irish cham ion. made his initial appearance in he ring In this country last night