The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-15
CORBETT TALKS
OF PRIZE RING
Says Professional Politician Is
Greatest Knock to Box
ing Game.
BY JAMES J. coReETT.

Political Jealousy and the Interior
ence Of the professional politician have
done more 10 cripple ring sport in
America than all the knockouts and
reform opposition combined.
In every Dig fight center. where the
game flourishes any length of time,
YOU win find the professional politician
working his way in much after the
manner OF the worm that bores into
the hardest wood.
o. course. friction crops out as il
other lines. and the first thing you
know one political faction is after the
reformer. urging him 10 interfere with
the sport.
For some time the fight game has
been fourishing in New York Bouts
we're being pulled off At the rate of
several week. and some of the con-
tests. while only of six rounds dura-
ticn. attracted national attention. The
politician was allowed to look on at
the battles free. He was given the
best seat In the house. He was allowed
10 20 a good deal farther than the
man who paid his way at the door.
Afraid of Missing Something.
For a time the politician was con-
tented to look on. Then he became
nervous when he saw the popularity
of the contests increasing. Surely he
Vas ihisSlne SOOu tllDS.
Instead Of going about the matter in
the right way and starting a club of
his own, or in conjunction with some
one else. he tried to use his political
pull to get control of the organizations
which had built up regulations for
fairness and cleanliness.
The politician used new method of
reaching the goal of his ambition. He
brought the power of the building de-
rartment into play. and was about to
succeed. when Commissioner Bingham
issued an order stopping all bouts.
And one more city is closed to the
game.
Fighting is one sport that cannot
flourish in the hands of politicians. 1t
has TO be conducted on fair basis
Nelson to Rest Awhile.
There seems to be little chance az
getting Nelson in the ring before next
String. 1 have it pretty straight from
tie Dane that he is not entertaining
an idea OF taking on any of the boys
who are claiming he is afraid. Nelson
knows. and so does the biggest part of
the pugilistic following. that the Dane
comes pretty close to being the best
133 pound man in the world in finish
light
One day Mcfarland says he will not
longer than twenty-five rounds. And
only the other day / read where his
manager said that If Mac couldn' {
whip the Battler in that length of time
ne was willing to pass up the job.
I do not think Mcfarland would
have a chance 10 knock out Nelson in
that length of time. but I believe the
stockyards lad would get the decision
on points.
In a long fight Nelson ought TO win
over Mcfarland if he is in condition.
Mcfarland showed in his fight with
Leach Cross that he knows something
himself about the aggressive system of
fighting but while ne might go along
some distance with Nelson / believe the
8attler would beat him down in the
finish.
1t doesn't hurt the game TO have this
bout go along receiving the free adVer-
tsing it is getting. Some day Nelson
has got TO meet Mcfarland or rather
Mac has got to meet Nelson. for the
Dane will dictate the terms. and then
the benefit viii be reaped.
How KetcheI Got Even.
4 short time ago | was passing
through Montana with my theatrical
company. and 1 overlooked no chance
10 pick some "reminiscences of the early
fighting days of Stanley Ketchel Right
now Ketchel is in the limehght because
OF his third contest with Papke at
Frisco on Thanksgiving day.
The most interesting story l heard
about the great Michigan fighter was
when he met and almost murdered
Jerre McCarty at Great Falls. Mont.
ia 1906. McCarty was rated high in
William A Clark's state in those days.
In fact. TO mention Ketchels name in
the same breath with Jerre's was a
breach in fighting dope.
Ketchel. however. had made friends
while working on a bridge that was
being built across the Missouri river
at Great Falls. He had shown plenty
of nerve every time he had been
brought to a test. and he was not with
out backing even against McCarty.
There happened to be a performance
of one of the popular priced shows in
Great Falls one evering just before the
contest scheduled between Jerre and
Stanley, and the latter. as he has al
ways done before and since he gained
a national reputation. bought the best
there was in the house in the shape of
a seat. McCarty happened TO be up in
the gallery the same night. and when
he spied ketchel he was all rolled up.
He forgot what was going on back
of the footlights and turned his atten-
ton to Ketchel. who would be his OPP
ponent in the ring in a couple of
nights. After a lot of thinking Nc
Carly finally hit upon a scheme He
would have a telegram come to the
theatre for his opponent. and have
some one on the stage ask for Stanley.
No sooner had the actor asked for
ketchel from the stage than a kid up
I'm the gallery yelled; Sending tele-
grams to himself already"
Ketchel was all stirred up over the
dirty trick" as he called il. but
quickly forgot IL, and announced then
that he would get even with McCarty
when he got him in the ring.
Stanley did get even. and the big
crowd that packed Luther's opera
house that night will remember for
many day the terrible beating Ketch-
Il gave McCarty.
MAKING VERSATILE PLAYERS.
Coach stagg of Chicago has only if