The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-12-28
GOSSIP OF THE RING.
BY Knox Blockoff.

Brock at New Orleans the middle of
this month has whetted his appetite
for the fight game and it is likely that
he will soon have another chance at
Brock.
Everybody was surprised when the
news came from the Crescent City that
Young Corbett had succeeded In hold
ing the nifty Brock to a draw decision.
Corbett went away from here as fat
as young tub and no ring general ex-
pected that he had a chance with
Brock, who is young and was in good
condition. The showing he made, has
revived hope in the breasts of his
metropolitan admirers-and they are
not few-that he will be able to again
get into fighting trim and display some
of the old gameness and cleverness
which for a time made him a terror to
all the lightweights.
Whether or not he succeeds in his
ambition Young Corbett will have a
lasting place in ring history as the
man who whipped Terry McGovern-
Terrible Terry. And greater glory than
that no lightweight can have. Battling
Nelson, as the tanner of that "old
master" Joe Cans, does not deserve
half the credit that rightfully belongs
to the game scrapper who knocked
out the Brooklyn terror.
Young COrbett. whose real name is
William H. Rockwell-had a ring ca
reer that was short, sweet and full Of
excitement He flashed out as a cham
pion when the betting was to 1
against him. He whipped the best in
hi al IN,
Broadway life got him. His greatest
delight was to walk up and down the
Great White Way, buy winei for him
self and friends, stake every one that
was broke and never expect a return
He wound up his ring life in poverty
and today depends upon his drawing
ability as a three-round exhibition
boxer for a living.
There is one thing that can be said
of Young Corbett-he never faxed"
and he never laid down." He was hon.
est as the day is long. Perhaps that
accounts for the popularity he enjoys
toay, although his championship days
are apparently over. They are telling
many stories these days Of Young Cor
belts honesty. One of them is pc
culiarly characteristic.
Kid Broad was fighting Eddie Hanlon
in Frisco. Corbett bet $1,000 Broad
would stay Is rounds He was asked
to referee, but told of the bet.
That's all right, Corbett," said Han
Ion. you can bet a million dollars and
still you are good enough for me as
referee"
Corbett refereed. In the fifteenth
round Broad was a sight Hanlon had
battered him to a pulp. The crowd
yelled out to Corbett to stop the fight
Broad knew about the bet and was
working to save Crbett's money.
I'm all right, Bill" he yelled. 81
can stick the Is and save the coin"
Il don't wany any money won that
way" said Corbett. 81 won't see you
punished that way. Kid. Good bye to
the thousand, for the fight is stopped"
He ordered the men out of the ring,
lost his thousand. but saved a game
man a terrific beating.
1t is said that Corbett talked himself
into whipping McGovern both times
In the first fight he insisted upon Nc
Govern getting into the ring first. Nc
Govern objected.
I'm the champion, and I'll do what
please" he said. "You get into that
ring first"
Corbett laughed. Terry looked an
noyed. Nobody had ever laughed at
the Brooklyn terrier before Something
was the matter with this ruddy-f faced
youngster from the west
All right, kid, I'll get in first" said
Corbett. And listen to me-Tll get out
first when they are picking you up and
carrying you out, feet first"
The second time in San Francisco,
he began making slurs on Terrv's
home life He knew that Terry was a
model husband, and prided himself on
the fact
Young Corbett made & particularly
cutting slur and McGovern lost his
temper
D you yelled McGovern, I'll
kill you for that"
lie rushed in, with his head up and
his arms wide open. Corbett was in
side the terribly vicious swing of Nc
Govern and put both his left and right
one TO the body and the other to the
JaW-and McGovern was out.
The pair afterwards became the best
OF friends and business partners. They
gave an exhibition at d big charity ba-
zaar in New York two years ago. and
the tip went out that McGovern was
about to knock Corbett out in the ex-
hlbltlon. A friend told Corbett.
Look out for him. Billy" cautioned
the friend. Your best game is to get
him first. When you close the first
time, put him away"
COrbett looked NAMED
Don't talk to me that way, he said
Srlmly. L never double crossed a
man In my life and McGovern is the
last fellow on whom 1 would ever think
OF pulling off that kind of a trick. I
love that little chap and L wouldn't
90 anything mean toward him to save
my very life
NEW YORK, Dec. 2S-A fight
which may decide the future beavv-
weight championship of the world will
De pulled Off in Los Angeles this week
jim Barry. the Chicago heayvweieh4
and Al Kaufman, Billy Delanev,s
protege, are the principals. the Jeffries
Athletic club the place and Wednesday
evening the time The rac,,l+ 90 49,