Evening star., 1909-09-12
HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
DIFFICULT TO HOLD
Records Show That Cham
pionship Is Easier to Win
Than Retain.
Bv Bill Blunt.

NEW YORK. September 11.-Winning
the heavyweight championship and re-
tanning it are two entirely different prop
ositions. Following the course of the
title for the past generation, it will be
found that holding it is much harder than
winning it. There are cases where 1t
has been held less than a year. or where
the winner of the championship lost it
the very next time he fought. Jim Cor
bett, Bob Fitzsimmons and Marvin Hart
| had the toughest luck with the ethereal
bauble: John L. Sullivan and Jim Jeffries
the best. Sullivan held it ten years and
jeff six. the latter retiring undefeated.
| OF the unlucky ones. Corbett held 1t five
years, but while that may seem COM
paratively long time, 1t meant practically
nothing in a fighting sense. From the
time he won it until he lost it. he won
| but single fight-the one with Charlie
Mitchell at Jacksonville, Fla. F'itzsim-
mons lost the championship the f1rst time
| he fought after winning IT, 1t was
pretty much the same with Marvin Hart.
| He didn't win single important con-
test while the trinket was in his keeping.
Pretty tough luck that; after grabbing
the title losing 1t the first time out.
| Hardly long enough to get on speaking
terms with it. 1t takes the real old abil-
-
Ancient history doesn't appeal to the
present day sports and it may be going
| back a trifle far for the fin de steele fans,
| but, lust for the sport of the thing.
| trace the course of the American title
| from the days of Joe Goss until the
nresent day. Peter Jackson isn't figured
| in. because he was champion of Austria
liza and England only. until he lost both
titles to Jeffries. He never held the
American title. Goss was champion four
wears: Paddy Ryan, two: John l.. Sulli-
van. ten; Jim Corbett. five: Bob Fltz-
simmons. two; Jim Jeffries. six; Marvin
Hart, seven months: Tommy Burns,
two years. and Jack johnson p
trifie over eight months. Goss won
from Tom Allen in 1876. He lost 1t TO
paddy RYAN in 1880. Sullivan won II
from Ryan at Mississippi City IN lSs2,
The big fellow held it until 1S32, Wnen
he lost 1t at New Orleans to jim Cor
hett. Corbett had it taken away from
him at Carson City by Fitzsimmons In
1897. Fftz was beaten by Jeffries at
Coney Island in 1S43. JEFF defended the
title successfully for six years and gave
it to Marvin Hart at Reno In lv''. Hart
later. Burns held it until 1908. wnen ne
was beaten at Sydney, Australia, on
christmas day by Jack Johnson.
II there is any truth In the old adage
about confidence being half the battle IL
materially enhances Stanley ketcheii
chances against Sam Langford. NO boxer
eyer was more confident of victory be-
fore a bout than is ketcheli. re always
has been positive In his own mind ne
could beat the Boston chocolate crop.
wasn't the thought of the monetary re-
muneration that prompted nm 70 a.
range the match. nor was ne sialaeu
into n nv newspaper criticism or by the
iibes OF the boxing fans. he just natu,
raIly felt he could beat lIanSfofd ana
that was all there was 70 IL. lie oHereu
tn hoy I,angford on the coast long
time aeo-in fact Britt accepted by wire
. seemingly bona fide offer from Uncle
Tom McCarey to take on the dark bos-
tonette at Los Angeles. NO suessWork
about that: ye SCRIBE feaa @ the ~. .eiesram, ,ir,a
whenever an offer of a purse was made
bv a reputable club or coterie of sporting
men Britt accepted it for ketcheii with
out delay. He agreed to have the bear
cat box Langford not only in Los An
geles but in Philadelphia. Ely. New:
New York or any other place where the
inducements were commensurate. Call 1T
what you will. avar.ce, covetousness Gu
pidity or what not. manager and boxer
naturally tried to do as we'll possible
financially with the bout. Taking on
Langford is like fooling with cup of
prus sic acid. A false break or miscue
and somebody will turn off the sunshine.
Admirable courage that. man who has
always been able to do 1853 pounds taking
on the man-eater from Boston when SO
many of the larger men sidestepped him
like they would the plague.