Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-15
SULLIVAN MAY
MEET MITCHELL
oLD-TlME RING RIVALS PLAN
EXHIBITION BOUT
VETERANS TO BOX FOUR ROUNDS
AT SEATTLE FAIR
Arena Being Built for John L. by John
cort Will Be Scene of Meeting
Which Will Be of senti-
mental Interest
ny A. e. CUNNING

BY A. Il. DUNNING
Interested followers of things pugH@
istic who foregather at Seattle TINS
summer during the Alaska Yukon-P Pa
ci6c exposition will have the privilege
of witnessing boxing exhibition that
will stand as unique in the history OF
the game, provided arrangements now
in progress are completed without
hitch. John L. Sullivan, now playing
at the Empire, announced yesterday,
through his manager, Frank Hall, that
negotiations are on for four-round
exhibition bout between himself ana
the grand old English fighter, Charley
Mitchell. The bout is to be staged as
the house warming of the great arena
now being constructed at the talr
grounds in the northern city Tor SulH-
van. A.,
This bout would prove one of the
most interesting from the standpoint
of sentiment the American followers of
ring contests have ever witnessed. II
is twenty-one years ago last March
since Mitchell and Sullivan battled
with bare fists for thirty-nine ROUNDS
to a draw at Chantilly, France, and
this meeting of the old-timers, after
having been separated for so long, is
of tremendous interest. Streaks OF
gray and white have replaced the
black and brown hairs in the heads
of these representatives of the OLD re
gime. but their names have lost little
of that glory which was like meat and
drink to them in their prime.
Before the pilgrims to the great
western fair Mitchell and Sullivan will
engage in a twelve minute battle,
which will be billed as an exhibition
to appease the authorities, but may
bring out little hot stuff, since neith-
err has entirely forgotten the old-time
rivalry and bitterness.
Wants One More Chance
~ lust want one more chance at
Mitchell" says Sullivan, land then I
will be satisfied to quit the game for
all time and rest for the remainder of
my life. OF course, neither of us can
travel the pace we once could set, but
in spite Of the lapse of over a score
of years since our draw battle in
France we would give the public a
little real fighting. There is some
thing left in that right arm yet" and
Sullivan stretched forth that massive
member that has given scores and
scores of fighters a vision of the starry
armament.
Mitchell is at present in Liverpool,
but the promoters of the exhibition
have been in communication with him,
and Charley has stated that he will
make the trip if the inducements are
sufficient. He will be offered 55 per
cent of the net receipts, and this prob
ably will be big enough to persuade
him to make the journey across the
water TO clash with his old rival. This
oil
dened with added weight in their de-
clining years, one of them 81 years old
and the other three years younger, will
be one that will attract all those who
have stored away in their memory the
annals of past ring days.
The arena in which Mitchell and
Sullivan may meet is being built for
Sullivan by John Cort, the Seattle
theatrical magnate 1t is a handsome
affair, finished deliberately on the ex-
terror, and will cost about $4,000, COM
plete. Facing the throngs who will
gather at the entrance is a forty-foot
lifelike statue of John L. Sullivan in
fighting pose. In addition to the Nit
chell- Sullivan exhibition it is probable
that the Gotch- Hackenschmidt worlds
wrestling battle will be held in this
arena, provided the men can be gotten
together. This contest is billed for
about June 20.
Sullivan will close his Los Angeles
engagement Sunday night and will go
to Phoenix and then to Prescott, Ariz.
From there he will go to Seattle, ar
irving May 81, in time for the bout
with Mitchell, which is planned for
June /.
The returns OF the Kelly Papke bat
tie at San Francisco will be flashed on
the screen at the Empire tomorrow
night during Sullivan's performance.