Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03
GOTHAM CRYING FOR
F|RST-CLASS BOUTS
Fortunes Assured to Pro-
motors if JeffrieS and John
son Could Scrap There.
By Bill Blunt.

WI SSOJ( WI oH W
BY Bill Blunt.
NEW YORK October =. 1909.
It's sure scandalous when one thinks
that with boxing actually thriving in
the east they won't permit the first
class lads to box in the town that has
done SO much for the sport-New York.
They let them have full sway in Phil
adelphia and Pittsburg and Baltimore
and Boston. not including dozen mar
row-gauge communities. but nothing STIR
ring for the large burg. Some day some
body will have some kind of law passed
in the legislature permitting them to box
In New York, and then everybody will
be happy. except. perhaps. "A few prudes
whose minds are not so broad as the
Union Pacific is reported long. To give
fair idea of what the natives in this
town think of the sport the manager Of
one of the local clubs was speaking the
other night about the drawing powers of
a good bout and the number of members
| his organization had. His club seats
possibly 1890. I'VE have almost 1000
members enrolled" said he, land every
one is as bona fde and legitimate as the
law can make him. Every time we an
nounce fairly classy bout they join in
droves. | believe If the authorities would
permit us to run Il year longer without
moleStation our membership list would
run up to 10000" With an "Open gate"
as it should be. and her 100000 inhab-
ftants to draw from, 1t can be seen what
/ Greater New York.
1t makes a chill creep up the spines
of the local fans when they remember
that it isn't so long since they were
watching Jeffries and Fitzsimmons do
their little feat of bodily skill and en-
drrance. to say nothing of Sharkey and
Jeffries, McGovern and Dixon, Lavigne
and Walcott. Mccoy and Ryan. and a
half hundred other championship con-
| tests in all classes. Is there a soul in
the combined city who would care to
| hazard conjecture as to how much
money two boxers equally as well known
as We're Fitzsimmons and Jeffries would
draw in at the gate today if they were
| to meet for twenty-five rounds at the
garden or at one of the ball parks? 1t
surely would be upward of dollars How
ever. 1t scarcely is likely the correct
amount ever would appear in the public
prints-the type don't run up that high.
jeff and Fitz drew IN the neighborhood
of $65CGO. 1t is good betting that under
VIC Sdule COIuIllOnS To-Day tney would
make that amount look like pocket
money
1t is just nine years and month since
that dear old Horton law was abrosated
at Albany. The notification sealed New
Iork's doom so far the champions
We're concerned, and made the little old
town satisfy itself, with an exception
here and there, with minor league box
ing. Some sadness that, when you realize
| that for twenty years preceding the best
boxers in the world showed their wares
in the public marts Of the same city.
Also that New York did more than any
city III America to encourage the sport in
the early days and help 1t thrive when IL
was frowned down upon, provided 1t with
nourishment when it was weak and hum
cry and has fought tooth and rail for it's
rsupport ever since. The popularity OF lat
ter-day boxing-glove fighting--may. be
traced In large easure to two causes
John Lawrence Sullivan, the old Roman,
and the city of New York. They had d
lot to do with its success and populariza-
ton.
4
Sullivan figured largely in bringing
about the evolution in the style of fight
rules after lie won the American cham
piorship from Paddy Ryan. Up to this
time pretty nearly all Of the important
bouts were fought on the turf with the
raw uns'' under London prize ring rules
After his victory over Ryan, Sullivan tour
cd the country agreeing TO stop all ccm-
ers in four rounds or l.ss He used the
! regulation boxing gloves, and 1t was sell
I@r,> %z.I
man away before the limit. 1t amazed tie
spOrtsmen, because they had locked UPON
gloves as toys and unworthy of i
place in the true fighting mans war re-
gala. But they soon were awakened and
were made to learn that it was just as
easy to Knock a man out with a glove as
ii was without one. Others began to take
up the fad. and it wasn't long before
prize fights turned into glove con-
tests Today If you were to talk about
fighting a man with bare knuckles they
would hang you in most cities, and de-
servedly so. 1t isn't generally known that
during Sulliyan'S entire career-that is
from the time he fought Ryan until the
night he boxed Corbett at New Orleans
he engaged in just two championship
battles under prize ring rules-those with
Mitchell and hilran.
Tommy Murphy. formerly OF Harlem but
now real estate magnate Of Long Island,
has been making rapid strides of late, and
his victory over AID Wolgast has made
him positive he can trim Battling Nelson
If ever given the chance. Murphy would
likely find the Battler pretty tough pick
ing, but that doesn't alter the TACT that
both he and his manager, Johnny Oliver
say the mayor of Hegewisch would be
pipe for the eX-Hariemte. Tommy has
had long rest said John, land is in
better condition than ever before In his
life. He had been boxing and training
too much and needed the lay off. Mel
sons style just suits Tommy to a nicely.
He comes in wide-open and it Is as easy
to siam him it is to hit the ocean with
cobblestOne. WolgaSt beat Nelson at
Los Angeles and Murphy trimmed VOL
CAST in Pittsburg. didn't he? Well, what's
the dope. eh?" The dope, ne;ghbor Jona-
than, is this: Nelson and Wolgast boxed
ten rounds and Murphy and Wolgast six
For ten or six or eight rounds, John the
Dane is comparatively soft. For twenty
five, forty-tive or to finish, John, he Is
a hear-just bear. Irrespective OF how
contest between Nelson and Murphy
would terminate, ii must be said in favor
of the latter that he has been doing fine