Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-04-01
GRUELLiNG BATTLES
HAVE FINISHED FIGHTERs
Heenan Stopped sayers' Career, While
Jeffries Closed Fighting Days Of Cor
hett, Fitz and Others.

zone hard grueiiing battle has often
ended the career OF a good game
fighter in the prize ring" said an old
New York sport the other evening,
runs q story in the New York Sun.
"In the old days especially, when pu-
gilists fought to finish with bare
knuckles and almost beat each other
to death, many were seriously injured.
Take, for instance, that great internal
tjonal battle between John e. Heenan
and Tom Sayers. It was fought just
40 years ago at Farnborough, England.
They battled for a rounds, lasing two
hours and 20 minutes. until the ropes
were cut to save the gallant Sayers
from further butchery. He was beat
en- almost to a pulp. His nose was
broken. both eyes were blinded and his
face and body were covered with
bruises. In short poor Sayers was a
pitiable sight and was carried from
the ring in helpless condition. This
terrible beating really caused Tom to
retire from the ring, for he resigned
the championship to Tom Hurst, who
lost the title to Jem Mace the next
year.
Those were the days when pusiiists
had to fight, when broken noses and
caulihower ears were considered marks
of honor by ring followers Of England
apd America. I might I'LL several
books with other old London rule bat
ties in which men beat one another to
jelly; but let us come down to more
modern gladiators. Jeffries has put
several game fellows out of business
by his severe Furnishing power. Tom
Sharkey never fully recovered from
the terrific punching JEFF gave him in
their rs round battle at Coney Island.
when Jim smashed the sailors ribs,
and battered him into such a condition
that he had to be taken TO a hospital.
Sharkey was never the same after this
fierce struggle, and he soon quit the
ring. After the heavy walloping Gus
Rubin received from JEFF in frisco in
1901 the German gave up the gb&Et
and retired from the fistic arena K1hs
lin told me the terrific smash Jeff
landed in his stomach settled the Whsle
business.
"Jfm Corbett also received his finish
from the big boiler marker in a ten
round battle at Frisco the same year.
After that beating. which resulted IN
a knockout, Jim concluded to seek a
more agreeabiy way Of getting the
coin. I don't believe there is any in
ducement that could drag Corbett back
TO the fighting game. Jeffries also set
tied old Bob Fitzsimmons, ring career
the last time they met on the coast in
1902. It's true that F'itz gave the big
fellow a good punching. but some of
the wallopS that JEFF handed him in
return broke the old fellows heart and
he's never put up good fight since.
Poor little George Dixon should
never have been allowed to 20 up
against Terry McGovern when his
fighting days were practically over. and
his physique was almost all gone. Ter
ry at that time was just ia his prime,
and he went at the gallant Dixon with
such vigor that he simply slaughtered
him in eight merciless rounds. The
terrific punching Dixon received that
night put a sad finish to his great ca
reer in the ring. His willing spirit
was gone and he went down step by
step to an early grave.
Another pitiful sight for old fight
goerS was the unequal battle between
game Jack Dempsey and F1tzsimmons
at New Orleans in 1891. Fitz looked
like a gorilla that night as he stood
head and shoulders over The Non
pareii. Jack had never seen Lanky
Bob until he faced him in that ring,
but If he had I think he would have
sidestepped him. As I've so often de-
clared Dempsey was never more than
a welterweight- He could do lao
pounds and be good and fit and If he
had stayed IN his class he would never
have suffered defeat: but Jack was
proud and amihitious He was olso
the soul Of hoq9r ana the man who
suggested a fake to him usually had
to fight then and there. When one or
his friends went to his corner and
limited that he could fix it with F1tE
for draw, Dempsey turned in anger
and said: I'LL win or lose on the level''
Bob begged jack Il. qnh again and
again during the one sided mill, but
The Nonuareil positively refused 20 do
so saying; You must knock me out
before I'll quit In the 18th round
Fitz put the poor fellow away: I new
er saw such a heart broken man as
Dempsey was when he came to his
senses in his dressing room. II was
his first and only downfall He cried
like a child and then ragged like a wild
animal His heart was brokea, his
body was battered and bruised and his
glorious ring career was over. Jack
Dempsey was never the same man
after that. He pinned away into a
quick consumption and died a. Port
land. Oregon, where he lies without a