Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-18
Rugged Physique, Keen Eyesight and
Brains Needed.
ATTRIBUTES OF THE sCRAPPER
Speed a Big Factor in Scoring Rims
succes-MOdern Fighters Try
20 Appear Well when In
Repose.

points about a fellow who becomes a
champion fighter that are not generally
noticed by the tickle fight fans Of today.
In the first place, the successful pugil-
lists must have the rugged physique
broad shoulders with big punching mus
Giles In the upper part OF the back, a
good thick neck that con stand a strain.
heavy, well set jaws tina denote bulldog
tenacity; a small rather flat nose, not
easily broken; small, sharp eyes, with the
fighting CLINT in them. The arms OF course
should be long and muscular, yet not
bound up like those Of a litter Of heavy
weights, while the waist and legs should
be small in comparison with the dimen-
sions Of the upper part OF the body.
Great speed is absolutely necessary in
the makeup of the classy fighter. I've
never known a great one with heavy, pom
derous limbs. Look them over-John L.
Sullivan, Jack Dempsey. Jack McAuliffe,
Kid Mccoy. Jim Corbett, Bob Fitzsim-
mons, Tommy Ryan. George Dixon, Joe
Cans, Frank p. slavin. Young Critic and
a host of other famous pugillsts with COM
paratively srpall lower limbs. It's that
way with sprinters-men, horses and dogs.
FOotwOrk IL Important.
"The fighters Of today do much more
speedy footwork than those of the old
school. Take Stanley Ketchel for an
Illustration. With what wonderful rapidity
he gets around al opponent in a twenty
four-foot ring! His speedy legs certainly
play a most important part in all OF his
fights. He's lightning itself in the arena
and by means OF his rapid footwork he
keeps on top OF his antagonist every mo-
ment. No man has yet been able 10 out
sprint him in a ring contest. That is one
OF his strongest points. Jack o'Brisn is a
very speedy fellow on his pins. but Ketch
caught him every time he tried to get
away.
John l.. Sullivan was fast on his
teee when he first came out, but when he
got fat and heavy he also became slow
and clumsy. He was a big ice cart when
he met the swiftly moving Jim Corbett in
new orleans seventeen years ago. Corbett,
1t Will be recalled, had SO much speed that
he was on top of Sullivan at all stages OF
the one sided mill. In that fight Sullivan
was not actually put to sleep. He was
simply exhausted and went down in Sec
lions like a worn out horse.
Eyes of Fighters.
SN WV hAAO Nldt u kTGhL ma
jority Of fistic champions of the past have
had small eyes, set well back in the head?
Yankee Sullivan, Joe Coburn, Jim Dunn,
Jem Mace. Joe Goss. Billy Edwards, Jack
Dempsey, Jack McAuliffe, Bob FItzslm-
mons, Terry MOGovern, Young Corbett, Jim
Hall, Jimmy Britt, Battling Nelson, Joe
Waicott, Joe Cans, Abe Attell. Young
Critic, Kid La1Ene. Tommy Ryan, Bill
Papke. Jim Jeffries, Jem Driscoll, Billy
Plimmer and many others have been noted
for their small. cunning eyes. But their
optics have all been clear, brigh and piero-
ing Just the same.
"A pugilist Of the highest class must
have a good, true cyclone that can cor
rectly judge distance, so that a blow can
reach the mark aimed at. That was one OF
DempSey's best qualities. He could hit AT
adversary IN the spot selected without
being an inch out OF the way,
Jack Johnson, by the way, does not
have many Of the strong points OF a cham
pion in his makeup. His eyes are toe
large and unprotected. An old London
rule fighter would simply blind him with
bare knuckles In q hard battle. Compare
the colored champions optics with those
Of Billy Edwards. which were small, deer
set and protected by overhanglng brow
bones. Johnson's legs are too heavy fol-
speed. He will discover this fact whsr
he gets into the ring with Ketchel, who
will force him to move quickly or take ar
unmerciful walloping. Besides Johnson,
feet are fiat. and hat reminds me that
; never saw a flat-footed fighter with any
great amount OF action. OF course John.
son may cop Ketchel with an uppercu,
when the latter Is coming in, but IL h,
, misses or Ketchei gets him going it vii
be all over with the big negro. He won't
, be able to keep away from the Michigan
Lions swift attack.
B why He f. ChestY.
Il suppose one OF the proudest mortAli
is a champion prize fighter who has beer
J pampered and petted like a prize dog. You
can't blame him, for hundreds OF admirerI
! are giving him presents or Shaping him OF
the back. at the same time telling him he'i
the greatest thing that ever happened
This egetism is part OF his fighting quail
l. fications. It's this pride that makes hin
. go In and battle hard to wn. OF cours,
n the big purse may cut a big figure viii
7 him. but vanity has much to do with hi
success In the ring. He's susceptible /,
flattery and the cheers often help him OIL
to victory.
d Sullivan, for example, is one Of tn,
; proudest men in the world today. He &C
tually considers himself a bigger man thar
n Theodore Roosevelt or anybody else
. Dempsey was also a proud fellow. He be
Heved himself inVincible, and when Fitz
simmons put him out poor Jacks heart wa
; broken. / suppose II you hunted all owe
: the globe you couldn't find q more chest.
negro than Johnson. with his flAshy som
Z and dance clothes and big diamonds, Ge'
a moving picture OF pride, no mistake,
"some physiognomists viii tell you tina
the ideal fighting face is the low brow
n square jaw. Bill Sykes type. This is
. mistake. a you point to one great pugii
list today with this kind OF a muG7 I'm sur
p no one would pick Ketchel as pug, in
n crowd on the street. Corbett, Mccoy, Nc
Auliffe, Young corbstt, Packy Mcfarland
q Tommy Burns. Abe Atteil. Battling NelSo
l. and . whole fleet OF clean cut pugilist
might pass for Broadway sveils when the
have their glad rags on and mingis wit
the fashionable throng on the Great Whit
Way. / tell you a big change has com
a over the fighters OF today regarding thei
\ ~Eenerall appearances when you recall tn
old bruisers OF bare kunckle days.
Case of Tug Wilson.
II remember when they brought Tt
Wilson over from England to box SulIiva