Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-21
AMERICAN BOXERS ABROAD
Many Famous Ones Have Fought in
Foreign Lands.
HAVE ALWAYS SHOWED UP WELL
John G. Heenan First 20 right In
England, In the Battle with say
ers-suIivan-Mitchen At
fair In France.

have won honors in almost every civilized
part OF the world-in England, France,
Australia. South Africa and the West
Indies. Some OF the fistic battles between
American sailors and those Of other
nations, principally those OF the English
navy. have been contested in China. Japan.
East India, Spain, Italy, Germany and
other countries.
Tho first American champion of the
prize ring to cross the Atlantic to compete
for the worlds heavyweight title was
o Carmel Heenan, who was born in
West Troy, N. Y. on May /. 1884, of Irish
parents. He probably was. the handsomest
man that ever pulled off a shirt inside
the ropes. 1t was his fine appearance and
excellent manner that led Heenan to be-
come the husband of Adah Isaacs Mcnken,
the most noted actress OF that period.
Their meeting and courtship smacked OF
romance. One afternoon they saw each other
In the lobby of the old National theater
in Cincinnati and there was mutual admir-
alton. The man in the box office, taking
In the situation at a glance, Immediately
introduced them and a marriage soon
followed.
Mrs. Heenan possessed som literary
talent and wrote numerous poems extol-
ling her spouse as a gladiator. But they
quarrelled after a while and finally separ-
ated forever. Heenan afterward married
Sara Stevens, another actress, in England,
while Mrs. Heenan No. ! supported the
young tragedian. Edwin Booth. Afterward
she went abroad and became a favorite
of Charles Dickens and Alexander
Dumas, sr.
Heenan Created a Sensation.
1t was Heenan'z ntornaffona na4aria4y
which brought about the battle with Tom
Sayers, the champion OF England. This
match created great excitement on both
sides OF the Atlantic. There was more
money wagered on the result than on
any other event in the history of pusilism.
Sayers was a hot \ favorite among all
classes in Great Britain, but when Heenan
arrived in London he found himself the
lion OF the hour. although he tried hard
to remain unknown and in the background.
He went Immediately to his training
quarters at Salisbury and refused to see
strangers, though some OF the nobility
called Just to get a peep at the American
champion.
The battle between Heenan and Savers
took place at FarI borough, England, on
April II, 1850, before the "swellest' crowd
ever seen at a ringside. The stakes were
only, 1900 a side, but the amount bet
around the ropes must have been all of
100000. the Americans grabbing all the
money In sight witE the ODDS on Savers.
In spite of the fact that Heenan lowered
above the Englishman and outweighed him
by at least twenty-five pounds. I
1t was a rather tedious fight OF forty
four rounds. lasting too long to suit the
Britishers, who saw the American cham
picn walloping sayers to certain defeat.
Sayers, however. deserved credit for his
clever generalship in %prolonglng the mill
for two hours and twenty minutes, al
though Re was nc match for the American.
In almost every. round Heenan either
fiocred him or wrestled him 70 the turf
because OF superior bulk and strength.
British Fair Play ExcmpIified.
In the thirty-seventh round the refereo
left his post, so that he was not on hand
to rule over or decide on the seven rounds
that followed. In the forty-fourth round
the mob cried: Draw Draw and then,
jumping into the ring, cut the ropes. Say
ers was dragged out and finally carried
away by his friends. Heenan, in the ex-
element, called to his opponent to come
back and fight 1t out. But, as he saw
no chance for fair play, Heenan jumped
nimbly over the remaining ropes and ran
about 800 yards to the railroad nearby.
After this fizzle Heenan used every
means possible to arrange another match
with Savers. but the robbery was COM
promised by returning the stakes to each
man and presenting to each fac-simile belts,
which, however, were never paid for, and
Heenan was Obliged to hand his back.
Gavera mas wfne1 and Ifnad hU al oarfa
of persons and hundreds OF pounds were
subscribed for him. But the unfair result
Of this International match disguised the
square sportsmen in England and the
prize ring, as a result, received a knock
out blow from which II has never fully
recovered in John Bulls land.
In December. 1868, Heenan and Tom King
met at Wadhurst for a stake OF $4,000.
the largest ever fought for in England.
One Of Heenan's seconds was Tom sayerA.
so that the American felt sure there would
he no foul play. In the eighteenth round
Heenan fairly won, as he had King down
and out. but the referee, who feared the
gang OF rowdies and thugs at the ring
side. refused to give the decision to the
American. In the twenty-fifth round,
after much wrangiing and bulldozing. the
referee gave the battle to King. thereby
making him champion of the world.
With his old seconds, Jack Mcdonald
and Jim Cusick. Heenan returned to this
side and proceeded to give exhibitions
throughout the country, making a pot OF
money. America has never known a more
popular prisefighter than Heenan.
COburn-Mace FtascO.
Joe coburn was the second big American
champion to cross the Atlantic TO meet an
English champion. Coburn sailed from this
city on October 4. 1854, accompanied by Jim
Cusick and Jim Dunno of Brooklyn. Coburn
was matched with Jem Mace, the British
champion, the fight to take place in Ire
land, but Mace never put in an appearance
and Coburn, disgusteds came back to
America. Mace afterward visited this
country and fought Coburn a so-called
draw in 1871 at Port Dover. canada. The
foxy pair met again in the ring at Bay
ST. Louis. Miss. in another alleged draw
the same year. The general opinion at the
time was that each affair was a fake, and
after the second one neither man took part
in another important battle.
Jake Kilrain in 1856. under the direction
Of Charley Mitchell, laid claim to the