Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
PAYS A BOXER TO
Be ON THE LEVEL
Young Corbett's Short, But
Brilliant Career a Good
Object Lesson.

| William II. Rothwell better known as
| Young Corbett," was not the greatest
fighter the American ring ever produced.
but he was one of the greatest. says the
Referee in the Philadelphia Ledger. .
! Recently in. New Orleans he gave
fash of his old-time form by earning
draw with Phil Brock, that sturdy west
ern lightweight. after ten grueling
rounds. When Corbett left Broadway no
one ever dreamed that he would ever be
able to get into anything like ring condi-
ton. AS soon as he boarded the steam
ship he sought out the captain and asked
| the privilege of working as a stoker in the
| coal hole. His wish was gratified. Mus
| cles began to show on his rotund form.
and when he reached the Crescent city a
few days at the Young Mems Gymnastic
| Club did the rest. Brock is a good light
weight, and earning draw with him
virtually meant a victory for Young Cor
| bett.
| Jim Corbett lives in ring history as the
man who whipped John L. Sullivan, the
'"rerrible John" young Corbett" stands
| out as the man who licked Terry Nc
Govern when the Brooklyn Terror was
the greatest little man on earth.
| And that's enough glory for any man.
81 wasn't any wonder. but I am the
man who licked McGovern." is Corbett's
proud boast. And he lets it go at that
| This is supposed to be the story of
| Corbett's career. Absolutely without
fear. he never considered losing when
! he entered the ring. He had been
knocked out three times before he
| whipped McGovern. Ring experts say
that one knockout takes away man.
| confidence and makes him back out OF
the big mix-ups. But Young Corbett'
was an exception to this rule, as he was
an exception to almost all other prize
ring rules.
| His career was short, sweet and full
of excitement. He flashed out as cham
pion when the betting was thirty to one
against him. He whipped the best In
his class in a short time. and then the
Broadway life got him. His greatest de-
! light was to walk up and down the Great
White Way, buy wine for himself and
| friends stake every one who was broke.
and never expect return. He wound
up his ring life in poverty and today de-
ponds upon his drawing ability as three
round exhibition boxer for a living.
Always Honest.
Some athletes retain their following
forever. Great ring ability or absolute
honesty draw the cries of the populace for
all time. Corbett had fine ability. but
his honesty in the ring is his greatest as
set He never faxed. never laid down,
and never asked anything more than an
even break. He came out of the west
dubbed a mark for McGovern. He struck
Hartford with a breezy, nervy confidence
that carried all before him. and he was
soon surrounded with romance and senti-
ment which comes with mystery and vic
tory. He lost later and people said: It's
too bad-he was fine fellow and honest.
and the glow of good-fellowship, strange
| to relate, still remained.
The little fellow had his pathos as well
as his smiles. A friend landed some
money in the west, and on his return to
| cafe Corbett was there, down to his last
dollar.
How are you making 1t, Biliy?' he
asked.
Badly" replied Corbett. Did you get
| anything in the west?"
Sure" replied the friend. Want TWEEN
| ty-five?"
Eyes. 1 do" said Corbett. I'm broke
| and I've spent thousands in this very
cafe See that fellow over there-well
he owns this place and I've made thous-
ands for him in bets and trade. But
he wouldn't take my marker for planked
steak today"
Never a Bad Loser.
In the ring Corbett was supreme in his
time He never kicked at losing. except
in the Britt fight, and here his kick was
justifiable. He always praised the other
fellow and was friendly with his oppo-
nents. He was a wonderful "goat get
| ter and talked himself into victory
scores of times The writer remembers
a bout he had in st. Louis after he
had whipped McGovern for the second
time. He was fighting Jack Keefe six
rounds. Corbett was hog fat and Keefe
was like a race horse. In the first two
rounds Keefe battered Corbett all over
the ring and f1oored him twice. Corbett
came out smiling in the third. He began
| talking and instantly got Keefe inter-
eSted.
That's mean way to treat me, Jack"
he said. Here l am champion Of the
| world, and giving you chance to stay
six rounds, and you began to knock my
and go along easy for the six rounds.
Just tap and get aWay-like this-then
I'll tap you and get away-like that-then
you put light one to the chest--like
that-then 1 put a soft left to the jaw
like that"
Bang! Over went that terrible left to
the jaw. keefe stood stock still a few
seconds. then his knees trembled and
clean knockout.
Keefe came back to his senses half an
hour afterward.
What do you think OIL that fellow?"
ne asked, III d GdZeO WAY. Actually
showing me how he knocked me OUT
Kidded McGovern.
Corbett talked himself into whipping
McGovern both times. In the first fight
he insisted upon McGovern getting into
the ring first. McGovern objected.
I'm the champion. and I'll do what I
please" he said. You get into that ring
first"
Corbett laughed Terry looked annoyed.
Nobody had ever laughed at the Brook
lyn terror before. Something was the
matter with this rudy faced youngster
from the west.
''All right, kid. I'll get in first" said
Corbett. "And listen to NELL get out
first when they are picking you up and
carrying you out, feet first
The pair afterward became the best of
friends and business partners. They gave
an exhibition at a big charity bazaar in
New York two years ago. and the tip
went out that McGovern was about to
knock Corbett out in the exhibition. A
friend told Corbett.
Look out for him, Billy" cautioned
the friend. your best game is to get
him first. When you close first time put
him away"
Corbett looked panied.
Don't talk to me that way" he said.
81 never dOuble-crossed a man in my
life, and McGovern is the last fellow on
whom 1 would ever think of pulling Off
that kind Of trick. I love that little
chap, and l wouldn't do anything mean
to him TO save my very life"