Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02
CORBET Of LITTLE
VALUE TO JEFFR|ES
Bio Fellow Needs 0ut-0f-Door
Running to Improve His Wind
and Harden His Legs.
By Bill Blunt.
NEW YORK, January 1. L

one diSlikes to take a Responding view
of things and at the same time assail a
belief that is entertained by SO many,
but, in view of all this journalistic hula
baloo about Jim Corbett training Jeffries
for the Johnson match and, incidentally,
helping him to reclaim the worlds champ
ionship from the negro people, one al
most is forced to ask How and in what
manner can Corbett bring about Jeffries
rejuvenescence?" In his day there is no
question but that Corbett was the fastest
and cleverest big man in the ring. His
foot work was superb and he was good
ring general. even If he didn't always
maintain a cool head. But those sterling
qualities of the boxer of a decade ago
can be of no possible help to Jeffries to-
day, who is engaged to do battle with the
cleverest black man since Peter Jackson s
time. 1t should be borne earnestly IN
mind that the intent of this article is not
TO take anything away from Corbett. to
question his ability as trainer and his
wisdom as an adviser. or to lmpugn his
motives in gratuitously volunteering TO
work with Jeffries. The intention is to
destroy in the minds of Jeffries unthink-
ing admirers the false hope that Corbett
can fit him physically for the coming
match and assist him materially in re-
gaining the title he relinquished nearly
five years ago. The sum and substance
OF it is, Corbett simply can't.
:. x x X
Corbett has nothing he can give JEFF
fries. Advice, perhaps he might be able
to give him d point or two. But 1t ism
advice Jeffries needs at this stage OF the
game. Physically, there is absolutely no
way in which he can help Jeffries. Cor
bett will be forty-four his next birthday.
lie started fighting better than twenty
five years ago. 1t Will be seven years IN
August since he engaged in his last bout
the one with Jeffries on the coast. His
showing in that bout scarcely could be
called up to the standard. 1t is proven
bal that Jeffries actually outboxed him
box with Jeffries in training. it would be
detrimental rather than beneficial to the
latter. 1t would be necessary for JEFF
ries to ''hold back because, soft and out
be physically able TO stand any hard
slamming. To last any length of time
the training bouts between JeffrleS and
Corbett would have to be easy" and it
isn't the light and airy form of exercise
that jeff requires.
What he does need is pile of out
door running to improve his wind and
harden the muscles of his legs. To those
who have given no study TO the matter
little Importance is attached ordinarily
to the condition of fighters legs. That
is where they overlook bet. Any fighter
will tell you that the minute his legs
begin to get tired his fighting suffers
and his chances for victory grow beaut1-
fully less. With tired underpinning he
is veritable mark for a clever, shifty
man. Jeffries legs will stand lot OF
hardening. That could be seen when he
last boxed in New York There wasn't
so much surplus flesh on them, and while
MT he
lied as f1abby that firmness and pllab1i-
ity so noticeable when he fought Fitz-
simmons and Sharkey at Coney Island
was woefully missing. Still, he has SIX
months yet, and as he is an earnest
trainer, they may be in good shape by
July 4. His idea of putting in number
of weeks in the mountains will help them
immensely. No exercise that is more
trying on the legs can be INDUCED In
than mountain climbing. To all who ever
have thrown a gun over their shoulder
and tramped ten or twelve miles up and
down hill, no further veritication of that
statement is necessary
In the sDarring time what Jeffries
needs is the rough, Siam-bang article,
the kind Corbett cannot give him. BY
indulging in bouts of that description
jeff can let everything CO." If he were
forced to hold back it would not only
throw him out of his hitting stride, but
affect his judgment of distance as we'll.
He wants to be handicapped in no way
when he's boxing. The benefit will be
derived when he can tear In and siam
away to his hearts content. Fighting
power and ability to hit truly are the
things he likely will strive for in the
gymnasium. If lie boxed lightly he could
not improve his eye, because hitting In
an easy" bout and in a hard one are
two different propositions. Everything
with him must be just exactly as it will
be in a regular fight. In fact, 1t would
not be bad idea if he engaged in three
or four actual fights in the training
quarters. There are men who could be
secured and it would give him fine
line on himself. Then, if he found any
weak points, he'd have ample time to
strengthen them. Rough. hard, siren
uous work: that is the story. And that
Is why Jim Corbett, decent fellow that
he is and sincere in his intentions to
help JEFF every possible way, can pc OF
very little help to him.
Very few people In the east accord Al
Wolgast much chance against Batting
Nelson in a forty-hve-round bout. VOL
CAST has been hurting challenge after
challenge at Nelson and finally the Bat
has come out in the open and said he
would take on the NJ chigander. Formerly
the called Wolgast Kid, and 1t was no
lnisnomer. lie is but twenty-one and has
been fighting four years. lie really isn't
IA fuIl-hedged lightweight in the sense
that he is Obliged 70 train TO do LIB. He
Is pounds lighter and that is going to
prove a big handicap to him II he meets
the Battler over the overland route. lie
IS very fast and IS a hard, free hitter
with both hands for man his size, but
1T doesn't seem as though he has the
strength, stamina or packs the punch TO
beat a man of Nelson's style In long
fight. For a limited number of rounds
Wolgast is reasonably sure to outlook
Ne'son. He may even land two punches
10 the Battlers one, but. the dope is, he
should grow tired in time and the Nelson
come In on the bit That doesn't go for a
ten or twenty round bout, but for forty
five rounds or to finish. WolgaSt is full
of confidence and is willing to bet his
own money on the side. but II Nelson and
Woigast ever enter the ring to battle
1orty-five rounds it likely will be found
that Nelson is a pronounced favorite in
the betting. The wise money Will make
linn one.
< 4
IL seems as though the fates have de-
creed that Tom O'Rourke shall not be
i'm In New York city. lie has tried
many times to run shows, but there in
Nariably was slip-up and his show
either failed to take place or was fail
ure. a number of the daily papers have
come out cold turkey and said they would
they have kept their word. Any time you
in the sporting business and the press
i against YOU and rapping you continu-
ously. II Is pretty nearly time to an
nounce twenty minutes for a new book
Ten years ago O'Rourke was the king
In the boxing line I'm this city He was
the ruling spirit of the Lenox 4. G. and