Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24

pions of even hundred years ago. and
that is really only ten decades in boxing.
They had then to develop wrestling skill
as we'll as punching ability. and their
muscular development, l will admit. was
something to admire. But it was all
summed up in brute strength, and the
science which now furnishes the piquant
sauce to the sport was then almost en-
tirely lacking. The same condlflons
today beyond the attraction OF novelty
would not only kill the sport but after
the first performance would excite the
most hostile criticism
Coming down to the time OF Jem Mace,
We really reach the first pugilist to study
out the scientific side of boxing He
was the founder of this innovation in
pugilism. and to him we owe the change
that has elevated the sport.
Corbett Convinces Mace.
/ shall never forget my first introduce
ton 10 3em Mace some sixteen years ago
He invited me to come around and show
him what l had that was new in boxing
1t was a meeting of the old and new
champions, and I was as glad Of the OPP
portunfty to learn from him as to show
my own skill. He explained the straight
leads and straight cross counters that ne
had used go effectively in earlier days,
and seemed greatly surprised when
kindly told him il they boxed like that
now the clever men of the new school
would tear the top of his head off.
To illustrate this fact as he desired, and
l being the younger man. l said: You
lead at me and I'll show you something
you have never SEEN" He was simply
dumb for time in his establishment at
my skill in avoiding his leads. For In
stance, / tried the double feint with both
hands and slipped into sidestep' at
which he let go both hands and went out
of position and at my mercy as the trick
is intended to be used. l followed with all
l knew Of boxing and the grand old man
Of the ring was greatly pleased and
warmly congratulated me on my skill.
After Mace came Joe Wormald, Joe
Goss Tom Allen and Joe Coburn. They
all simply followed the style of the old
master as far as they were able to mas
ter the scientific end of the game, each
adding little individuality, put nothlhg
that was startling OF that had not been
seen before.
Comment on John L.
Then along came John L. Sullivan, a
rough and scruff. slam-bang. right-handed
fighter of great muscular development
ard game to the core. l wouldn't detract
one iota from John LIS reputation or
seek to lower him from a position he oc-
cupied so many years as the popular idol
of the ring, but honesty compelS me to
say that he added nothing to nSt1c science
excepting his famous right-hand punch.
AS usual, the new champions style was
Immediately in vogue and Mike Cleary
and some others gained place in hsttc
history as right handed fighters. l am
not going out of my way TO say mere una,
| don't believe Sullivan in his best DAYS
was the master OF Jeffries, and say this
because | have SO OIIen leaTd tiieil cohi-
pared.
Charley Mitchell was one man whom
Sullivan could never whip. Mitchell.
who had trained IN the Mace school, was
nearer to the present style OF boxing
than any man of his day. Weight was
his great handicap.
Then came Peter Jackson from Austria
liza, who weighed 200 pounds stripped and
was 6 feet III inches In height. jackson,
too. had the Mace style as improved by
Larry Foley. the teacher of so many
good men from the antipodes. jackson
also was wonderful infghter. a good
left hand jabber. and he had right-hand
bad punch capable OF terrific damage.
fine one thing jackson idched was Tie
left-hand hook.
Corbett Works on New Lines.
What shall I say OF Jim Corbett? He
had studied out q miscellaneous style in
which somsthfng had been adopted from
Mace and carried forward into a develop
ment showing individuality. 1t was sys-
tenn OF boxing entirely his own and. one
that had never been seen before the
night OF September Z. 1892, at New Or
leans. and without dwelling further upon
the subject L wish modesty to say that
ehere has been little Improvement since.
Bob FftZsimmons was O. wonderful two
handed fighter, able to hit as hard with
one hand as the other and fairly clever.
It was bis waAop that won nearly all his
fights. Tom shArakey was a physical
wonder. game and hard slugger. Slavfn
and Joe Goddard were OF q similar class
And now we get to Jenrtes, a big,
robust man weighing go pounds. as hard
as nails, and the quickest man Of his
weight 1 have ever seen in the ring.
Above all, he has something that none
Of the others. and particularly none Oh
the Sullivan type, could ever show. in
a knockout punch with the left hand
The fact that he IL ne turally left-handed
and as good, il not better. in every other
way az all he has met, has contributed
mat erja f1y.%o hSaSucCeeS In the ring. That