The Washington herald., 1910-02-20
( n IN
JOHN L. REFUSED TO
TRAIN FOR jim CORBETT
Inside Story of Former Champions Methods
of Training Revived by the JeffrieS-
Johnson Fight

{ Don't you know you are going to fight
tonight"
Sullivan took as much notice Of Cham
bers as If he were a clerk in a kite fac
tory He continued 10 swim for at least
fifteen minutes Chambers went out OF
the Gymuastic Club in anything but d
confident frame of mind as to Sullivan s
condition, yet he failed TO hedge. be-
! l!eylng that the big fellow would get ID
one OF his famous punches early.
The fight had not proceeded more than
seven rounds when Chambers told bis
friends that it was -00 70 ! against Suui-
van. He began 20 tire percepubly after a
minutes work trying TO nail the sDrinting
COrbett in corner. lie could hardly put
up his hands. and Corbett never gave him
an opportunity to gct near him until half
Of every round was over, when Sullivan
was so slow that ne could not block any
kind of a lead.
II was in the eighth or ninth round
after C0Tbett had smashed Sullivan on tie
nose and cut him considerably. that he
ventured too close, and the champion
landed a right 10 Corbetts heart. Tt
T lifted Corbett of his feet and had such
an effect upon him that FOR the next
eight rounds he remained away from Sui
/ Ivan until the big fellow was en- such a
I distressed condition that a baby could
have landed on him.
Then COrbett would step in and lab and
iab repeatedly. always stepping back out
of reach. IN the seventeenth round Cor
bett had sufficient confidence in himself to
get close in, and twice ne landed with his
left and right directly on the Jaw. The
old man staggered. more from weakness
than the force OF the blows. It was IN
that round that Corbetts friends went
wild with excitement, for they could see
that it was only a question OF time for
victory to be assured.
Down Went His Hands.
In the twenty-first round. after Cor
bett had lodged around for about a min
Ute, Sulivan's hands dropped TO his side.
He would attempt to put them in posi-
ton. but they would fail again. He was
practically helpless. Eight times Corbett
hit him with his left and right on the
jaw while Sulliyan's hands were dropping
like lead weights
Not one of the blows had force enough
to bring the big fellow down until the
eighth, when he was seen to bend at the
knees. Gradually he fell to a kneeling
posture, then he lunged forward on his
hands. Every effort possible by weak
man was tried 20 get back to a standing
position, but slowly the referee counted
off the seconds. Sullivan rocked from one
side to the other, first trying to get a
hold with one foot and then the other.
but each time the strength to lift his
body was lacking
At the final count his seconds ran 70
his aid, and in two minutes afterward he
stepped TO the ringside with his historic
words; I'm sorry. I did the best ]
could"
Now it has been argued that if Sullivan
could not get into condition Jeffries can
not. II Is a mistaken idea. Tie posi-
bIlities are that if Sullivan had worked
energetically and ConscientiousIy for his
fight with Corbett he might have done
better. Jeffries has a very different dis
position from Sullivan He will work
hard, knowing the Importance Of the
affair. and because Sullivan was not in
condition to fight Corbett Il does not in
fer that Jeffries will not be in condition.
externally and internally. on the Fourth
Of July.