The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-15

Two years after tho final retirement o'
championship was decided between
mike McCooIe and "Tom' Allen, tho
latter regaining the title he had previous
ly won and lost In 1876 Allen snFTen- Ti
on foul after twenty-seven rounds oil
hard lighting.
There were few aspirants for pugllistic
honors at this time and public interest In
the game was dying out. Those who
cherished the traditions OF great sport
with roll OF names that stood Tor man
hood courage and fair play despaired OF
ever reviving the prize ring as an ath-
letic Institution OF the race.
Goss, like "Jem" Mace, a left over from
q brighter and cleaner period of fistic
history. could find no adversary worthy
20 step inside the ropes with him during
the four years he held the tiue. a match
with John ]. Dwyer came TO nauSht and
competition resulted in failure until. in
1850. a stranger announced himself as
q candidate. This was Paddy Ryan;
''the Trojan" who never yet had appeared
in the squared circle.
II ever man deserved an object long
sought through years of patient struggle
and frequent discouragement that man
was Joe" Goss. who won the champion
ship of the world at the age OF 3S,
fighter from the tirne he attained his
majority, consistent winner up to his
clash with the redouhtable "Jcm' Mace,
he hung to his purpose until that phenom-
email boxer, his acknowledged master. had
been removed from the field and then
achieved his ambition In the Indian sum
mer of his ring life. Opposed TO Mace
In three battles. he drew once and went
down twice in honorable defeat The
rest OF his record was without check
up 10 the last.
C;oss was born in Wolverhampton, Eng
land. in 1888. After entering the ring In
1853 he fought through the ranks OF the
third and second class heavyweights and
a sd In hn frh lI1f
the championship. Here he remained
awaiting his further opportunity, wrest-
ing the honor at last from TON Allen
when that brave but unskilful puGilist
again forced himself to the front by
sheer strength and determination,
Jack Broughton, father OF pugiltsm.
fought to retain his place at the head OF
the spor, when A years old. Tom" john
son was finally defeated at the age OF Al.
Mace was 10 when he fought his last
championship battle, Goss was nearly ~
most two years older than Fi5zsmmons
IN the second Jeffries fight. Goss is
therefore entitled TO recognition as the
Oldest active re!gning champion since
lI50.
That such an aspirant as Paddy"
should have been able TO measure lists
with the first boxer OF the day serves
as an adequate commentary upon the
state OF the game In 1880 Ryan was
born in Tipperary In 1852 and when FIRST
heard from had gained local reputation
as rough land tumble bruiser in Troy,
y. y. There was nothing 10 recommend
him FOR premier honors in the prize ring
beyond his strength and his Undoubted
ability 10. take and to inflict punish
ineat. science ne had none, nor expert
ence OF the kind that makes champions
under recognized rules. But the fact
that he could whip" anything near his
weight without reference to the manner
prominence and he found hackers TO the
extent in obtaining a match with Goss
Coss was glad enough Of the chance for
action. Rake England and America a ne
might there was no other anxious 10 do
him battle. and in the general dearth of
material Ryan's challenge and support
gave promise OF relief. After wearylng
negotiations and unsuccessful attempts
10 dodge the authorities OF several states
the men and their attendants. with a
crowd OF about three hundred, set out
from Pittsburg on May 81. 1880, BY early
morning of June l the party had found
It's way into the mountains OF West Eir-
ginia. and there. near Golfers station.
In weeded amphltheater the drama
OF the championship was once more en-
acted.
The ring was pitched by moonlight on
the untrampled turf OF the secluded val
ley. and as dawn broke the little gath
mp positions on the surrounding slopes
Ryan, resplendent in red shirt black
clothes and silk hat. was the irst 10
approach the spot. He regarded the
and remarked that It was all strange TO
him, but that he hoped to afford his
friends. good entertainment. Soon after
ward he tossed his title" within the
ropes, Goss followed, and they stripped
for business. both standing up in white
breeches and stockings, Ryan. the now
Ice. seemed rather nervous and awkwa rd
Goss. who had passed through a score
OF such ordeals, was calm and confident
almost too confident. his hackers feared
Giant in Battle.
In truth the challenger. in spite Of his
slender qualifications for boxing, was
admirably equipped for fighting. Six feet
$50 pounds he was In the flush OF his
t~enty-eisht years. a gigantic. heavy
lirnbed. solid bodied mountain OF Drawn
and sinew. No trim lines or whipcord
lltheness of build contributed 10 his
points. but strength he had and long
arms punched with muscles and a deep
chest capable OF carrying him far in a
wearing contest. He looked what he was.
and no more. a man built for primitive
struggle, rough. rugged and big handed.
the wonderful preservation that fight fol-
lowers had observed in Mace at his last
championship battle. was still in rude
health and sound condition Ryan tow
cred above his five feet ten inches. and
in addition 10 other obvious advantage
reach. But the champion was in no way
10 be scoTned as Il fighting figure Be
yond slight tendency to flabbiness about
the ribs. he seemed to have all his old
muscular power and agility. In limbs
and pose be was a finer picture OF an
athlete than his opponent. His was the
design OF pugilist. compact and firm IL
the upper structure. more delicately mod
eled In the legs with a certain flexibiity
and balance In his movements that Ryar