The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-15
NEW CLEYERNESS
OF THE FIGHTERS
rDy Edwin w. Smith,

Chicago. Feb. 15,-Flattootedness in
hovIng or the shufllinG style much
under discussion at the present time,
q modern institution, according TO
Harry Gilmore, one of the worlds
llIchtest old-timers. veteran whose
observation is still as keen as 1t ever
was. Harry keeps abreast Of the
times by following Jim Corbett Billy
Madden. John l.. Sullivan and the rest
OF them on the pro and con argument
oyer the fellow who does and the
fellow who does not lift his heels
from the canvas while in action.
Gilmore refuses TO be drawn into
any controversy upon the subject, but
Is willing at all times 10 dllate upon
the subject Of the present-day fight
eIs as compared with those Oi the
old masters OF Tlpgcralt Finding
him In the mood the other day. l got
Il few observations out of him,
The veteran talks like he boxes
straight from the shoulder. These are
some of his remarks:
"Of course. there is merit on both
Sides OF this controversy; but while
you are talking about the flat-foote1
HEhlEls ltl lut Aoh INV ~ 10 thAN a
man can get any reach Tor blow
unless he lunges up on his toes?
In the old days men fought on
their toes because they had to. The
reason is plain The fights under
London ring rules were upon the turf.
ana the fighters wore spikes, In or
der to get around well they had to
lit their feet off the ground. They
simply couldn't glide or shuttle as
they can In the present time. The
spikes clogged up with mud, and,
unless a man shook his feet pretty
lively he was liable TO find himself
anchored.
Another great difference between
the present and past, ! find, is the
method of covering up Years ago
when men we're fighting with their
Iists there was NJ such thing as hold
Ing your two hands In front OF you.
face for n cover up for the simple
reason that two fists or outSprend
hands uncovered with gloves. afford
no protection An opponent could
easily shove his fist through such d
guard Today 1t Is hard york getting
flye-ounce glove through a Gov
cred up front pf two other five
ounce gloves.
I'm former days this difficulty OF
guarding ones face made 1T neces-
sary for 4 man to be spryer with his
head, and as result the sideStep,
the shift the duck and other forms OF
getaways were more commonly ued-
Look at Jem Mace. the greatest NoX-
or that ever lived He could mye
his head nut of danger so eally
and rapidly as to almost dazzll a
man. and that, too. without taxing
any unnecessary steps or movements
with the legs OF feet.
Under London ring rules thee
was less clinching than there is D.
day. You sec, it was permissile
then TO trip a man who clinched (
throw him down and fall upon hil
Unless a man was prepared for sue
a toss he kept al long range.
The Mace style OF boxing, no
commonly spoken OF as the Englis
style. peryades all of the boxing toda.
no matter in what country we fin
St. Mace taught Larry Foley and Fole
showed all OF the tricks to Grlft
And they are still talking about VIII;
al HOHutI Ndos 2O YOU oNN III
trlckery and skill was handed dow
for generations
Incidentally. the old style OF boXir
Is far more useful in front flghun
where 4 man has TO protect hill
self At this style of work ma
should never let foe clinch Wi
him.
The spike idea In fighting amaz
the average fight fan of today, v
wore three.eights of an inch of theI
but they had to be pointed with Z
eighth OF an inch bottom OH thel
Three were permitted upon the b;
OF the foot and two under the heel
When Pat Killen and Jim F.
Guson fought near Chicago. Fergus
showed up with the regular Tunni
shoes, the spikes being sharp
needles | had a file and made h
blunt them. That was probably the m'
desperate fight. as far as wick
crowds was concerned, that / eN
was mixed up In. | seconded XIII
and carried my life In my han
When | fought Dick Bittle in Nj
1886. we were in mud up to {
ankles. That was near Detroit c
spikes picked up great hunks OF cl
aud a man had to have great coura
and sturdy legs 10 battle under tn,
conditions | had four inches
height aud &c pounds the worst
it. but got away With 1t.
But ] am glad the fighters Of
day are getting more civilized. TIL
were good old days, but | am v
satisfied right now with what we h
here"