Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09
j. ]. Corbett Describes DeveI'
opments in twentieth
Century, Pugilism.
OLD AND new COMPARED
IN MATTER OF SKILL
Sport Is Raised to Higher
Plane by Many Features of
Modern Methods.
BY JAMES J. CORBETT.

Farmer heavyweight Champion Of the World
Downright. 1911 by the Tribune Company
Jhave been requested by the Tribune to
contribute an article on fwenueth Cen
tnrv P1gilism." and by way of prelimi-
nary discussion 1 Wish to REMIND the
readers that. although in the past have
been an active exponent of the profess
eional end OF the game. at present my
soIe interest in fstiana is that of any
other warm admirer of the manly art. 1
can. therefore. give without prejudice my
opinions regarding the developments the
last decade has brought about in the
ancient sport
Reluctant as some of the old timers are
TO admit that there has been marked i'm
movement IN pugilism since the dawn OF
the new century. I am in position. as
might be appropriately termed, con-
Meeting link between the old and the new
schools, to appreciate. probably TO
greater extent than those who have not
followed boxing so closely. that in mod
ern methods there are many features
which tend to raise the sport to much
higher plane than ever before.
The science of boxing approached Its
present high standard during the crossing
the general acceptance of the Marquis OF
Queensberry rules and the padded groves
was recorded the passing or the orute-
Ike struggles for supremacy tnat cnar-
acterized the prize fights OF twenty-nNe
years ago. the evolution OF the profes-
sional pugilist and the usherins In OF the
new and improved style Of boxing whlch
Is in vogue today.
New School Teaches Defense.
Old school pugilism consisted OF but one
Milan or method, and that was to land q
blow at any cost. even If necessary to
<ake a dozen to accomplish the desired
end. There was practically no defense
Under London prize ring rules nsnt1ne
wss purely offensive. Modern teachers OF
the art devote as much II not more tiIie
to the perfection OF defensive as VI
fensive methods.
That element OF brutality which was IN
evidence in all prize ring contests no
farther back than a quarter OF cen
fury ago is unknown 10 present uay GA
nonents and followers of the sport Com,
carisons are considered odlous. ana
should I attempt to draw them ana
thereby reflect upon the skill ana taiGn.s
Of the gladiators OF that per1od Wheh
men Of the Paddy Ryan. John L. Sullivan,
and Jake Kilrain type were the recoS,
.aized leaders OF their profession, L WouIo
draw down upon my head STORM VI
protest from veteran followers OF the
zame who are loath to admit improve
nlent in modern metnoos oNer 'ioSo vi
the old school.
AS fixfters of strength and stamina the
present generation may be inferior TO the
stars of the London prize ring days, put
in point Of that which is regarded as the
acme OF cleverness there is really no
conaparison to be made. The methods
of the two schools are totally unlike
Commercialism in Fighting.
Possibly one of the greatest strides to-
ward Improvement in professional pugil-
ism Of the new century is in the class of
young men who have entered the ranks.
attracted not alone by the benef1cent
and health building training necessary to
the making of a successful athlete, but
by the possibilities as an unusually re-
munerative field of endeavor.
LIZ iS Of hot