The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-04-21
WHAT coR5ETT SAYS ABOUT
STUckEY

Under date of April 18th, Mr..
James J. Corbett writes as follows
about Oscar Stuckey, who has been |
eppauletted the Florida Hercules"
4 and the white Mans Hope"
The announcement that Oscar
Stuckey, the so-called Florida Hercu-
les," had decided to quit the profes- l
sional boxing game before he had |
really begun is strenuously denied by 1
the young man, who informs me he |
will carry out his original plan of |
trying to fight his way through the
bunch of mitt artists who stand be-
tween him and the championship. He 4
. adds that he is not gutter, and will 1
have to be shown before entertain 4
ing suggestion to drop training and |
forget his ambition to become the
heavyweight champion of the world.
!. "Stuckey is a giant of about feet
inches, weighing 235 pounds, and is
but 10 years of age. Until recently 4
he was employed on his fathers plan
tation, and the work consisted of car
rying barrels of the pine juice.
is while in Jacksonville 1 expected
visit from the youngster, but he was
delayed by tardy train. However,
friend of mine looked him over, in
company with Charles Leonhardt, the
veteran wrestler, who conducts a Il
gymnasium in the southern city. The
boy was put through few PAGES and
physical development. The gloves
and he were strangers at the time,
and no line could be obtained in that Il
direction. Shortly afterwards Stuck
ey was taken under the wing of al
man who had secured the signature
of the father on the promise to place
the lad under the direction of compe-
tent instructors. This mans knowl- II
edge of the game was confined to an 4
eager desire to get something for
nothing, and he had signed the
youngster with the sole idea of land
ing a quick money-making PROPOSE 4
: tion.
New slope" Baked Il
The scheme was to exploit Stuckey
as one of the white hope brigade and
to match him against some second 1
rater, where there would be a sub
stantial losers end The mercenary Il
gentleman, according to Stuckey,
wanted to take the boy to Philadel-
phia to box heavyweight there, and
over this rock the two-split. The
kid knew he was not in shape to
fight. He had been given one or two
boxing lessons, such as they were,
and it would have been little short of
a crime to pit such a green boxer
against veteran at this stage of the
game
The youngster decided to let the
: manager shift for himself, and until
he had sufficient training and teach
ing will not attempt to enter as pro-
fessional. l congratulate the husky
Floridian on the courage and determi-
nation displayed in refusing to be
made the tool of an unscrupulius adj
venturer whose sole idea was to get
hold of a few thousands by any man
- ner, and was willing to sacrifice the
youngster to satisfy his greed.
THE Hercules is now taking a
systematic course of training under
Le0nhardt's direction. and report
says he is coming along nicely. Pro-
vided he shows promise of form sat
isfying to his instructor, Stuckey's in
tention is to come north shortly with
the hope that with proper training
and instruction his wonderful physi-
que may help him to realize his ambi-
ton to become champion. The lad
has expressed his desire to meet me
and to ask my advice, and will be
pleased to give him the benefit of my
knowledge of an experience in the
profession. For one thing, | may be
of assistance in helping him dodge
the sharks in the game whose inter
ests in the sport are to tear Off lit
tie soft money. But the boy has al
ready had one lesson in this direction
and should profit by it without adj
vice."