El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-07

~HICAGO. ILL., Nov. THE recent
serious illness of James J. Cor
~ bett has given rise to consider
able historical data among the vet
Grams OF the ring now living in and
about Chicago, says NJ ]. Wathey- "Au
aged followers of the fistic game agree
that Corbett changed boxing from a
sldgging. give and take battle, to a
scientific display Of talents. COrbett
is credited with having introduced the
fOotwOrk, feinting and worrying left
that has become so common now
When COrbett started his fistic
onslaught on the heavyweight title
about Y years ago, gloves We're Just
then coming into prominence. BUT
a few years before the agitation
against brutal bare listed contests be
came so great that promoters and
principals were forced to listen me
men at that time were used to
most able to take punishment usually
coming out the victor
Sullivan Relied on Punch.
John L. Sullivan, holder of the
about the ability to avoid punish
ment. He was considered then as a
gifted fighter whose one-tWo punch
was cleverly put over sullivan re-
lied on his pOnderOus. right arm to
fell his opponent and usually this
took place, or did until COrbett with
his side stepping and slashing left
Gentleman Jim, Is he was
known from coast to coast. studied
the manly art from all sides. going
The men of his time one better IN
- this respect. Before the time Of Cor
bett the men of the profession exer-
cised their powers TO strene then tneif
punch and harden their bodies that
they might stand the gruelinS work
that was necessary then 10 win a
fight. They did not figure on avoid
ing this punishment for they could
not see how it was possible to get
out Of the way Of swiftly delivered
1Corbett looked at these things
from a different angle lie decided the
hand was not quicker than the eye,
and he set about to develop a de-
fence that would prove his de6uc-
tons. He went about the schooling
of his hands slowly. and when he
figured he could move faster than
anv of the others then fighting ne
was ready to Try out he gained
Roadway from the start, and it was a
long time before the others caught
Rise 10 Fame.
"COrbetts rise TO fame marked an
epoch in ring history. His decline
equally spectacular. Born Sept ],
1866, in san Francisco. the future
heavyweight champion Of the world.
CIassed as the Cleverest big man thai
a
fnlly and without thought Of a rin.5
career which would make MS name
prominent among boxing followers
At an early age he was taken INTO q
san Francisco banking institution as
q clerk There he worked up until
he was assistant cashier Of one OF
the largest Institutions on the coast
always athletic Corbett spent
1nuch of his Iimc at the athletic
club. He become member Of the
Olympic club OF san Francisco There
he took up boxing 1lrst as a pasJllh
and later becoming acquainted with
his ability in this line, as VOCATION
About 1885 COrbett contracted for his
first professional fight. starting MS
climb for the highest hOnors in the
pugilistic game His first battle was
with Dave Eisenman, whom he stopped
in two rounds.
HE mad several tits after this and
won with an ease that made the
promoters and managers IN san FRAN
cisco seek for further worlds TO con-
ouer He received his first setback
in 1856, when he lost to Billy welsh,
a then prominent heavyweight Of san
Francisco. COrbett redeemed his de
feat later in the same year by knock
ing out Welsh in the first round In
the following two years COrbett fought
around San Francisco and Portland
Ore. taking on and deIeatlng SucA
men as Joe Choynski Frank Glover
and Dave Campbell
FIRST Big Fight in 1890.
His first big fight came in 1891.
when ne met and defeated on points
Jake Kilrain, then considered one OF
the best men in the game. This 80
encouraged Corbett that he sought
match with John l. Sullivan. the
undisuuted champion. and considered
invincible by his followers After al
most a year Of diCEering, in which
Corbett Increased his popularity by
earning. draw with Peter Jackson
and defeating several lesser lights,
a match was finally 2ereed upon to
be held in New Orleans, Sept. z, 1882
That historic battle, fresh in the