The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-15
FAMOUS PUG|L|51S
AND b|RTHPLACES
Some Best
Men in Game-Come
From Big Cities.

It's q strange fact, hut neverthe-
less true, that most of the fistic cham
plons of England. Ireland. Australia
and America We're born and develop
ed in the overcrowded tenement
mouse districts of our large cities" said
Jack Sicily, recalling the birthplaces
OF crackaJack pugilists of the world.
Tom HNer. the first recognized
was born and bred in the old Ninth
ward. New York city. which turned
out SO many fighters some fifty or six
" Years ago. 1t was in this old tistic
ward hat Bill Poole, the dead-game
Washington Market butcher, first saw
the light of day. He was the idol and
pet of the fight fans of his day as the
champion Notwithstanding gladia-
tor: On the night of February "a,
1865, Lewis Baker and some other en-
emies hot Poole in Stanwix hall.
Broadway. He lived fourteen days
with a bullet in his heart. and on his
deathned his last words We're, L die a
true American
Besides Poole and Hyer old New
York produced Joe Coburn, 4 heavy
weight champion of America. who
twice fought Jem Mace of England
for the worlds title without a deci-
sion. Cohurn. however. was BORN in
Ireland, but grew UP in New York.
Tommy Kelly. the Harlem Spider,
once the bantam champion of Ameri-
ca. was a native of the big city, and
that about lets the metropolis out as
a champion producer.
But across the river in Brooklyn,
in my native town. which has been
called for years the City of Church.
eS.' we find in looking back a big and
better record. Jim Dunno, a heavy
weight champion of America. was
turned out owe there. Although a
native of the County Kildare, Ireland,
he spent all his life in BROOKLYN.
Johnny Dwyer, also a heavyweight
champion of America. was a native of
ST. Johns. n. B., but grew up in my
old town. Jack Dempsey. the Nonpa-
reil. middleWeight champion. was born
on the Courragh of Kildare, Ireland.
Jack McAuliffe. the retired. undefeat-
ed lightweight champion OF the world.
is a native of Cork. ireland. But
punne, Dwyer, Dempsey and McAu-
life We're all Brooklynites. having de-
Neloped and mastered the art of box
ing in the City of Churches. You'll
remember that Dempsey. McAuliffe
and myself worked in the same cooper
shop over in BROOKLYN. and all reach
~ LIZ eoP VI ~ lcSPSNtlNe ClfSSeS III
the manly art. A strange and UNI
eHualed c%oincident il the history of
tistiana.
"Matty Mathews. former welter-
weight champion of America and Ter
ny McGovern. who held the feather
weight championship of the world.
We're both born and bred in BROOKLYN.
So you see the old City of Churches
really outclasses the old city of New
York as a champion-producing sec
ton. In fact. my native town turned
city in America.
Troy. n. y. has also been a great
fighting city. From there came the
great John Morrissey. He was born
in Templemore. County T]ipperary.
Ireland, but his parents emigrated to
Troy when John was a small child.
and his body is buried in his adopted
city. MorrlsseT was heavyweight
champion of America, and rrohah bly,
the gaIaest man that aver stepped into
a ring. John c. Heenan. his old OPP
ponent, whom he defeated. was a ma
tive of Troy. Heenan became III
heavyweight champion of the world
when he crossed the Atlantic and low
cred the colors of the gallant Tom
Savers, champion Of all England in
his day. Paddy Ryan. from whom
John l.. Sullivan won the champion
ship of America, was a native of Ire
land, but, like Morrissey. grew Up in
Troy and always made it his home.
Boston has produced many fistic
gladiators also, but only two real
John L. Sullivan, who was
born there and became the heavy
weight champion of the world. and
George Dixon. who first saw the light
of day at Halifax. y. S, but always
claimed Boston as his native home.
San Francisco is also noted for the
many tistic stars it has turned out.
She can lay claim to three noted
championship Corbett. once the un-
disputed heavyweight king of the
ring; Jimmy Britt. ex-lishtweight
and clever Abe Attell. who
recently lost the featherweight title
to Johnny kilhane of Cleveland, O.
For its size Frisco is certainly the
greatest fighting city on the map.
philadelphia has produced a host
OF fighters also. but Jack O'Erien. who
lost the big title to Tommy Burns. and
Mike Cleary. who years ago was the
middleweight t%op-notcher,
are the only two champions l can
think of that Phillr has turned out.
Chicago is the native city of Jim
Barry. former bantam champion. and
the modern fistic wonder. Packey Nc
F'arland. who is one of the greatest
fighters in the ring today. but not
light enough for the lightweight class
nor heavy enough for the welter-
weight division. ! think. however. he's
the champion at the latter weight. If
he wants the title.
The greatest fighting city in Eng
land is undoubtedly Birmingham. 1t