The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-03
CHAMPIONS ARE FORCED
TO CLIMB LADDER SLOWLY
BRITT AND MeGovERN WERE Elk.
cEPTlONS TO THE RULE.
Fitzsimmons Required Eleven Years to
Win Title for Middies.


Rome was not built ia day, and
steam engines were not the product
of a weeks toll. And il all applies to
champions Of the ring. Titles were es-
tablished Co be won. but the winners
did not simply punch some well train
cd men on the jaw that the honor
might be theirs. More than one indi-
vidual had to be maltreated and much
experimenting and much labor had To
be concentrated before the gods of the
weight classes tipped their chapeaus
to the right gentlemen.
A few men have held Queensberry
crowns without working long to at q.
tain them, but they were geniuses that
are found in most any calling. II
might also be said that they We're
lucky. Fortune has a great deal 10
do with the shaping of pugilistc des-
TIMES.
To hawless Jimmy Britt, the clev-
crest lightweight ever sent ont Of
California, goes the speed record
for advancement within nstiana's
ropes. Britt first donncd the gloves
at the age of %. At % he had gain
ed decision over Young" Corbett
and was acknowledged the leader of
the 193-pound division. Britt's rise
eclipsed all records and stands today
untouched.
Terry McGovern was the next fast
est traveller TO fames portals and he
nearly encroached on Britt's honors. Ii
was i'm 1897 that this thunderbolt en-
tered the ring. Sept. II, 1899 he was
bantamweight champion. Two months
following ne won the featherweight
crown. Three months later he was
looked upon as the lightweight king,
having defeated Frank Erne in three
rounds. This battle was fought at 12S
pounds. however. and was not adver-
tised as a title bout But McGovern
claimed 1t despite the fact that he
forced Erne 20 meet him at a figure
far below the lightweight limit.
Shortly after Joe Cans whipped
Erne in what was the deciding bat
tie for the lightweight crown. over a
year prior to this feat McGovern
Cans stlff I'm two rounds at
Chicago and the negro carefully evaded
he Brooklynite forever after that |
There was some doubt about Cans !
title until the Baltimore boy defeat
ID Britt in six rounds at Frisco Octo-
Der "a. '04. In the meantime, Young" |
corbett had beaten McGovern and |
Britt had secured decision over
Young" Corbett.
Twelve years interviewed between |
Nelson's debut in the game
md his aquisition Of the crown. For
III of the Battler's ability to take pun
shment it can be readily understood
hat he did not climb rapidly.
Jack Johnson was forced to under
90 long siege of worry and trial be-
ore he finally landed Tommy Burns
or a match and beat him in Aus
ralia in 1908. Johnson was Won
Ter with the mitts before he received
he credit due him. He had poorer
uck than the rest. that's all.
Joe Cans was not champion until
800 and ne started I'm the game la
S9l. Joe. too. WAS hampered In his
rogress because of his color AT that
e was not regarded as The champion
nth 1904. Is years i'm all after he
roke.
James J. Corbctt was trading blows
pr seven years before he downed poor
ld John l.. sullivan In September. II
S02. Bob Fitzsimmons had been at il
I years when the middleweight belt I
as awarded to him. lie took six more Z
ears In landing the heavyweight ia
rofwn at Carson City. New. March II. "a
S97.
Stanley Ketchel and Abe Attell each {
ruggled along for five years before lc
ne public was ready To concede the III
and featherweight n
towns respectively TO them.
- L..