Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-26
BILLY DELANEY DEAD
Trainer of Ring Champions
Had a Noted Career.
HANDLED JOHNSON AT RENO
Jim Jeffries, Corbett and Britt Some
of His Charges of
Vigorous Training.

OAKLAND. Cal, January 26.-William
F. (Billy) Dela.ey. aged fifty-eight years.
the famous trainer, died here yesterday.
Delaney had been ill for several months
and his death was not unexpected.
While on visit to the east last year
he contracted a severe cold. complications
of which caused his death.
Delaney trained many of the most
prominent figures of the last twenty five
years. including johnson, Jenries. Cor
bett, Choynski Jimmy Britt and Kauf-
man. He trained johnson for his cham
pionship fight with Jeffries at Reno. and
also was instrumental in arranging the
match and backing the colored fighter.
The funeral will be held SatuI day and
the body will be cremated. Delaney
leaves q wife and two sisters The
latter live in New York state.
Delaney lived almost his entire life
time on the Pacific coast. He was in
separately associated with the history of
amateur and professional boxing in the
west. He was a pioneer in rigorous
training methods, enforcing risid Is
cipiine and much outdoor work, 10 which
he ascribed much of his success.
Delaney was a boxer of considerable
note as we'll as trainer and a few years
ago served as sparring partner for his
men. While he was thoroughly familiar
1t stanchly and advancing its interests
in every possible way, Delaney was not
heavily interested financially and rarely
made large bets.
The news of Delaney's death when re-
ceived among the sporting fraternity OF
this city was the sole topic Of comment.
Several well known men who have fol-
for the last decade were loud in their
praise of Delaney's abilities as q handler
OF boxers. He was one of the best known
| trainers of pugilists In the world. his
| name being known from coast to coast.
He trained and handled more good fight
ers than any other man in the business.
The greatest accomplishment that De-
! laney is credited with was the defeat OF
Jim Jeffries at the hands of Jack john
son. Ever since Jeffries fought with Jack
| friends with Jeffries. which resulted from
Jeffrtes taking Sam Berger and trying to
| make q champion out of him after he
| had given his promise to Delaney that
make AL Kaufman the successor as
heavyweight champion of the world.
Delaney waited for years to get a
chance of getting back at the big boiler
| maker. 1t came when Jeffrfes signed to
battle with Johnson as the hope of the
| Caucasian race. For many months he
| worked with the colored champion and
is known to have refused a big offer to
give UP training johnson, which he turn
| ed down, saying:
This Is the chance of my life to get
| square with Jeffries. ! wouldn't give up
my present chance for all the money in
the world. because I know johnson il
going to give Jeffries the beating Of his
| career"
While the battle was being fought at
Reno. New. Johnson worked Jeffries into
the corner where Delaney stood. He
looked up at Jeffries and grinned. Then
he said: why don't you quit?' This
remark was plainly heard around the
ringside and by many is believed to have
been the real cause of the defeat Of JEFF
fries who was known to haVe q mortal
dread of Delaney. who knew Jeffries as
no other man.