The Detroit times., 1913-03-17
SULLIVAN IS
STRONG FOR
OLD-TIMERS
Says Fighters of the Present
Day Are Far Below Those
of Times Past
COMMERCIALISM HAS
SPOILED THE GAME
Boxing Should Be as Popular as
Baseball, Thinks the Ring
Veteran

II have been asked to discuss the
boxing game and it's champions, but a.
| bsve not been able to see tae latest
champions In action cannCt &C far
into the subject of individuais," SAYS
JOnn l.. Sullivan. IL can say, how
ever--for feel that I know-thet the
present day boxers are far below the
standard OF the boxers who made the
game In my day The fighters of years
ago were far superior in every class
ard distinction.
The boxers In the game to!ay are
just IN 1t from the commercial Ioint
Of view
That is what spoils the game. as
the boxers go into the ring knowing
what they are to receive for their ser.
wees and 1t is immaterial 10 them
whether 1t Is slow bout or one full,
OF action. Generally when the boxers
are given a certain sum the public
Tails to get run for it's money.
This is why we do not see SO n, any
bouts today filed with action as we
saw years ago. Formerly the boxers
fought for percentage of the purse.
winners end and losers end. The
extra dollar that would-go to The win
ner acted like magic and some Won
cerful bouts were seen.
1T Is the public that supports the
boxing game, and unless yOu please
tbs public the boxing game is Injured.
When the boxers go into the ling and
mix 1t up to please the public then
the game VIII be given a decided
I,oost.
Boxing should be as popular as
baseball, and can be made so when
the men in the business work on the
fcQmaro. ksst- = ~ ~ e sk-sss1
Honesty is = wonderful thing. n Il
simple. yet SO many boxers OF the
present day get into the ring and play
tag and other such games.
''!s is up to the boxers to upiift the
game. 1t can be done just by honesty.
Wien boxer goes into the ring, fights
hard. gives the people attending sne
pei formance. and earns what he re-
ccives, then that boxer is doing some
thing for the uplift of the game On
the other hand. Ii a boxer goes into a
ring and sidesteps and fails to mix
Things. he Is the one who hurts the
game.
Nothing is decided in the 10 and IL
found bouts OF the present day. When
decision is given 1t Is usually award
ed to the man who has landed the
most clean blows. but this does not
ptove the true ability OF the boxer.
No championship should be award
ed In bout Of short rounds. Ihe only
way to decide championship bout Is
10 let the men 90 the distance. This is
generally prohibited at the present
time, under the rule tha. this kind Of
bout Is prize lighting Ir may be so.
but that ia the way the former cham
p:ons won their titles.
II have read lately about several
bouts that were pulled off In the south
that were termed fakes.
This Is the worst thing in the world
that could be done. II kills the boxing
game. and will say that the men who
take part in this kind OF bouts should
be barred from the ring.
"One or two of these bouts ran ruin
boxing in the biggest and best cities.
Tie public will lose interest ani will
not attend when the promoter puts on
good show.
'In my days one never heard OF a
champion setting up a fake fight No!
Every man who was in the riag years
ago was q fighter and the public was
given q lot for It's money.
II read several articles on the re-
cent McGoorty-Gibbons bout In New
York, and drew the conclusions that
trey were afraid of each other.
IF a man considers himself boxer
and goes into the prize r1ng, he should