The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-24
C0RbETT TALKS
Of RING D0|NCS
Ex-champion Says There are
Few Really Good Box
ers in the Game.
(By Jas. j. Corbett.)

OF late considerable newspaper
space has been devoted to a revival
Of the much argued question. lis box-
Ing keeping pace in the matter of inn
proNement With progress in other lines
of sport?" The older writer's. as Il
rule. contend that the sport from a
scientific standpoint has deteriorated,
While n younger element argues the
performances of modern eXponents Of
the art of hit. stop and get away do
not suffer in comparison with the
achievements of the stars of former
days. Recently l nave received sew.
eral letters with requests for a public
expression Of my opinion On the sub
ject.
hope I will not be put down as a
pre5udiced old timer when / say that
In my opinion the quality of boxers
has d~eteriorated in recent years. In
point of science and skill the stars of
a decade or VI ago, and this applies
to every class or division, excelled
present day boxers.
For this condition Of affairs the fol.
lowers OF boxing are to blame to a
great extent. The public taste has de.
Perforated and along with it the class
OF boxing exhibitions The boxer who
brings into play the skill and science
with which nature has endowed him,
and tuition has developed. is given
scant encouragement and support BY
the present day fight fans.
The average modern contest resolves
INTO a question of which boxer lands
the first convincing WALTON. Wild
swings and lunges are the order of
n day. Let a contestant attempt to
introduce a bit OF feinting, ducking or
Iootwork. or other clever stunts. and
the crowd howls for the rough stuff"
This does NOT ton6 IN n~o1,,- 49,
or to Improve the character of the
sport. "e
Mcfarland Most Skillful Boxer.
There are a few really good boxers
in the game at present, but I am sorry
to say they are in the minority. Pack
ey Mcfarland is probably the most
sKllltul modern exponent Of the
Science. n ranking close to him are
Mike Gibbons. Freddy Welsh, Willie
ttitchie and Johnny Kilbane.
But not to waste any more space
man necessary and as evidence that
present day boxers do no class with
the old timers in point of skill, I viii
suomit the names of a few stars of
ten to twenty years ago in support Of
my argument.
In the ranks Of the heavies there
we're Peter Jackson. one Of the great
est boxers who ever pulled on q glove.
BOD Eitzsimmons and Kid Mccoy. In
IN! me nghter divisions. Tommy Ryan,
|Grho. Frank Erne. Joe Cans n
George Dixon were stars that in bril-
nancy Of performance and boxing skill,
have very few. II any, equals at the
present time. Wv
mere is not one really clever boxer
among n heavyweights Of today,
WIN the possible exception Of Bonn
I D9Y0lor VVa1l0 o~l A>
Inc amin to ever become champion.
! 40 not except johnson, Langford or
Jeanette. The present title holder Is
my idea OF the poorest specimen thai
ever sat on the throne of pugilism.
and Jeanette are not skill-
Iul boxers. and have acquired reDuta i.
IONS by beating second raters. The
MGCartys, Wiiiiards and Palzcrs are
Jokes and would not have attained the
slightest degree Of prominence ton
years ago. seA
Mike Gibbons Best Welter.
Is there a boxer in the ranks NJ tho
mlddleweights who classes with the
tommy Ryan of ten years ago? And
wnere are h good welters Of todav2
MIKE Grbbon appears to dominate
tnls class; Among the lightweights we
nave Mcfarland. Richie and Welsh,
n OF the trio only Mcfarland has
- ShAl cndL he
would have made a fitting opponent
Tor cans or Erne had he been con-
temporary with those great artists,
among the little fellows there are
mo George D1xons. At hat there is a
greater percentage Of good boxers
among the feathers than in anv other
division. Under this classification wa
can include Jcm Driscoll, and hc -
practically q veteran. Kilbane and
Jimmy Walsh of Boston who is a great
ooxer n has never been giyen the
credlt his record calls for. Walsh has,
unfortunately for him, been forced tn
oattle heavier men. his first fiehtine
weight being in the neighbOrhood IF
il8 pounds. which Is just betwixt and
between the bantams and the feathers
Comparisons Of past performances
with present day achievements dr. not
always prove Il case one way or the
other. but as sort of connecting link
between the two generations, i believe
am qualified to Judge of the quality
or the modern crop of boxers as well
as that Of the former stars OF tho ring
From Il standpoint Of boxing skin The
science of attack and defense, I do mot
hesitate to say hat the game has dc.
Perforated q great deal.
Men are So apt to increase their
spending capacity with their carnins
capacity. frequently with able assist.
ance from their wives.