Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-24
BLACK DYNASTY'S
HOLD GROWING
LOOSER
NO GOOD NEGRO FIGHTERS ARE
LEFT EXCEPT IN HEAVY
WEIGHT RANKS

pressive fact that stands clearly forth
concerns the slow but steady elimina-
ton Of the negro from every class in
pugilism, except the heavyweight divi-
sion, says Ed Cochrane in the Kan
sas City Journal.
In days gone by colored men nave
played a leading part in the domain
OF fistiana but it is noteworthy now
that but four negroes occupy posi-
tlon of prominence in the field where
they once performed so brilliantly.
The small and select circles of Ethio-
plan fighting men today consist of
Jack Johnson, still the accepted cham
pion among the heavyweights; Sam
Langford, persistent challenger of
Jack; Joe Jeanette and Sam MacVea.
Outside of this qartette there is not
a colored boxer in any other division
who has shown enough class to merit
consideration as title factor.
Peter Jackson, Joe Walcott, Joe
Cans and George Dixon are negroes
who have made ring history, and old
timers tell US that there is not now,
nor has there ever been, white man
to equal in strength and skill any of
these colored fighters when they were
in their prime.
The negro's first prominence in the
fighting scene, so far as modern an
nails are concerned, developed when
Peter Jackson entered the lists. That
was in the late eighties when John
L Sullivan ruled in the heavyweight
division. The fact that the famous
john L. drew the color line was un-
fortunate for Jackson, for there are
many who contend to this day that
If Sullivan had fought the negro he
would have been beaten.
That this argument carries strength
is evident, for this same Peter Jack
son fought James J. Corbett to a draw
after 81 rounds of terrific milling, and
it was Corbett who later stopped Sulli-
van in 21 rounds. Any man that
could make such battle against Cor
lbett at that time must be ranked in
the first class. for. besides his defeat
tof John L., Corbett had given mans
lother white pugilists, including Joe
Choynsld, who was some "shucksp lin
the game, trouncing. But Jackson
never got chance to win the title
for the titleholders barred him when
he was good.
The old time fight fans like to dis
course on the great ring deeds OF
George Dixon, the Little Chocolate,
and Joe Cans, the "Old Master and
many have been the arguments over
lthe relative merits of both. Naturally
lit is impossible to compare Dixon and
lGans because each fought in a differ
: Ient class, but no one disputes that
these two were as wonderful fighting
men as the same has ever known.
Dixon was a remarkably clever boy
and in his long string Of battles he
fought everybody that could be stack
ed against him. Perhaps the most no
table of his achievements were his
battles against the man who many
fcontend was the cleverest boxer tha
ever put on pair Of gloves, "Younl
Griffo." Twice they met in the ring
the first time for 25 rounds enconter
with the result a draw. Their secont
meeting was over the ten-round route
and so close did they battle that oh.
referee was forced to call anothel
draw.
There was no one in the big fieIt
! of featherweights in Dixon's line VIII,
had anything on him, and he had thl
title until Ben Jordan, clever British
er, came along and shaded him in q
lrounds at New York But when Jor
dan appeared Dixon was well on th'
read to the finish, for loose living ha,
made inroads on his constitution. H,
continued to battle, however. and Their
followed the worst beating that ''Littl
Chocolate" ever met. Tnat happenel
when he clashed with Terry McGoy
ern in New York. Terrible Terry
: battered the negro all over the RIM
and finally stopped him in eigh
rounds Dixon never really recovere
Ifrom that beating. and in the bout
he engaged in afterwards he WASH
. the same boy It wasn't long afte
! Dixon stopped fighting that he died.
When Joe Cans was IN bis prim
he was so easily the master Of all th
Iightweights that no other 1SS-poun,
boxer was even considered in til
same breath with him. If there wa
anything about boxing that Cans dil