The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-03
OF JOHN @ KEENAN,, ONE OF
 FEW GIANT CHAMPS

When Jess Willard 1oomed up on the Cuban horizon and annexed the heavy weight crown, leaving the Big Dinge with nothing but a sparse vegetation and ftfty1seven varetfes of lids to cover his ebony dome, said Jess afforded one of the few exceptions which prove the rule that giants seldom make good in the ring. Willard is a good four inch es taller than the most altitu dtnous of previous American champions. John C.. Heenan, the celebrated Trojan who fought Savers and King for the worlds title in England about half a, century ago, held the record for height and reach among American champs until Wi1Iard's victory.
 John Carmel Heenan, immortalized as .'the Benicta Boy.'' was born in Troy, N. r., eighty years ago. today, May 8, 1885, although some writers on pugilfsm give the date as Maya, 1888. At the age of sixteen he hit the trail for California, and was employed as a machinist at Benicia, where he got intoNthe HInelight by licking the town bully. In 1858 he fought John Mor- rissey for the American championship, and was having soft time of it until he smashed one of his fists on a post, after which Morrissey put him out
 John Morrissey refused to fight him again, however, and in 1860 Heenan was recognized as the American
 cham pion, and went to England to fight Tom Savers for the championship
 of the world. The fight ended in a
 brawl and both sides claimed victory; although Hennan was apparently en- titled to the honors- Later he was
 defeated by Tom King, the English
 champion, but the friends of the Benicia Boy insisted that he had been drugged.
 Heenan s~as advertised as a giant, although he was only a puny runt, six
 feet two inches in height. No other American champion approached Heen- an in height until Willard appeared on the scene. Paddy Ryan was 5 feet II inches, and his conqueror, John U.
 Sullivan half an inch briefer of stat
 ure. Jim -Corbett was 6 feet 1 inch.
 Bob Fitzsimmons lacked quarter of an inch of being six feet, and Jim Jeffries was 6 feet 1 F inches, ap-
 proa ching nearest to Heenan's sature. Johnson was half an inch over six
 feet Tommy Burns was the shortest of modern champions. being only 5
 feet 2 inches. The tailest of the l American contenders for the title was Ed O'Ba1dwin, the Irishrnan who
 flourished about half century ago, | who was feet 5 7z inches
 The British prize ring has had very few giants among its champions. Jack Broughton. ''the father of pugtlism, ''
 was half an inch under six feet Jack
 Slack, who defeated 'f1in, was feet 1 8 E inches. Slack whipped M. Petit, the first French pugilist, although the latter was feet inches in height. Tom Johnson the next great English 1 champion was only feet g inches. His | most memorable battle was his victory over Isaac Perrins, who lowered 6 l feet inches. Dan Mendoza the first
 Hebrew to hold a title, was only 5 feet g inches "Gentleman" Jackson was 1Y.-l.< l.
 an inch under that height. Pearce,
 the Game Chicken was 5 feet 3k inches, and John. Gully was a six-fQot-
 CT. Tom Cribb was feet II inches.
 Tom MoIineaux, the first negro cham pion, was 5 feet 8 E inches. Tom
 Spring was half an inch under six
 feet JeIn Mace was feet 4s inches. Luther Mccarthy was 6 feet inches, and Carl Morris is the same height. The great Australians, Peter Jackson, Jim Hall, Frank S1avIn and Joe God ! dards were az1 ox9r six 6aaA