The Alaska daily empire., 1915-03-19
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 Jake Kiirain who was doieated by John L. Sullivan at Riohburg Msso in 1899 in the last great classic bare. lmuclgle battle Of the American prize rIng. ontertains the opinion lhat mod en boxers are sorry lot compared wirh the old time lighters of his hey day X few months ago old Jake, while on a visit to North Dakota 10 look after his land interests, told g. reporter that there isn't boxer alive now who could stand up under the erneiling lighting of the old regime.
 Amitting that Jack Johnson Is a wonderful boxer and steady, eau. tious fighter, Che veteran added; But put Jack into game as 1t was when we fought under the old London prize ring rules and he would be murdered"
 Jake was horn at Greenpoint Long isond, dfty-six years ago, Feb. 9. 1859 but he has spent most of his mature lifo in Baltimore, which city he stliI calls home Jacks real name Is John J. Killou but the newspapers man. gled 1t to Kilroin and he let it go at that Jake began his career as an oarsman and made quite a reputation as a sculler before he took to the ring in 1880. His first professional bout was with Dangerous Jack 9 colored boy in Boston Throughout his ring career he never drew the color line. When you go over the ropes you are equals, and color doesn't count Jake always said
 lakes first big fight was with Geo. Godfrey known as "Old Chocolate ? a native Of Prince Edward Island and a famous black fighter at that time. They fought draw at Boston, and in 1884 Jake held Charley Mitchell. the English boxer. to a draw. After that he met a number of good men, and became serious contender for the title held by John l. Sullivan. Jem Smith was then champion of England and challenged sullivan to fight for the worlds championship, but the con- test fell through Kilrain then offered to meet Smith, and they were matched to fight in France In 1887. Charley Mitchell trained Kilrain for the bout, which was held on an island in the Seine near Rouen. The men fought iO6 rounds when darkness ended the battle. which was called 9 draw. Jake had all the best of it however and in England he was recognized as the worlds champion Before going to France Co fight Smith Kilrain had been presented with a belt declared to be emblematic of the premier pug nisuc honors Of the world The pre- sentation of the trophy was made in Baltimore and n big crowd of sports acclaimed Jake as the new champion. The belt was scrumptous affair dfty inches long and eight inches in width and was made of 200 ounces Of gold and silver.
 Aiter whipping Simth Kilrain was cock of the walk, and Sullivan who had side stepped 8 meeting with kii- rain. realized that be would have to come across or be classed with the hasbeens. Early In 1889 a meeting of sports was h Id in Toronto and the match between Kilrain and Sullivan was definitely made.
 Bichbrg a village in Mississippi was chosen as the scene of the dis mrbance and there were about 5000 sports from all over 9Ameiica congre- gated on a July day in 1889. The bat tie was for SI00OO a side and the championship bare Rnucdes, London prize ring rules. Charley Mitchell and Pony Moore accompanied Kilrain ,o the ring, and Muldoon the wrestler and Mike Donovan, ex-middleweight champion, were John LIS packers. Kil- rain fought gamely for seyenty.iiye. rounds. lasting two hours and sixteen minutes before Sullivan triumphed.