Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-08
By james ]. corbett

lthl bbulhAlsl
Mike Gibbons is to tackle the heavy
weights. The announcement made by
Jimmy Johnston matchmaker for the
Madison Square Garden Club, that
Mike has agreed to box Gunboat Smith
has created quite a stir in boxing cir
cles, And there is very good reason
for it at that. Not since the days Of
Kid Mccoy and Joe Wolcott has Il
middle-weight tackled the job success,
fully. Mccoy hardly more than
niddle,weight, fought heayies, and
Wolcott, the ''Barbacoes Demon" also
took ON somoNpf the big fellows. The
latters most noted victory was over
Joe Choynsti at the Broadway Athle-
tic Club Of this city in 1899, if mem.
ory serves me right.
Fitzsimmons has also been given
credit for going out Of his class, but
doubt IL Eitz ever fought at the mid
dle-weight limit or near it. after beat
ing Jack Dempsey for the title in 1891,
Kid Mccoy was in the middleweight
class and defeated men much heavier
than himself Although the Kid had
graduated into light heavyweight
before deciding to 60 after the good
big men, number Of his battles prev
ous had been with heavies, albeit few
possessed any great class. The Kids
record as a heavyweight killer didn't
last when he got mixing 1t with big
fellows who knew the game thoroughly.
And there is the answer to the
question regarding Gibbons ability to
mingle successfully with the heapies.
A good big man can generally lick a
good little one, but the classy big men
are few aud far between at present,
None among the whites that we know
Of, and Gibbons, though only a light
middle.weight, has more real class, to
my mind than any middle.weight seen
in the ring in the last decade If Mike
confines his attention to such fellows
as Gunboat Smith and Battling Levin.
sky ! think he will make good. lie
may not stop any Of the heavy fel.
lows although it looks like sure
thing he can outpoint most of them.
II he valves the color line and tackles
bangford, Jeanette and Co., he may
find it an altogether different PROPOSE
ton.
Jess Willard is another "genP who
would be pretty tough turkey for the
st. Paul shadow. | imagine, too, that
Gibbons has no desire to mingle with
him. Willard is entirely too big for
Mike to hurt and in a battle Of any
length the former cowboys weight
and great strength would more than
balance his smaller rivals speed and
cleyemoss. But with such fellows as
Smith and Levnsky | believe Gibbons
would not have very difficult time
over any distance Of ground
Joe Wolcott was great fighter for
his inches and weight. His freak
build had considerable to do with his
success, added to his swatting ability
which was very heavy for Il welter
Joe. however, was beaten a number of
times hy men Of his own ayordupols
and probably the worst licking he ever
took In his career was given HIM ny
George "Kid' Loyigne, the ligut'
weight champion, or course, WoIcott
had an alibi for that--that he weak
eued himself by reducing to meet the
weight conditions. No doubt that did
not help him any, although there are
II great many who are Of the opinion
that the Saginaw Kids gamcness un'
der fire was really what defeated the
negro,
Another thing not evidently known
hy those who prate about Wolcott ana
especially Of his defeat Of Choynskl ls
TINT the latter was u sick mOu when
he entered the ring with the coon.
Joe should never have been permitted
to box that night at all as 1t was only
question Of how long he could stand
on his feet. His pride, though was
too much for him--he didn't want IT
snid he was afraid Of man 90 or 3O
pounds lighter | was one Of the few
who advised him to call the bout otf,
but other pressure brought to bear In
addition TO the confidence he had that
ma small man could beat him over
ruled me, aud ChoynsN went down to
quick defeat
Word comes from NJ paso where jess
Willard Is training for the combat
with johnson next month"; that the
big boy is very cohfidcut he can de-.
feat the champion, Of course, much
Of the stuff sent out from that quar-.
ter from now ON will he Of the unrc.
liable sort, largely edited by the
boosters for the hig mill, aud those
who contemplate wagering on the re-
suit should not permit the training
camp news TO influence them one way
or the other
However, | hope the big Follow real.
" does feel that way about the Job
he has undertaken. Confidence * q
wonderful asset In o fight aud IL Jcss,
way down deep, thiuks he can dofeat
johnson that confidence is not going
TO hurt his chances amy.
There is also ihc chance that VIII,
lard's great sge will help him In the
match with johnson. Jack has never
shown much agninst big opponent,
barring the loffres fight, aud Jcff
was nhadow OF himself then John.
son = best work In the past has hccu
done AZ close range. He Is flat 70 ted
and never chases his opponent about
the ring IN nm attempt TO do damage.
hut IN clnches his great strength has
enabled him to piuion an opponeu, y
arms until he mnnouvored into q posi-.
uppereut M they were breaking away,
lie tried this on lcffrics, and found
Il worked and that's the way he wore
the big fellow down. Tie may discover
that Willard's strength Il quite as
great as his own and, not onl that
uppercutting an opponent who stands
three or four inches higher than hlm'
self will not be 80 easy o mater II
may develop that Willards immense
bulk, which many consider hs great.
eAt hnndiehn. may In The fiRht with