Evening journal., 1915-07-26
JOHN /. Proficient
IN ART OF DUCKINC
Sullivan, Both in Ring and
in Matches, Showed
Skill
WELSH MUST
DEFEND HIS TITLE

William MADDEN, one OF the nunef- /
Gus men who attempted to manage
John L. sullivan and did not succeed !
TO a brilliant degree, is out with a
glowing panegyric Of the former
champion, in which Sullivan is de-
scribed as the greatest heavyweight
in the history OF the ring. After
descanting at length on the wonderful
prowess of the Boston Boy, Madden
says.
There was one thing Sullivan
could do that no other heavyweight
ever appears to have learned That
was to duck / have seen him stand
hat-footed ard duck swings and hooks
that would have done him great dam
age had they landed"
There is no denying the truth of
Maddens assertion, though, in my
opinion, it was not inside the ring
that John l.. showed the most prof.
cheney in the tactics referred 10 by
Madden. II was when a match with
a formidable opponent was offered to
the great John L. that he exhibited
his wonderful skill in ducking.
In wriggling out of matches with
lusty challengers, Sullivan proved
himself to be a wizard, and holds the
record in the matter of avoiding
bouts for a title he claimed
Srllivsns first notable success IN
fricline was when he received about
thirty challenges from Peter jackson
the most dangerous heavyweight of the
period during which Sullivan was the
champion Of champions and jackson
never pot nearer TO a bout with sullivan
than signing articles. Sullivan had no
iificulty in getting out Of match and
continued to pose rs the greatest of all
fighters. although sidestepping a man
who held tho heavyweight titles OF
England and Australia.
Three other ANNOYING customers also
came from Australia and pestered John
[. about fights for the title. They were
Frank Slavin. Joe Goddard and Bob Fitz-
eimmons. This trio were uncouth per
sons. with no consideration foi a digni-
fed champion like Sullivan, and they
hrutally dared him to sally forth and
sght.
Tactical Blunder.
Rut it was not in Jswn Is program
10 engage in fsticuffs with rude, bolster.
srous persons like those mentioned and
so he sent them away with various eN-
cuses such as theatrical engagements,
illness of his managers, etc.
In an evil moment. however. Sulli-
van made the tactical blunder OF not
ducking a match with Jim Corbett
possibly because the Californian was
known as Gentleman JIM and was
not so rough in his Queensberry argu-
ments as the other challengers. Yet
II ever a man had q chance TO demon
.strste his ability as a QUICKER, John l..
had that opportunity when he faced
Corbett. The nimble Corbett sent a
flock OF labs, hooks and uppercuts at
Sullivan that would have kept him
i busy ducking from the first round TO
4 the finish. Yet Sullivan never ducked
a blow II cannot be denied that he
stopped them all. his face and body
/ doing this work quite calamity.
However, the failure of the
mighty Jawn L. to uphold the declara-
ton of Madden of remarkable skill as
QUICKER is stepped in mystery. as the
novelists say.
Welsh Gets q Call.
Freddie Welsh has received an i'm
perative invitation to return to Eng
land and defend the Lonsdsle belt
emblematic Of the lightweight cham
4 pionship of that country. The chal-
ienger is Jerry Delaney, youngster
who has been travelling at a fast clip
for several months past and who has
compiled with the rules governing the
trophy by issuing a formal challenge
and posting $3.50 with the National
Sporting Club. under the auspices of
1 which English championship con-
tests are staged.
Under the slipshod conditions in
America, Welsh could calmly ignore
81 all challengers if he so desired, and
= 60 on picking up the easy money
till he got ready to box a dangerous
man. But when he received a notiil-
cation from the National Sporting
4 Club that he would be expected to
8 defend his title against Delaney with
in a period of six months, the Eng
3 lish champion knew he would have
to comply with the demand or for
# felt his title and the belt As Welsh
"a has twice successfully defended the
s belt, he needs but one more victory
10 make the emblem his personal
IL property, and there is no question he
will meet Delaney within the pre-
scribed time limit The date will
rs probably be in November, and this
{ will enable the British champion 20
E get the benefit of the outdoor boxing
& here this summer.
It would indeed be a fine thing il
an authoritative organization in
9 America could say TO Richie and
other recreant title holders that they
& must box logical opponents within a
specified time or forfeit titles.
@K --------