The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-31

making battles in the ring. Usually
the heAvyweights set the style in ngnt-
ing. This is because the heavyweight
champion Of the world Is the only
real champion-the champion OF all
champions because as chamion OF
the superior class he is master OF all
the class champions Of smaller size.
When John L. Sullivan was first
champion OF world he was champion
under London prize ring rules. THE
Marquis OF Queensberry had not yet
attained much popularity. Men VINO
wanted to fight a prize Tight dodged
the sheriff, found some isolated spot
in the woods, and fought to finish.
The ten-round no-decision thing
hadn't been invented then. Fighters
were real fighters.
In England and Australia the sport
was highly regarded. 1t was quite
the thing for a Prince OF Wales to be
to fights and make his wagers like
any sporting cove. Even a King of
England has been known to take a
lively interest in the game.
Sullivan was the first heavyweight
champion to change from the bare
fist style to the gloves Glove fighting
was becoming popular, and John L.
wasn't the man to stand in the way
of progress. His first really big fight
with gloves. 1t happened. was the one
that cost him the championship Of the
world-~the fight he had with young
Jim Torhett, at New Orleans Hav-
ing gloves on his hands was no handi-
cap to Corbett. although he had done
his turn with the raw 'uns'' too.
John l.. Sullivan. .-ery popular
man during the days when he travel
ed all over the country knocking out
all corners in four rounds. set the
style in boxing. sullivan was
hrniser.t big. powerful, quick and a
terrific hitter. He beat his men by
rushing at them savagely and ham
mering them down His favorite blow
was what John called his hack lung
blow" The name is suggestive. 1t
tells the story. sullivan attack ter
rorized his victims and caused them
70 double over in hope of being able
to save their chins from Johns
Strengthening right hand swing. And
when they were bent over John sim
ply used his back lung blow" which
was a chblikc swing of the right arm
in which the whols forearm struck
along the victims shouiderhlades,
knocking all the breath ont OF him
and hurting him 20 the floor on his
face.
admired the Savage Sort
When John l.. was in his prime the
style In heavyweights was the big.
grHn voiced fellow with sullen. saw
age glare in his eve and a primitive
longing TO beat somebody To a pulp.
Then came corbeit and STYLES
changed In moment Corhett was
tail. slender. well built. suave and dip
Tomato. His fighting was like his
personality-somet shiftly and
clever and snowy and yet quite effec-
tive. lie danced about lightly. He
used his hands like foils. He iabbed
swiftly and danced away He wasn't
hurt ard he didn't crush people to
the ground by hitting them on the
back lune." He didn't frown He
didn't glaze.
Corbett was the matador In the ring
at New Orleans. sullivan the plunging
bull. And the matador's sword turn
ed the trick
Next day sullivan as a fighting ideal
had vanished. Every fighter in
America wondered II he couldn', out
clever them" like Corbett, Boxing IN
structors taught their pupils 10 dance
and lab,
That fad lasted as long as Corhett
and ended when he met his finish at
Carson. Bob Fitzsimmous. crafty.
patient. shifting and slipping along
the floor and delivering tremendous
hooks intended to knock his man out
whenever one landed. became the
model A lot of fighters in ell classes
tried to emulate Fltzsimmons. Some
resembling Fitzsimmons' style. when
along came the young giant, Jim
Jeffries
Jeff opposed Bob's craft and his
violent punches with bulk and power
and resisting strength. He overbore
Fitxsimmons and knocked him out
Immediately Jeffries became the ideal
fighter Promoters and managers
secured the lumber camps and the
Western mines and ranches looking
for men as big and powerful as
Jefr.es. They hunted up giants IN
the iron foundries and tried them out
They had An idea that nothing was
necessary hut to find tremendously
powerful man and make him into a
fighter. Some OF these big fellows
were tried os.t in the ring. hut not
one ever became another Jeffries. Jeff
beat all rivals until he was forced to
retire because there were no more to
fight.
Brought Out white Hopes
When Jeffries came out again it was
to lose to Jack Johnson. after six
years of retirement.
Johnson set a new style. But 1t
wasn't patterned on the dusky cham
pion. The idea that animated fistiana
now was to find man bigger than
Johnson, yet clever enough to over
whelm the negro champion and make
a sure thing of beating him This
brought out the White Hope class.
willard was the man who showed
up best of all the Hopes" Yet he
wasn't supposed to be big enough to
beat Johnson, surely and inevitably,
until the fight at Havana was over.
willard outclassed Johnson in
strength and endurance. wore him
down and knocked him out. Will
lard lowered over johnson.
And that set another new style.
Today 1t is supposed that the per-
feet heavyweight must be man at
least six and half feet tall Willard
Is six feet seven. Moreover. Jess
weighs between ESQ and 500 pounds.
He weighed 243 at Havana. II some
one could only discover a fellow about
seven feet tall and strongly built, and
teach him how to box, he'd have a
man OF the popular type. and friend