The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-27

rTOm JOnn Il. sullivan down, the
majority OF the foremost glove artists
Of the country have at one time ap-
peared in Montana rings. though there
are two notable exceptions to this rule,
James Corbett and RUBY Bob" Fitz-
simmons. Neither Gentleman Jim" nor
the lanky Australian champ fought in
the Treasure state. though the game
was good in Montana when these two
experts were at the height Of their ca :
reers two decades ago. The years Of
10000. 1908. 1s12-13-1l. were the best
for the boxing game in the state,
matches being conducted under the
Kiley law during the last named period.
The boxing history Of the Treasure
state is notable for one thing. the clean
and square conduct Of the battle sta ged.
There have been few fakes. and the
men who participated in these sham
tights ended their ring careers in the
state when they laid down" or ap-
pearsd for bouts in poor condition.
Sullivan the First.
Montana ring history might be said
to date away back from 1884. when
John l.. Sullivan. then heavyweight
champion of the world knocked out
Fred Robinson in three rounds at
Butte. thousands of excited. cheering
miners viewing the contest. It was the
first and last fight for John l.. In
Montana. but the favorable impress
sion he left acted In salutary man
ner on the sport.
Stanley ketchel, middle weight
champion Of the world, fought his first
battles in Butte back in 1903. His first
fight OF any consequence was against
Nose La Fontise. the well known half
breed Butte pug. who was great ia :
vorite with the rough nd ready min
ers ketchel knocked La Fontise out
after slam bang battle, the "kayo"
coming in the cath round. Joe Mudro
the bowler. was Ketchers next victim,
being knocked out in four rounds.
ketchel also fought fast furious 90
round draw with Jack Irwin" Sullivan
in Butte ring. and knocked out Jerry
Mccarthy. one OF the best boxers Of
the early days, in an 11-round bout
staged at Great Falls.
Thompson Whipped keteheI.
Maurice Thompson. once the hero of
Missoula fans. Is the only man who
ever had the honor Of whipping Ketch-
el twice. Thompson beat Ketchel in a
six-round bout at Butte and followed
by gaining decisive victory in a 10
round match at the old Holland arena
q rev months late. Ketchel's famous
shift didn't worry Maurice one bit, and
he banged the Pole good and hard in
both battles. This was the beginning
OF Maurtce's victorious career. which
came 10 an end with his fight against
the Bitter Root Kid in Missoula ring
on the night of July 3. 1915.
About a decade ago Maurice met
Young Corbett in a Butte ring, Corbett.
the lightweight. being in his prime in
those days. Corbett was near-cham-
pion and made Maurice agree to his
own terms, by which Maurice was TO
weigh 1913 pounds ringside. while Cor
bett was to weigh in at his own sweet
will. Maurice skinned" himself max
Ing the weight and entered the ring
weak. but an ounce below the limit A
minute later Corbett, smiling and con-
''NSbt' "ciSHiHk somewhere III tne
neighborhood of 145. rolled through the
ropes. For few rounds Butte's IA
vorite son held his own. but in the lat
ter rounds Corbett won easily. though
the battle went the full ten rounds.
Thompson's last big fight outside of
Missoula was his 60 against Steve
Ketchel. the successor Of the original
Stanley. Steve won a decision in 10
rounds.
Jsffries .Munroe Fiaseo.
Jim Jeffries boxed four rounds to a
draw with Jack Munroe in the mining
camp back about ~ yeas ago. The
heavy weight champ entered the ring
with his skin soaked full, of booze and
barely managed to wabble through the
scheduled bout with the husky Butte
miner.
s One Of the battles staged in Montana