Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-14

went to England and knocked out
Frank Slaven in 10 rounds for the
championship OF England and Aus
tralia.
While in America jackson tried to
get a match with Sullivan. John l..
drew the color line" He was no
longer in condition to fight any good
man, and was shortly afterward beat
en- with ease by Corbett.
Frank P. Slaven, the Australian,
was a great heavyweight. He beat
Jake kilrain in Hoboken in 1894. He
fought Jem Smith of England for the
English title and had the Englishman
whipped. when a gang broke into the
ring and attacked him with "knuckle-
busters" He stopped Joe McAuliffe
in FIVE rounds.
This McAuliffe, by the way, was a
giant like Jess Willard, 612 feet tall
and weighing about $50 pounds. He
was groomed for a long time to take
the championship away from John L.
Sullivan, but never became good
enough. He was from San Francisco
where he was-known as THE Mission
Giant"
Down in New South Wales (lot Of
heavyweight contendero in the antlp-
odes in those days. Joe Goddard, the
Barrier Champion, won some sensa-
t;onal fights. In Australia he chal-
lenged' John L. Sullivan, who was
touring. Sullivan matched a spar
ring partner, Jack Ashton, against
him, and Goddard knocked Ashton out
He knocked out big Joe McAuliffe then
in Is rounds, and was recognized as
great heavyweight, but didn't have his
chance with Sullivan. Coming tG
America, Goddord knocked out Petel
Maher in three rounds for $7,5O(
purse, and was heading straight fol
the championship when he was un'
expectedly knocked out by Denver Ec
Smith in IS rounds. After that God
dard met several defeats and dropped
out. Goddard knocked out Joe Choyn'
ski twice in Australia.
Jim Hall, another Australian, NIGH
have become a worlds heavyweight
champion if he had taken. care Of him
self. He was over six feet tall and
marvellous boxer. Starting as mid
dleweight, he once knocked out Fftz
simmons. Coming to America later
he fought Fitzsommons for the middle
weight title at New Orleans. This time
Fitz made monkey of him and knock
ed him out in four rounds. Hall after
ward knocked out Slavin in England
but dissipation had finished his chance
to 60 higher. He died years after
ward, like Peter jackson, of consump
ton.
Joe Coburn was one of the best o
Suliivan's contemporaries. He boxef
an exhibition once with John L., ant
beat a lot of good men, but never hat
a chance at the championship. Jen
Mace was a wonderful fighter, but TOT
light for Sullivan. He developed box
ing skill to a remarkable extent ant
started boxing schools in England ant
Australia that did more to develop thu
art of boxing than the work of an!
other man. Fitzsimmons and all thu
great fighters of that date followed tn
Mace school. Mace was still fighting
when 60 years of age. when he boxet
several bouts in South Africa.
Charlie Mitchell was one of tn
greatest boxers in Sullivan's time. HI
was developed by Billy Madden il
England when Madden was trying t,
idig up man to beat Sullivan. Mitch
ell was only welterweight then, bu
Madden was so impressed with hi
skill that he thought he could bea
! Tn, foo ~ aIfhanuh ohm 4
make a great showing through shee
skill and speed, he never was Sulli
vans equal as fighter
A great proportion of the men Sulli
van whipped would be counted "dubs
today. Slade and Patsy Cardiff, boil
giants, had little skill or experience
J and some of the others had been il
the ring only few times.
1t is not believed the superior o
Jeffries ever stepped between ropes. Ii
his prime he could have whipped then
Jail, for he was good boxer, fast,
hard hitter and the strongest man tina
: ever fought under Queensbury rules
Willard is something like Jeffries
but so much bigger that it is hard t
|, compare him with other champions
: His six feet seven inches and .,25
pounds of real fighting weight. cou
} pied with rare skill, would make hin
the greatest champion on record if h
had real fighting spirit This come
to him only when he is hurt, and Their
| is some question about how much az
} gressiveness he would show against
. man of his own bulk.
In one thing the men of Sullivan
time were undoubtedly superior Tn
prize ring rules made them real fight
ers. There was no chance to stall O
box through finish fight with tn
bare knuckles. So the old school o
: fighting undoubtedly developed NOR
| real fighting men than the softe