The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-01
Corbett's Daily Letter
 On Great Sport Topics
By JAMES J. CORBETT

| tie and his sneering statements concern | Ing the prowess of Sullivan had angered
 John L. With the tap of the first gong | the American rushed Wilson, hoping to l overwhelm him with a furry of blows
 as he had so many foes But to the sur prise of John l.. the Englishman met the rush as John l.. missed heavy swing for
 the head. Wilson damned home a sting | ing right to the Sullivan nose
 Roaring like a bull. John l., tore in at Wilson. One blow-a right handler | landed against Wilson's head-and down
 went Wilson for the>short count. AS Will
 son came up John L. hurled himself at him. Wilson tried to mix 1t and was re- warded with right to the body that dropped him again
 Right then and there Wilson came to realize that if he was going to last four rounds, he couldn't do it by slugrine with the powerful American. So Wilson. | upon arising from the second knockdown decided to do quite 8 bit of footworlS From then on he continued circling around the ring in his nimble way. with John l.. charging after him. while the crowd became convulsed with laughter Wlison lasted those four rounds by per- forming antics never seen before-nor 1 since-in prize ring. Of the 12 minutes Of actual fighting time Wilson spent nearly three minutes on the floor Every head body, the Englishman would flop to the canvass and stay there for a long count
 Then he would jump to his feet and race around the ring, eluding~all of Sullivan s rushes. Occasionally John l., would cor ner the nimble Briton and set himself for knockout punch. But the punch . never reached it's target. Wilson either tucked out of the trap or flopped to the canvas When John l.. got Wilson in a | | floor.
 wilson hit the canvas Il times in the hrst round 10 times in the second, seven ] times in the third and seven times in the l h-undoubtedly the worlds record as regards "knockdowns." But 99 per cent of those "knockdowns' were of Will cons own choosing. He was playing for 1 time.
 Sullivan's frantic efforts to stop Wilson burned up considerable of his energy during the first three rounds. He was pufnng like 8 locomotive when the fourth began but still determined to ham mer Wilson into dreamland But Wilson kept running out of Sulivans way when ever possible. When trapped, Wilson would drop to the canvas. He would get up only when the count neared 10-and then he continued his hippodroming. When the final gong rang Wilson was on his feet, somewhat out of breath but
 grinning and totally unhurt and John L. was in state bordering on physical collapse. due to his violent efforts to annihilate the British battler.
 Wilson gathered in close to s15,O0O. as
 the result of that contest. His share of the 'gate" was around $750O. Before he stepped into the ring he insisted that 5000 be paid to him In cash. He then turned this over to friends and told them Ito bet as much of 1t as possible that he would last the four rounds. Odds of two i! and three to one had been offered against this possibility and Wilson cleaned up
 more than $750o in bets
 A few days later while Sullivan was clamoring for return match. Wilson bundled up his young fortune jumped onto steamer and sailed away to Eng land, and settled down to enjoy the wealth that had come to him through his burlesque meeting with John L.