El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-18


NEW YORK, June 1S.-Among the
~ salient topics in the Willard
Dempsey discussion. as that regarding
age. It is repeatedly said that VIII
lard is too old to stand up against so
young and aggressive a battler as
Dempsey. IN a vast majority Of the
battles for the title among the heav-
les, says an expert, the younger man
was the victor.
Apparently the mystery as to the
age OF the present champion has been
cleared up by the statement Of Tom
Jones. former manager OF Willard,
who declares the kansan is in his
10th year. Jones, as business asso-
ciate Of the champion, had an excel
lent opportunity 10 learn the boxer $
! real age. and as Jones also expresses
the opinion that Willard viii win, he
hardly can be accused. in giving out
the big chaps age, OF attempting to
belittle his former business partner
II Past Age.
IL cannot be denied that Willard is
past the age at which men excel in
any branch Of athletics, and particu-
larry in ring combats- Willard now
is the same age as was Bob Fitzsim-
mons in his last important ring en-
gagement. which was in 1902. when in
his second meeting with Jeffries the
Cornishman was stopped in eight
rounds.
..FItz- was then in his 10th year.
and while he was formidable
enough rs n battler even then to
batter Jeffs face to \ Dulp before
he was beaten. the bout marked
the destruction OF Fits frcckled
fists. which were broken on the
hard Jaw of the then champion.
It Is noteworthy that Willard has
patterned after Fitz in the matter Of
clean living. for the CornisEuan
would have been at the end Il his
pugiltstic rope many years previously
had he followed the example OF other
champions. Willard's mode Of life
has had the added advantage Of being
in the open. while Fitz stuck to the
centers OF population.
Have Cost Titles.
Therefore. II the lesson OF puSilistic
history. which shows that in a large
majority Of instances the champions
have lost title after Passing -. and
that Fitz and Willard are the only
men TO win championships after pass
ing the 50 year mark. is to be over
turned by Willard, il will be attrib-
uted 10 the fact that the present
champion has conserved his vitality
even more than did Fitzsimmons.
The first Instance Of youth being
served in the heavyweight champ ion-
ship com petition came when Paddy
Ryan took the title from Joe Goss in
1850. after a long drawn out struggle
Of 81 rounds. under London rules.
Ryan was p years of age 1T that
time. while Goss. a veteran English
pugilist who had settled in America.
and won the title from Tom Allen
on a foul. was - years OF age when
he stepped into the ring with Ryan
at Golfers station. west Virginia.
Although Gcss's stamina was
depleted by long years OF hard
fighting and harder living. his
ring geueraiship enabled him TO
keep Ryan Mt bay round after
round. Ryan. know rs the Trojan
Giant. was in the flush of young
manhood The old chaps vitality
was exhausted in the S7fh round.
and Ryan, n giant with less fight
ing spirit than Fred Fulton pas
sesses, was acclaimed the cham
pion.
sullivan and Paddy Ryan the question
Sullivan and Paddy Ryan. the uestion
Of age was hardly q factor because
height OF his physical powers. and
Sullivan was "a. The men entered
the ring in the best possible physical
condition. but as soon as sullivan
landed few thumps TO Ryan's body
and face the Troy representative
practically quit and was stopped in
the ninth round. which under London
rules lasted but a few minutes.
Sullivan Held Title.
This fight took place in 1859. After
spending six years in boisterous iiv-
ing. combining himself to exhibition
bouts and stage work. Sullivan took
on Charley Mitchell in a bare knuckle
bout at Chantilly. France, on March
10. 1883. It resulted in a draw after
80 rounds. Sullivan was IS years Of
age and Mitchell %. As Mitchell
scaled at only 160 pounds. TO 30 by
the champion. the draw was practi-
cally A victory for the Englishman.
Sullivan's last successful stand
against his challengers was made in
1889. when after a IS round tussle
with Jake Kilrain he was declared
the winner. Sullivan was 81 and Kill
rain 30. The latter was an oarsman
OF considerable ability but never had
done anything noteworthy in the
roped square. His caliher can be
Judged by the fact that Jim Corhett.
then BEGINNING to attract attention.
made Kilrain look like the veriest
novice in 4 six round bout with gloves.
.Ieffries Was Oldest.
lack Johnson was % and Jeffries
s. IN 1870 when the boiiermalker