South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-26

There was no real worlds cham
pion in the heavyweight class until
John l.. Sullivan made his claim Of
the title after having defeated Jake
Kilrain and Paddy Ryan. The title
was recognized as vested in him at
that time and has been handed
down through a succession of pugil-
lists
Sullivan was the frst heavyweight
champion under Queensbury rules
and engaged in the hrst heavy
weight bout ever contested with
gloves when ne was defeated by
James ]. Corbett.
Since Sullivan's time only one
champion has held the title who
was not an American-Bob Fttz-
simmons. Fitz really was an Am
erican in everything he did. but he
was born in England, and came TO
this country from Australia. Sew
eral foreigners have attempted to
wrest the title from holders in this
country. but never has the effort
been successful.
Sullivan lost his title TO Corbett
Sept. Z, 1892. at New Orleans.
Corbett was beaten in fourteen
rounds at Carson City. New. by Bob
Fitzsimmons, March II, 1897.
Fitzsimmons was knocked out IN
eleven rounds at Coney Island, y.
Y. June 9, 1899. by James ]. jeff
ries
JEFF Defends Title.
Jeffries defended his title success
fully against several challengers, in
Guiding FitzsimmOns, whom he
again knocked out in eight rounds
on July %. 1902. at Sen Francisco;
Tom Sharkey. whom he outpointed
i'm twenty-five rounds at COney Is
land. and Jack Munroe who lasted
only two rounds at San Francisco,
Aug. %, 1904.
FERRIES retired in 1905. and after
Jack Root had been knocked out by
Marvin Hart in a bout refereed by
Jeffries the champion presented
Hart with the title and belt. Jack
O'Brien claimed the title, but was
given no recognition The public
also disIiked 10 accept Hart and aft
or Tommy Burns had defeated him
quently defeated in 1908 in Aus
tralia by Jack Johnson. clamOr be
came so great that Jeffries was in
duced 10 enter the ring 10 save the
title from passing into the hands Of
a negro
Easy For johnson.
Jeffries proved an easy mark for
Johnson in their memorable meet
ing on July {. 1910 The negro won
in fifteen rounds.
After Johnson's ascension OF the
heavyweight throne, the class Of big
lighters declined steadily Johnson
met Jim Flynn, a good. small man,
at Las Vegas y. Mex. July 4. 1912.
and practically knocked him out.
Police stopped the unequal contest
and the referee gave the decision 10
Johnson.
Johnson LETT the country in 1913
going To Europe. and tournament
was held in California for white
heavyweights. which was won IN
Luther McCarty. He was recognized
as the heavyweight champion OF
America.
ON MAY %. 1919. McCarty met
Arthur Pelkey in Calgary. Canada
was knocked out in the FIRST round
He collapsed and died in the ring.
PeIkey was reluctantly accepted
as the white heavyweight champion
but was knocked out in ffteer
rounds on Jan I. 1914. by Gunboat
Smith az San Francisco
This ended the so-called effort to
dig no a white heavyweight cham
pionship. for the quality OF the box
ers was so poor that the public re-
fused 10 recognize such a title
In the meantime Johnson met and
defeated Frank Moran. white heavy.
weight OF Pittsburgh. in twenty
rounds in Paris.
Jack Johnson agreed 20 meet jess
Willard on April 3. 1915. in Havana
cuba. and was knocked out in
twenty-six rounds.
Willard has defended his title just
once. defeating Frank Moran in a
ten-round bout IN New York
March 25. 1916.