Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-14
tBy kANO)

tBy hANo)
II the student OF ring history will
lock at the records of the battles and
boxing exhibitions of James ]. Corbett.
he will SEQ a notation of n four-rouno
exhibition given between him and Join
l.. Sullivan on June &c, 1891, AZ san
Francisco. That exhibition sounded
the death knell to Sullivan's Existence
as champion.
The story is well worth relating. The
beginning was told by sullivan to
Marsh Renaud, a noted follower OF
fighters, living at New Orleans. and
the writer, in the dressing room OF tue
Grand opera house In that city at the
opening OF Sullivans theatrical en-
zagement in a play he was then pre-,
sentinS called Honest Hearts and
Willing Hands" 1t was at the time
that Londt n prize ring rules in chan-
pionship contests had practically been
done away with, and the more hu-
name Marquis of Queensoerry rules
had come into vogue. Gloves We're oe-
ing used instead of bare knuckles,
Sullivan's championship star had pc
gun to set. There were unmistakaoie
evidences of senility in the big fel-
low" and there was no one who kns"
1t better than Sullivan himself.
Fighters of the first rank were be-
ginning to crop up in every part of the
country. There was this young ana
promising fighter Corbett, whom re-
ports gave out as possessing remark
able boxing ability. There was Peter
Jackson, who was making a remnrka-
bic record for himself: Joe Choynski'
one of the best OF the heavyweight dl-
vision In many day; Douonick NC
CaHrcy and host of others. Ihey
were all set to fight Sullivan II oppor-
tunity offered. -,
Sullivan was born in October 1888,
and consequently was about 80 years
of age Not too old as comparisons ~
with the age of many OF the tnoS
prominent fighters of tho past, but II
must be remembered that the big lei
low" had travelled at a dizzy pace
since acquiring the championship hon,
ors. The human anatomy cannot stahu
the strain OF excesscs OF any kind lof
long and this was apparent with SUI
Ivan. =.
would night again, Sullivan stated IN
his characteristic manner that he was
never getting a day younger Una,
he had fought everybody ana mex.
them all, and that IL he should hEh,
again maybe some younger anu
Stronger man would beat him. and that
would end his drawing power as a ,ne
atrical star" No, I'll never nSht
again." said Sullivan.
We left him and remember very
nj
tiles of the big fellow" The snow
cot to California and San Francisco
and while there n benefit performances
was arranged for some INDECENT pusF
list and an exhibition pout Mas
planned between Corbctt and SuilNa',
Tho .'old man" was biE-hearted ana
always ready TO do his share towarus
charity whenever opportunity auoro-
cd Now don't overlook this: "neh
sullivan went on with Corbett in me
four-r round exhibition no did so with
the firm intention OF never going INTO
the ring again. sullivan. 1t will be uu-
dcrstood, WAS fat with no vino
slow and not in any sort of physical
condition to box SO fast man as ,of
bctt This little bout proved to Cor
bett that Sullivan in championship
bout would be no match for him.
Just about this time Corbett had
ioincd on "a partnership basis with
James a Brady, theatrical imprcsarlo'
sport promoter and erstwhile actor
Brady was undoubtedly one Of the
rhrcwdest and most astute handlers OF
puEilists that ever was connected with
a championship contest. Corbett ana
Brady talked tho chances over ana
there and then was set tho schemes
for getting tho big fellow" into the
ring again for tho last championship
battle. =
Sullivan played his engagement In
San Francisco and from the far west
visited Australia, where he was very
successful He returned to America
and had hardly landed when Brady
and Corbett were hanging onto his
coattail for a match for the heavy
weight championship. TO make II
stronger. the promoters of the olympic
club of New Orleans and other promi.
rent fighting clubs were eager and
anxious to match these two fighters.
They brought every argument TO bear
all tho principal newspapers carried