The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-01
BATTLES FOR CROWN
Many Ring Bouts Were
Fought For the Title
STARTED BACK IN 1882
John l.. Sullivan Was First To
Be Considered One Real
.. Greats
HENRYL. FARRELL

New York, June 30.-The Demp-
sey Carpenter battle. called 1.-The
bout of a century and the greatest of
all times" adds a chapter to list of
important heavyweight championships
that started back in 1882.
John L. Sullivan was the first to
be considered one Of the real greats
of the ring. He won the title by
knocking out Paddy Ryan in nine
rounds at Mississippi City, Miss,
Feb. Z, 1882. He successfully defend
ed his crown by knocking out Jake
Kilrain in a seventy Ave round battle
at Richburg, Miss, on July s, 1889.
1t was the last fight with bare
knuckles.
Figured without a chance, James J.
Corbett, bank clerk, gave one of the
first proofs of the merits of brains
and science against Drawn and brute
strength when he won the champion
ship from Sullivan Sept. 7, 1892, in
a twenty one round fight in New
Orleans. Corbett defended his title
round fight at Jacksonville, Jan. %,
1894
Bob Fitzsimmons Won Title
After defeating Peter Maher in
one round in Mexico in 1896. Hob
Fitzsimmonss some along then and
won the title from Corbett after four
teen rounds in Carson City, Nevada.
until June 8, 1899, when he was
knocked out by. James ]. Jeffries in
an eleven round Tight at Coney Is
land, NJ. Y.
On the same battle-ground. ferries
beat Tom Sharkey In twenty five
rounds on Nov. 3, 1899. Fitzsimmons
challenged again for the title, but
JeIries knocked him OUT e an eight
rounds at San francisco on Aug IA,
1903. Jack Munroe challenged him
but he suffered the same fate after
two rounds in San Francisco Aug. 26,
1904. Jeffries retired in 1905. unde-
feated.
Marvin Hart Claims Belt
Marvin Hart claimed the title after
knocking out Jack Root in Twelve
round bout at Reno, July 3, 1905.
Jeffries refereed the bout and pres
ented Hart with his title
Tommy Burns became the champ
ion when he won twenty round de-
cision from Hart in Los Angeles on
Feb. 70, 1906. Hart claimed a foul,
but It was not granted. on May 7,
1907, Burns defeated Jack O'Brien in
a twenty round bout In Los Angeles
and on July 4, 1907, he knocked out
Bill Squires in one round at Colma,
Cal
Jack Johnson came into possession
of the title when he beat Burns in a
twenty round bout at Sydney, Aus
tralia. Police stopped the contest.
Burns received $4,000 while Johnson
got $1,000. along with the crown.
The colored fighter whipped Stanley
Ketchel in twelve rounds at Colma,
Oct. 16, 1909, and knocked out James
J. Jeffries in fifteen rounds at Reno
July 4. 1910.
Mccarthy Given Crown
After Johnson had defeated Jim
Flynn In nine rounds at Las Vegas
July 4, 1912, he got into trouble with
the government and a tourney of
white heavyweights was arranged in
Los Angeles in 1918, Luther Me-
Carthy beat Al Kaufman, Jim Flynn
and Al Palzer and was proclaimed
the white heavyweight champion Of
gary, Canada, McCarty was knocked
out by Arthur Pelkey. McCarty col
lapsed in the ring and died from
what the coroner's jury termed
hemorrhage of the brain.
Gunboat Smith won the title from
Pelkey In fifteen rounds at San Fran
cisco on Jan. 1. 1914.
Jess Willard then came along and
being proclaimed the white hope he
was matched with Jack Johnson,
sstill worlds heavyweight, champion.
Willard won the worlds champion
ship by knocking out the negro in the
twenty sixth round at Havana, April
5, 1915.
After a sensational string of short
knockout victories, Jack Dempsey
was matched with Willard by Tex
Rickard. They met in TOLEDO, Ohio:
on july T.. 1919 Dempsey knocked
Willard down seven times in the first
rornd and won the title when Willard
failed to answer the bell for the 4th