The Washington herald., 1921-01-02
BY ROBERT EDGREN.

lnBoSton, half century ago, he
had one great ambition. He wanted
to become a professional ball player.
John might have been the Babe
Ruth of those early days and we
might have been finding his picture
in some old team lineup, decorated
with a full crop OF the whiskers
then favored by big leaguers, If
Prof. Mike Donovan hadn't visited
Boston in 1878.
Mike Donovan was middle-weight
champion. There was little money
in boxing when matches had to be
held out in the Woods. Mike was
training for a championship bout
and raising his training expense
money by giving a few exhibitions
in different towns. a Boston friend
suggested he might do well by tax
ing on a local semi-pro ball player
who had done little scrapping. So
John Sullivan was invited to set
to- with Donovan, four rounds.
John came. At that time he was
a husky yOungster of twenty, broad
shouldered. five feet ten and a half
inches tau, weighing about $50
pounds.
Being a worlds champion middle
~ anu q III Sl-CldSS DOAtTr Nllhe
Donovan thought he'd put the novice
at his ease. He felt grateful to the
boy, anyway, for appearing at his
benefit. So he held out his hand to
Sullivan before the bell and said
pleasantly:
IN let you off easy. young fell
low"
You'll be lucky If l don't break
your neck" roared Sullivan.
Right there. in a line, you have
the character of the man who after
ward became the most famous
worlds heavy weight champion
that ever held a ring title
Mike and John became Friends.
AS for the bout, Mike Donovan
outboXed Sullivan for a moment,
when John L. suddenly rushed upon
him with such fury that Donovan
doubled forward to protect his body
and raised both arms to defend his
head. At this, Sullivan brought his
right arm. down full length across
Mikes shoulder blades, the terrinc
torce OF the blow knocking Mike
nat on his face, breaking his nose
For years after that Sullivan and
Mike Donovan were friends. and no
one ever had greater respect for
Sullivan's fighting ability than DON
ovan.
Sullivan's rise to championship
honors was rapid All fighting in
his time was under London prize
ring rules. with bare fists, both hit
ting and wrestling throws allowed
rounds terminating when either man
was down.
Just after We had both seen
Dempsey knock out Willard I asked
William Muldoon, who was long as
sociated with Sullivan, how he
would compare Sullivan with the
new champion.
Sullivan. at his best and Damn
seys today would make a wonderful
match" said Mr. Muldoon. Suin-
van was the hardest hitter I ever
saw. but I think Dempsey hits as
hard. Sullivan, at his best, weighed
1875 pounds to Dempsey's 1873, but
dempsey is two inches taller and
has longer reach. Sullivan was
a little faster and a better boxer.
bW his legs weren't as good as
Dempsey's. l think with Sullivan
and Dempsey in a ring the winner
would be the man who got home
the first heavy punch"
Boxing and other sports were on
dlnerent footing when Sullivan
began fighting. Fighters and their
followers were outside the law. to
some extent, and championship
matches with the raw uns" were
usually held out in the woods in
hastily put up ring, after dodg-
ing the peace officers. Between
nights it was the habit of fighters
to dissipate heavily. Today the
successful fighter is the cleanest
living man in the world. eompe-
tition is hot, and no dissipated
POKER can ever. reach, the top in
his class. Sullivan, beginning at
twenty, reached and passed the
top Of his form at twenty-four.
Compare his life with Dempsey's,
Even when he has no match in
sight Jack Dempsey is out on the
road at. daylight every morning
Tor a run of several miles. Re-
turning, he has a rundown, rests.
eats breakfast, and later in the
day boxes several rounds. He
goes to bed early. He never drinks
liquor or smokes He is as 'scrupu-
lously careful of his physical con-
dition as an. ancient Greek cham
pion under oath not to break train |
ing for a full year before COM
peting in the Olympic games.
oid-Tmers Didn't Train.
Sullivan drapk haov;t,x ..xl I