The Washington herald., 1921-03-20
Heavyweight Champ Going
Abroad in Pleasure Only
By ROBERT EDGREN.

Jack Dempsey is going to give 'eIn
an eyeful over in Europe. Jack'll
be the first big champion that ever
went over. They've never seen any
of our American kings. Itll be a
treat for the boys at the National
Sporting Club, eh? Not that Jack
will do any real fighting.
"He can't fight outside of America
until after the Carpenter bout, of
course. He might sock a little in
an exhibition with a sparring part
ner. That's about all. This is a
pleasure trip. I've been down to
Australia. and Jack wants to do 4
little travelling, too. Sure. IL Car
pentier wants to challenge Jack to
golf match in France we'll go over
there. I hear Georges is in training
already. Jacks playing a pretty
good game now himself"
You can't blame Kearns for being
all wrapped up in Dempsey, and he's
right that Jack can give Europe
"an eyeful." At any rate, he may
be taking over the greatest Ameri-
can champion that ever crossed.
But not the only one, boy, no! Why,
crossing the pond has been a favor
lite recreation for our heavyweight
champs ever since boxing started in
America.
Let's go back a century or so.
When New York was a village and
Fourteenth street was out in the
woods. there was a circus tumbler
named Charles Freeman. Charles
was exactly six feet ten inches tall.
He took up fighting, went to Eng
land and beat the best English
- -sst.
high in London for two years and
died of tuberculosis. He was the
first American international cham
pion, although Virginia negro,
named Molineux, went to England
before Freeman's time and fought
Tom Cribb for the English title,
prize ring rules, December 10, 1910.
on Copthall Common. twenty miles
out of London. Molineux had Cribb
out for over a minute in the nine
teenth round, but officials failed to
call the time. Cribb recovered. went
on, and won in thirty-four rounds.
Crowd stopped Fight.
John c. Heenan. the Benecia
Boy" went to England in 1850 and
fought the English champion, Say
ers. The Englishmsn was a smaller
man, clever and game. Heenan beat
him down and had him nearly out
when the crowd broke into the ring
and stopped the fight, the referee
declaring II a draw. 1t was decided
each man would receive a cham
pionship belt. Ssyers got his.
Heenan didn't. Ssyers wouldn't
fight Heenan again.
In 1887 Jake Kilrain. claiming the
American championship because
Sullivan refused to accept his chaI-
lenge, went to Europe and fought
Jem Smith. champion of England. at
Isle de Souverains. There was heavy
betting on Smith. and when he was
done for in the l06th round-after
two hours and thirty minutes fight
ing-the crowd tore down the ring
and the referee called IL a draw.
Kilrain returned and Sullivan beat
him in seventy-five rounds.
John L. Sullivan went to England
and challenged Jem Smith, offering
to let him have the stakes II he
stayed four rounds. Smith refused
to fight Sullivan. and John L. re-
turned to America. But he gave
England "an eyeful' while he was
there.
Later Jim Corbett went to Eng
land when he was champion, and
Bob Fitzsimmons went over while
he wore the belt. Neither of them
fought there. Jeffries. as champion,
went to England and to France, and
boxed Jack Scales, the English
champion at that time q fast second
rater, according to American stand
ards. Scales offered to box Jeffries
In France for twenty pounds. but
insisted 1t must be an exhibition
and Jef mustn't hit him too bloom
In ard" Jeff didn't think enough
Of the bout even to put 1t in his
record.
Butslet's get along. After JEFF
fries retired Tommy Burns went to
England and knocked out Gunner
Moir for the championship. also
Roach for the Irish championship,
and Bill Squires In Paris. Burns
was a hit in England. He's there
now. boxing still and quite a ia
vorite. After Burns. Of course,