The New York herald., 1922-04-09
Forfeitures We're Frequent
During Period in Which
London Rules Prevailed.
JOHN L. SET PRECEDENT
Boston Strong Boy Ignored
Many Chances to- Fight
for Worlds Title.
ny CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.


Since that momentous day, Febru-
ary z. 1882, when John l.. Sullivan
stripped Paddy Ryan of the heavy
weight championship of America in
nine rounds at Mississippi City, the
heavyweight title, national or inter-
national, has not changed hands ex-
cept as the result Of combat in the
ring.
Up to that time and during the pc
| riod In which the rules of the London
Drize ring had been enforced, it had
been the custom for a champion to
defend his title every six months or to
forfeit to a bona fide challenger. AL
though Sullivan won the title under
London rules, he ignored the forfeit
ure clause and held to the honors till
defeated by Corbett under Queens
berry rules ten years later. Had Sui
Ivan complied with the rules under
which he won the championship, he
would have forfeited to one of four
sormidable heavies who persistently
challenged. These were Peter jack
son, Frank Slavin, Joe Goddard and
Bob Fitzsimmons. All of these men
tried hard to get matches with Sulli-
van, but utterly failed.
Despite the fact that Sullivan never
met but one first class foreign pugilst,
| Charles Mitchell, in the ring. and the
contest was a draw. the followers Of
John l.. have persistently claimed the
title of worlds champion for him. The
chief argument in support of the claim
is that Sullivan was champion of the
| world because-he was"
sullivan might have won the worlds
title. but only through the defeat of
| Peter Jackson. The giant black, at
time when Sullivan was in his prime,
had knocked out Jem Smith, heavy
weight champion of England. in two
rounds, and stopped Frank Slavin,
claimant of the heavyweight title of
Australia, in ten rounds. A bout be-
tween Jackson and Sullivan would have
decided the worlds championship. but
John l.. would have none of jackson
and lost the opportunity.
Neither Corbett nor FitZ ever met a
foreign title holder, and they, therefore.
were American champions only which
title descended to them from Sullivan,
Jeff First worlds Champion.
1t remained for Jeffries to establish
himself as heavyweight champion OF the
world. and he was the first American
heavyweight to gain that title In 1898
though far from his best form. still held
the title of European and Australian
champion.
Jeffries then In the following year
took the American title from Fitz and
thus made himself worlds champion.
When Jeffries formally retired from
the ring in 1905. both the worlds and
American titles lapsed and were open to
competition. Tommy Burns defeated a
majority Of his rivals for the American
title. and reestablished the worlds
championship by knocking out Gunner
Moir, British champion, and Bill Squires,
Australian champion.
This title has descended from Burns
90 Johnson to Willard to Dempsey.
Trncy's Unimpressive Record.
w. r. Corbett, the boxing authority
cf Australia. disagrees with George
Lawrence. manager of Jim Tracy, as to
the latter holding the Australian title
corbett declares that Colin Bell is now
the champion OF that country. A glance
IL Tracys record shows that he lost to
Bel in 1917, but won the title from AL
bert Floyd In 1920. In the same year,
and following his victory over Floyd
Tracy lost to the venerable Jimmy
Clabby in fifteen round bout Tracy
also lost two fifteen round bouts in 1920
TO an unknown named Tom OMalley.
On. that showing both Clabby and
O'Malley were champions. Bell must
have defeated O'Malley. If rracy's abil-
ity Is accurately measured by his defeat
at the hands of a veteran middleweight
like Clabby, then the Australian would
do well TO steer clear of American Sec
ond and third raters.
Harry Greb will be the most popular
champion that ever lived when he de-
feats Jack Dempsey" says Tom Bodkin
Very true. And when Greb defeats
Dempsey. the champion will doubtless
be handicapped by having one hand tied
behind his back and hobbies on his feet
John Flaherty, an amateur boxer of
Pittsburgh. Is said to be cunning for
Dempsey. Flaherty, who rejoices in the
title of Mayor OF Soho. Is a 900 FOUNDER
During a set of amateur bouts at the
Garden last winter. FWherty hit the
canvas so hard the ring platform had to
be repaired the following day.
Australia has uncovered another
heavyweight who Is well thought OF by
the experts in that country. His name
Is Tom Heeney and he brought himself
to public attention by winning the
championship OF New Zealand Then he
got a match with Colin Bell present
champion OF Australia, but was out
pointed In a Is round bout The pair
were rematched and are to meet again
Heency Is said TO be a good boxer and a
knockout hitter. but he viii have 70 de-
cisively defeat the veteran Beu IL ne is
TO be regarded as a champion.