The New York herald., 1922-08-06
AUSTRALIAN CRITIC
QUESTIONS TITLE
w. T. COrbett Insists American
Fighter Has No Valid Claim
to Honor.
HE OvERLOOKS WILLARD
Bases Argument on Contention
That Sullivan Did Not Win
( Title From Ryan.
BY CHARLES r. MATHIsoN.


w. F. Corbett, foremost boxing au-
thority of Australia. in review OF the
heavyweight championship, jolts Ameri-
ca with the assertion that Jack Dempsey
has not valid claim to the worlds title.
The Sydney writer bases his argument
on the contention that John L. Sullivan
did not win the worlds title when he de-
feated Paddy Ryan, and that the worlds
honors now held by Dempsey descended
from Sullivan to the present champion.
corbett apparently has been misled
by the claims made in behalf Of Sullivan
and has jumped to the conclusion that
Dempsey's titular status depended on
the ring achievements of Sullivan. The
declaration that Sullivan never won the
worlds title of the class, but he Is In
error in the supposition that Dempsey's
title came down from Sullivan. The
fact that Sullivan and Ryan advertised
their hght as a world championship con-
test did not make 1t SO. and the same
applies to many other bouts that have
taken place in this country.
Corbett's View.
In speaking of the Sullivan-Ryan fight
Corbett writes as follows:
Paddy Ryan and John L. Sullivan
were, in the winter of 1882. brought to-
gether to contend for the Heavyweight
championship Of the world and 5000 a
side. Ryan made a very poor showing
and turned 1t up inside eleven minutes,
during which nine rounds were con-
tested.
THAT was where John L. Sullivan be-
gan as the alleged Champion of the
world, a position to which he had not
the remotest claim and the occupancy Of
which he never subsequently justified.
by and by Peter Jackson went to
Sullivan's country, where he won the
colored heavyweight championship OF
the world by knocking Chocolate George
Godfrey out in nineteen rounds. Next he
stopped the giant Mission boy. Joe Nc
Auliffe. In twenty-four rounds, and
Patsy Cardiff (the Ithaca giant who had
contested draw with Sullivan) in ten
rounds.
The Gauge to Sullivan.
peter now wanted to meet John L.
for the championship of the world.
THAT color line was drawn tighter
than ever But many persons whom
Jackson had impressed very much were
insistent in demanding that the black
and white monarchs of the globes ring
should. between them, define an unas-
sailable, genuine. champion OF the
world. with the result that Sullivan was
induced to sign articles to meet Jackson
at the California Athletic Club for the
title. John was merely caught on the
hop. Some weeks later he relented and
backed down."
There is unquestionable foundation for
the assertion that Sullivan sidestepped
Jackson and Slavin. as is set forth by
Corbett, and 1t follows as n matter Of
course that Corbett and Fitzsimmons
won no title except that OF America.
1t is also true that Mace. who got tho
worlds title by defeating Tom Allen. the
American champion. retired indicated.
The American championship then de-
scended from Allen to Goss, to Ryan.
to Sullivan, to Corbett, to Fitzsimmons.
Dempsey's Right to. Title.
The question naturally arises as to
where Dempsey got his title of worlds
champion. The answer is easy. Peter
Jackson won the championship of Eu-
rope and Australia by knocking out Jem
Smith. the English title holder, and
Frank Slavin, claimant of the Australian
title. Jackson. after winning those
titles. made unsuccessful efforts to get
matches with Sullivan. Corbett and
Fitzsimmons and was not defeated until
he met Jim Jeffries March %, 1898.
He was knocked out by the boilermaker.
and JEFF followed that victory by stop
ping >Fitzsimmons, the American cham
pion, on June Q, 1899. The victories
ever Jackson and Fitz unquestionably
made JEFF the worlds champion.
IL may be argued that Jackson was
but shadow of his former self. yet he
was still the holder of the championship
OF Europe and OF England.
After Jeff's retirement Che was out of
The ring for f1ve years) Tommy Burns
showed superiority over the other Amer
ican heavies and claimed the title. Burns
made himself the champion Of tho world
by stopping Bill Squlres. Australian
champion. and Gunner Moir. the Eng
ilIsh title holder.
The worlds title has come down from
Burns TO Johnson to Willard, to Demp-
sey
There Ia not a flaw In the worlds