The New York herald., 1922-12-17
Excessive Weight and Height
/ a Handicap to Success in
I Pugilism.
CHAMPIONS UNDERSIZED
Jeffries and Johnson U. S. Til
tleholders Exceptions to the
Rule and Precedents.
BY CHARLES T.. MATHIsoN.


contribute to the success Of a heavy
weight pugilist? The belief seems to
be held by many patrons of boxing
{ that the larger a fighter the more
difficult will be the task of defeating
him. This despite the oft repeated
assertion Of the late Bob Fftzsimmons
that fighters of great weight hit the
canvas with considerably more force
than lighter men. Faith in beef as a
factor in ring success is doubtless
Z based on the aphorism that a good
I, big man will always defeat a good
4 little man.
4 The axiom no doubt would be veri-
Z fed IL in all cases the good big man
= and the good little man were on an
Z equal basis in all other respects. For
Y example, il 200 pound man who was
matched with a 10 pound fighter
Z equaled his lighter opponent in speed.
I, hitting power. defensive skill and con-
< dition the weightier man would
naturally win. But the theory cannot
!, be generally applied for the reason that
:, so many large fighters. who have been
: regarded as good" men, have met de-
Z, feat at the hand of smaller opponents
Z who possessed in a greater degree the
Z essential fighting qualities that make
for success.
Billy Edwards, clever boxer and
Z ring general at 13S pounds, defeated a
2 200 FOUNDER who was deficient In box
+, ing skill and speed
Joe Walcott vanquished clever boxers
tlE> L. H. 1t -
+, cause of superior speed and hitting
powers.
Ftzsimmons gave away pounds to
Z nearly every opponent and vet won be-
Z cause of remarkable endurance. hitting
powers and ring strategy.
Beaten Once In His Prime.
During his prime he was beaten by
!, only one man-Jeffries. The boiler
maker scaled 220 pounds to 170 by the
Cornishman and twice he got the upper
hand of Fitz. Jeff's victories over the
freckled gladiator were not due to
superior boxing skill or hitting powers.
JEFF won solely through his ruggedness
and iron jaw. There is much question
Z as to the first bout between this pair
having been contested on it's merits In
the second meeting F'itz crippled both
hands pounding JEFF and then fell an
easy victim to the big man. The case
OF Fitz and jeff was an exception to
the rule. for very few giants OF the
ring have attained lasting success
William Muldoon insists that one inch
more than feet ] inch and two pounds
above 200 pounds are a handicap to
any heavyweight fighter. Mr.. Muldoon
claims that six feet in height and not
more than 200 pounds in weight are the
T proportions for an ideal heavyweight
iC n.rxy tI.t
handicapped In many ways, especially
IN the matter of speed. John L. Sulli-
van in his prime conformed to the
Muldoon specifications. and Corbett was
trifle below in the matter of weight,
as he scaled about 1s4 pounds at his
best. Jack Johnson carried ten pounds
of excess weight. while Tommy Burns
weighed $50 pounds, but was deficient
In height. He stood feet inches and
had very short arms, decided handi-
cap
Hcenan and Dempsey Ideal.
John G. Heenan was a six footer
weighing 1870 pounds and Jack Dempsey
ts practically the same size as the
Benicia boy. who was the ablest bare
knucklo fighter that ever held the
American title.
Willard was regarded by many as a
painfully deficient in speed and hitting
power as compared to Dempsey. Will
lard's triumph at Havana was not ac-
complished without the negro's con-
sent and nearly all the victories of the
Kansas giant have been achieved over
mediocre opponents. With the excep-
tion of Jeffries and Johnson, all the
legitimate heavyweight champions OF
America have been men of medium
size. In bare knuckle days Morrssey.
Goss, Allen. Heenan, Davis and Hyer
were under the six foot COO pound limit.
In England. Sayers. King. Mace and
Mitchell were small men.
Nearly all the leading contenders for
the American title U4angford. Maher.
. Sharkey. Mccoy. Choynshi and others)
were men Of medium height and weight.
y Ned O'Baldwin. the Irish Giant Free
man. another fighter who lowered well
above six feet and weighed an eighth
OF ton. never made much titular prog
ress.
Floyd johnson Right size.
Floyd Johnson is Of the right size for
n champion, and II he eventually proves
that he possesses other essential quail
.--.ses he may yet wear the heavyweight
q crown.
Harry Wills. who may fight Demp-
sey next summer, IL considerably above
the correct size, and he will be handl-
capped in the matter OF speed when he
faces the champion.
Firpo, the South American champion.
conforms TO the Muldoon standard but
fs too far along in years 10 learn the
science of the game. He Is n terrific
hitter but is weak In defense and speed.
Carpenter possesses considerable
skill. speed and hitting force but II
painfully lacking in powers OF resist
ance.
willard Il the last OF the Mohlcans
go far as giant proportions are con-
csrned. and there is little prospect OF
the title passing 20 him or any other
man standing more than six feet or
weighing above 200 pounds.
Criqui to Sail in February.
PARIS, Dec 16 ASSOCIATED Press) -
Robert Eudelne. manager of Eugene
Criaui. to-day cabed Jack Kearns au-
tnorizing him to accept an offer from
Tom O'Rourke for Kilbane-Criqui
bout at the Polo Grounds May 80. 1923.
O'Rourke offered Criqui 90 per cent. Of