San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01
Edgren Relates Incidents
That Prove Former
Champions Game.
BRITTON THE LATEST
Told Walker He Was Good
Kid and Hoped He'd
! Hold Title Long Time.
By ROBERT EDGREN.


The real gamester is the fellow wht
can take defeat and smile, as Jacl
Britton did a few months ago wher
Mickey Walker took away Jacks wei
terweight championship on the ref
eree's decision. After the fight, Brit
ton, who had made a desperate rally
near the end to stave off defeat anC
had failed, was between tears anC
smiles when Walker blithely stepped
across the ring to shake hands. But
. Britton reached up for Walkers hand
and said:
You're a good kid. hope you'll
hold the championship a long time
John L. Sullivan added TO his fame
at New Orleans in 1892 when he
reeled to the ropes after losing the
worlds championship TO Jim Corbett
raised his hand for silence, and mum
bled to the crowd:
Gentlemen, I've fought ore fight
too many. l can only say I'm glad
l was beat by an American"
Old John i. was strong on being
an American.
Corbett's End Different.
Corbett's finish at Carson on March
II, 1897, was different From the
seventh to the fourteenth round Cor
bett, forced back constantly by the
pressure of Bob's tireless attack, felt
defeat coming at the hands of q mere
middleweight.
In the fourteenth Fitzsimmons drew
a left lead from Corbett. slipped un-
der the blow and, stepping in with
his right foot, drove his left fist crash
ing into Corbett's middle with the
fanous solar nlpxus hlOw
sCorbett bent forward and fell, strug-
gled on the floor crawded to the ropes,
pulled himself to his knees and turn
ing held his hand up to Referee George
Siler as.if begging George for. time.
Corbett was counted out, and the
crowd forgot him as hundred. rushed
for the ring to grasp the hand Of the
new champion.
In the confusion COrbett recovered
and, rushing up behind Fitzsimmons-
the only direction from which he
could reach him--struck at him and
tried to renew the fight.
In the dressing room Corbett cried
historically and insisted that he had
not been knocked out, as he was con-
scious while on the floor. But Cor
bett was high-strung and intensely
nervous even before the fight, and the
loss of the championship to a middle
wright was tremendous blow to bis
pride. Later, knocked out by JEFF
fries, he cheerfully admitted that the
big fellow outclassed his as
fighter.
Fitz Fooled by Jeffs Skill.
When Fitz was knocked out by Jim
Jeffries he congratulated the big
youngster afterward. but always felt
that he had been tricked into the
fight without proper training, think
ing Jeff was only a clumsy novice.
When Fitzsimmons went to San
Francisco for his return match he
said to me: II think l can knock
him out this time il my hands last,
but Jeff is the greatest man l ever
saw. IL he can beat me now. I'll be
the first to congratulate him, and I'll
offer to teach him everything i know
about the game. II he knew what /
know no man in the world would ever
have a chance with him."
Jeff knocked Fitz out after des-
perate fight in which Fitz smashed
his right hand and buckled the left
by hitting Jim on the head. The de-
Gliding blow was a terrific body punch
that left Fitz paralyzed and helpless,
although still on his feet.
You've got me, JIM" muttered
Fitz. Finish it,"
Jeff put over the knockout. A
sportsman. old Fitz He became Jeffs
best friend afterward.
When Jeffries lost to johnson he
was completely dazed by the beating
he received and, as johnson leaped
from the ring and ran to the dress
ing room the instant the fight was
over. Jeff had no chance to offer the
traditional congratulations to the
winner.
johnson a Game One.
Tommy Burns thought johnson was
yellow, and he could make johnson
quit when they fouahs in Australia,
but after the fight he said:
~ might have outboxed him by
STAYING away, but / was all wrong
about making him quit. He was too
atrong and clever. and / could hardly
out a glove on him at close range.
johnson, knocked out by willard
.n Havana. went to the boat next day |
10 see Willard off for America. from
which johnson was an exile at that
time. Tears were in Johnson's eyes
as he shook hands with Willard and
said: al
You we're too strong for me. big
fellow. and too young. Youth is a
great thing while you have 1t. Take
care Of yourself. big fellow. and take
care Of your money. l hope you'll
hold the title longer than / did and
make better use Of il. / wish you
luck" =,
And johnson was on the level with |
lit. too. His head dropped as he turn
cd away. He would have given his
right arm to be on that boat. going |
homo. Whipped. with nothing left to
show for his life career but a few
thousand dollars, and homeless. he |
was going back to the life Of wan /
derer. unwelcome wherever he
turned.
willard Completely Dazed.
After the fight at Toledo Willard
was so dazed that he didn't know
what IL was all about. Leaving the
ring he broke away from his handlers.
pushed through the crowd to an exit
and ran wildly across the fields to
the old shack he had used as train
iX quarters. from which all his stuff
nm been removed day before. In
IN confusion nobody knew where Will |
lard had gone, aad It was several hours