Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-05

- prime, the greatest heavyweight fighter
in American history, according to eight
experts from various sections of the United
States.
Running close second to JeffrieS for honors
Is Jack Johnson, the man who defeated him
in the first and most famous Battle of the
Century staged in Reno % years ago.
The fact that jeff picked ahead of
Jack in the consensus of ring experts was DUE
no doubt, to the belief of the experts that jeff
was past his prime when the historic battle of
1910 was fought
A more recent idol of ring fans, Jack
Dempsey, was placed third with two great
old-timers, John l.. Sullivan and Bob
Fitzsimmons, tied for fourth Gene Tunney
Jim Corbett and Peter Jackson also were
honored.
Not one topnotcher of the present day Max
Schmeling and Jack Sharkey. for instance,
mentioned in the opinions of the eight
experts, proving the belief that the American
heavyweight fighter amt what he used to be-
is rather widespread
Last year 1 conducted a poll Base Balls
Greatest Player and Ty Cobb won with ease
Hans Wagner finished second and Babe Ruth
was third. Connie Mack John McGraw Gabby
Street, Dan Howley and Walter Johnson were
included by the jurors.
Jim Thorpe won first honors in foot ball
poll of such experts as Gil Dobie, Pop Warner,
Bob Zuppke, Bill Roper Dick Haniey Harry
Stuhldreher, Wilmer Crowell and others.
That wasn't close either. Thorpe making a
runaway race of it. with Red Grange and
Ernie Nevers tied for second place.
IN the boxing consensus it was different,
however. Jeffries received 80 points, with
johnson only points behind. Dempsey was
given 10 points; Sullivan and Fitzsimmons u
each; Tunney 8; Corbett g. and Jackson s.
n r,oII five inf ooiya a
choice four for second. three for third two for
fourth and one point for fifth place.
Sunny jim Colfroth, promoter of the
Battling Nelson-Joe Cans fight and many
Others is of the eight experts to voice his
opinion here. Sunny jim" saw them all and
matched many of them quarter of a century
ago he was the promoter of virtually every
big bout in the Far West and was one of the
most widely known men in the sports world
He has maintained his interest in boxing down
through the years, and his opinions are based
on wide knowledge and experience
Frank Wiener, militant chairman of the
Pennsylvania State Boxing Commission from
1926 to 1881 and the man who played a large
part in putting over" the first Dempsey
Tunney fight in Philadelphia is another juror
Tommy Reilly referee of that bout himself
former boxer is another.
John v. Clinnn of Chicago president of the
National Boxing Association; Joe HUMPHREYS,
famous announcer at Madison Square Garden
In New York; Bryan Hayes, former boxer and
now a referee and fan, who has seen virtually
every championship fight since 1900; Lou Mag
nolia Of Miami, Fla, well known referee and
Bob Gunnis. Eastern promoter and follower of
boxing since childhood, complete the list.
lEFFRIES. Sullivan and Johnson each
~ received two first-place votes Jeffries
obtained the largest point total because he was
placed somewhere by every one of the jurors.
Dempsey was the only other one to be SO
honored, but his rankings were not sufficiently
high to enable him to win.
Lets take 20 rounds as a sample" says
Mr.. Coffroth 1T would be unfair to take the
shorter distances of today basis for me to
name my five greatest. The five I select are
Robert Fftzsimmons, James j. Jeffries. Jack
Dempsey, Gene Tunney and James j. Corbett.
Il have seen these men fight many times
and have matched them many times. I