The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-05-07
SILVER JUBILEE OF
JACK MAULIFFE,
UNBEATEN CHAMP
Lightweight King of so
Years Ago to See Cam
zOneri-Ambers Friday
tspeclal 70 the Democratl .

AAC<A0AAAl0 was OAOWAG0 AA
weight champion Of the world un-
der the new Marquis Of Queens
berry rules.
The dapper 6s-year-old Irish
man, who still walks, dresses, eats
and sleeps, and CANDLES like q
champion, will be among the 20,-
900 shrieking spectators that will
witness the coroner Of the 'steenth
135-pound titleholder In the ring
of Madison Square Garden, Friday
night.
While Tony Canzoneri and Lew
Ambers are struggling toe to toe
for the vacant mythical diadem,
McAuliffe's mind will wander to
the eventful evening in May, 1885,
when he knocked out Billy Frazier
in Fl rounds of finish fight. The
victory signalized not only his en-
trance into the professional ranks
but it helped him make good the
boast that he was the rightful
claimant Of the title which had
lied dormant five years.
Ended English Monopoly
Previous to McAuliffe's annexa-
ton Of the crown several English
men held sway in bare knuckle
battles governed by the London
prize ring rules. Among them
were Joe Collyer and Arthur
Chambers. The latter helped the
Marquis of Queensberry to frame
the Queensberry rules. With the
retirement of Chambers in 1884,
Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, McAul-
iffe's bosom pal, was regarded as
the new champion but he didn't
defend it, letting it drift by default.
1t was then that McAuliffe just out
of the amateur ranks the cham
pion Of the lightweight division,
up and notified a palpitating pu-
gilistic world that he had taken
the title on a silver platter and
dared one and all to knock him
off the lofty perch.
1t is a matter of record that
over a stretch Of twelve years de-
Tending his title against the fore
most challengers with skin-tight
gloves at 1913 pounds ringside, give
or take two pounds, McAuliffe re-
tired undefeated in 1897. He
fought nine finish fights among
1fty-two contests. He scored ten
kos, Won thirty-two, and nine
were declared draws
Picked His Successor
On a stage of a theater on 18th
street and Broadway, New York,
Jack announced his retirement
and presented Kid Lavigne, the
Saginaw Kid, with the title. "Why
did ! .quit?" McAuliffe asked and
answered in the same breath:
Because twelve years was
enough. and besides / was getting
very tired. I think, I used good
judgment giving the championship
to Lavigne for the Kid lived UP to
my prediction that he would make
a good champ" ~
McAuliffe first saw the light of
day in Cork, Ireland, March 26,
1855. At his peak he scaled 1873
pounds and stood 5 feet 6 inches
tall. He competed for the Star
Athletic Club in Long Island City
when he reigned as amateur cham
pion. He worked in a cooper shop
with the original Jack Dempsey in
the Williamsburgh section of
Brooklyn.
To-day Jack, who doesn't look a
day older than 40 years when he
is logged out, is living the life of
an affluent gentleman on his estate
at Fort Hills, L. I. He spends his
afternoons trying to pick dinners
at the various Metropolitan race
courses. Back in the golden era
McAuliffe ran several poolrooms
on the east side of Fourteenth
street. He blew fortune after for
tune at the wheel and slow horses.
He has led full life; as a matter
of cold feet, he hasn't missed a
thing.
Still a Slicker
He still is the last word in the
world of fashion. His clothes are
immaculate. He continues to sport
fresh flower daily in the lapel of
his coat, and a cane to boot on his
walks. He uses cane No. and
topper for the theater. Oldtimers
agree he was real, great fighter.
His greatest effort was against BIZ
ly Myer in the three-day carnival
at New Orleans in 1892. He fiat
tened the Streetor Cyclone in Is
heats. The other two Jacks, Sui
Ivan and Skelly, bowed before the
fistic prowesses of Jim Corbett and
George Dixon, respectively.
II haven't seen either Ambers
or Tony fight, but from what I
hear Canzoneri belongs with the
oldtime mob" McAuliffe says.
They tell me Tony has had 125
battles, each and every one a real
fight. I'll surely enjoy watching
them do their stuff. don't get
around to fights much but when a
lightweight championship comes
around / like to see 1t. I was In
many bruising battles but my great
physical makeup helped me wealth
er as many storms.
do the fighters to-day compare
with the oldtimers? Well" Jack
declared, comparisons are odious.
But i think fighting in may days
were much better than the current
crop"
4 Another retired and undefeated
lightweight titleholder who will sit
in at the fistic fireworks is Benny
Leonard, who hung up his gloves
in 1924. Frank Erne, another
SVEN 'uEeSSer ana CURLING ScTdp-
per, who hob nobs with Park ave-
nue., antedating Gene Tunney, will
also attend as win AL Singer. Erne
outpointed Kid Lavigne for the
title in 20 rounds. Singer de-
throned Sammy Mandell.
After Erne came the immortal
Joe Cans, who knocked out the
former in As seconds at Fort Eric,
Canada, May IL, 1901. The Old
Master, Cans, ruled supreme seven
years. Weight making, 1913 ring
side with his fighting toys. ruined
Cans in his first fight with Battling
Nelson which he won on q foul in
~ rounds. The Durable Dane
knocked him out In II rounds later
on for the title. Ad wolgast came
next. After giving Nelson q terri
BILE licking the referee stopped the
slaughter in the 40th OF a sched-
uied 45-round battle. Willie Ritz
chic won on foul over Wolgast.
and Freddie, Walsh trieixed the