Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-20
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,rAup
Petey Sorron Revisited

MIAMI, FEB. 20.-There familiar air about the
jaunty little he walked along, neatly dressed and
separated from the tourists because he hat I'm
Petey Sarron," he said, and quarter of century
rolled back.
Remember Petey Sarron? He was hairy, little fist
fighter who migrated to Washington back in 1885, hawk
noSed veteran who had fought all the world and
who finally found the end of the rainbow at Griffith
Stadium May night in 1886.
In the first world championship fight held in the
Capital he outfought and outmaneuvered Freddie Miller
of Cincinnati to win the featherweight championship
Petey didn't hold the title long because even when he
first came to Washington he kid
That, plus the fact that fellow named Henry Arm
strong fast coming the scene eventually to become
the only fighter to three world crowns-feather
light and welter-at time.
WASHINGTON WAS GOOD TO ME-" Petey said. I'D
done lot of fighting in the South, and in Australia and
New Zealand I'd already had two cracks at the title
The first in the elimination tournament, remember?
Fidel LaBarba eliminated me in 1882 in Detroit.
1--WE had pretty good featherweightS in those
days There was frankie Wallace Miller and LaBarba
and Baby Arzmendi and have to include myself.
But wasn't going very far, it seemd, until after
to Washington. remember those fights with Benny
Schwartz at Poners Arena in Alexandria and with Eddie
Burl at Twin-Cities at Laurel
Eddie sBurl beat you" 1t was half-question half
statement from vague memory,
"Once at Twin-CiteS," Petey admitted I'D licked
him first and hired him my sparring partner. Fats
Cornell the promoter and he needed main event
and Bur agreed to fight me for keeps"
ISN'T 1T UNUSUAL for a contender to get licked by
his Sparring partner?
Embarrassing" Petey said, But. you see, always
loved to eat cherries ate lot of them before that fight
and had the cramps real bad Burl hit in the belly
all night and he But got back at him another
night"
Jimmy Irwin rowing fight manager from Texas, was
handling in the 1906 Irwin proud of making
a title match between Miller and Sarron in Miami in
March, 1886 That was Peteys third shot at Miller who
previously had beaten him twice
Jimmy outfoxed" Petey says of his first 1895
bout with Miller There legalized fighting in
Florida at the time, commission For that matter,
there isn't now. Pete Riley handling Miller and he
wasn't going to lose his title down here That the
worst fight I've ever been involved in"
TO THIS DAY PETEY feels that the late Leo Shea
referee and sole Official Miller man. ITO say the
least" Sarron qualified "he wasn't fight referee He
was racing official At the end of the first round, when
1 returned to my corner knew couldn't win 1t was
the only time felt that way in my life
Il had Miller the floor twice. Each time they
claimed hit him low and gave him rest periods Once
a fan hit the gong with soft drink bottle, ending
round. At the end of Is rounds Shea gave Miller the
decision"
Miller was out of shape in that fight and must have
felt that he could beat Sarron in that condition he
could do it again under any circumstances Anyway,
Freddie agreed to risk his title in Washington two months
later and Sarron took him.
Il even remember my end Of the purse" Petey grinned
Il got $500 Imagined"
HE WAS A COLORFUL little guy who couldn't hit
much but he smart and fought urries and caught
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