BOXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 3

BOXING.

MOST FAMOUS OF FIGHTERS

GENTLEMAN JACKSON’S CAREER.

John Jackson, although h&> only made three appearances in the ring, remains probably the most famous of all English prize-fighters, writes C. M. AVeekley in the London “lllns% trated and Dramatic News.” In the first place his polish and. refinement marked him out from his fellow bruisers and made it easier for him to establish a very successful practice as «. professor of pugilism in Bond St. His friendship with Byron, to whom lie taught boxing.and with whom lie became very friendly, has made his name to many renders, not otherwise interested in the history of the ring. Hie poet twice introduces .Jackson’s name into his works. The satire, “Hints from Horace,” contains the following reference:—

“AA'ho shoot not flying rarely touch a £ un ; * Will he who swims not to the -river run ? And men unpractised in exchanging knocks ’ ‘ Must go to Jackson ’ere they dare to box.” A footnote to Stanza. 19, Canto XL, of “Don Juan,” explains that: “I refer to my old friend and corporeal master, John Jackson, Esq., Professor of Pugilism, who, 1 trust, still retains the strength and symmetry of his model of a form, together with his good humor and athletic as well as menial accomplishments.’’ Apart from his actual prowess in the ring, which was only exhibited ‘three times, Jackson appears to have been an exceptionally fine man, even for a famous heavyweight. His height, five leot 11 inches, suggests something very near the idea] stature for the best type of proportion, neither too tall nor too short. Although he weighed 14 stone, lie was a very fine sprinter and jumper, so that ids weight must have been perfectly distributed. In the presence of Harvey Coomhe, a Corinthian of the day, he is said to have lifted 10} c\vt. and to have written his name with a 841 b weight on his little finger. He passes through the pages of “Rodney Stone” and the colorful pen of the author has given us a vivid picture of his appearance as timekeeper in the light between Champion Harrison and Crab Wilson. “The famous master of the ring was clad in honor of the occasion in a

most resplendent scarlet coIHv worked in gold at the button-holes, a white stock, a looped hat with a broad black band, buff knee-breeches, with white silk ’ sfockings and paste buckles—a costume which dij justice Jo his magnificent figure and especially to' those famous ‘balustrade’ calves which had helped him to he the finest runner and. jumper as well as the most formidable pugilist in England. His hard, high-boned face, large piercing eyes, and immense physique, made him a fitting leader for that ■rough and tumultuous body who had named him ns their commander-in-chief.”

ONLY THREE FIGHTS.

For the rest, Jackson’s, life was naturally less eventful than that of his famous contemporaries in the ring, Belcher, Crihb and others. They fought a great number of fights and with varying fortune. Jackson retired from the ring an undefeated 1 champion, having held the championship irom 1795 to 1803. He was born in-'London in 1769, the son of a builder, and died there in 1845. At 19 he frequented sparring schools and revealed his powers. On June 9, 1788, at Smitham Bottom, near Croydon. he fought the first of his three fights ' against Fewterel of Birmingham! whom ne defeated in onp hour and seven minutes. “Fewterel at last gave up the contest and Major Hanger, by command of the. Prince of Wales, who was present, gave young Jackson a bank note.” A year later he met George lngleston, the brewer, but fell on the stage and dislocated his ankle and the small hone of his leg. Ho offered, to finish the fight tied to a chair, but his opponent declined and thus obtained a most unsatisfying victory. At Horneehurch, Essex, in 1795. he defeated Daniel Mendoza. one of the first fatuous representatives of a race which lias bred so many fine boxers. The fight lasted only ten and a-half minutes, hut “was acknowledged by every spectator to be the hardest fentested that over was fought in so short a time.”

ON AVHAT RESTS* HIS FAME?

“From 1795.” wrote the editor of “Bell's Life.” “Air. Jackson ceased to be a public pugilist, having fought but throe battles, winning two and not gaining (for it cannot be called losing) the third by an accident. On what basis then rests his fame as a thoroughly tried boxer? On none whatever; the pedestal of his popularity was conduct, the keystone to fortune in everv grade of life.” A grandiose panegyric on a great athlete who was also a yery decent fel-

low and a shrewd man of affairs! As a professor of pugilism, established in premises at 13 Bond Street, he obtained a handsome income from a list of pupils which included “one-third ol the, then peerage.” At the coronation of George JA r . 18 pugilists, with Jackson at their head, provided a striking guard of honor "an unarmed force to preserve order.” Dressed as royal pages they guarded the entrance to the Abbey and AYestminster Hall during the ceremony. They must have formed a splendid group with Crihb and the handsome Jem Belcher among them. Jackson died in his 77th year and was buried in Brompton Cemetery, where a large monument was erected by the subscriptions of several noblemen and gentlemen, to record.their admiration of one whose excellence of heart and incorruptible worth endeared him to all who knew him. He belongs to the very best traditions of what was cnee, with horseracing, the great national sport of this country. Nowadays the glories of the English Brize Ring have become a melancholy retrospect.

HOW THEY TRAINED

HEENAN AND CRJBB

Those boxers who consider a few rounds of light- gymnasium work sufficient training lor a contest will be amazed at the schedule of John C. Heenan, the Benica Boy, who fought Tom Savers with knuckles for the championship of the world. Here itis, as told bv a London newspaper in I 860:

“Heenan rises at G a.m., and strikes out a couple of hundred times with small dumbbells, just to streteu the muscles. As soon as he is dressed he takes a walk of about three miles. On returning, when he nears his home, lie does some sprinting, doing the 100 yards a half-dozen times at top speed. Then he goes into his room, and (if perspiring freely, which is seldom the ease) is rubbed down. Then alter a rest, breakfast is served precisely at 8. This meal is composed of mutton chops or lieefsteak, cooked rare. “Half an hour alter breakfast he takes a salt-water bath. The bath is prepared every day. and consists of soft water and rook salt. After this he puts on his sweating sun, and at 9 o’clock, accompanied by one of his trainers, he starts out for his ten-mile walk, carrying in either hand an eight-pound dumb-bell. The first lour miles are covered at a gentle pace, after which he increases his speed gradually. AA'hen within four miles of his home on the return

he puts on a mask (to sweat his face) made of white flannel, with openings for the mouth and eyes, hue. none for the nose. t .' “He then commences a .pace of ton minutes to the mile, finishing the last mile home at a. Flora: Temple speed, always leaving the company behind. As soon as ne gets into his room he sits hy the fire to assist the perspiration, and when he thinks lie has had enough of it, he strips to the huff and is briskly rubbed down 1 Now, during bis hard training, he takes an egg in a glass of sherry after this. It is now 11.30, and he proceeds to the barn arid strikes one with heavy dumbbells, slings • the clubs, battles with the bag. “Exercising in this manner for some time, -he walks into Farmer Pccock's library and selects a bootc to amuse h.mself until dinner, which is served at 1 o'clock precisely, and consists of roast licef, roast .mutton, or boiled mutton. A rest of an hour or so intervenes which is‘consumed in reading or talking, when he accoutres himself for his afternoon walk of eight or nine miles: This he commences at 2.30 or thereabouts. He returns at 5 o’clock. He changes liis clothes and then takes another rest before tea, which is at ft o’clock, consisting of dry toast, no butter, weak black tea, with an egg occasionally. “Half an hour or so after this he commences his sprint running. He then returns to the house and sits up reading or talking until 9 o’clock, when he takes, a bowl of. thin oatmeal gruel and at 10 o’clock he retires to bed. to rise again at 6 o’clock, and go through the same courses of exercise, diet, and treatment'.” , ' This method again is not so severe as the method adopted by the famous Corinthian sportsman, Captain Barclay, who trained Tom Cribb, British champion, for his batrle against the formidable black, Tom Molineux. Among other things Cribb. who was many stones overweight, was lashed to the- rear’ of the sporting captain’s dogcart for 25 miles or so. Tom had to run or be dragged. If was wonderful how' Tom shed his surplus weight. Yet he lived, and marvel of marvels, won the contest.