JIM CORBETT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11805, 16 September 1916, Page 11

JIM CORBETT.

HOW HE WON THE CHAMPI3NSHIP. TEE HAN WHO BEAT J. L. SULLIVAN. (By JOHN S. BARRON. 1 ) Talking about clover boxers, James J. Corbett's name was one to conjure with ' wasn't it? Any man who was sandw.ciied in between John L. Sullivan on the one hand and Dob fitzsimmons on the otherj any man who fought each of these giants and came out of the ordeal witilout disgracing himself cannot but be a man ot high standing in the history of the ring. And if Corbett had no other claim on our attention than the fact that he in his day met these two champions, it would still be the correct thing to nail his colours to the mast and raise our hats to the memories that would rise involuntarily each we passed the flagpole. Sullivan and Fitzi inmons were each totally different from Corbett. "Gentleman Jim," as he has been called, was first, last and all the time a highly-polished boxer. I do not intend in. this article to discuss the question whether Corbett or Fitzsiinmons or Sullivan waa the best man in, that trio j of stars, but 1 rightly or wrongly regard Fitasimmons as the Grand Old Aian of the ring. But whether he was better than Sullivan or Corbett, taking each man's Kttndard when he was in his prime, would occupy us too long in the present case, and so I pass to a quick review of the career of the man who met both of them and, as I have indicated, beat one and was beaten by the other. Even today Corbett ia not by any means an old man. The standard of "too old at toity," which most of us held either willingly or otherwise a couple of years ago, would certainly not apply to James J. Corbett. Corbett is a fcian who has lived a careful life, and so, though now in his fiftieth year at the date of writing, Oorb©tt, the Pompadour One, is, practically speaKing, a man in the prime of manhood, though don't imagine that I am indicating that he is the force, physically, now that he was, say, when he was twenty-five years younger* PROUDEST MUST BOW. Any athlete'who has reached his fortieth year will know what it is to "look •as young as ever" and yet have lost that "silk" or whatever you care to call it that gives a man the mastery over his seniors. The athletes themsSives as they fast approacn the day when they must give way to yuunger men are often highly indignant Should you even hint at their hs/ving reae'iktl tlie dividing line. But even the" proudest spirit must bow to the decrees of nature. It was taken only by a decree of nature and particularly by this decree that James J. Corbett from the boxing ring as an active participant in the year IJJO3. In that year Corbett met Jim Jeffries at San Francisco and was the recipient of the kaoi-K-out punch in the tenth round before Jeffries-had properly warmed to his work. In 1903 Jeffries was twentyeight. years of age and at the top of J his Jtrrm, • whereas hist opponent, Corbett. was thirty-seven. This, of course, was not a bout that settled (anything whatever unless you permit me'to state that it settled' once for all Corbett's fond hope of reversing J a former decision. Because three vears before they had met at Coney Island, when after a great fight Corbett went out in tho twenty-third round. But it was six years prior to 1903 that Corbett's skill was brought to bear against the Grand Old Man of the ring—Fitzimorw. In March, 1897, at Carson Qitv, Bob FitEsimmonS dethroned Corbett by knocking him out with the much-discussed solar plexus blow in the fourteenth round. Although tho defeat wa-:; undoubted, and Corbett had absolutely no ground whatever to dispute the* fact, numan nature wouldn't cave in to facts, and the proud exchampion took a very long time to reconcile himself to tho knowledge that he had met his master at boxing. Corbett was a Californian, and was burn at Sail Franci-co, September 1, 18G6. In his manhood he measured 6ft lin. and weighed, roughly speaking, IDO'.b; and, like ta great many more noted pugilists, Corbett had Irish blood in his veins. It was not as a boxer that Corbett was reared. He was intended for the humdrum routine of a Ranker's office, and, indeed, served tome time aa a junior clerk at that bu .inos«. But the fighting gem had entered his veins, and couraed with his blood through his body, until it finally ■temip to this, that Ooroett had to deride at the erois-roads whether he R'otild continue to pursue his respectablo and honourable vocation or throw over the mugwumps, who counselled him to beware of the associates he would meet when he got into the swim with the boxers. It was a hard struggle for Corbett, as he was then young, inexperienced and well-connected, .but he looked at it this wsiv ; Suppose he decided against going in' for boxing, what then? GOOD-BYE TO THE BANK. Would that end the matter, or would ho have to make the same decision every time he sat at a ringside? So Corbett wisely shook hands with hia j friends of the social world—and with | those who felt their dignity could suit 1 the/twelves. Corbett's early career was by no means a bed of roses. Ho, had'l h.s ups and downs, victories and deteats, and, too, he suffered and endured teat persecution which boxers used to be subjected to ero they couki meet opponents in fair combat under proper ft.d recognised conditions. In the year Corbett had three bouts with Joe I'noynski. Why three, you may Let me tell you. When "first they met. at Fairfax, California, the bout was proceeding merrily when the police appeared on the acene, and She match had to bo abandoned in the fourth round without reaching a decision. MX days later they again met at IV ieeia. in the same State, when Corbett. whipped over a knock-out blow ir. the _ twonty-eignth round. But Uhoyndn wasn't .satisfied, and a further hieeting was arranged, when Corbett had tho better - oi' tho boxing in a fourrounds limited exhibition. " After this display Corbetts friends felt confident that tfoeir man would trim anybody in tho business, ft in speed was great for i~. heavy-weight, he could isinash iiomo hit blows like -a champion. So they set out to travel along tho road tnat Has driven so many ambitious men to distraction, first of all they aimed at meeting a man through whom they could draw a line that would help them to form an opinion as to their man's real standing. In February of 18(10 .Kilrain and Corbett took the ring at New Orleans over the six-rounds' course. Quite a lot of interest was aroused in the meeting, because the Press agencies had been sending out to the papers lots ol news cotwrning the groat and reputed abilit.v ot tho newcomer, Corbett. Hilly Mnldoon. Aitifrkm s premier Ppnrl"'! promote, was at this time louring the Stat- •• with ,1 tdiou-, and Kilrain was one <>f (in chief attraction*. Kjlra»u's claim in 'li^rinetion lay in the fftet thai. 1m- Ji/id 11mi<v»i his battles n-nii Jem Smith and Charley Mitchell, while be had stood up seventy-five rounds against the fumed John 1.. Sullivan in a light that will live ui history. Corbett never kicked confidence. Indeed, &is wa& on a par with his spied and ability. Kilrain, of course. tyas wary of ( tailing mt6 a tr&jv, and ihidd clear of joining m the fcarlW Bna-ng€te, forho tound that Corbet had a terpen t-like left and a, quick eye, A touch of speed then unequalled among beavy-weights, and a solid punch which, pombfned with the speed with which it Ulrided, ide the newcomer more than slightly ctaiigermis. Kilrain was fns enough to lei Corbett do moat Of Um kadiug, j...id every now and

again he tried to unbalance the younger man by changing his ground and moving out of the way of blows. But he had nothing on Corbett at any stage, and. indeed, when Ihe hist round had ended he was on the losing side according to the referee's decision. Strangely enough, Kilrain protested that there had been g mistake in the numbering of tho rounds, and declared thut he had only boxed live rounds, and was ready to go on and finish the, match by boxing the sixth and last round. Moreover, he explained that he had actually been reserving himself for the last round, but the ruling of the officials stood, and Kilrain was returned' as the loser. Tho winner retired to his dressing-roc* with scarce a mark on his face, while Kilrain showed abundant evidence of having been through a mill. After this match Corbott did » very wise thing. He immediately returned to San Francisco, when he accepted an appointment as instructor to tho Olympic Boxing Club of thato city. Now, there arc only a very few men suited to take up the role of instructor to boxers. Some of the finest champions the ring has known are very poor tutors. Instructors, like boxers, and' like promotors, are born, not made. Very frequently when a boxer, still in his prime, assumes the "role of instructor ho automatically ceases to be a force in the ring. Why this is so I can explain in a very few sentences. The really good instructors are men who, if they hope to train their pupils up to a high standard of skill, must" necessarily be prepared to box with restraint most of the time in the gymnasium. Hundreds of promising you igvters have been lost to boxing because the men whose hands they fell into at the start, of their instruction were brainless bullies, who had no higher ambition than to sicken their pupils after receiving the fees. Of course, there is much pillle bandied about from mouth to mouth telling how so and so simply fleecer! his pupils for their tuition money, and then sets about them in earnest until one fir two lessons convince them that boxing is far too strenuous, and that, if this is boxing, then they won't aspire to be boxers.

That was perhaps the custom long years ago, but not to-day. . Different times have brought different customs, and tho change has been all to the good. Tho old-fashioned instructor perhaps was responsible for discovering the really game men right awav; but men can bo trained to box gamely, even if at first they appear to be overtimid. Some will dispute this, but in my experience. I have often found that beys, who Were quite game lads, were sometimes rather timid at the opening of their _ career. Now, what has this to do with Corbett's career? you may ask. Well, it. has this to do with itit brings us face to face, with a phase of a boxer's career that is full of pitfalls and dangers. The habit of " puiTing" his blows tvhen instructing very often shows itself when the instructor again takes the ring for a contest. And the good instructor ft 1 ways "holds" his hand when boxing with his pupils, ft is no part of an instructor's business to soak a leanier with gruelling blows. Now Corbett faced these and other dangers from the moment he joined up with the Olympic Club at San Francisco. At once the usual gang of horo-worsfi'ippors crowded around him, and a less level-headed-man would liavo gone wrong under tin l lavish flattery that was bestowed upon him. Friends sprang up everywhere around the district, and soon a syndicate was formed to laid the bar King for Corbett should, he be given a chance to light for the championship. Soon a challenge was issued on Corbett's behalf, ottering to box any man in the world for oCOOdol a side. This led to no business whatever, but just shortly thereafter the famous Peter Jackson arrived in the States fresh from his victory over the English champion, Jem Smith, who had gone down in tho second round. Tho Califoriuan Athletic Club, of San Francisco, entered into negotiations with the coioured man, and Jackson, who was always keen to get down to business, clinched matters, when a purse of iO.COOdoI was put up. On May 21, 18 ( Jl, tho two men came to the ring-side before -a great attendance of up-town sports in evening dress. Tho men presented a great contrast, the coloured man, with his powerful limbs, heavily-museled ehest, and agile appearance, impressing many with hi--ability to win. Corbett, on the oth"r hand, was pale, but the paleness was the hue of perfect condition, and bis huge frame, with its clean-cut and shapely limbs, left his backers with nothing tf» fear barring sheer bad luck. The men .had signed up to tiiflit to a finish, and, with two such specimen: - , of well-trained manhood before them, the spectators reckoned themselvc-,s i\eit .'-.a tin lied with the prosper ts of a rare night's sport. A lot of money watered that .Jackson would knockout the ambitious ex-bank clerk. Many readers will remember this as the match which went sixty-one rounds at which stage the. re.teree stepped forward and declared it no con'cm., as tho men were merely walking round each other without striving ~to work their way to quarters where they could have a. figbt. . There were ftuny who declared that Corbett was -not too on talrin? the punishment, but the verdict of history does net endorse that view*. Corbett was all right in this respect—quite all right- and n r-ime boxer. Following upon this no-coiitesf match, John L. SulliVfttn bavmv: ...ret >,> knou something of Corbett's jh.-s-ihil'•» aa champion, went to San Eranei.ee to

spar a. four rounds exhibition with the ('alit'oi'iiian. Both men were really having a "feeler" at his prospective opponent for the title of champion, and this knowledge was shared by everyone in Die district who followed tho i-port. Consequently there was another great attendance, and each man netted a respectable sum for his twelve minutes oi boxing. Oil June 2(3 of 1801 the two men who were destined to meet for the American title gavo the sports a fine exhibition, but the laurels rested with Corbett, and, from that day on, Sullivan knew he could not hope to dodge the challenges. Almost a year passed after Corbett and Sullivan had boxed their exhibition at San Francisco. And still Sullivan wou'.d not relinquish his title. Negotiatons were mentioned on several occasions, but the men did not get any nearer to a championship match, but at length they hit upon terms that seemed to suit all concerned, and, oil September 7, 1892. tho champion and his persistent challenger entered the ring at New Orleans for tho title and a purs© of twenty-five thousand dollars. The men wore both giants in stature, thourdi Sullivan was eight years Corbett's senior; and now growing stout, John Jj was thought bv those who opposed him to have signed up for a first-class defeat.