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SET SPORTING WORLD APLAME AND STARTED THE PUGS TO TALKING—CHALLENGED ALL THE BLUFFERS,” SLAVIN, MITCHELL AND CORBETT PREFERRED BY JAS. J. CORBETT, (Copyright, 1905, by the Newspaper Enterprise Association,) Probably no challenge ever loaned by a prize fighter in the history of the ring stirred up the country at large as that handed out by John L Sulivan @ the conclusion of the theatrical season, March, 1892 The great fighter had just con cluded a tour of the country, which had netted him a big amount of money. He had met and defeated all comers, and was in high apirite when he went forth his manifesto I had just reached New York after my long fight with Jackson, and was waiting for the chance to meet John 1. I remember well the morn ing I awoke and was shown the fol lowing. “St. Paul, Minn., Mar. 5, 1892 “Our season is just closing, and we do not resume again until Sept 12. This gives me over three months in which to train and fight what will probably be my last big battle .I hereby challenge any and all of the bluffers who have been try ing to make capital at my expense to fight me, either the last week in August or the first week in Sep tember, this year, at the Olympic club, in the city of New Orleans, la, for a purse of $25,000 end an outside bet of $10,000, the winner of the fight to take the entire purse. “h innter upon a bet of $10,000 to show that they mean business. First come, first served. “However, I give preference in this challenge to Frank F. Slavin, as he and his backers have done the greatest amount of blowing. My second preference ts that bombastic sprinter, Chas. Mitchell, of PMng land, whom I would rather whip than any man in the world. My third preference is Jas. J. Corbett, of America, who has achieved his share of bombast. “But in this challenge I include all fighters. “The Marquis of Queensbury rules must govern this contest, as I want fight, not foot racing, as I intend keeping the championship of the world (Signed) “JOHN L. SULLIVAN, “Champion of the World.” You can imagine the sensation this created. Charlie Mitchell, Frank Slavin and all the big men started to talk, but none of them could see fit to place the $10,000 side bet. At that time I was under the management of Wm. A. Brady, and had many friends. I gathered together my money and then asked my friends to risk some of theirs on the ot come. The result was that the chal e age was accepted in its entirety, articles were drawn up and as follows: “Firstt—The match is to — under Marquis of Queensbury rules, the gloves shall be the empsiest that the club will allow, and other de tails of the contest Itself shall be the fight are of great interest now on account of the Britt-Nelson fight, which took place practically on the 13th anniversary of the great New Orleans event. I do not know how many times have seen it stated in the daily papers that the Britt-Nelson fight will bring more money to the win ner than any battle ever fought. I think statistics will show that the battle was the banner moneyvent in the history of the ring. I am informed by a manager of a Chicago club that preliminaries nowadays receive more money than the principals in the early days of fighting received. It is nothing to pay a couple of clubs, so he pays, $50 or more for a limited round bout. Why, I remember once when Peter Jackson asked a manager of a Frisco club to give him a chance to show what he could do for prac tically nothing. On one occasion I remember of George Dixon offering to give the other fellow all the money to get an opportunity to gain more experience. And you can bet those fellows knew what a straight lead was, too. Why, it is only a few years back when Young Corbett, Abe Attell, Kid Parker, Young Peter Jackson and a few others that turned out real champions, would go forth and fight for whatever they could get. They wanted to learn the tricks as soon as possible and that is why they got to the top so quick. FIGHTG THAT BRING BIG MONEY TO THE PRINCIPALS .IN OLD DAYS EMBRYO CHAMPS GOT LEIG6 THAN “CURTAIN RAISERS” DO NOW CORBETT'S GOSSIP Parson Davies paid over to Young Corbett $2 to box Jimmy Barry, a world’s champion. Young Peter Jackson received $5 once for fight ing Parker” Abe Attell fought two men on the same evening, eight rounds, each, for $10. The time and money they lost then was gotten back in later years when they reaped harvests that the preliminary fighter of today will never receive because he wants too much and get a little chance to fight. How a little thing often turns the tide in the affairs of a fighter is shown in an experience I once had. Sullivan was in the weet and I wee asked to go on and box an exhibi tion with him, I gladly did it, little expecting anything but to get my head knocked off. It was on that occasion that I learned for the first time that John L. was like all other mortals. It took a lot of argument with my friends to make them think the same way that I did, but I finally did and I signed article with the 12-year champion, know ing that if I didn't win he couldn't, he | could stay a long time with him without getting hit hard enough to top my thoughts. It would have to be a draw. I did all my training with the one thought in my mind that I couldn't lone. I believe that that preliminary inhibition I had with Sullivan won me the fight at New Orleans, the challenge and the articles of agree ment to which are found in the first part of this article.
Newspaper Details
Seattle Star
Seattle, Washington, US
Thu, Sep 21, 1905
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Tim A.
CA, USA 05 Jun 2026
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