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The Biographies Newsletter Volume 7 No 4 – 23rd May , 2011 www.boxingbiographies.com

If you wish to sign up for the newsletters ( which includes the images ) please email the message “NEWS LETTER” [email protected] The Globe 19 April 1919

THE LEFT-HAND PUNCHES By Robert Edgren

Now that boxing has taken its place among world sports and has become of importance in training fighting men in the Army, millions of people are taking a new interest in old ring champions and their methods.

For more than twenty-five years I have made a close study of our champions, have watched them in. their greatest battles, and have often put the padded mittens on with some of them myself, to find out through personal experience what traits of character or physical power made them superior to other men.

In the old days of English boxing the English placed great reliance in 'straight left." The School of boxing was of the "hit and get away" order, nearly all of the fighting being done with the left hand, the right reserved for a finishing blow. This is the safest style of boxing, and a skilful fighter with a fast left hand can easily beat down a stronger and clumsier opponent in a long fight.

A curious thing that I have often noticed in left-handed fighters is the peculiar development of the left, arm, Abe Attell had a wonderful left land. When I first saw him fight, at Alex Greggains' old club on Howard St in San Francisco, Abe was a two-handed slugger. His right arm was larger and stronger than his left, as is usually the case with any naturally right- handed person. After years of boxing Attell's left arm became larger and stronger than his right. I have noticed the same development in Jeffries, Fitzsimmons, Hawkins, McCoy and hundreds of other famous ringsters.

Style All His Own

One of the most remarkable left handed hitters ever known in the American ring was Dal Hawkins. Dal was brought up in Virginia City, Nev, and as a boy did quite a little fighting in that old mining camp.

When he went to San Francisco he had taught himself a style of fighting that was all his own. He had studied out a use of the left hand that no other fighter had at that time.

Dal practiced striking a blow by reaching out slowly to full arm's length and then suddenly twisting his wrist, turning the palm of his clenched hand down and slightly lifting the elbow. this blow was the shortest left-hand blow ever used by any fighter. It travelled only three or four inches and it knocked a man down as if he had been struck with a baseball bat.

Frank Erne, one of the fastest champions of his time, was caught and nearly knocked out by that blow. Erne was watching Hawkins left in the first round as the men came together Hawkins reached out slowly with that left. Erne told me he thought Hawkins intended to pull down his guard, which was held high. Erne saw Hawkins' hand poised motionless in the air just above Erne's own protecting forearm - and then he heard the referee count "seven," realized that he was lying on his back, and managed to get up.

Spectators Could Hardly See It

What happened was just this: Hawkins reached out slowly until his hand was near enough to deliver his peculiar blow. It didn't look like a , and Erne didn't move to get out of range Hawkins gave his wrist and forearm a twist and his clenched clove struck on Erne's cheekbone. But for Erne's high guard the blow would have reached his chin, as Hawkins intended, and Erne would have been knocked out Hawkins knocked out scores of fighters with that blow. In each of his two fights with the great Joe Gans he dropped Gans for a nine- second count in the first round, with this punch. It was a blow even the spectators could hardly see delivered, and the. Effect of it was as startling to the onlookers as to the recipient.

Another great one-punch left-hand hitter was Eddie McGoorty. I saw him knock out , English champion and Dave Smith. Australian middleweight champion, each with almost the first blow of the battle. McGoorty's blow was longer than Dai's, being more of a left . But it was delivered with the same twist of the wrist.

Made McCoy Famous

Kid McCoy become famous through use of his "corkscrew punch." He could knock down a man of twice his strength, with that short blow. I always thought that the crafty Kid borrowed that blow from Dal Hawkins. He used it in much the same way. But McCoy told -me that he studied out the blow himself, his original intention being to cut his opponent's face by twisting his fist as his landed.

Later he developed so much power with the twist of the wrist that he turned it into a blow instead of one merely designed to mutilate and dishearten a rival.

A great. left-handed boxer — although never a great fighter in the sense that Sharkey ,Jeffries, Ruhlin. Sullivan and the rest of the big men were great was Jim Corbett. Jim was a beautiful boxer, fast as a streak and as quick of mind as he was of foot. He was tall and slightly built, and of the "hit and get away" school.

He jabbed old John L. Sullivan until John collapsed in the 21st round. He jabbed Jeffries for 23 rounds before Jeff knocked him out. He jabbed through 61 rounds with the black marvel, Peter Jackson, and, while he couldn't do much to Peter, Peter couldn't do anything at all to him.

Corbett's jabbing victory over Sullivan, in which he danced away from Sullivan's bull-like rushes and tap-tap tapped his way to victory, changed the style of American coxing for several years, until Fitzsimmons, Jeffries and the heavy hitters demonstrated that the weight behind a blow wins fights.

The Solar Plexus Punch

Bob Fitzsimmons was the most remarkable left-handed hitter of them all. He could hit equally hard with either hand, but usually hit first with the left and that was enough to win. He made the "solar plexus punch" famous when he knocked out Corbett in 14 rounds at Carson. When Fitzsimmons first toured America as a fighter he knocked out most of his victims by hitting them on the jaw with either right or left. Mike Donovan told Fitz that he'd surely kill some of the big fellows who fought him on the stage when he was meeting all comers, if he continued knocking them out with blows on the chin.- -Many of them were blacksmiths and lumbermen and strong fellows who didn't know how to protect their chins, but thought they could fight.

He begged Fitz to hit them in the body, with the left. So Fitz worked out the solar plexus punch, and Mike once told me Bob was as pleased as a child with a new toy as he went on, night after night, knocking out his men with a single hook neatly placed on the soft spot just below the edge of the ribs, usually called the "pit of the stomach."

Fitzsimmons had a trick of shifting his right foot forward and then hooking the left hand just as he would naturally hook a right in the normal left-foot-forward boxing position. This was his famous "shift," and it gave him tremendous leverage for a knockout blow.

He knocked out both Sharkey and Ruhlin with this punch. Both of them told me after the fights that they'd never fight "old Bob" again, for fear of being killed. He hit too hard. Fitzsimmons was the craftiest of all fighters. I asked Kid McCoy — crafty as a fox himself — why he never fought Fitzsimmons. "Because that old guy knows too much." said McCoy. "I can measure any other man's mind and tell what he's likely to do next, but when you think you know every move old Fitz can make he pulls out something new that you never thought of."

Dempsey's Left

Sam Langford has passed his best days, but Sam still has some trace of the wicked lunging left for the body that made him a terror among . I've seen him beat down scores of men with that blow. Langford had tremendously wideband powerful shoulders, and he swung his whole body with the blow. , who is to fight Willard

July 4. is a heavy body hitter with the left. He doesn't swing, but drives the left straight in or uses It with a lifting hook, according to his opening. He practically knocked Fulton out with that punch, although he hit him twice on the chin before he fell. He has brought down Morris, and a lot of other heavyweights by bending them double with a left in the body and then hooking the same hand up to the jaw, sometimes crossing, the right to the jaw as a finishing touch. Johnson has lost all the reputation He ever had, or might have had, and I wouldn't mention him here but for one thing. As a fighting machine he had have a few tricks worthy of a scientific interest.

Johnson's best punch was an , delivered when too close to his opponent to deliver any other blow. With his elbow close to his body and his forearm straight up he could deliver a jarring uppercut under the chin, even when the other man was trying to clinch. He had a trick of pushing about until his rival was a little off balance, and then shooting in this uppercut, preferably with the left fist. It was a wicked blow, and one against which it was almost impossible to offer a defense. This blow was among the many taught in the army camps, for use when our soldiers were at grips with the Boche in hand-to-hand fighting.

80 Percent Done by Left

Benny Leonard, present lightweight champion, makes great use of a left hand punch in the body. This blow was the one that led to the knockout of Welsh by Leonard. Former champion James J. Jeffries was a great left-handed fighter, being naturally left handed. Unlike some other left-handed fighters, he didn't try to reverse the usual boxing position and hold the left hand back for a finishing punch. He extended his left, and he could hit a terrific straight blow with it. McAuIiffe the original Jack Dempsey, Dixon, McGovern, and all the old time, champions were great users of the left hand. Although many of them used the right for a finishing punch, the real wearing down was done with the left .A summing up of all the blows struck in a fight between skilled boxers shows that the left does at least 80 percent of the work in the ring.

End

Name: Eddie McGoorty Alias: Eddie Van Dusart Born: 1889-07-31 Birthplace: Eureka, , USA Died: 1929-11-02 (Age:40) Nationality: US American Hometown: Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA Stance: Orthodox Height: 5′ 10″ / 178cm Reach: 73″ / 185cm Boxing Record: click Manager: Marty Forkins

Won the State of Wisconsin amateur 130 lb. boxing championship at , on December 17, 1904. This was accomplished by defeating three opponents in one evening at the age of 15. According to a Nov. 14 (1912?) Tacoma, WA, USA newspaper article, McGoorty described his punching style:

"It's a matter of cutting out waste motion," said McGoorty. "I try never to waste a blow. That means that every one I start must be deliberately planned and accurate. They say a man who goes deer shooting with a repeating rifle will pump bullets at a running deer as fast as he can pull the trigger, and as likely as not kick up the dust all around without hitting the target, while a man using a single shot rifle will take deliberate aim and make sure with his one bullet.

Variety Necessary. "That's the way I try to box. I use every blow as if it were the only one in the magazine. Another important thing is variety. It doesn't do to let the other man know what you'll use next. If he can figure that out he can block or get away easily. When you can make your openings and set your own range, the next thing is to deliver the blow in the most effective way. That is done by starting with muscles loose and flexible, and ending the delivery with a snap of the arm or wrist like cracking a whip. The force of the blow is all in that last snap, and if the timing is right, so that your glove reaches the mark just as you use the snap, you get results."

McCoy's Invention. "I picked up the old McCoy corkscrew idea, in which the left wrist is twisted just as the blow lands, and that's what makes my blow so effective. With the right uppercut, which is one of the best blows used in the ring, I get a free swing and time the blow so that it has the greatest force at the moment it lands. The uppercut is a hard blow to block, if one know how to time it."

In many October 30, 1929 newspapers, it was reported that McGoorty was dying of throat cancer at a Milwaukee sanitarium. The Site's McGoorty page

The Montana Standard, Butte 20 May 1934 By Robert Edgren

Boxing comes to life with a bang with two such championship fights as McLarnin- Ross and Carnera- Baer stirring things up in the arena May 28 and June 14. Here are two championship cards that would have had Tex Rickard talking in millions—and taking millions in at the gates. That McLarnin-Ross affair is a wow No stumble match, this. Both boys know their way around the ring. It isn't often that champions in two weight closes meet under circumstances that make an even money bet a fair proposition. It would be fair this time. There will be little difference in weight. They fight at 147 pounds, welter limit Ross came back from his two weeks' training in the woods weighing just 148.

It's no secret that making the lightweight limit has been bothering Ross. Although he made it for , he has been fighting around the country since then as a "Junior " — more welter than junior. He has put on weight and learned how to handle It, and he has been getting the feel of stacking himself up against more beef. Ross hasn't been doing this Just to collect a little easy money. He likes to go right after money in big chunks and take chances, as shown by that Canzoneri rematch in New York. It's evident Ross has a scheme and thinks there's no use wasting time putting it over.

Feeling that he is rapidly outgrowing the lightweight title, what could be more natural than to try to annex another championship?

Bout a Natural.

It was like Ross to go right after Jimmy McLarnin and the welterweight crown. It is natural that he should figure he'll never have a better chance. Ross is 23. He started as an amateur In 1926 and won about 150 fights. This is his fifth year as a professional, and he has had plenty of experience. He should be at the top of his form right now.

McLarnin was born in Ireland 27 years ago, and he has been fighting 10 years or more. He has had only one ring battle in the past year and a half. One year since the Corbett fight, lacking a day, will have passed when Jimmy steps into the ring with Ross. Barney might easily think Jimmy has grown soft from lack of fighting but that notion is always a mistake when you're figuring McLarnin. He is one fighter who seems to thrive on laying off to go fishing.

Perhaps the reason is that he always puts in a lot of quiet training up in the back woods before fighting again. One thing about McLarnin: no one has yet seen him in the ring out of fighting trim. He'll be light for Ross.

Will Be No Maypole Party.

Perhaps Ross counts on the fact that Young Corbett was plastering Jimmy all over the ring when Jimmy got mad and slipped over the unexpected left hook that dropped Corbett as If he'd been hit with a club. Well, those things seem to happen to good fighters who mix with Jimmy. Corbett was very good, and still is. Only a couple of weeks ago he knocked out Young Terry, the Trenton buzz saw. with a terrific solar plexus punch in the third round. He's on a drive for the middleweight crown and likely to give Vince Dundee plenty of trouble If they meet. So Jimmy's feat of starting Corbett with a single desperate left hook and finishing him with a couple of rights was nothing to Jeer at.

It may be Ross figures on outboxing Jimmy. Well, lots of clever fellows have figured that way. The first I saw was , who made Baby Face flounder through the first round, and then forgot to duck when the exasperated McLarnin let his right go in the second. A similar classic was when McLarnin met Sid Terris In New York —Sid faster than a light ray and with a mean kick In either mitt— one of those ring marvels of the century just about to arrive.

I never had a greater surprise than that one McLamin came out looking rather sleepy and wearing a funny apologetic little smile. Sid danced around Jimmy and was in and out a couple of times with so swift you could hardly see his glove flicker in Jimmy's face and snap back again. Then, as Sid's left flickered but again Jimmy moved forward suddenly, his shoulders gave a sort of a wriggle and his right glove landed on Sid's chin. In the same instant Sid hit the floor, and he didn't get up because he couldn't.

It was much the same when the Ghetto Idol, , was Flattened in the second round. Did the Ghetto expect to see Ruby collect? Well, the fight drew $106,000. Mandell Fooled Jimmy. And It was even more so when the backers of , who had just knocked out in one round and had become the new Ghetto idol In New York, thought it would be a fine stunt to match Al against Jimmy McLarmn right away for a big gate. Jimmy had outgrown the lightweight class so the title wasn't at stake. He knocked poor Al out so hard in the third round that it ruined Singer forever as a fighter. Canzoneri added a finishing tough by knocking Al out for the title.

Jimmy spoiled a lot of lighter fighters with that right-hand clip on the chin. Give him a few pounds in the weights and he could ruin any of them, and did it. Except, of course, Sammy Mandell. There was a lightweight champ with all the boxing class in the world McLarnin fought Sammy for the title In 1928, and for once met a fighter who could shower him with gloves and never stand still long enough to be hit. Mandell won the 15-round decision. Jimmy decisioned Sammy a couple of times after that In 10 round bouts, but never could catch him with the big punch. But perhaps the socks he got over slowed Sammy up for it was not long after he met McLarnin in that Sammy, for the first time in his life, forgot to duck and was knocked out of the title by Singer.

Barney Ross may be counting on what Mandell did to McLarnin in their first bout, figuring that he can match anything Mandell had in skill, and that he took the title from Canzoneri who knocked out Singer in a round after Singer knocked out Mandell. Perhaps Barney has done so much figuring on this that he's dizzy. But whatever he has figured he'd better not go m there with McLarnin intending to stand close and trade punches.

Quick to Grab Opening.

It's no way to fight Jimmy. McLarnin can wait his chance and take it faster than any other man who ever put on a glove. And he is deadly to fighters of the Terris, Goldstein, Singer persuasion. Didn't he ruin 's comeback for him?

He should feel quite at home fighting Ross, especially if he has a few pounds advantage in the weights an advantage Jimmy knows how to use better than anyone else. On the other side. Ross has shown himself a fighter. He can fight in any style and likes mixing. He's a smooth bird in action, with plenty of nerve, good defense, good judgment, and a knack of fighting in close. It's possible he may get away with it. Jimmy has been fighting a dozen years or so He was supposed to be slowing up when he met Corbett and fooled everybody with a one-round knockout. Perhaps he is slowing up now.

But one night sitting in Bob Shand's place In Oakland just before the McLamin-Corbett fight I suggested this to Pop Foster, who has handled Jimmy since he first put on a glove. Pop snorted. I'll tell you about Jimmy," he said. "The boy's not only not going back but he's at his best right now and still improving. He'll give you the surprise of your life. He'll win this fight by knocking Young Corbett out in one or two rounds.' Well, he did. I saw him do it, and after seeing the waspish way Jimmy set sail for Corbett after being punched around the ring for two minutes—and the way he dropped Corbett with a left that was so lightning-fast even Jackie Fields insisted It was a right—I wouldn't bet against Jimmy if he was 10 years older and wore whiskers.

The Boston Globe

Robert Edgren-1916-12-23

"I've come back to America to see my old friends just once more," Charlie Mitchell told me when he landed in New York a few weeks ago. There was a touch of pathos In Mitchell's tone. The man who once fought John L. Sullivan to a draw after three hours and 11 minutes of desperate battling, is only a shadow of the once famous "Boxing Champion of England."

Mitchell's visit is well timed. Today there is a situation in the heavyweight boxing ranks much like that when Mitchell first visited America, 33 years ago. Bob Moha and , by easily defeating some of the big heavyweights, have forced themselves into a position next to Willard, the holder of the heavyweight championship.

Thirty-three years ago it was little Charlie Mitchell who was ready and willing and able to prove that a small man can give a big man a fight, if he has skill enough. The chief difference between Mitchell and Dillon and Moha is that, while the modern "giant-killers" weigh about 135 pounds stripped, Charlie Mitchell In his best day weighed 21 pounds less than that! Yet he was considered the great John L. Sullivan's only dangerous rival.

Charlie Mitchell was discovered in a peculiar way ,a way that shows the man who is eventually to become champion in Willard's place may be walking about among us today without attracting even a passing notice.

John L. Sullivan's manager was Billy Madden. Sullivan and Madden had a falling out. Madden went to England to try to find a man to whip Sullivan. He knew Sullivan's pride in everything American.

He remembered how John L. had offered to whip Jem Smith, champion of England, in a private bout before the Prince of Wales, and not only to fight for nothing, but give Smith a thousand dollars if he stayed two rounds. So Madden wasn't satisfied to hunt up an American to fight Sullivan. He wanted to humiliate John L. by bringing over an Englishman to trim him.

Madden went to England and laid his plans for finding a man to beat Sullivan. Going to the office of Sporting Life, he met Mr Atkinson, the editor, and proposed to get up a series of big tournaments to develop an English heavyweight fit to fight for the world title. He advertised in Sporting Life for men from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England to fight in heavyweight contests. Thirty-three men answered Madden's ad. They were from all over the British Isles, and Madden paid their traveling expenses and brought them to his headquarters.

Sports Objected to Carpets

He leased a big show hall at. Lambert's Baths, put his men into training under his own supervision and made all arrangements to hold the tournament. An inspector was sent from Scotland Yard to watch the contests. His only objection was that the men fell too hard on the bare floor. He ordered a carpet put down In the ring, which was a new idea in those hardy days, and much criticized as a sign of "modern effeteness." English sportsmen liked to hear the thump when fighters fell. They still had the London prize ring idea.

The first tournament went off with no startling features. The winners were nothing to look at, and Madden was as far as ever from having a man to fight Sullivan.

The next series of contests was at St George's Hall. The tournament was open to all comers, the winner to get £20 and the second man £10 sterling. A sensational middleweight, known as "The Deaf 'un," from Norwich, knocked out all rivals until the tournament was nearly over.

He was only 5 feet 7 inches tall, and he was a terror! He weighed a little under 150 pounds, yet when he hit the big men their heels flew up in the air and their heads struck the floor first when they fell. The "Deaf 'Un" made a tremendous hit, especially with Madden. The "Deaf 'un" upset all of Madden's theories that a giant was needed to whip Sullivan. After a number of Madden was about ready to make him a proposition for an American trip.

Sensation at Very Start

But in the same tournament was a small, smiling- fellow who dressed with extreme care when out of the ring, had some education and offered the greatest contrast in the world to the rest of the fighters. A novice, he had amazing speed and natural ability in both defense and offense. He outboxed so many that Madden looked him over and decided that he'd do to light the "Deaf 'Un" in the windup.

Mitchell met the "Deaf 'Un," who immediately rushed furiously. Little Mitchell, smiling, slipped aside. Billy Madden, standing in the wings, waited to see the "Deaf 'Un" knock Mitchell cold. The "Deaf 'Un" used a terrific right swing. Mitchell, smiling pleasantly, watched the right, and every time It started slipped under it and drove his left stiffly into the pit of the "Deaf 'Un's" stomach. When he drove the "Deaf 'Un" back he varied his attack by jabbing him swiftly on the nose. The "Deaf 'Un's" fury cooled suddenly, and after three rounds he was backing away, while little Mitchell punched him all over the ring.

Mitchell won the tournament. But he weighed only 143 pounds, and Madden couldn't believe that he'd have a chance against John L. He started another tournament. This time he found two giants, known as "Keenan's Big 'Un" and the "Eighty-One Tonner." They were bigger men than Jeffries. Madden matched them to see which was the better man. They both fought hard for a couple of rounds, then both slopped.

Madden decided that they couldn't fight Sullivan. Not satisfied, Madden had tournaments at Newcastle and Birmingham. Before 8000 people Birmingham Mitchell won again, beating- "Tug" Wilson. He beat Alf Greenfield. Then he beat Clark of Newcastle, one of England's best heavyweights, with ease. Clark claimed afterward that "Mitchell oughtn't to have hit him as he did." The last tournament was in London, the big concluding show. Mitchell beat every one again. His skill was growing in every fight. All over England he was becoming a popular hero.

Thought Him Too Small

Finally Madden sat down with Mitchell one day and said: "I don't know if you can make any money over there in America—you're so small. American people will naturally think it'll take a big man to fight Sullivan." "Then I'll fight Charlie Norton, the American lightweight champion," said Mitchell. Madden threw up his hands. "If you mention Norton that'll settle it!" he exclaimed.

"You'll have to go after Sullivan. It you get a match with Sullivan I'll furnish $1000 to back you." "Yea," said Mitchell, "and you'll bet $2600 the other way." "No," said Madden. "I'll bet $1000 on you if you fight Sullivan, or $2500 if you fight any one else."

When Mitchell and Madden landed in New York a great number of reporters and sporting men boarded the boat, to see the heralded English invader. When they saw him, a little, thin, dudish fellow, they wouldn't believe he was Mitchell, the lighter. When Madden insisted they laughed.

Madden offered to have Mitchell fight Sullivan in Madison Square Garden, Sullivan to set a third of the gross receipts. Sullivan wired an offer of a third of the receipts if Mitchell would fight a friend of his, Mike Cleary. Mitchell accepted. Mayor Grace had stopped "prize fighting," but four-round bouts were, allowed. Sullivan was in Cleary's corner ( Cleary was a 175 pound man) and saw little Mitchell sink lefts into Cleary's stomach until the police jumped in, in the third round to save Cleary from a knockout. After that Sullivan could not longer ignore the little "Boxing Champion of England." They fought in the Garden. This was one of the most sensational fights ever held.

Put John L. on His Back

When Sullivan rushed, little Mitchell met him squarely instead of backing away like all other rivals. Sullivan had a habit of feinting once before swinging his right. As he feinted with his left Mitchell stepped in swiftly and drove his right fist straight for Sullivan's jaw. Sullivan's heels flow up into the air and he struck the flat on his shoulder blades.

He rose with a roar of mingled rage and astonishment. Sullivan had never been handled like that before. With a bull like bellow, he ran at Mitchell, brushed his arms aside and, catching him about the waist, threw him against the ropes and leaned his weight on him, Mitchell struggled to get away, and Sullivan, grasping the ropes on each side pinned him there. Little 143-pound Mitchell had no chance against the 200 pound Sullivan at roughing.

From that time on Mitchell jumped about and hit Sullivan hard and often, but the big follow roughed him until in the third round, with Mitchell very tired, the police jumped into the ring. The master of ceremonies (there being no referee) gave Sullivan a "decision," although it was a no-decision bout. Mitchell went on fighting and beat a number of good heavyweights. He was still a welterweight himself, seldom weighing more than 143 or 145 pounds even at catchweights. It was nearly five years later that he fought Sullivan for the championship of the world at Chantllly, France, just outside of Paris. This is one of the worlds historic ring battles. Mitchell weighed about 145 pounds, Sullivan over 200. The fight was on turf, in a glade in a private park. Few spectators were present. It was cold and rainy. Both men were chilled through and the soft wet turf under foot was trampled to mud ankle deep.

Both Roughed It It was London prize ring rules, to a finish, Sullivan, relying on his great strength, threw Mitchell violently and full on him many times, while Mitchell cut. Sullivan to ribbons with vicious hooks and jabs, spiked him in the clinches and sometimes threw him in the wrestling. After a couple of hours of this both men grow almost too weary to bit. Mitchell was becoming worn down because Sullivan held him and leaned on him with all his weight in every clinch.

Sullivan’s legs gave out so that he could only stand on one spot in the mud and turn to meet Mitchell's attack. At last after three hours and 11 minutes, when neither man had strength enough left to push the other over, the seconds, backers and principals agreed to call it a draw. Mitchell's downfall came 6 years later. By that time high life had cut down his strength and speed, he fought Jim Corbett, the new champion, who had knocked out Sullivan, and was beaten down and knocked out, game and defiant to the last, In three rounds. Mitchell weighed 144 pounds in that fight, Corbett 188. And Corbett was the fastest, and cleverest heavyweight that ever put on a glove. He was a great lighter in his day, this "Boxing Champion of England," welterweight, fought the greatest heavyweights of his time. Mitchell, even more than Corbett, who showed the Queensberry world that brute strength cannot dominate when opposed to courage, and skill.

Name: Alias: George Chipulonis Born: 1888-08-25 Birthplace: Madison, , USA Died: 1960-11-08 (Age:72) Nationality: US American Hometown: New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA Stance: Orthodox Height: 5′ 8″ / 173cm Boxing Record: click

Article “Fistic Flashbacks” published in undated “Sports Novels” magazine.

After the murder of Stanley Ketchell, the world middleweight boxing title became vacant, and it was several years before George Chip emerged as champion.

With the sudden and tragic death of Ketchell came numerous claimants for the vacant middleweight crown. ―Cyclone‖ Johnny Thompson, who stopped former title holder Billy Papke, at Sydney Stadium, probably had the strongest pretensions to this crown, but for some unknown reason failed to force his claims and gradually faded out of the picture as a contender.

For several years the title was in dispute. Eventually George Chip became recognized champion when he KO’d Frank Klaus, who in the course of his graduation to the field of claimants had whipped Papke and George Carpentier.

The family name was Chipulonis. In those days a boxer with such a name would be frowned upon. Therefore when George launched upon his fistic career, he wisely shortened his name to Chip.

Born of Lithuanian parents at Scranton USA on August 25, 1888, George made a successful ring debut early in 1909 by stopping his opponent in the second round. This initial triumph was followed by four more KOs which gained him a bout with a pretty tough customer in the person of Billy Manfredo.

George was not a bit overawed by the reputation of his opponent and sailed into him from the first bell to administer a severe thrashing to his rival for two rounds, when in sheer desperation, Manfredo committed an unpardonable foul and was disqualified.

This pair of lads met on three occasions during this year, all of which were no decision affairs. Early in 1910 Chip proved his superiority over Manfredo by stopping him in five rounds.

From thenceforth George’s ability soared high in the estimation of the promoters and they sent him into the ring opposed to top class boys. He held Buck Crouse to even terms in two no decision bouts, then suprisingly had the better of the ―Giant Killer‖ Jack Dillon. However, before the year ended Crouse came back for another shot at George suffered his first defeat when he was KO’d in the third round.

In his first bout in 1911 Chip suffered a further defeat when he was outpointed by Jack Dillon after fifteen rounds of hard and fast fighting.

These defeats did not cause any loss of prestige. George had proved conclusively that he was a fighter of the highest quality, therefore, he continued to gain matches with the best of the middleweight brigade. He engaged in fourteen more bouts before he was again declared a loser.

This time it was the cagey who stopped his run of success by gaining a fifteen round's decision. To be whipped by this ring general neither disgraced nor discouraged George. He insisted that he met the best and before he annexed the title he again crossed gloves with Dillon, Crouse, etc.

It was on the night of October 11, 1913, at that Frank Klaus and Chip came together in their championship clash.

Frank, although well aware of his opponent's record was so puffed up with his own victories, that he did not take his rival seriously. Consequently, he did not prepare himself as he should have - a lapse that was brought home to him with a vengeance before the opening round was a minute old.

With the opening bell, George hurled himself into the attack with a vicious barrage of blows which had Frank stepping around much more speedily than he anticipated would be necessary to retain his high standing in the middleweight division.

The boy from Scranton continued his onslaught until midway through the sixth round before he sent his foe crashing to the floor with a vicious right hand to the chin. At the count of nine, Klaus struggled to his feet, but was immediately sent down and out by a similar blow.

Two months later Frank made an attempt to reverse the defeat. However, he fared a little worse on this occasion as the winning blow was put over in the fifth session.

George’s reign as king of the division was short-lived. Approximately six months later the champion paid the same penalty as Klaus had by underestimating his opponent's ability, when he clashed with Al McCoy at , on April 7, 1914.

True, Al had no standing in the first flight of at that period. Nethertheless, that was no excuse for George to have been lax in his preparation or careless with his defense which Al, quickly demonstrated. Exactly one minute and thirty seconds after the opening bell, George dropped his guard and as quick as a flash McCoy seized the opportunity by driving a powerful right to the chin, which dropped the champion to the canvas for the full count.

Although deprived of his crown, George continued to successfully battle among the top class boys. Naturally he was anxious for a return with McCoy and pestered him until he obliged with a ten round no decision encounter. They met at Brooklyn on April 6, 1915, and George administered a severe lacing to his opponent throughout the entire bout. Unable to knock out his man, Chip had to be contented that he had inflicted heavy punishment upon the man who had unexpectedly shorn him of his crown.

Whatever chances George had of regaining the title were completely blotted out when he clashed with Les Darcy in Sydney. Darcy proved Chip’s master in every phase of the game, until he KO’d him in the ninth round.

Before leaving these shores George engaged in another bout in Melbourne, Art Magirl being the victim of a fourteenth round ko.

On his return to his homeland, George continued his ring activities for a further five years, meeting good, bad and indifferent fighters during this period. In none of these bouts did he display the ability he had when fighting his way up to the middleweight crown.

During twelve years of ring warfare Chip engaged in 153 bouts, most of which were no decision affairs. Nethertheless, despite the fact that he crossed gloves with such notables as Tommy and , Harry Greb, Gus Christie, K.O. Brown, Jeff Smith, Jack Dillon, Jimmy Clabby, Frank Klaus, K.O. Brennan, Billy Murray, Frank Loughrey, Eddie McGoorty, Al McCoy, Buck Crouse and Les Darcy, none of these men, with the exception of the last three mentioned boxers, were capable of stopping him, which proves George Chip was an excellent fighting machine. New Castle News- 20 November 1914 Langford About Done As Contender For Title

So Says George Chip in Telling of Bouts in the West—Banquet Interests Friends of Middleweight Boxer — Chip ' Describes Battles in Rings — McMahon : Said to Be Better. By C. HUGH BLAIR.

Sam Langford is done—the first good heavyweight who uses his brains and fights carefully for the first few rounds against the big Boston Tar Baby, will end his ring aspirations. .Such are the sentiments of George Chip, leading middleweight, who yesterday returned from a long stay in California and who was tendered a banquet by his friends at the home of Harry Kiser on Jefferson street, last night. Chip saw the recent Tom McMahon-Langford battle; which was stopped by a deputy sheriff in the sixth round, ostensibly to save McMahon from further punishment. According, to Chip, McMahon was not in bad shape when the battle ended but could have gone the route.

McMahon's Nose Bleeds.

His nose was bleeding and he had been sent to the floor," said Chip, "by a hard left but he was going well 'and showering Langford with gloves when the sheriff stopped the bout. McMahon was not hurt when he was sent to the floor, but he stayed down for the nine counts just to get a good rest. There was not the slightest reason for stopping the bout as McMahon was in fine shape and showing better than he had before. But I suppose the sheriff got frightened by McMahon’s appearance - you know he always looks badly hurt – and decided to stop the fight. Langford is getting big and unable to stand as much punishment as in former years, according to Chip. The Tar Baby was quite sick following the McMahon battle and had McMahon been permitted to go a few rounds longer, would have had to quit, in Chip’s estimation .

―If Tom had fought the way Dime told him to he would have been alright," said Chip last night, "but instead of that, Tom tried to bore in and he worked hard the first four rounds so that he was tired. Had he taken things easy and let Langford do the forcing of the pace, I believe that he would have won out. That is the only way a fellow can get Langford and I think that the first big fellow that meets Langford and fights that way will ―Get Him‖.

Following the big turkey dinner which, aside from Chip’s talk, was the main feature of the banquet last night, addresses were made by a number of guests. H.C. Duncan was toastmaster and start the bal to rolling with a short eulogy of the popular middleweight. Following him, Claude Patton, Marty Gibbons, Ed Fitz, William Berger and others spoke.

Chip was called upon to explain and to describe the battles in which he and others of the Dime table had taken part while in the west. He told of the Langford-McMahon bout and of his own battles with Murray, Petroskey, Clabby and others.

Clabby Fastest In The World

Clabby is the cleverest and fastest middleweight in the world at the present time, according to Chip.‖But I can beat him‖ said Chip, ―If I get another chance at him‖.

―Clabby I consider one of the finest fellows in the ring game. He is a mighty fast fellow but as fine as they make them. After he had won from me in my last fight he came over to me and with his voice n a quaver asked that we be pals. The next day he came around in his machine and took me to the ball game.

―I had hard work hitting that fellow as he took no chances with me and danced around the ring making me swing and miss and occasionally getting one across to me. But I kept after him. I had as much chance of getting him in one round as in twenty and I’ll meet him anywhere at any time, just so that I can get another chance at him, but I doubt if he lets me have a match for some time as he has the opportunity to pick up some easy money now ―.

Climate Bothers Chip

The climate bothered Chip in his first battle with Sailor Petroskey. He could not get started until the eleventh round and was losing on points until that time. At that stage his senses and faculties returned and he started to fight in his usual manner and knocked out his opponent before the twenty rounds were completed.

!I was cold, chilled through and seemed slow for ten rounds‖ said Chip, describing the fight with the sailor, ― and could not get started. Petroskey kept hammering me and taunting me about coming clear across the continent to be defeated. And I kept after him for ten rounds although he hammered me severely and I was glad when the gong rang‖.

"But I got my bearings about the tenth round and then started in to clean up. I 'got him' before the fight was over."

Murray's overthrow by Chip was a popular one to the San Franciscan’s. The overbearing manner of the Californian flash had caused him to be disliked by many fight fans and when he was toppled by Chip the fans voiced their approval.

Murray Proves Easy

―Murray was not hard‖ said Chip, ― and I knew I would get him. And then after I got him the first time, he came back and didn’t give me credit for doing anything and boasted around that it was a fluke. He demanded another bout and made me come to his terms. But I didn’t care, I was willing to fight anyway just so I’d get that fellow.

'The next time we met, I wouldn't stand for posing for any photographs or that sort of stuff but told 'em I was there to fight and that I would fight. When I knocked Murray out in the fourth round, he fell like a log and I'don't believe he will ever be so near being dead and still live as he was at that time. I picked him up and carried him to his corner and then his seconds came to help him but it was some time before they brought him to consciousness. Afterwards he found out that I had helped him to his chair, and that made him feel so bad that he went on a long drunk. He is about done as a fighter now."

McMahon Better.

Great improvement is being shown n the form of Tom McMahon according to Chip. "You ought to have seen him defeat Kid Kenneth," said Chip. "When he dropped that fellow I thought he had killed him. I grabbed a bucket and a sponge and jumped into the ring to help Kenneth. Two cops grabbed McMahon and took him to his dressing room. But Kenneth come to after a while, but is done as a fighter now." Chip explained that California was a delightful place to train, the weather conditions being perfect for that life, but that he liked New Castle best .