JEM MACE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 271, 12 August 1919, Page 7

JEM MACE

TEE LAST PRIZEFIGHTER,

Just two hundred years ago James Figg, tho first heavyweight champion on record, was in his prime. Figg, who described 'himself as "Master of ye Noblo Science of Defence," had a sohool of aims nc-ar the "Ada;,in and Eve" in "Oxford Road"—as it then was—where he taught; tlie art of fisticuffs and the use of "ye small backsivord and quarterstaff," and v.-as prepared to do "batfclo far money, love, or a 'bellyful." If Figg was like his successors, one may conclude Dint l.io had a distinct preference for the first of theso atake.s! It is singularly appropriate that the "Father of -the Ring" should have been called James; for there would.appear to be a maffic in tho mime. The three most ,fan:ous fighters of bare-knucklo days were Jem' Belcher, Jem Ward, and Jem Mace, In James Corbett, James Jeffries, and Jim Driscoll we have three not unworthy bearers of the same namo.

Jem Mace, was tho last worfd's champion under prize ring rules, and when lie died, in 1911, the last link with the old times may bo said to have been brtfkon. Mace caino to tho front at a tinio when the reaction after the excitement over the Sayers-Hcenan fight had set in. These were the days when—to iiuote « well-known writer—"tho patronage of tho. P.R. had fallen from noblemen, gentlemen, and the admirers of courage and fair play into the hands of the keepera of night-bouses, hells, Mid oven re-sorts yet more detestable, whose solo object was to fleece tho dissipated and. unwary by the sale of high-priced railway passes for 'special excursions,' and bring customers and victims to their dens of debauchery and robbery." The police made it extremely difficult for a fight to Ihs "brought off at all, and all the premratioiis had to be mads with tho greatest tecrecy (says "The Times").

M-ncft wits born at Becston, in Norfolk, in 1831 ; and was said lo have some gipsy blond in Ho spent tho early part of his lifo with a travelling booth, in which he gave .sparring exhibition'; at fairs, and at odd times nlaved the violin —one imngineis that his "to»eh" must lmvo been r. trifle heavy! While thus employed lie caught the eye of the great Nat Langham, the ouiy man who ever bfiit Tom Payors, who sii great possibilities in him, and. taking him under his wing, started ilim on his pugilistic career.