BOXING.

NZ Truth, Issue 138, 8 February 1908, Page 3

BOXING.

•■>■ ■ • ■ » ■ ■ j 1 (By Upptf-Cut)> ( The World's Championship. Who Holds the Title? Fight followers and fistic writers may question a fight between Burns and Jackson being the first for the world's heavy-weight title under Queensberry rules that ever has been fought m this country (says the Chicago "Tribune"). They may argue that Burns has no right to the American championship until Jim Jeffries turns up his toes. In- this they will err, as Jeffries has stated repeatedly he never again will engage m a ring battle and, acceptiag this as . true, he has no claim on the title. When he retired the championship was open for any two men to fight for. Marvin Hart and Jack Root grasped the opportunity and fought for the title, which Jeffries, as referee, awarded to Hart, the winner. Burns then won it from Hart, and defended it a- ' gainst O'Brien and Squires. Let us hike back fifteen years and see "where we are at" regarding the much-mooted world's championship battles. On September 7, 1802, the first heavy-weight championship battle under Queensberry rules was" fought at New Orleans, between the Champion John L. Sullivan and Jas. J. Corbett, which Corbett won m the 21st round. That battle was for the championship pf America, as Peter J«ickson was tlie champion of England, and ha : d the best claim to the championship of Britain by virtue of his defeat of Frank (Paddy) Slavin. Frank beat Jim Smith, England's Ghampion, with the raw "uns" under London prize-ring rules, the same rules under which Sullivan won his spurs m, America. The figjht between Jackson and Slavin was for a £2000 purse, and took place under the auspices 1 of the London Sporting Club on May 30. 1892, and was advertised as being for the heavy-weight championship of England and Australia. Tho next heavyweight championship fight m this country was that between Corbett and Charley Mitchell, at Jacksonville, T?la., on January 25, 1894 which Corbett won m. i ho third round. Mitchell was touted as the heavy-weight champion of England, but had no claim to the title. Then followed the Peter Maher-Bob . Fitz-simmo-ns fight m Mexico, opposite Langtry, ,Tex., on February 1 1895, which "Bob won ih the first round. This was "advertised as a championship affair because Corbett a few months previously had presented tlie title to Maher after he knocked out Corbett's sparring partner, Steve O'Donnell, m the first round of their battle. The public, however, would not accept F'itzsimmdns as the champion until after he had defeated Corbett at Carson Cit^ Nev., On March 17, 1897. Fitzsimmons's first championship battle after winning the title from Corbett was with Jim Jeffries, at Coney Island, on June 9, 1899. which Jeff won m tte eleventh round. The big retired one then beat Tom Sharkey "m 25 rounds. Jim Cor^ bett m -93 rounds, Gus Ruhlin m 5 rounds, Jim Corbett m 10 rounds, and Jack Munro m 2 rounds. AH rst i-Tsese battles were for the championship o.f America only. Although Jeff was called the* heavyweight oUampion of the world, he fougjkt no foreign chamnion, and he therefore had no rightful claim on the world's cUampionsJun title. There is no doubt he covld have beaten any man m the world., but he didn't.. He did. heat Joe Goddavd m i rounds, and Peter Jackson m 3, early m the year 189.8. but the Australians at the time would have been pie for any of .our third-raters.