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Show WHEN FIGHTERS FOUGHT. Prize-fighting is not a particHar elevating sport, yet it has many devotees, de-votees, even among persons of high official and social position. Ladies of unquestioned standing are frequently at boxing bouts in large numbers. Considering the unsatisfactory exhibitions ex-hibitions which have been staged of late, even among fighters who have held or aspired to world championships, champion-ships, it is remarkable that the boxing game has been able to hold its customers custom-ers so well. It is natural, therefore, that comparisons are being made between be-tween modern pugilists and the old-timers. old-timers. Many have speculated, for example, on what would have happened if John L. Sullivan in his prime had met a fighter like Jack Dempsey or Tunney. No one will ever know, but when it is remembered that Sullivan and Kil-rain Kil-rain fought 75 rounds with bare knuckles in the last championship contest con-test under the London prize ring rules, the stamina of those old-timers can not be discounted. That was in 1889, since which time gloves have been used, and no championship battle has lasted more than 26 rounds under the new rules. Under the old London bare-knuckle rules a round did not end until one of the fighters was on the ground. Then, after only 30 second rest, they went at it again. As Jack Dempsey has pointed out, while Sullivan in his decline was defeated de-feated by Jim Corbett in a glove contest, con-test, Sullivan went to his grave as the undefeated bare-knuckle champion. In comparison with Sullivan most of our modern fighters seem like mollycoddles. |