Harold Rice

U is a blow-by-blow account of heavyweight championship bouts from the 18th century to the 20th. Heavyweight prize-fighting is one of the most colorful of modern sports and the men in these pages-Sullivan, Jeffries, Dempsey and Louis-live and fight like champions. Professional fighting was not always the aaccepted sport it is today. The Sullivan-Kilrain fight in 1889 almost didn't come off- 'Both fighters arrived in New Orleans only a few days ahead of the scheduled date of the fight and show more immediately ran into legal difficulties. Most states had laws against bare-knuckle bouts...On his way through Missisisippi, Sulilvan evaded the posse of an ambitioius sheriff at Meridian. Having been tipped off, Sullivan's handlers changed to a fast locomotive and teh fight special high-tailed through town...leaving the sheriff and his fifteen deputies gasping on the station platform...word got aroung that the bout might be shifted to Texas...no one know the day before where the fitht owuld be held. The promoters finally picked Richburg, Mississippi. The top price for seats at the ringside was $10.' In the days of John L. challenges were issued in a fighting spirit and in 1892 Sullivan worte an open letter which read- 'I hearby challenge any and all of the bluffers, who have been trying to make capital at my expense, to fight me...Winner of the fight to take the entire purse...First come, first served. I give preference in this challenge to Frank P. Slavin, of Australia, as he and his backers have done the greatest amount of blowing. My second preference is that bombasitc sprinter, Charles Mitchell, of England, who I would rather whip than any man in the world. My third preference is James J. Corbett, of America, who has uttered his share of bombast. But in this challenge I include all fighters...' These interesting sidelights make Within The Ropes a book to delight fight fans-and all sportsmen. Contents I English ring champions II Tom Cribb v. Molyneux III American pirze ring champions IV Sullivan v. Kilrain V Sullivan v. Corbett VI Corbett v. Fitzsimmons VII Fitzsimmons v. Jeffries VIII Burns-Johnson v. Jeffries-Willard IX Jack Dempsey X Dempsey v. Tunney XI Sharkey-Carnera-Baer-Braddock XII Joe Louis XIII Heavyweight Champion fights XIV Gate receipts XV Fighting names XVI Ring rules XVII Famous referees and announcers XVIII Training methods show less