Bat Masterson

[Seamus]

I started reading the book Gunfighter In Gotham : Bat Masterson's New York City Years by Robert DeArment, and it's packed with boxing stories. Just getting into the 2nd chapter, and it's already had stories about Sullivan (Bat was not a fan) Corbett, Charlie Mitchell (Bat was a big fan) Fitz, Peter Jackson, Kilrain, Maher and several others.

Even before Bat moved to the Big Apple from Denver he was one of the most prominent boxing fans in the US, and he wrote numerous columns on the sport. I expect this book will be excellent as DeArment as written more books on the West than anyone I can think of.

[Expug]

Did he referee one of Battling Nelson’s fights?
I think I read that somewhere years ago. Not sure though.

[klompton]

He was probably one of the worst, most biased boxing writers Ive ever read.

[Caractacus]

yeah, maybe so, but I don't think you (or anyone else here)would ever had the 'guts " to have said that to his face !

[Ambling Alp II]

Seamus,
See if the book says anything about him being at the Sullivan-Kilrain, Corbett-Mitchell, Fitzsimmons-Maher, and Corbett-Fitzsimmons fights.

[Seamus]

Sorry for the delay. Nothing in the book on Battling Nelson yet, but some other interesting stories. Masterson was helping train and condition Charlie Mitchell in 1886. He was timekeeper and bodyguard for Jake Kilrain. He thought Sullivan v Kilrain was the worst exhibition of pugilism he'd ever seen. He was so impressed with Fitz after he stopped Dempsey, he thought he was capable of beating John L, and suggested that he challenge him. Fitzsimmons thought Sullivan was too strong for him, but changed his mind after stopping Corbett. He then regretted not taking Bat's advice.

Masterson was a big fan of Corbett's but bet against him twice, in the Jackson and Mitchell bouts. He won a large sum 4 to 1 on the Sullivan fight. He also expected Gentleman Jim to win easily against Fitzsimmons.

[Caractacus]

the first boxing match Bat Masterson ever attended was John L. Sullivan vrs Paddy Ryan in Mississippi in 1882,
thats what got him interested in the sport.(from what I remember reading anyway)

[gilgamesh]

Did Bat Masterson ever officiate and make a controversial call as a referee or whatever? I know Wyatt Earp did and it seemed like I read something of that sort about Masterson as well, but I may be mixing the 2 stories up.

[Seamus]

Masterson was picked to referee the Jack Root v Tommy Ryan title bout that was to be held in NYC but it was cancelled. Not long after he refereed the 1st world title bout ever held in Denver. That was Joe Gans v George McFadden. Also he really detested Leach Cross for being a dirty fighter. When I have more time I'll get to the first Flynn-Morris fight which he has alot to say about.

[goose 5]

Did he ever compare Sullivan and Dempsey ?

[Seamus]

In 1911 Masterson wrote in a column that he smelled a fix for the scheduled bout between the 7-0 (7 Ko's) Carl Morris and the veteran Fireman Jim Flynn. He even tried to get the Commission to cancel the bout to no avail. Finally he cornered Flynn in the Metropole Hotel and got him to admit he was promised $7500 by Morris' manager oilman Frank Ufer to take a dive. With the fix exposed, Flynn said the fight would be on the level and he gave Morris a brutal beating over 10 rounds. The story was widely disputed.

[Seamus]

Some more from the book.

Re Abe Attell

While admiring his boxing skills, Masterson had a low opinion of the mqn's conduct and character. The little fighter, he said engaged in phony bouts even as champion, because he was a compulsive gambler and constantly in financhial difficulty.

Re Jack Dillon

Throughout the year 1916, Bat touted Dillon as "strong as a bull, courageous as a lion, a fast and skillful boxer and a smashing good hitter" who had ver been knocked down. Bat thought Dillon was, pound for pound, the most formidable fighting man he had seen in thirty years.

[Caractacus]

Was Jack Dillon ever considered in fighting Jack Johnson ?
He may have done a better attempt then Fireman Jim Flynn or maybe even Stanly Ketchel.

[Seamus]

Nothing mentioned regarding Dillon possibly fighting Johnson, but he believed he was the man to beat Willard. After he lost to Battling Levinsky however, his new choice became Fred Fulton.

Some more interesting stories. Bat Masterson was a staunch supporter of US involvement in WW1, and he had great admiration for guys who enlisted (or tried to in Jack Dillon's case) Two who came in for big praise were Kid McCoy and Georges Carpentier in France. On the other hand he absolutely loathed the Manassa Mauler as a draft dodger and even wrote negative articles about Benny Leonard and Jim Coffey for teaching boxing to soldiers, which he considered a dodge, as it is was of no use in combat.

[Caractacus]

what about Wyatt Earp ?
He became interesting in boxing from
the railroad construction camps in Wyoming in the late 1860's,
when some of the crew members use to fight for money.

[Seamus]

Here's another good story. Damon Runyon, who was a close friend of Bat's during his NYC years, partially based the character of Sky Masterson in Guys And Dolls on Bat.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

- Dempsey didn't like him and apparently the feeling was mutual.

Still, being the timekeeper captured on the first full length feature film in history, Corbett vs Fitzsimmons is beyond historical ratings. Shame how sorry Hollywood and Boxing have been to not have preserved the full length of the first International BlockBuster film in history would be criminal if I could go back in time and set things straight...

[pound per pound]

- Dempsey didn't like him and apparently the feeling was mutual.

Still, being the timekeeper captured on the first full length feature film in history, Corbett vs Fitzsimmons is beyond historical ratings. Shame how sorry Hollywood and Boxing have been to not have preserved the full length of the first International BlockBuster film in history would be criminal if I could go back in time and set things straight...

And can see Bat arguing about time in the Corbett vs. Fitzsimmons fight.

[pound per pound]

Sorry for the delay. Nothing in the book on Battling Nelson yet, but some other interesting stories. Masterson was helping train and condition Charlie Mitchell in 1886. He was timekeeper and bodyguard for Jake Kilrain. He thought Sullivan v Kilrain was the worst exhibition of pugilism he'd ever seen. He was so impressed with Fitz after he stopped Dempsey, he thought he was capable of beating John L, and suggested that he challenge him. Fitzsimmons thought Sullivan was too strong for him, but changed his mind after stopping Corbett. He then regretted not taking Bat's advice.

Masterson was a big fan of Corbett's but bet against him twice, in the Jackson and Mitchell bouts. He won a large sum 4 to 1 on the Sullivan fight. He also expected Gentleman Jim to win easily against Fitzsimmons.

I too think Fitzsimmons would beat Sullivan who really lacks quality opponets beaten and has a the defense of a bar room brawler.

Thanks for this information.

[DavidKehler]

Here's another good story. Damon Runyon, who was a close friend of Bat's during his NYC years, partially based the character of Sky Masterson in Guys And Dolls on Bat.

Absolutely true. Runyon wrote about sports for years, and that stuff was sensational.