Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 296, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1918 — MITCHELL WAS VERY CLEVER [ARTICLE]

MITCHELL WAS VERY CLEVER

First Ring Fight Was Staged Neaf Birmingham, England—Wanted to Be Physician. The first ring engagement of Charlie Mitchell, the famous fighter who fought John L. Sullivan 39 rounds to a draw in France, was staged near Birmingham. England, on January 11, 1878. His opponent on that occasion was Bob Cunningham, whom he defeated in 50 minutes. Mitchell, who was born in Birmingham of Irish parents, and whpse early 'ambition was to become a physician, was only sixteen when he whipped Cunningham. He was then a lightweight, and in 1879 he fought a draw in London with Bill Kennedy, the lightweight champion. In 1881 he fought Caryadoff, the Belgian giant, at Antwerp, and defeated the big fellow in one round. Mitchell never weighed much over the middleweight limit, yet he mixed ft with some of the greatest heavyweights of his day, including Sullivan. He was on the downgrade when he was defeated by Corbett at Jacksonville io 1804, which was his last ring battle.