"20b Contest": The GREATEST FIGHTS EVER

[McGoorty]

THE BOSTON HERALD
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1893
ROBERT FITZSIMMONS vs JAMES HALL


ONE ON THE JAW
Fitz Finished Hall in
the Fourth Round.
It Was a Crushing,
Knock-Out Blow.
Hall Was Unconscious
for Many Minutes.
No One Expected
Such a Turn.
Fitzsimmons Fought Better
Than Ever Before,
While the Other Made a
Very Poor Showing.
The Result Was Hardly in
Doubt at Any Time.
Most of the Northern Men
Lost in the Result.
A $25,000 Crowd to Offset
a $40,000 Purse

Hall seemed the more confident of the two. He hardly looked at Fitzsimmons, but the latter eyed him eagerly, with his usual peculiar stare, his mouth half open like a child

Hall gave Fitz a slight one on the neck and ran away. Bob pursued him, landing on the neck, nose and side, the last being a heavy blow - the first struck during the fight. Fitzsimmons landed again on the neck. when Hall ran, but he followed him and got in four light blows in rapid succession...
Suddenly Fritz's right shot out like a piston rod. Hall was not expecting it, and it landed with a crushing force. The mass of bone and muscle caught Hall on the point of his jaw. The blow was heard in the remotest part of the ring. Hall quivered after receiving the blow. He fell Backwards like a log, his head striking the cork floor with a resounding thud.

[McGoorty]

Hell I am bumping this old thread because frankly its got to be one of the greatest Boxing Forum threads in the history of boxing threads.... I needed to search for old fight reports of legendary fighters and had forgotten that I had compiled this one, the NAMES in here, man, they are some of the very greatest there ever was, I wish I still had the links but I hope you guys will read these fights and enjoy them, for some reason nobody cared a couple of years ago about this thread and it was ignored..... I myself am getting a great thrill out of reading about these old fights

[McGoorty]

1912-10-11 Packey McFarland W-TKO7 Tommy Kilbane [Auditorium rink, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada]
1912-10-12 Manitoba Free Press (Winnipeg, MB, Canada)

M'FARLAND FORCES KILBANE TO QUIT
--------
Packey Outclasses Cleveland Lad in Every Round--Referee Stops Bout in Seventh.
--------
At the end of seven rounds of boxing that served only to give Winnipeg fight fans an idea of the cleverness of Packey McFarland, Referee Bun Foley stopped the scheduled ten-round bout between the Chicago scrapper and Tommy Kilbane, of Cleveland, and awarded the decision to McFarland, at the Auditorium rink last night. Kilbane was plucky and willing, but was so clearly outclassed that there was never even an element of fight interest. McFarland seemed to be looking for a knockout toward the end of the seventh and punished the Cleveland lad so severely that it would not have taken much of a real punch to make him take the count.

Only a fair-sized crowd saw the bout, and it demonstrated that the peddling of even the best boxers in the world to Winnipeg fans is a thankless business. McFarland is without doubt the best man of his weight in the business, but Winnipeg enthusiasts failed to show the interest that usually attaches to the appearance of a champion.

KILBANE OUTCLASSED.

Kilbane looked small and weak compared with the brawny Chicago boy, and although he boxed cleverly and took all that was coming, he was completely smothered every time he tried to open up. Packey landed at will, and when he got tired landing light punches and gentle swings, he turned Kilbane around and cuffed him about the ears with an ease that showed there was no comparison between the two. Occasionally Packey opened out with a heavy rip to the body or a straight left that nearly always found its mark, but he did not follow up with any effort at a knockout until the seventh, when he apparently objected to the criticisms of the crowd at the slowness of the affair. When he began to put some steam into his punches Kilbane weakened rapidly and Referee Foley was undoubtedly well justified in stopping it.

PACKEY THE GOODS.

The whole interest in the bout centred in the appearance of McFarland, his first in Canada. He looked big and heavy and must have weighed well over 140, but he appeared hard and rugged and although never extended, showed fast as a cat when he took the notion. He is a methodical boxer, beautifully clean and effective in every move he makes and in this respect is to be compared only with Abe Attell among the scrappers who have visited Winnipeg in recent years. Every move the Chicago boy makes is for a purpose and there is not a waste motion. For this reason he does not look as fast as Freddie Welsh, but when necessary he showed speed, both with feet and hands, that showed that he is as fast as the best of them. He had no difficulty in stopping most of Kilbane's leads and swings with his arms and gloves and there was therefore little chance to see just what his defensive work is. He hits with lightning speed with either hand, and from any position, and against a heavier opponent would undoubtedly have given Winnipeg fans something to talk about, as he was apparently willing to work if there was any work to do.

THE PRELIMINARIES.

The preliminaries were fairly interesting. Young Abe Attell and Jack Allen, two youngsters, mixed things for 4 rounds without either doing much damage. Young Wolgast and Young Mack put the crowd in good humor. Mack, who was much bigger and heavier than his opponent, opened like a cyclone, but once Wolgast got his bearings he made the big fellow slow up and in the last four rounds had much the best of the bout. Fargo Kid and Johnny Logan two likely looking boys, hammered away at each other for 6 rounds with both doing about an equal amount of damage.

[McGoorty]

Joe Jeannette stops Sam Langford

1905-12-25 Sam Langford L-TKO8 Joe Jeannette [Unity Cycle and Athletic Club, Lawrence, MA, USA]
1905-12-26 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA)


LANGFORD QUITS IN EIGHTH.
--------
Cambridge Boxer's Seconds Throw up the Sponge When Joe Jeanette Beats Him Badly.
--------
[Special Dispatch to the Boston Herald.]

LAWRENCE, Dec. 25, 1905. Joe Jeanette of New York made Sam Langford of Cambridge quit after eight rounds of fierce and fast fighting here tonight. Jeanette had the punch and the strength, and with fierce body blows wore down Langford. In the fifth round Langford looked like a winner. He beat the New Yorker until it looked as though the latter was going to take the count. The minute's rest did him a great deal of good, and Jeanette, although a badly worsted man, followed up the fighting, and at the finish the referee had a hard time to make Langford break. In the seventh Jeanette recovered his strength, and was willing to swop punches with the clever man from Cambridge. In the eighth he opened a gash on Langford's eye that sent the blood streaming down his face, and Langford appealed to the referee for an even break. Jeanette was not, however, to be denied, and he went after Langford in such hard fashion that he sent him groggy to his chair, and the latter nodded to his seconds to throw up the sponge, admitting he was outclassed.


1905-12-26 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 5)
Jeannette Made Sam Langford Quit In Seven
--------
After the First Round It Was Clearly the New York Boxer's Battle--Bostonian Took Much Punishment.
--------
Lawrence, Dec. 25.--The members of the Unity Cycle Club of this city today witnessed the waterloo of Sam Langford, the dusky welterweight from Boston, when he was forced to throw up the sponge in the seventh round before the wicked blows of Joe Jeannette of New York.

In the first round both boys started in to feel each other out and after a few hard exchanges, Langford looked as if he was up against it and seemed to lose all his courage. In the second round Jeannette shot out of his corner with fire in his eye and stung Langford with three successive rights and lefts to the jaw and one going to the left eye, which closed that optic, worrying Langford very much.

In the fourth round Langford shot up a wicked left uppercut, which made Jeannette wince and he started to hang on, but the men were quickly broken by the referee. In the seventh Jeannette tore in some terrific body punches that weakened Langford and following up with terrific rights and lefts had him hanging on when the round ended. When Langford went to his corner he was covered with blood and had both eyes closed and a big cut down the left side of his cheek. Blood was flowing in large streams and he was too weak to go on with the next round and his seconds threw up the sponge.

The preliminaries were hard fought. The first was won by Young Hamel, who defeated Young Sharkey in six rounds, both of this city. The second was stopped in the fourth, when Young Chisholme of Everett stopped Johnny Mahon of Cambridge.

The semi-final between Kid Sheehan of Manchester and Charles Dwyer ended in a draw after six rounds of clever fighting on the part of Sheehan.

[McGoorty]

Joe Walcott vs Mysterious Billy Smith

1898-04-14 Joe Walcott D-PTS25 Mysterious Billy Smith [Park City Theater, Bridgeport, CT, USA]
1898-04-15 New York Evening Journal (New York, NY)


WALCOTT AND SMITH GO A DRAW.
--------
A Rattling Battle, with Chances Constantly Changing.
--------
BOTH SURE OF WINNING.
--------
Negro Fighter Butts His Antagonist, but Referee Austin Says Nothing.
--------
ROTH KNOCKS OUT NEEDHAM
--------
The twenty-five-round fight between "Mysterious" Billy Smith and Joe Walcott was declared a draw. Sam Austin, an experienced referee, gave the decision. Joe Humphreys announced it.

It was at Bridgeport, Conn., last night, held under the auspices of the Horizon A. C., of which Jack Rose is the manager. Many of the spectators disagreed with the verdict of Referee Austin, conscientious as Austin is always, and capable as he is, as a rule.

It was a bout of longer duration than is on the carpet in the boxing events of the present day. Both contestants had faithfully trained for the fray. Each side was sure of winning. When gray-haired O'Rourke brought his black man into the arena, he was, apparently, so sure of winning that he took with him only one assistant--a able (sp?), but very old racetrack tout, who is known as "Papa Joe," and perhaps older than O'Rourke.

When Smith emerged from his dressing room he had four men with him. What they all were needed for it was not easy to see, but they were all there when Billy took his seat in a corner, fanning, sponging, rubbing, and whispering. It may be that Smith had two much help. Everyone remembers the saying about too many cooks.

Before these stars went on, there was a preliminary bout between Max Roth, of New York, and Billy Needham, a brother of Danny, lightweights, which ended in as clean a knockout as was ever seen. Needham cracked Roth in elegant style, at the opening of the bout, but only for a brief period. After that Roth sailed in, and after knocking his man down twice, let go a right-hander on the jaw, which sent Needham down and on his face, thoroughly sleepy, at the expiration of two minutes and forty seconds.

Walcott Uses His Head.

The Smith-Walcott affair was different. It lasted longer, and there were variations in the appearances of things. Smith had all the better of the first few rounds. In the sixth round Walcott used his head three times in palpable offence, but the referee tolerated it. It looked as though Austin wanted to give each man, both of whom have had reputations as foul fighters, a chance to redeem himself. If that was Referee Austin's purpose it was generous on his part. No doubt that if either one of these hitherto notorious foul fighters had been disqualified for foul methods, his career would have come to a comma, if not a period. Anyhow, the referee let Walcott continue.

At the same time it may be said that if the referee had disqualified Walcott in the sixth round nobody who had eyes on the black man's head and apparent intentions could have sincerely objected to a disqualification.

Billy Smith, this man who has the reputation of being one of the foulest fighters in the world, fought fair and square. In every clinch he used left and right for all they were worth at close quarters, but when told to "break" his hands were at two points of the compass so quickly that it was impossible to take exception to his methods.

It was a hard fight. Both men were trained to the hour, and both fought for all they were worth. It was a hammer and smash affair, and neither yielded an inch. Sometimes one would be ahead and then the other.

Smith Ahead for Six Rounds.

Smith certainly was ahead for six rounds. The crowd appreciated that, and let William know it. Then came the butting by Walcott, and the crowd said nothing. They did not like it, but preferred, perhaps, to let the black man have every chance.

From the eighth round to the fifteenth matters were very even. Walcott did land some tremendously stiff body blows, but in the clinches--and they were allowed to fight with one arm free--Smith did good work with his right on the face. Perhaps he would have done better by going for the wind, but as it was he damaged the negro.

In the sixteenth round Walcott planted a couple of beauties. One left hook on Smith's jaw was a rattler. Smith was hurt by it. After a mix-up in which Walcott used his head, Smith called the attention of the referee to the foul act, but Austin paid no attention to the claim, and the crowd laughed at Smith.

Later on Walcott razzle-dazzled Smith by half a dozen hard body punches. Smith stood them all well, and came out for the twenty-fourth round full of vigor. He crashed into the black man in that round and the twenty-fifth.

Walcott was always there, and ready with a return, if not the initiative blow, but he perceptibly weakened in the last two rounds.

It was great boxing, most of the spectators said. When Announcer Humphreys made it known that the referee called it a draw a great shout went up. There were a few hisses from the friends of Smith, who had fought as fairly as any man ever did, but it is impossible to please everybody. As the referee had passed over that sixth round and let the play proceed, he could do nothing else than make it a draw.

[McGoorty]

Les Darcy Vs Jeff Smith I

I have looked far and wide for this report but finally I have my proof

1915-01-23 Les Darcy L - DQ 5 Jeff Smith (Sydney, NSW, Australia)
1915-01-25 The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW)



JEFF. SMITH BEATS DARCY.
----
UNSATISFACTORY CONTEST.

The meeting of Jeff. Smith, middle-weight world's champion, and Les Darcy, the Maitland lad, drew a dense crowd--estimated at 15,000--to Baker's Stadium on Saturday night. Smith weighed 11st 5lb, and his opponent 4lb less. Mr. Harald Baker was referee.

Darcy had slightly the better of the first round. Feinting with his left, he twice crossed the right to the back of Smith's neck, but there was an absence of power in the blows. In the second round Smith got home once with his right, but other efforts to repeat the blow were cleverly blocked by Darcy, whose evasion was excellent. Points were about equal.

The third round saw Darcy's left land on the face, but Smith retaliated with a right to the body. Darcy cleverly ducked several swings. Still Smith justly claimed this round.

The American in the next round--and in some of the earlier ones--had imprisoned Darcy's left hand, and was holding and hitting. Only on one occasion did the referee step in and break Smith's hold. The latter scored with a right cross and two severe straight lefts. This round also belonged to Smith.

The fifth and last round was sensational. It was opened by Darcy hooking the left to the side face, and he followed with a right to the other side. The boxers then came to closer quarters, and Smith got home a body blow which caused Darcy to stop fighting and show signs of being in pain. He walked to his corner--Smith standing off him. The referee promptly went up to Darcy and said "Fight on." This Darcy did; and with remarkable vigour, too. He fully held his own, and was apparently as strong at the finish of the round as when he started the contest.

When Darcy walked to his corner his trainer and chief second, Dave Smith, threw in the towel. The referee immediately placed his hand on Smith's head and gave him the fight. Darcy's seconds at once exhibited his protecting cup, which was found to be dented.

At this stage the whole house was in an uproar. Presumably the referee did not see the blow referred to. If so he had no alternative but to order the continuance of the bout. On the other hand, if Darcy were struck unfairly he was clearly entitled to the decision. That he was not injured does not affect the issue. If a hit is foul the degree of damage is immaterial. But, as said before, the referee and a good many others round the ring did not see the blow in question.

Dave Smith's action was not justified when he threw in the towel. The referee is the sole arbiter--not the seconds in either man's corner. The contest itself was disappointing. Smith's form was but a shadow of that which he has previously shown. Darcy has unquestionably improved as a boxer but he did not exhibit his determination and forcefulness that have been features of his previous bouts.

For half an hour after the referee's decision the great crowd remained in the building arguing the point. Some in the highest-priced seats excitedly demanded their money back, and a fistic collision with one of the Stadium principals was imminent. It was just as well that nothing of the kind occurred, as the crowd was in an ugly temper, and only wanted a lead to make serious trouble.

[The Old LefHook]

You got Langford vs Ketchel?

[McGoorty]

You got Langford vs Ketchel?

I will look for it mate, meanwhile I just found one of the Young Griffo Vs Joe Gans fights so will stick that up now, cheers.

[McGoorty]

Griffo vs Gans

1897-09-21 Joe Gans D-PTS15 Young Griffo [Olympic Athletic Club, Athens, PA, USA]
1897-09-22 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA)

GRIFFO AND GANS.
The Feather Smothers the Clever Colored Baltimore Lad.

The fifteen round bout between Young Griffo and Joe Gans, the clever colored boy from Baltimore, before the Olympic Athletic Club at Athens last night, was declared a draw in accordance with the agreement made between the club and Gans' manager. Before the bout began, however, Griffo announced that he was willing that a decision should be rendered. So far as the bout went, it was like all in which Griffo appears as one of the principals. He simply smothered Gans by his cleverness, and in two of the rounds had the colored boy on the edge of Queer street, but on both those interesting occasions his own manifestly lack of condition made it impossible for him to follow up his advantage. Gans is a far better lad than his work last night would suggest. He was visibly rattled at Griffo's tactics, and in the first five rounds there was a constant look of almost amused embarrassment on his face. If he had put up the fight of which he is really capable--gone in hammer and tongs particularly after the tenth round, he would have made a far better showing. As it was the only time he showed the stuff of which he is really made, were when Griffo, departing from his usual custom, would start rushing as though he meant to finish the business in jig time. Then Gans would mix it up in a way that aroused the enthusiasm of the spectators.

In the preliminaries Dan Dougherty got a deserved verdict over Kid Madden, and Young Mahony bested Danny McMahon. The latter bouts were of ten rounds each.

1897-09-22 The Philadelphia Record

GRIFFO AND GANS DRAW.
--------
Mahoney Defeats McMahon and Dougherty Wins From Madden.

The lovers of boxing were given a rare treat at the Olympic Athletic Association, Athens, Delaware County, last night. There were two ten-round and one fifteen-round bouts scheduled. The last was between Young Griffo and Joe Gans, the colored boxer, of Baltimore. The club was placed at a disadvantage because Griffo would not box unless the bout was at catch weights, and Gans would not consent to anything but a draw if both men were on their feet at the end of the fifteen rounds. Gans took his time and made Griffo do most of the work for the first seven rounds. Occasionally the Baltimore lad would send in his left in a hooked fashion, but he did not seem to distress Griffo in the least. Gans settled down to work in the seventh, and from that to the twelfth the boxing was as fast as has ever been seen in this vicinity. The twelfth was especially hot, and the crowd cheered the boxers to the echo. In this round Griffo did some very clever punching over the colored boy's heart. Gans' work tired him, and for the next few rounds Griffo found him pretty easy.

In the fifteenth round Gans was sent in to make a grand stand finish, but the Australian was there every time and gave as good as he got. No decision was given, but a draw would have been fair to both boxers.

Young Mahoney got a well-earned decision over Danny McMahon. The latter was the cleverer of the two, but Mahoney had the advantage in height and reach. McMahon tried all his famous rushes and right-hand swings, but Mahoney met him with stiff left handers in return, and several times rushed him around the ring, having Danny in tight places which it took all his skill to get out of.

Danny Dougherty defeated Kid Madden in the opening bout. It was a very good contest and both lads did some clever and hard punching.

[McGoorty]

You got Langford vs Ketchel?

I can't copy and paste the fight but this link shows an original fight report to the Ketchel Vs Langford fight on a pdf file.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...629C946196D6CF