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"20b Contest": The GREATEST FIGHTS EVER

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  • #21
    1896-03-02 Charles Kid McCoy W-KO15 Tommy Ryan [Empire Athletic Club, Maspeth, NY, USA]
    1896-03-03 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 10)
    MC COY'S CLEVER VICTORY.
    --------
    HE LOOKED LIKE A BEATEN MAN EARLY IN THE FIGHT.
    --------
    Ryan Was Unmercifully Pounded Toward the Close, but Was Game to the Last--A Knockout in the Fifteenth Round at Maspeth.
    --------
    Tommy Ryan was defeated at Maspeth in 15 rounds last night by Kid McCoy and the battle will go down in fistic history as one of the most remarkable ever witnessed. To begin with, McCoy, although half a head taller than Ryan, and big in proportion, was uneasy and uncertain of himself from the moment that he clambered through the ropes, while Ryan threw off his wraps with an air of jaunty confidence that provoked an enthusiastic devotee of the sport in the gallery to shout: "What a beautiful cinch he's got."

    Ryan's magnificent record made him easily the favorite. Lots of his friends' money went begging at rates varying from 10 to 7 to 2 to 1. And it looked at the start as if the knowing ones had fathomed the whole thing. He simply played with McCoy and when the round ended many of the spectators began to pick up their snow shoes and their overcoats in order to escape the rush of the battle to get out of the building. Then came the sensational point of the encounter.

    McCoy began to find his man and he assumed some confidence. A few minutes later he opened Ryan's nose. Then he persisted in jabbing Tommy on the jaw with his long left and every tap that he gave brought the blood, until Ryan was bleeding like a stuck pig and had more trouble in getting rid of the blood that choked him and blinded him that he had in warding McCoy's blows. Ryan was knocked down three times in the fatal fifteenth round and he showed once and for all that he was game to the backbone. It took him fifteen minutes to recover and when he tottered from the ring he would have dropped if the arms of his seconds had not been around him.

    All the sports for miles around were at the ringside, including Tom O'Rourke, Sam Fitzpatrick, Arthur Lumley, M. Giubal, Macon McCormick, Maxey More, P. T. Powers, Fred Peffer, Billy Crowley, Martin Dowling and hundreds of others.

    Jack Downey of Brooklyn and Larry Burns of Cohoes warmed up the 3,000 spectators in an eight round bout at 125 pounds. Everybody knew Downey and picked him out as a winner, while Burns was an unknown quantity. He had a big, hearty contingent of friends with him though and they rooted while he fought till the building rang again. They began to fight at 9 o'clock sharp. Downey was handled by Tommy Butler, Pete Farrell and Joe Martin, while Burns was looked after by John McTiernan, Tommy Hunt and George Davis. Tim Hurst in his familiar navy blue sweater was the referee, as usual.

    In the opening rounds Burns was slow and appeared to be somewhat afraid of Downey. Jack forced the fighting and when the third round opened there were repeated offers of 50 to 40 on his chances. It was in the fifth round that the stranger, smiling and confident, began to assert himself. At close quarters he had all the advantage. Toward the close of the sixth round he might have disposed of the popular Brooklynite, but he was slow and content to wait. Burns forced the fighting after that and the backers of Downey began to quake when he held the gloves over his face to protect himself and made no effort at attack. There were some hot exchanges in the last round. Here again Burns had a beautiful chance for a knockout but he was slow and cautious. When he did attempt to finish the job Downey's clever head averted a catastrophe. The bout ended with hot in fighting in which Downey figured to advantage. He cut open his opponent's left eye. The referee called the bout a draw and everybody applauded the verdict.

    The clock pointed to 10 o'clock as Tom Ryan pushed his way into the ring, smiling and confident. He was pioneered by Charley White, Tom Cawley, Kid Lavigne and Sam Fitzpatrick. The cheers that greeted the young fellow, who had claimed the middleweight championship of the world, had scarcely died away when Kid McCoy was seen struggling through the enthusiastic crowd, surrounded by Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagstrom and Brooklyn Jimmy Carroll. Presently the memorable battle began. McCoy appeared to be feverishly anxious to find out what there was in Ryan that had given him his reputation and he tried to hit him on the face. Several of his leads went harmlessly over his head. Once, in ducking, though, the big kid caught Ryan a clip on the jaw and his friends cheered enthusiastically. Then Ryan let himself loose. He smashed McCoy on the face and body with right and left, cleverly kept his head out of the kid's attempted returns and there were frequent clinches, and when the round ended the betting was 100 to 50 on Ryan. There was a slightly different color given to the affair in the next round. McCoy was a trifle more confident and Ryan began to sprint. The kid smashed Tommy viciously over the heart. Then they clinched and McCoy emerged smilingly with the honors of the encounter. Ryan began to fight in the third round. He landed cleverly a couple of times on McCoy's jaw and then he ran round the ring. The kid followed him, and as Tommy tried to duck he gave him a left hand punch on the jaw. Ryan turned upon his man after that. He was nettled at having been caught so easily and in some fierce infighting he had all the better of it. Ryan planted two heavy body blows in the fourth round but had to take two vicious right hand hooks on the jaw in return. Ryan swung his right heavily on the big kid's jaw and McCoy tottered. If the round had lasted half a minute longer Tommy Ryan would to-day be the middle weight champion of the world. McCoy was very weak about the legs. He pushed his gloves weakly in Ryan's face, and, obeying the instructions of his seconds, clung round Ryan's neck as long as he dared. Ryan forced the fighting in the fifth round again and his vicious pokes on the body and his swings on the jaw soon had McCoy staggering and dazed. The kid, however, continued to slip in a pretty left hand upper cut. Ryan sprinted again, but was caught with another clip behind the ear from the force of which he went down. No damage was done, however, and it was still Ryan's fight. The battle was fast and furious in the seventh, with the honors fairly even. McCoy poked his left four times savagely into Ryan's ribs. Ryan looked a bit worried. He feinted and then he flung out his right. It caught the Kid squarely over the heart and twisted him round as if he had been working on a pivot. It seemed again as if another punch would dismiss McCoy, but he was in rare fettle and kept himself as cool as a cucumber. He jabbed Ryan repeatedly on the face with his left, brought the blood freely and finally gave Tommy a punch that knocked him down. The fight was now a guessing match. McCoy surprised every man in the building by his coolness, his cleverness, his swiftness and his terrific hitting powers. It was in the ninth round that Ryan's star began to wane. He sprinted. McCoy ran after him and, catching up on his man, smashed him from behind with his right and left. Ryan then mixed it up hotly and got in several heavy body blows. McCoy flung out his long left repeatedly, jabbed Ryan on the nose, cut it open and closed up an eye. McCoy continued to jab in the next round, the tenth. Ryan was bleeding, profusely cut, lips swollen, eyes swelled, and was a beaten man but he was as game still as a fighting ****. He was a perfect glutton for punishment and he got it. McCoy, just as the round ended, got his man against the ropes. He held Tommy out with his long left arm and brought his right viciously over his helpless opponent's jaw.
    The fight still went on, although Ryan was a badly beaten man. McCoy was as quick and as strong as he had been at the beginning. He punched Ryan at will, jabbed him at will on the face and body and again opened up the damaged nose and the abnormally swollen lips. Ryan stood up to his punishment like a man till he was knocked squarely off his feet with a savage right hand uppercut. This was in the twelfth round. Ryan tried to get a few minutes' breathing space in the thirteenth round, but McCoy kept at him and floored him twice. In the next Ryan stepped up to the kid stronger and fresher than in the preceding half dozen rounds and his clever and effective work began to impress his friends with the idea that he still had a fighting chance. But McCoy's pitiless jabs were thrown without cessation into his face.

    The end came in the fifteenth round. Ryan was very weak, but still able to run. He did try to sprint out of the way of McCoy's wicked jabs, but the kid followed him up closer and gave him a left hand punch on the jaw, flooring Tommy. The latter struggled to his feet before he had been counted out with the blood streaming from his face. McCoy was waiting for him, and gave him a thump with his right on the jaw that knocked Tommy down again. All this was against the ropes. Ryan staggered to his feet again as Tim Hurst stood over him and, willing as ever, held his hands out blindly as he stumbled to the middle of the ring. There again McCoy was waiting for him with his pitiless right ready. Everybody was glad when he shot it out and brought Ryan down for the third time with a clip in the ear. Ryan had been hopelessly beaten long before and the spectators simply waited to see a satisfactory finish. They got it. When Ryan fell on his back he was senseless and a quarter of an hour passed before he was able to leave the ring with the arms of his seconds around him.

    Comment


    • #22
      Greatest Fight Of All Time ?????

      JEM BELCHER Vs JAMES "Deaf Un" BOURKE
      NEW YORK EVENING POST
      WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1802
      BELCHER vs BOURKE


      The following minute and technical description of
      a barbarous amusement, still kept up among the
      English, may be gratifying to some, as affording a
      specimen of the state of manners in that country.

      BOXING MATCH
      BETWEEN BELCHER AND BOURKE

      1st Round was long; much sparring and
      squaring, hard blows struck, both parties dis-
      played much spirit but little skill. Bourke
      appeared to have a good chance, throwing in
      a blow which cut Belcher under the left eye;
      they closed and both fell, neither having the
      advantage.
      2nd Round was decided, Bourke closing on
      Belcher without any sparring, and throwing
      him, both falling, Belcher beneath.
      3rd Round - Smart and severe; sharp blows
      passing on both sides; Bourke aimed a great
      blow at Belcher's nose, which the latter op-
      ped with his right hand, and threw in a very
      hard straight forward blow with his left hand
      at Bourke's right eye, which took full effect;
      the blood gushed out, & the face swelled round
      the eye, in such a manner as nearly to close
      up the sight. Belcher immediately closed on
      Bourke, and gave him a severe fall.
      4th Round - Much sparring; no blows took
      effect. Bourke closed on Belcher and threw
      him a dreadful fall, Bourke falling on Belcher
      with all his weight very heavily. In conse-
      quence of this fall, the betting, which had
      been 3 to 1 against Bourke, changed to 3 to 2.
      5th Round - Squaring. Bourke followed
      up Belcher very quick, Belcher retreating
      till he came with some force upon the railing
      which enclosed the stage: Bourke close upon
      him. Those who backed Bourke were now in
      high spirits; but Belcher, when against the
      rails, laid hold of the rail with the right hand,
      and with this purchase swung himself round in
      such a manner as enabled to give Bourke,
      with his left hand, a doubly severe blow on
      the throat, immediately upon which the blood
      gushed out of his mouth in torrents; and Bel-
      cher instantly followed this by a sharp blow
      with his right hand on the left side of Bourke's
      head, the latter fell, Belcher upon him, Bourke
      having hold of Belcher's hands. The betting
      again became 2 to 1 in favor of Belcher. -
      Bourke sat down on his second's knee for about
      half a minute, water was given to wash his
      mouth, which, notwithstanding, continued to
      bleed very much; his face was also wiped
      with handkerchiefs, and means taken to
      refresh him. During this time, Belcher was
      walking about the stage.
      6th Round - Bourke fell the first blow
      which took effect smartly on the cheek, just
      below the eye that had before been nearly clos-
      ed up.
      7th Round - Bourke immediately arose, and
      early gave Belcher a blow with his right hand
      on the side of the head; Bourke closed on
      Belcher; a violent struggle took place; but
      Belcher had the advantage, throwing Bourke
      and falling on him; a rest of nearly a minute
      took place; Bourke appeared much exhausted.
      8th Round - Bourke, with much spirit and
      energy threw a blow with his left hand,
      which took effect on Belcher's breast; Bourke
      closed and threw Belcher.
      9th Round - Bourke's nose was cut open;
      he closed on Belcher, who threw Bourke; a
      heavy fall. This round was very decisive in
      Belcher's favor
      10th Round - Belcher threw a blow at
      the eye of Bourke, which had been nearly
      closed up; the blow took effect; Bourke fell.
      11th Round - Belcher threw in several blows
      on the breast, which seemed to severe. Previ-
      ously to this none of the body blows on either
      side were much worthy of notice. Bourke
      closed on Belcher and threw him with great
      violence, falling upon him.
      12th Round - Both seemed rather exhaust-
      ed; Bourke closed early, a powerful wrestle;
      Bourke prevailed, Belcher falling under him,
      Bourke falling heavy. A rest of about half a
      minute took place.
      13th Round - Belcher received a full blow
      on the breast, which made him stagger;
      Bourke closed and again threw Belcher, fall-
      ing heavily on him. A short round.
      14th Round - Belcher cut Bourke's left cheek
      both closed and fell after a long struggle.
      Both displayed more science in this round than
      in any of the preceding.
      15th Round - Several hard blows on both
      sides, though none of them seemed decisive;
      both closed and fell, Belcher uppermost. A
      rest of about half a minute.
      16th Round - Bourke appeared very weak;
      he received another blow on the cheek; and
      one on the nose, were he had been struck
      before; Belcher's knuckles appearing to be
      buried in his nose. Still Bourke would not
      fall until he received a sharp blow under the
      right ear; the blood gushed out at his ear and
      2at his mouth; he then fell. This round was
      decisive of the battle. After the first blow in
      this round, Bourke seemed enraged, and to
      have recovered all his strength; he struck Bel-
      cher several blows in the breast, but none of
      them severe, though they made Belcher stag-
      ger a little. Bourke's face was so smashed to
      pieces, and so besmeared with blood (his eyes
      nearly closed up) that he seemed to make a
      mad and desperate effort, regardless of conse-
      quences. This laid him very open to Belcher,
      who was now amazingly active, throwing in
      his blows with both hands. The friends of
      Bourke all cried that he should give in, as he
      was manifestly too severely beaten; but he
      would not yield, though he was unable, with-
      out assistance to rise, his second lifting him
      up by the waistband of the breeches.
      17th Round - Bourke appeared to stand very
      firmly; but one severe blow throw on his
      nose, knocked him smack down. Bourke
      now gave in, and Belcher was declared vic-
      tor. At the termination, there were but par-
      tial plaudits, most of the spectators feeling for-
      Bourke's situation, sympathizing with him as
      a man of far more bottom than they expected.

      _ A more severe contest never, perhaps;
      took place. And Bourke displayed every
      possible characteristic of determined courage
      and indefatigable perseverance. Their ap-
      pearance and a mode of fighting were very dif-
      ferent. Bourke was much superior in a point of
      weight, nerve and muscle - Belcher was su-
      perior in quickness of arm, activity of body,
      and a combination of movements which gene-
      rally prove successful over a single excellence,
      or requisite for the practice of pugilism. -
      Bourke frequently pushed his courage to fero-
      city, and sometimes struck at random; Bel-
      cher was, even in the hottest moment of the
      battle, master of temper, and seemed ne-
      ver to strike without a specific object. Bourke
      although absolutely exhausted, offered to con-
      tinue the fight, but he was over-ruled by his
      second and carried off the stage in a most
      wrenched condition. Belcher received several
      very severe blows, particularly in the body;
      but he bore them with great patience, and did
      not leave the ground for upwards of an hour
      after. The battle was for one hundred guineas
      a side, and some thousands depended upon its
      issue.
      _ Mendoza was to have seconded Bourke, but
      he was afraid if he did so, that he might loose
      the license of the public house he keeps in Mile
      End Road.
      _ Belcher having beat Bourke, has challenged
      Mendoza, and offered to fight him in a month
      for 200 to 300 guineas; to which bravado
      Mendoza calmly replied, that he had relin-
      quished the trade of fighting; that he support-
      ed a family of six children by his exertions as
      landlord of the Lord Nelson public house, in
      White-chapel; that there was one man he
      would fight; and that was Jackson, who, in
      consequence of his having behaved unhand-
      somely and unfairly in the former contest, had
      aroused Mendoza to satisfaction, if not to ven-
      geance.
      _ It is quite true, that Belcher is not a man of
      science, according to the rules of the pugilis-
      tic art; but he possesses a style peculiarly his
      own, which baffles a regular science. He is
      remarkable quick, springs backward and for-
      ward like lightning; you hear his blows but
      never see them; at the conclusion of a round
      his antagonist is beaten and bloody, but you
      did not see Belcher give a blow. This is in-
      deed a science peculiarly his own. It is one
      which none of the regularly bred artist can
      meet, it is felt, but not seen and means cannot
      be devised of mastering it.

      _ [Bourke very nearly paid the forfeit of his life
      in this affair. Belcher was arrested to abide the
      consequences if death had ensued.]

      Comment


      • #23
        ELMIRA TELEGRAM (NEW YORK)
        SEPTEMBER 10, 1905
        JIMMY BRITT vs BATTLING NELSON NELSON'S THE BOY

        Battling Gave James Edward Britt
        His in the 18th Round

        THE FIGHT WENT A FAST CLIP

        Game of Give and Take Witnessed by More Than
        _ Ten Thousand People - The Long-Disputed
        _ Supremacy No Longer in Balance - Nelson
        _ Right There With the Goods From First Tap
        _ of the Gong

        [By Associated Press]
        _ San Francisco, Cal. Sept, 9. - In a
        fight that had many novel features,
        Battling Nelson, of Chicago, knocked
        out Jimmy Britt, of San Francisco, at
        Colma, this afternoon. The end came
        in the eighteenth round and was a
        fairly won victory. The suroundings,
        the crowd, the bitterness of the men
        toward each other, the uncertainty as
        to whether there would be a fight at
        all up to within a quarter of an hour
        before the fight actually began, to-
        gether with the cleverness and the
        endurance displayed by the two box-
        ers, made the fight one of the great in-
        terest to followers of fighting.
        _ It was the success of a strong, en-
        during fighter against a clever, cool
        man. From the first, until Referee
        Graney finished the count of ten sec-
        onds, Nelson forced the fighting.
        Though suffering many bruising blows
        on the face and body, and being at
        times very tired, Nelson never gave
        ground. he came back after every at-
        tack by Britt, always ready to exchange
        blows. For the rushing, forcing, per-
        sistent tactics of Nelson, Britt could
        find no effective counter. The Califor-
        nian tried every blow known to him
        to stop his tireless opponent. In every
        way Britt failed, although he punished
        Nelson severely, knocking him down
        once and staggering him several times.
        _ Only once, in the third round, did it
        appear to those close enough to judge
        the tide of battle, that Britt might win.
        In this round Britt reached the most
        vulnerable spot on Nelson's muscled
        body, the stomach, with two terrific
        right-hand blows, that carried pun-
        ishment. Nelson faltered for a mo-
        ment and doubled over. Quickly turn-
        ing his attention to Nelson's face,
        Britt sent a terrible right cross that
        dropped the Dane to his knees.
        _There was a shout from Britt's sup-
        porters, but Nelson got up before the
        timer could reach the count of two.
        The call for the time of the succeeding
        round found Nelson fresh. Nelson
        was always the first to begin rounds,
        though not always the first to land a
        blow. Time after time he would glide
        along after Britt, much after the style
        of Fitzsimmons, never clever on his
        feet, but always seeking to shorten
        the distance between his opponent and
        himself. Tireless persistence and dis-
        regard of physical punishment char-
        acterized Nelson's fighting through-
        out.
        _ Britt fought gamely at all times, but
        after his spurt in the third, the Cali-
        fornia fighter weakened, perceptably, to
        those seated close to the ring side. Britt
        had used all his strength, all his clev-
        erness and all his blows in the third
        and he had failed to achieve a knock-
        out. Britt appeared to realize as he
        took his corner after the fourth round
        that he was unable to hurt his oppo-
        nent. Nelson also seemed to reach this
        decision at the same time and subse-
        quently took Britt's blows with more
        confidence and without flinching. Ex-
        cept in spots, these rounds were all
        pretty much alike.
        _ Nelson always forcing, Britt always
        giving ground; Britt trying to keep
        Nelson at the end of his snappy left
        hand and the Dane using every means
        to get inside the circumference of the
        Californian's hands. Whenever Nel-
        son broke down the defense or ac-
        cepted the blows aimed at him, he
        would hammer away at the body, al-
        ways coming out of a clinch swing-
        ing at the jaw. The agreement of the
        two men to break at the call of the
        referee and the referee's interpreta-
        tion of the rules and their strict en-
        forcement, seemed to be in Nelson's
        favor.
        _ Graney told the men before the fight
        that they must break at his command,
        and he carried out his intention. The
        refereeing was successful, according to
        popular opinion.
        _ In the fifth Britt held and advantage,
        staggering Nelson with a series of
        blows and making a desperate effort to
        win. This was the first round in which
        both threw aside all knowledge of box-
        ing and exchanged viciously, each
        hoping to end the fight with one blind-
        ing delivered lucky blow. Both were
        bleeding at the close of this round, but
        Nelson was the stronger. It did not
        seem possible that a fight could be
        much fiercer than the fifth, but the
        succeeding period of three minutes
        brought the vast crowd to its feet and
        kept it there throughput the round.
        _ The fighters slugged each other
        ceaselessly. Both were bleeding and
        weary, but always game. In the last
        minut of the sixth Nelson suddenly
        took the lead, annd getting Britt in a
        corner, beat him about the body and
        face until he went weaving about the
        ring vainly trying to protect himself.
        _Britt took a terrific beating about
        the body, unable for a time to block
        Nelson's blows; but, in a flash, Britt
        took a brace. He set himself in the
        middle of the ring and met Nelson
        with two punishing swings to the
        face. Nelson halted and Britt leaped
        forward. He slugged and swung in
        one last desperate effort, but again the
        gong ended the round, like the prev-
        ious critical, at an opportune time for
        Nelson.
        _ In the eighth Nelson had Britt in
        trouble, staggering the Californian with
        a left and driving him to the ropes.
        Britt's seconds were in a frenzy, shout-
        ing all sorts of orders. Above all was
        the voice of "Spider" Kelly, who shout-
        ed; "Cover up, Jimmy!" Jimmy obeyed
        and probably saved himself from going
        down in this round. After the eighth
        Britt appeared to tire fast. The pace
        was slower and in Nelson's favor.
        _ In the tenth and eleventh Nelson con-
        tinued to wear out Britt, In the twelfth
        Britt rallied suddenly and battered
        Nelson for two minutes. Nelson covered
        his jaw and took most of the blows on
        the nose, ear, or stomach. Britt wore
        himself out and finished the round
        tired. It became evident to Britt's sec-
        onds after the twelfth that their man
        was being beaten. They sought to bols-
        ter his wavering confidence with cheer-
        ful remarks, but Britt appeared to
        realize that he was beaten.
        _ In the thirteenth Britt took a beat-
        ing with gameness. The fourteenth
        was the most exiting one. Nelson,
        knowing Britt was tiring fast, had
        before him determination to end
        the battle. In five seconds he had
        Britt staggering, his guard lowered
        and all but out. Time and again
        Nelson planted left hand blows on
        Britt's face driving him against the
        ropes. Over-eagerness on Nelson's
        part prolonged the fight beyond this
        round. Seeing his brother beaten
        down, Willie Britt shouted: "Swing
        Jimmy, swing!" Setting himself to
        meet Nelson, Britt swung his right
        hand with all the strength in his body.
        _ The blow landed and Nelson was
        not only stopped, but seemed to give
        gound. Britt pressed the advantage
        and, with his feet set far apart to
        steady himself, once more he met
        Nelson with full arm swings, finally
        forcing the Dane to clinch. The gong
        sounded while they were standing
        head to head, slashing at each other
        with both hands.
        _ The crowd arose and cheered the
        desperate struggle in the fourteenth
        round compelled both men to show up
        in the next two rounds, and no de-
        cisive work was done by either, though
        Nelson showed more strength when-
        ever they came to a clinch. The sev-
        enteenth was Nelson's by a good mar-
        gin.
        _ The eighteenth proved the end for
        Britt. A detailed account of that
        round, which lasted about two min-
        utes, shows little difference from the
        preceding rounds. Britt was tired,
        but seemed willing. Nelson forced him
        about the ring and gave many body
        blows, always boring in. He cornered
        Britt and drove him against the ropes.
        Britt squirmed out and sent in a ter-
        rific left to the stomach that appeared
        to hurt Nelson. Nelson covered his
        body and Britt swung for his face.


        _ [up to a half hour after midnight this
        morning the Associated Press was unable
        to supply the Telegram with a full ac-
        count of the fight, stating earlier the
        story was "delayed by wire trouble
        west." - Editor Telegram.] BEFORE THE BATTLE

        Comment


        • #24
          BEFORE THE BATTLE

          Scenes and Incidents In and About
          The Arena
          _ Ringside, Colma, Sept. 9 - The
          scenes just outside the high fence
          around the arena before the beginning
          of the fight had all the appearances
          of a frontier mining camp or the im-
          mediate vicinity of a circus. Taking
          advantage of the fact that they were
          outside the city and county of San
          Francisco, and across the border line
          of San Maeto county, gambling sharps
          operated games of infinite variety, As
          is usual at the great sporting events
          there was a crowd of hangers on out-
          side as large as the inside, and these
          freely played the games. Thousands
          of dollars changed hands. On many
          of the roulette and faro tables hun-
          dreds of dollars were stacked in coin
          in plain view of the crowds. Many
          games were conducted by women, who
          reaped a rich harvest.
          _ Almost every available automobile
          in San Francisco had been engaged to
          bring sporting men to the ringside.
          Improvised garages outside the arena
          were filled with machines. Several
          taaly-ho parties lent a spectacular
          feature to the scene. Large delegations
          of ring followers came from all the
          large cities and numerous eastern
          points. There was no disorder. The
          main portion of the crowd did not be-
          gin to arrive until 1 o'clock when they
          poured through the gates. The ushers
          became confused and the asiles were
          badly congested. The first question
          asked was:
          _ "Who will be the referee?"
          _ When they found that question was
          still unsettled, the sentiment was free-
          ly expressed that there "would be a
          fight or a shooting scrape." The un-
          certainty practically brought betting to
          a standstill. The pool room concession
          had prepared to handle the big crowd
          of betters, but no business was done,
          although odds of 10 to 6 were offered,
          Britt being the favorite. As the hour
          set for the fight approached the crowd
          became restless and nervous, many
          standing upon the seats. A score of
          women came in with escorts, each one
          being cheered. Nolan still persisted
          in his refusal to bringNelson into the
          ring until a referee satisfactory to
          himself should be selected, and at 1:15
          p.m. the uncertainty was as great as
          ever. After the boxers weighed in at
          Corbett's in San Francisco this fore-
          noon, they got into autos with their re-
          spective managers and trainers and
          started for Colma. A chill wind car-
          ried a heavy fog in from the ocean and
          the men appeared thoroughly chilled.
          _ _ JEFFRIES MAKES
          _ _ HIS APPEARANCE
          _ J.J. Jeffries came through the
          gates to the arena at 1:20 and took a
          seat at the ring side. He was cheered
          by the crowd, but paid no attention to
          the demonstration. Jeffries said he
          was on hand to act, as he had been
          chosen by the fighters and the club.
          He knew nothing about what they
          intended to do aside from that, he
          said. Nelson's father came up to Jeff
          and told him that he wanted the re-
          tired champion to act as referee. Jeff
          declared he did not want to referee.
          At 1:30 Nolan left the arena and de-
          clared he would not return until the
          question was settled. Seated in a box
          close to the ring side were Mrs. James
          J. Jeffries and Mrs. William Delaney,
          with escorts. Promptly at 1:30, the
          hour scheduled for the fighters to ap-
          pear, the crowd sent up a shout,
          "Sit down," and kept it up until all
          seat-holders were in their places. At
          1:40, Manager Coffroth came into the
          ring and called Willis Britt up and
          told him to bring Jimmy in. "I have
          told Nolan that I would give him unti
          2 o'clock to produce Nelson. Your
          contract calls for the men to be in the
          ring at 1:30 p.m. If Nelson is not on
          hand at 2 p.m. I will call for the for-
          feit."
          _ "Why don't you provide a dressing
          room?" said Nolan. "You have a
          room," said Coffroth. Immediately
          Nolan went out. Britt came into the
          ring at 1:53, accompanied by his
          seconds, "Spider" Kelly, Sam Berger
          and "Tiv" Kreling. Britt selected the
          southwest corner. He was fully dress-
          ed, wearing a long overcoat over a
          thick sweater and trousers. As soon
          as Britt got into the ring, Manager
          Coffroth sent word to Nelson that
          Brritt was on hand and ordered Nelson
          to appear immediatly. There was no
          sign of him, however, and after a
          while Willie Britt demanded that Nel-
          son be produced at once, adding: "I'm
          not going to keep my man here all
          day. That fellow Nelson was to be
          here at 1:30. It is now after 2 o'clock
          and he had better show up here soon
          if there's going to be a fight."
          _ "It's pretty tough," said Coffroth, "to
          get up against this situation ahter six
          months work getting this match, and
          perfecting all arrangements, to say
          nothing of the expense I have been put
          to."

          _ _ GRANEY IS
          _ _ FINALLY SELECTED

          _ At 2:10 Jeffries came into the ring.
          It was said at that time that Nelson
          absolutely refused to appear. Billy Jor-
          dan then made this announcement:
          _ "Gentlemen: Mr. Nelson refuses to
          come into the ring unless they select
          a man other than Jim Jeffries for re-
          feree."
          _ A great chorus of jeers and cries
          had interrupted him.
          _ "Mr. Britt," continued Jordan, "will
          not stand for anyone other than Jeff-
          ries. Now, gentlemen, three rousing
          cheers for the undefeated champion of
          the world, J.J. Jeffries."
          _ Three cheers were given. After a
          long wrangle, it was announced that
          Jeffries had retired from the field, and
          Graney was selected. The announce-
          ment that the referee question had been
          settled caused a change in the betting
          and many wagers were made, Britt
          being the favorite at 10 to 6. At 2:33
          Nelson appeared. On his way down he
          was greeted with jeering and hooting.
          He was accompanied by Harry Foley,
          Martin Murphy, Billy Nolan and Fred
          Landers.

          _ _ ALL BETS
          _ _ ARE DECLARED OFF

          _ Nelson was introduced as the "hard-
          est nut to crack in the lightweight
          class, "Battling Nelson." This intro-
          duction was cooly received. Britt was
          then introduced as the "pride of Cali-
          fornia" and he was loudly cheered.
          Challenges flew thick and fast. Eddie
          Hanlon, Jimmy Gardner, Aurello
          Hererra and Willie Fitzgerald were
          some of those who want to meet the
          winner. An announcement that came
          as a surprise was that Graney declar-
          ed all bets off on the contest. The mov-
          ing picture machines were started as
          soon as Nelson entered the ring.
          Graney explained with reference to his
          declaring bets off, that it only applied
          to bets made previous to his selection
          and acceptance as referee; that all
          others could stand.

          THEY GET BUSY
          After a Day of Wrangling the Mill
          Finally Starts
          _ Graney called the men to the cen-
          ter and gave them instructions. "You
          boys are going to fight under the
          Marquis of Queensberry rules," he
          said. "My interpretation of these
          rules is that there must be no holding.
          I don't want to put my hands on you.
          When I say break, I want you to
          break without any unnecessary de-
          lay." The men shook hands, strip-
          ped quickly and the ring was cleared.
          Britt wore red trunks, trimmed with
          the national colors. Nelson had on
          pale green trunks with a pink belt.
          At 2:47 the word was given and the
          fight was on.

          THEIR FORMS

          Nelson

          _

          Britt

          5 ft. 7 inches
          133 pounds
          67 inches
          15 inches
          34 1/2 inches
          37 inches
          25 inches
          12 inches
          11 1/2 inches
          7 3/4 inches
          20 inches
          14 inches
          7 inches

          height
          weight
          reach
          neck
          chest normal
          chest expanded
          waist
          biceps
          forearm
          wrist
          thigh
          calf
          ankle
          5 ft 6 inches
          133 pounds
          65 1/2 inches
          15 inches
          35 1/2 inches
          38 inches
          28 inches
          12 inches
          10 1/2 inches
          7 inches
          19 1/2 inches
          13 inches
          7 inches


          TELEGRAM KEPT
          BUSY LAST NIGHT
          _ If there is any doubt of the extent
          of interest manifested in the Nelson-
          Britt fight of yesterday afternoon, just
          ask the girls who manipulate the
          electric fluid carring wires at either
          of the local exchanges. Churchmen
          managed to scrape up a personal or
          two to telephone the Telegram and
          incidentally asked how the fight came
          off. Others inquired because their
          neighbors wanted to know.
          _ In fact, the Telegram plugs at both
          centrals were badly disfigured during
          the evening, but the men behind the
          guns in the editorial sanctum looked
          pleasant and obliged all who called.
          There was a good deal of humor in it
          anyway and it was good for the ear-
          ache to listen to the involuntary ut-
          terances of those who secured the in
          formation.
          _ Some merely grunted; others gave
          vent to joyous exclaimations and not a
          few expressed disappointment. There
          were the usual number of "I-told-you-
          sos." Ninety-nine out of a hundred
          would "thank you" before hanging up
          the receiver. The "number-please"
          girls say that many who called the
          Telegram, immediately also, called
          either one or the other of the evening
          papers, but the bells rang to empty
          rooms. The telephone calls for in-
          formation began to come in before
          2 o'clock in the afternoon. When the
          real result was announced about 7
          p.m., many doubted the correctness
          of the report and there was a clamor
          for more news and detail.
          _ Not all pretend to be sportively
          inclined, yet there are few who are
          not anxious to learn the result of
          tests of strength, endurance and phys-
          ical science. Perhaps, they don't ap-
          prove of the game and wouldn't at-
          tend a fighting match if they had the
          opportunity, but they want to know
          how it came out. The Telegram was
          glad to give its friends all the infor-
          mation in its possession. It always is.

          Comment


          • #25
            1899-03-14 Terry McGovern W-KO18 Patsy Haley [Lenox Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]
            1899-03-15 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 6)
            M'GOVERN KNOCKS OUT HALEY.

            Terence McGovern, the clever little fighter of Brooklyn, knocked out Patrick Haley at the Lenox Athletic Club last night in the nineteenth round. It was a lively fight, with McGovern always the aggressor. They boxed at 115 pounds and were to go twenty-five rounds, provided the bout was not ended before the twenty-fifth round. Haley showed much science, and his science saved him from being badly scarred. He was knocked out by a right-hand blow on the jaw, and in falling struck his head on one of the padded posts. He was carried to his corner in a dazed condition, but recovered in a few minutes. He was slightly cut on the face from McGovern's swings with the left and right hands.

            It is said that McGovern will now claim the 115-pound championship of the world, and be prepared to defend it against "Pedlar" Palmer, of England, or any fighter in his class.

            The preliminary bout was of ten rounds at 108 pounds between Daniel Dougherty, of Philadelphia, and James Johnson, of this city. In the tenth round Dougherty knocked Johnson down. Referee White then stopped the bout and awarded the fight to Dougherty.


            1899-03-15 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 7)
            HALEY DEFEATED IN EIGHTEEN ROUNDS
            --------
            "Terry" McGovern, the little Brooklyn featherweight pugilist, scored another victory last night at the Lenox Athletic Club, knocking out "Patsy" Haley, of Buffalo, after forty-eight seconds of fighting in the eighteenth round. It was a hot battle, and Haley, though defeated, was by no means disgraced. He made a grand stand, and showed great cleverness with his hands and feet. His foot work was superb, but his blows lacked strength, and therein lies the cause of his defeat. McGovern's blows were remarkable for their force, and every one counted. At times Haley outpointed him, but he always had a hard blow ready. When he delivered the knockout blow, a right on the jaw, the Brooklyn boy was apparently as strong as when the fight began.

            The conditions of the contest called for twenty-five rounds at 116 pounds. Both weighed in at that figure. Haley was the taller and had the longer reach. He also appeared to be the heavier. The opinion of the leading prize fight experts, as expressed immediately after the battle, is that McGovern is a world beater, and that he can beat "Pedlar" Palmer, the champion of England.

            McGovern was the favorite in the betting, $100 to $60 being offered when the boys went into the ring.

            The eighteenth and what proved to be the final round was very brief. Haley, who was suffering keenly from the blows he received in the preceding round, was unsteady, while McGovern was almost as fresh and as strong as at the start. "Mac" opened hostilities in brisk style. He immediately landed the left on the jaw, and sent Haley to the ropes. As the Buffalo boy rebounded, "Mac" smashed him hard on the jaw with the right, and Haley went down and out. Time of this round, 48 seconds.

            In the preliminary bout, "Dan" Dougherty, of Philadelphia, knocked out "Jim" Johnson, of New York, in nine rounds. They met at 108 pounds.1899-03-15 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 8)
            McGOVERN KNOCKS OUT HALEY.
            --------
            The Buffalo Man Loses the Fight in the Eighteenth Round.

            "Terry" McGovern of Brooklyn and "Patsey" Haley of Buffalo put up the best fight for eighteen rounds last night that the patrons of the Lenox Athletic Club have ever seen. The boys were matched to go twenty-five rounds at 116 pounds, but a neat left hook on the jaw, followed by a straight right punch on the point of the chin, after forty-eight seconds of fighting in the eighteenth round, sent Haley unconscious on the ropes, and he was counted out and the decision given to McGovern.

            The fight from the start was a lively scientific contest. The men appeared to be about evenly matched as to weight, height, and reach, and both showed up as very clever boxers. They sparred lightly for the first two rounds, but in the third they warmed up to their work and mixed matters up. McGovern struck Haley several blows low enough to have been counted as fouls, but it was apparent that they were accidental, and the boys were told by "Charley" White, the referee, to box on.

            The fourth round came near being the last, for if the bell had not sounded Haley would probably have been counted out. Haley was the aggressor at the beginning of the round, and sent a hard left-hand swing into McGovern's stomach, but the latter reciprocated a second later with a similar blow. He followed this up with four left swings to the body and jaw. Haley went down three times in succession, and had risen and was endeavoring weakly to defend himself from the knockout that seemed almost inevitable when the gong sounded. Haley brightened up after the fifth round and landed harder and more repeatedly than earlier, and through the succeeding rounds and up to the time he was knocked out he showed improvement.

            Comment


            • #26
              1885-05-04 Nonpareil Jack Dempsey W-KO5 Tom Barry [Mechanics’ Pavilion, San Francisco, CA, USA]
              1885-05-05 Daily Alta California (San Francisco, CA) (page 1)
              THE WHITE FEATHER.
              ------
              Harry Downie Backs Out of the Match with Jack Dempsey.

              Up to half-past 9 o'clock last night a comparatively small audience had gathered in the Pavilion to witness the glove contest between Jack Dempsey, light-weight champion of America, and Harry Downie, middle-weight, of this city. At the hour mentioned the admission was lowered to fifty cents, but the doors were rushed and the crowd of "waits" poured in free of charge. The event of the evening was preceded by sparring exhibitions between the following local sloggers: Tom Kelly and a stranger from Butchertown, George Hamill and Ed. McDonald, Bill Price (colored) and June Dennis (colored.) These latter two began to exhibit so much pugnacity that Captain Douglas ordered them out of the ring. James Maloney and Joe Brown then followed as feather-weights. It was then announced by Ed. Willis that Harry Downie had left the Pavilion, giving as a reason that so many people had come in free that he did not propose to fight. The terms of the match were that the winner should receive seventy per cent. of the net receipts and the loser thirty per cent. The news of Downie's defection was greeted with groans and hisses. Harry Maynard was called for, and finally made up a match between Dempsey and Tom Barry, by agreeing to pay Barry $250 whether he won or lost.

              Maynard also stated that he would never again make any match with Downie, and would, furthermore use every endeavor to prevent any one else doing so. At 10:40 o'clock Dempsey and Barry stepped into the ring. Barry was seconded by Munice Leo and Pete Lawler. Dempsey was seconded by Charles Taylor and Martin Murphy. Mike Cleary was selected to act as referee. The first round opened with cautions work, but Barry soon began to force the work and was sent flying through the ropes clear off the stage, not so much by a blow as by a rush and shove. Barry was back in a moment, but got a blow on his neck that felled him, but he was on his feet in a second. During this first round Barry very cleverly stopped some hard and well-directed blows. The little work that Dempsey did showed him to be a thorough master in the science of pugilism. He played with Barry as easily and unconcernedly as a cat would with a mouse. The second round was not of an exciting nature, and it was evident that Barry, while he forced the work, was in considerable awe of Dempsey's long left-handed reach. The third round was equally tame, Dempsey giving one or two specimens of in-fighting, and Barry standing well up to his work. The fourth round was but a repetition of the third, although Barry began to fail somewhat. The fifth round had scarcely opened before Dempsey dropped his left into Barry's neck and the latter staggered back in a dazed manner; another similar blow and Barry showed symptoms of a strong desire to remain seated on the floor, but finally stood up and received a gentle blow on the neck that knocked him out of time. Under the circumstances Barry did very well, although it was evident that he is no match for Dempsey, even at his best.

              Maynard feels very sore over the way in which the crowd rushed the doors and charges certain parties with having put up a job on him. Downie sent word to the Pavilion, after he had gone away, that he would return and fight Dempsey if he was guaranteed $500 whether he won or lost.


              1885-05-05 Daily Evening Bulletin (San Francisco, CA) (page 1)
              Exciting Glove Contest at the Pavilion.

              There was not a large paying audience at the Pavilion last evening to see the glove fight between Harry Downie and Jack Dempsey. The money came in so slowly that the price was reduced to fifty cents; but this reduction was not satisfactory, and a rush was made for the doors and the waiting crowd affected an entrance without money and without price. After some sparring it was announced that Harry Downie had left the Pavilion, giving as a reason that so many people had come in free that he did not propose to fight. A messenger was dispatched to Downey's retreat, but the derelict pugilist sent back word that he wanted the guarantee of $500 before he would appear in the ring. Tom Barry volunteered to take Downey's place if guaranteed $250 whether he won or lost. Maynard accepted the proposition and the contest soon began. The contest proved to be one of the most exciting that have been seen here. Although Barry had not been in training, he made a plucky fight, and forced his antagonist to do his best. After an exchange of blows which did not do any particular damage, Dempsey rushed at Barry and drove him backward with a left and right clean through the ropes and off the stage to the floor five feet below. The fall was so severe that it was thought for a moment that the fight was over, but Barry unexpectedly bounded back to the stage smiling, and rushed fiercely at his opponent. In the fourth round it seemed as if Dempsey could knock out his man whenever he pleased, bu the champion was magnanimous and refrained from punishing him. In the fifth and last round Barry was so plainly at the mercy of the New Yorker that Dempsey dropped his hands and made no attempt to strike his helpless opponent. Barry would not yield, however, and the champion gave him a shove which overturned him. The shock revived Barry and when he rose he rushed determinedly at Dempsey, who met him with a well-directed right-hander that laid the local man on his back and ended the fight.

              Comment


              • #27
                1897

                Mysterious Billy SMITH Vs George GREEN a.k.a. Young CORBETTTHE TOLEDO COMMERCIAL
                THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 18, 1897
                BILLY SMITH vs GEORGE GREEN IT WAS GREEN'S FIGHT.
                Took Him Eleven Rounds
                to Make Smith Quit

                _ Carson, March 17. - The fight between
                "Mysterious" Billy Smith and George
                Green, welterweights, followed im-
                mediately, Smith had the worst of it
                until the end of the eleventh round
                when he gave up the fight, saying that
                his arm had been broken in the fourth
                round.
                _ Malachy Hogan, of Chicago, was
                referee, and he had his hands full. The
                men clinched repeatedly and were
                loath to break away. Smith devoted most of his attention to in-fighting,
                and in the clinches would grab Green
                around the neck and with his right
                arm free, play a tattoo on the San
                Francisco boy's ribs. Green constantly
                jabbed with his left and soon had
                Smith's nose and mouth in a pulpy
                condition. It was noticeable that Smith
                refrained from using his left arm
                which had been broken three months
                ago, and he could only hand an occa-
                sional right swing.
                _ Round 1 - The men clinched immedi-
                ately and Smith commenced his work
                on Green's ribs. On the break away
                Green punished Smith in the stomach,
                Both throw blows to the body.
                _ Rounds 2, 3, 4 and 5 were a succes-
                sion of clinches and jabs by Green.
                _ Round 6 - Smith went to the floor
                a result of a left hand punch in the
                face. The "mysterious" man seemed
                very tired and hung to Green as long
                as he could in the clinches. As the
                round closed he landed on Green's
                jaw but did no damage.
                _ Round 7 - Smith rushed matters a
                bit but was ineffectual until the end of
                the round when he sent Green's head
                back with his right on the mouth.
                _ Round 8 - In a wrestle Smith was
                thrown. Green then tried for a knock-
                out, but missed.
                _ Round 9 - Green played constantly
                for the stomach, but Smith managed
                to block him every time.
                _ In the 10th round Green had it near-
                ly all his own way, landing two lefts
                on the head and body that badly de-
                moralized Smith, who appealed to the
                referee for protection.
                _ Round 11 - Green wanted to end the
                affair and rushed Smith against the
                ropes. Smith got in his right twice on
                Green's neck and was jabbed in the
                stomach. Smith was very tired, and
                when the bell rang and he had gone
                to his corner his seconds threw up the
                sponge, and the fight was given to
                Green.

                Comment


                • #28
                  1918-06-11 Jack Britton W-PTS12 Bryan Downey [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]
                  1918-06-12 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 6)
                  BRITTON WHIPS DOWNEY EASING UP
                  --------
                  Could Have Stopped Him in Armory A. A. Bout
                  --------
                  Shows a Hard Punch Despite Fall That Dazed Him
                  --------
                  Jack Britton of Chicago found Bryan Downey of Columbus easy game for him in their bout at the Armory A. A. last night and was given the decision in 12 rounds.

                  That Britton could have stopped Downey was the opinion of the fans. For the first three sessions the latter showed up well. He started to force the boxing, but in the fourth Britton got busy and from that time on made Downey look like a third-rater.

                  In the 10th, Britton had Downey in a bad way, but when it looked as if he could knock him out, he lessened the force in his punches.

                  Downey was in such a shape at times that the spectators yelled to the referee to stop the bout.

                  In the second round Britton, in making a lunge at Downey, slipped out of the ring and struck his head on the floor. He was dazed for an instant, but returned to the ring in a few seconds.

                  The preliminary between Mike Snyder and Jack Fallon was a great bout. Both little fellows fought fast and hard, Fallon scoring a knockdown in the sixth. At the end of six rounds it was called a draw. Joe Rivers of Gloucester defeated Panama Joe Gans in eight rounds, and Mike Castle stopped Young Sharkey of New Bedford in four.

                  Johnny Dundee and Young Britt will box in the feature bout at the club next Tuesday night. Shaver O'Brien and Sam Bell will meet in the semi-final; Billy Roberts and Jack Mansfield in one preliminary and Young Veira and Young Bruno in the other.


                  1918-06-12 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 10)
                  JACK BRITTON IS DOWNEY'S MASTER
                  --------
                  BOSTON, June 12.--Jack Britton, the master, overwhelmingly defeated Bryan Downey in a 12-round bout at the Armory A. A. last night. Downey looked and fought like an apprentice against the skill and superior ring craft of the former welterweight champion. The Columbus boxer had superb courage, otherwise he never would have lasted through. He fought one of the gamest up-hill battles ever seen in a local ring.

                  Panama Joe Gans substituted for Victor Dahl against Joe Rivers and lost the decision to the Gloucester man in an eight-round fight.

                  Mike Snyder and Johnny Fallon fought a fast six rounds to a draw and Mike Castle proved too fast for Young Sharkey and was given the verdict in the fourth round.

                  Comment


                  • #29
                    THE PHILADELPHIA RECORD
                    THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1911

                    CLAIMS CHAMPIONSHIP
                    Packey McFarland Thinks Lightweight
                    Honors Are His
                    _ New York, March 15. - Packey Mc-
                    Farland, flushed with his victory over
                    Owen Moran, now claims he is the only
                    real simon pure light-weight champion
                    boxer of the world.
                    _ "I can fight at the American light-weight
                    limit, 133 pounds," said McFarland. And,
                    what is more, I am willing to do so. I
                    never have been beaten and I think this
                    record counts for something, inasmuch
                    as I have earned decisions over men who
                    have been champions."
                    _ To substantiate his claims Packey point-
                    ed out that Kid Lavigne, Frank Erne and
                    Joe Gans all fought and won the title
                    at 135 and 136 pounds.
                    _ McFarland's victory over Moran in the
                    10-round bout decided last evening, was
                    decisive, and leaves no doubt as to which
                    is the better man. The pace was fast.
                    Moran, standing straight and fighting like
                    a little bulldog, was bewildered by Mc-
                    Farland's speed, but he tried his best
                    every inch of the way. Packey made him
                    miss swing after swing, yet Moran smiled
                    confidently as he tried the next one.
                    Packey seemed to like the infighting quite
                    as well as Moran, and he had the best
                    of it. He always managed to land sev-
                    eral blows for Moran's one, and they were
                    snappy, stinging punches that would have
                    worn down any fighter less enduring than
                    the game little Briton.
                    _ Packey would hold his long left out,
                    push it against Moran's head, so that
                    said block would bend backwards and
                    then he'd shoot the right either to the
                    chin or body.
                    _ In the fifth round Packey brought a
                    hard swinging upper cut, landed under
                    Moran's chin and fairly lifted him from
                    his feet.
                    _ The sixth was a hot session. Packey
                    started out as if intent upon landing a
                    knockout. He put in several hard straight
                    rights, and Moran ducked out of danger
                    so cleverly that the crowd gave him a
                    rattle of applause. Moran came back with
                    hard swings, which Packey ducked in turn.
                    Then Packey started an aggressive rush
                    that forced Moran into a corner. Before
                    he could recover or slip aside Packey
                    swung a right uppercut. The blow caught
                    Owen on the chin and lifting him from
                    his feet tossed him through the ropes.
                    He fell in a sitting position outside on
                    the edge of the platform, with his legs
                    over the lower rope of the ring. For a
                    moment Owen looked up with a grin,
                    and then he scrambled back through the
                    ropes and danced away from Packey's
                    eager rush.
                    _ There was no let-up. McFarland was
                    rushing continually, pawing with his left,
                    shooting rights over, landing uppercuts
                    as he came close, and punching Moran's
                    body as they came to a clinch. Near the
                    end of the seventh the result of the pun-
                    ishment showed. Moran was weak and a
                    little slow. He soon recovered.
                    _ From that time on there wasn't a dull
                    second. McFarland was trying his best,
                    and Moran stood up against his rushes,
                    rushed now and then himself and fought
                    like a gamecock. The end of the tenth
                    round found McFarland with a big lead,
                    but Moran smiling and dancing about as
                    cockily as ever.

                    Comment


                    • #30
                      SMITH v. CROUSE.
                      NZ Truth , Issue 582, 12 August 1916, Page 11
                      About this newspaper

                      Back to issue contents

                      Article view

                      SMITH v. CROUSE.
                      New Zealander Victorious. ,_, - Knock* tho American m the Fourth SVi^f.r- -Round, n..:....;'. ■■■■• 'y (By Special Cable.) The Sydney Stadium, on Saturday night last, provided the fight sensation of the year, when the" New Zealander, Dave Smith, accounted for the American, Buck Crouse, m the fourth round. ' .■-■'.-...-. . 1 The same'pair figured at the Stadium a few weeks ago, and, on that occasion, Smith, after banging and smashing for nine rounds, and being banged and' smashed m return, was forced to quit, It being apparent that inVjtdrcihg the, fight he had taken on too'big a contract, whereas if he had boxed the American, he would have finished up an easy winner on points. Consequently, the return .match of the pair on Saturday night did not appeal too strongly to the fans, who regarded the result as being a foregone conclusion for the American, and, comparatively speaking,' the crowd of 4000 present was small. - ■'' = That the previous performances of. a boxer, or bdxers, is the worst thing to judge on, was manifested by the fetult on Saturday night, because Smith, whose injuries, received at the hands of both Les Darcy and Buck Crouse, had healed and had completely ..vanished, entered the ring as fit • and * well as ever before m his existence* »' The weights were: Smith, 11.10: Crouse, 12.4. The fight was short, but it was fierce. Smith fought like a veritable tornado, and m the first round, Just before the itbell, the American was toppled over. The second round was even more furious, the third being a very bad one for the American. The fourth proved the last. : Smith f| If ought with devij, sending oveK left "and right to the American's face. -,»Twice Crouse was dropped for nine (! seconds. The third time he was clouted out, and Smith,, amidst the greatest excitement, bowed his acknowledgement of the plaudits of the excited and crazy crowd. As the winner op the fight is to be "'matched to meet the champion,; Le» Darcy, at Brisbane, during Exhibition week, it means that; Dave Sm|th Is to be. given another chance to wrest tbe middleweight title from the young cfarmptoa. : ■•

                      Comment

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