1903-02-23 Aurelio Herrera W-KO3 Tommy Jacobs [Salt Lake Athletic Club, Salt Lake City, UT, USA]

1903-02-24 Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City, UT) (page 8)

HERRERA WAS AN EASY WINNER
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Disposed of Tommy Jacobs in Two And a Half Rounds.
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LARGE CROWD ATTENDED.
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Local Boy Went Down Three Times In the Second Round--Solar Plexus Turned the Trick.
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With a little assistance from Aurelio Herrera, Tommy Jacobs succeeded in knocking himself out after two and a half rounds of fighting at the Salt Lake athletic club last night. The "little assistance" referred to, was in the shape of three hard right smashes on the jaw in the second round, and a terrific solar plexus with the right during the third round, and then it was pay day for the dusky Mexican.

When the little fighters stepped into the ring, they faced a packed house. Jacobs was smiling and confident, Herrera sullen and observing. The latter was a favorite from the start, but when he faced Jacobs and the crowd saw his perfect defense, his stock jumped up several points. He assumed a crouch, holding his hands in front of his face with his elbows protecting his stomach. The attempt to break down this defense caused the downfall of the little local boy. Jacobs was the aggressor from the first tap of the gong. He quickly rushed the Mexican and showered a volley of rights and lefts, but they did not the slightest damage. Herrera was cool, and was playing a waiting game. The spectators to a man saw what the result would be. Herrera never retreated, but kept forging ahead and only attempted to land a couple of light blows during the first round. Jacobs tired himself out pushing the little Mexican away from him. In the second round, Jacobs followed the same tactics and was doing all the leading when suddenly he went to the floor with a crash. The Mexican's right crossed over like a streak of lightning, landing on Tommy's jaw with the force of a mule kick and Tommy took the count. As he raised himself and staggered gamely towards Herrera, the latter's wicked right shot out again and down went Tommy. This happened again, Jacobs displaying gameness not often seen, but he would surely have been knocked out completely but for the gong sounding. His seconds quickly ran to his assistance and carried him to his corner. The minute's rest revived him greatly and he returned to the attack gamely. In this he made a great mistake. The crowd yelled to him to be careful and to take his time, but he ignored the advice, and began to force matters again. He finally succeeded in landing a hard right on the Mexican's jaw and the latter came pretty close to the canvas. Aurelio did not lose his head, however, but waited and was rewarded. Jacobs left a small opening just for a second, but it was long enough. Quick as a flash Herrera's powerful right shot out, landing on the solar plexus and the battle was all over but the counting. While Billy Sauer, referee, was counting off the fatal ten seconds, Herrera walked away smiling, knowing full well that there was nothing more for him to do. The referee could have counted sixty and it would have been all the same to Jacobs, for he was dreaming, softly dreaming.

In summing up the two fighters, it can be said that the local boy never had even a look in. He is forty miles from Herrera's class and yet he is a very clever little boxer. Herrera is a natural born fighter and has a decidedly cool head on him and a terrible wallop in either hand. He knows how to land his blows, and when he lets one go, something is going to drop. Jacobs displayed great cleverness in ducking several vicious punches, but his aggressiveness tired him, and when a fighter becomes tired he becomes slow.

Both boys were around as usual this morning, neither showing the effects of the bout. Jacobs says he realizes that he made a mistake in not forcing the Mexican to do some of the leading. It was a clever contest, no foul work, and not a drop of blood was shed.

The preliminaries were furnished by Jack Morris, colored, known as the Muldoon Cyclone, and a white boy by the same name. The latter is a wrestler and indulged in many unfair tactics during the bout. Kid Watkins and Kid Smith went four fast rounds.


1903-02-24 The Salt Lake Herald (Salt Lake City, UT) (page 7)

JACOBS EASY FOR HERRERA
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Dusky Skinned Mexican Outclasses Local Man.
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THIRD ROUND ENDS CONTEST
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SOLAR PLEXUS BLOW WITH RIGHT DID THE BUSINESS.
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Three rounds of fast fighting on the part of Tom Jacobs and a cool, calm, waiting game on the part of Aurelio Herrera added one more victory to the long list accredited to "Biddy" Bishop's dark-skinned Mexican from the sunny clime of California. Herrera stepped into the ring last evening at the Salt Lake Athletic club and faced a packed house, and if there were any who doubted his ability as a fighter before the festivities began, they are now thoroughly convinced that this youngster is about the best thing in the lightweight division that ever struck this part of the country.

Twice during the short three rounds of fighting Tommy Jacobs was clearly knocked out--first in the second round, when the gong saved him, and again after one minute's fighting in the third round, when he lay until pronounced out by Referee Sauer.

Right Sends Jacobs Down.

In the second round, at a time when Jacobs was doing all the leading, the Mexican suddenly crossed a right square to the point of the jaw. Like a flash Jacobs hit the padded floor, and everyone thought it was all over. Not so, however, for the local man raised to his feet at the nine count, only to go down again as Herrera rushed at him. Again Jacobs took the count and again he raised himself, only to go down before the onslaughts of the now thoroughly aroused Mexican. Four times during this round Jacobs was sent to the floor, all but out, when the welcome sound of the gong brought his seconds to his rescue, who helped the now defeated man to his corner.

At the beginning of the third round Jacobs rushed at his man as if nothing had happened. Herrera met him half way and they exchanged heavy swings, Jacobs staggering the Mexican with a right clean on the jaw. In an instant the wily son of Montezuma assumed his crouch and awaited his opportunity. It came an instant afterward, when, in an unguarded moment, Jacobs left an opening for his wind. Quick as a flash Herrera let a straight right jab go for the solar plexus and it was all over. Tommy went down like a log and lay on the mat until counted out. Even then it was fully a minute before he knew what had happened.

Jacobs Was the Aggressor.

The contest opened with Jacobs on the offensive from the word go. Much to the surprise of every one he rushed right at the Mexican and sent in rights and lefts in a vain attempt to get past Herrera's guard. Several times good stiff rights reached the Mexican's kidneys, but the latter did not seem to pay the least attention to them.

In the first round Herrera let his left and right go just six times--two left jabs and four right swings for the jaw. Jacobs cleverly ducked each and every blow and came to a clinch to keep out of danger. When the round ended Tommy went to his corner confident, while the wise ones knew the Mexican's tactics would make the local man whip himself. In the second round Jacobs again went right after Herrera, ducking several swings, until one headed for his jaw landed and Jacobs went down. From this time on it was merely a question of time until Jacobs would have to go down and out to a superior fighter.

Herrera Outclasses Local Man.

In summing up the two fighters it can be said that Jacobs is not in the same class with Herrera. The former is a remarkably clever boxer, and that is all, while Herrera belongs to the fighting class. Jacobs used very poor judgment, or no judgment at all, in forcing the fight against a man, who, to everyone, appeared his superior. He clearly showed poor headwork, or else was acting under bad advice. If the fight had continued for ten rounds, Jacobs would have fallen from his own exertions, while the Mexican would scarcely have turned a hair. The local man's rushes and swings only tired himself without in the least discomfiting Herrera.

The latter is a fighter from the ground up, and it will take a good man to put him out of the business. During the entire contest he never let a hand go without a punch behind it, which, whenever it hit the mark, did the business. This happened twice, and each time Jacobs was done for. While the contest was short, yet everyone seemed to be satisfied that the better man won.

"Biddy" Bishop and "Reddy" Gallagher (not the Denver "Reddy" Gallagher) acted as seconds for Herrera, and Young Thomas, Young Price and "Fat" McCue were in the corner for Jacobs. Billy Sauer acted as referee.

Preliminaries Were Good.

Before the main event there were two preliminaries, the first between Jack Morris, the wrestler, and a colored Jack Morris, who at one time was managed by Billy Madden and considered a good man. The white Jack outweighed his opponent several pounds and used wrestling tactics almost entirely, several times fouling his man. The black Jack, however, took it all good naturedly and gave back all he got.

The other preliminary was between two boxers by the name of "Kid" Watkins and "Kid" Smith, of Denver. The boys put up a good bout and in the fourth round Watkins got a punch on the jaw that all but put him out. He went down to save himself several times and was hissed for protecting himself, as he should have done, by a number of that class of "rummies" who make themselves obnoxious by attending a contest, when the management would much prefer they stay at home.


1903-02-24 The Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City, UT) (page 9)

JACOBS KNOCKED OUT BY HERRERA IN THE THIRD
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Plucky Local Pug Put Up Game Battle, but Got a "Sockdolager" Over Heart.
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"Herrera wins" was the decision given by Referee Billy Sauer in the middle of the third round of the Herrera-Jacobs contest at the old armory last night. There was no appeal from the justice of the decision, for there on the mat lay the sturdy little local man, unable to rise and quivering from the effect of a terrific blow landed over his heart. The blow was delivered with such quickness and precision that many sitting about the ringside did not see that dusky right when it shot out for the money.

Both men entered the ring in fine trim. Jacobs weighed 130 pounds, his eye was bright and he looked confident of his ability. Herrera, dark and wiry, weighed 128 pounds, although he looked larger than his opponent. Jacobs immediately went after his man, and during the entire first round tried ineffectively to break through the Mexican's guard. As the round progressed Jacobs began to worry, and it was evident that the Mexican had him guessing.

Early in the second round Jacobs received a tap on the jaw from Herrera's right that should have warned him. It did not, however, and shortly afterward Herrera's right shot out again and Jacobs went to the mat. At the ninth count he got to his feet, but was so groggy that he could not stand. Herrera watched his man closely and had him down and all but out at the gong.

After about one minute's fighting in the third round, Herrera sent in a terrific right to Jacobs' heart, and the plucky local fighter went to the mat for the count.

In Herrera's corner were "Biddy" Bishop and "Reddy" Gallegher, and in Jacobs's corner were "Young" Price, "Fat" McCree, and "Young" Thomas. Eugene Thompson acted as official timekeeper.

There were two preliminaries to the main event. The first was a six-round go between Jack Morris of Provo and Fred Morris, colored. The second was a fast four-round go between "Kid" Watkins of Kansas City and "Kid" Smith of Denver. The lads worked hard and furnished a good exhibition.

Herrera's next fight will be with Jack Clifford at Butte on the 16th of next month unless another bout can be arranged here.


1903-02-24 The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT) (page 8)

JACOBS KNOCKED OUT
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Lost to Herrera in the Third Round.
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COULDN'T GO WITH MEXICAN
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Was a Fast and Fancy Fight for Awhile.
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Tommy Gamely Came Up After Repeated Knockdowns, and Spectators Liked Battle.
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"Down where bloom the tear-hung harebells" was the subject of a dream, or nebulous reverie, indulged in by one Tommy Jacobs at the Salt Lake Athletic club last night. This condition was induced by a pure solar plexus blow, prefaced in a previous round by a terrific wallop on the jaw, administered by one Aurelio Herrera, who hails from the south plateau.

The fight went but two rounds and a half, and it was the opinion of the majority of those present that the same result could have been accomplished by the Mexican in the first round. After the battle Jacobs, who was little the worse for the knockout, stated that he lost the battle by running in too soon and too often. He did not deny that the taps he received also helped to lose for him.

OUTCLASSED BY MEXICAN.

The Mexican had Jacobs outclassed at every turn and evidently realized that he had a cinch. At times he would stagger backward from the swift leads of his opponent, and at such times there was a noticeable grin upon his dusky countenance that betokened confidence in the outcome of the contest. Herrera has a peculiar defensive attitude that allows him to keep the vulnerable parts completely covered up at all times, and, try as he might, Jacobs was unable to get past this defense. He lost the fight endeavoring to get to the Mexican, who had a dangerous punch lurking in behind this apparently impregnable guard. Before the deciding blow was landed by the Mexican he made several ineffectual passes at Tommy, who showed considerable cleverness in ducking and getting away. Herrera realized from the start that he was not called upon to do much of the leading, as from the first tap of the gong Jacobs went at him and kept on doing so until the terrible blow on the jaw from the Mexican's right sent him into temporary dreamland, in which state he was kept until the end of the battle, when the solar plexus punch finished the work for the Mexican.

LOOKED GOOD FOR A MINUTE.

In the first round Jacobs seemed to be a wonder with the mitts, and his manner of attack seemed strong. All he could do apparently, was to land aggravating kidney blows on the dusky man before him. To this Herrera paid little attention. When he first advanced to the center of the ring the spectators were surprised at his strange actions, until toward the close of the round he sent out one or two lightning-like swings that narrowly missed Jacobs.

HANDED HIM ONE.

Tommy's strength was dissipated rapidly by his forcing the Mexican backward. The latter stolidly endured these attacks until a signal from his manager, "Biddy" Bishop, caused him to change tactics. Directly he sent out a fierce reach for Jacobs, which caused the latter to drop silently to the floor, while the recoil seemed to throw the Mexican backward. So rapid was the movement that for a moment the spectators were at a loss to know what had caused Jacobs to fall. He struggled gamely to rise and with difficulty he managed to regain his feet, when he feebly attempted to stall off the onslaughts of the other man. He came up on the eighth count and plunged toward Herrera, striving to secure a hold on him to prevent a second blow and to gain time.

GAME BUT INADEQUATE.

In a struggle the two men rolled under the side ropes. Jacobs showed extraordinary courage and gameness in the mix-ups that followed. He went three times to the floor in this second round, in which a knockout blow was delivered, the gong saving him. He was very much all in when the third round opened, and the dark-complexioned gent made quick work of him. Herrera seemed just about warmed up and started to rush Jacobs, landing at will.

KNOCKOUT BLOW.

Tommy failed to land a telling blow in the final round, and when it was half gone Herrera saw another opening and shot out a straight right that put Jacobs down like a shot. At the count of ten Jacobs's seconds rushed into the ring and lifted their man up. He was still unable to walk, but in a few moments succeeded in descending to a dressing-room. He stated that the blow that did the damage was landed over his heart. He received several others that affected him strongly, in the second round, he said. "When I came up after the bad punches I got in the second," said Jacobs, "I felt pretty strong, but I made the mistake of running in too much. I still think I am stronger than Herrera, and if I could have landed any of my punches he must have gone out."

HERRERA'S DOOM SEALED.

When he finished shaking the hand of Jacobs, Herrera turned to find himself challenged by Prof. Sunshine. "What you want?" was his first question. "I challenge you," was the reply. "Well, all-a you got to do is git t' money and I fight you."

Jacobs weighed in at 130 pounds, while Herrera did not tip the scales at that mark. Young Price and "Kid" Thomas seconded Jacobs, who at the beginning sat smilingly in his corner. "Biddy" Bishop and "Reddy" Gallagher were back of the Mexican. Billy Sauer, for the club, acted as referee.

GOOD PRELIMS.

Two very good preliminary contests were put on. The first was between Fred Morris, the colored "Muldoon Cyclone," as he calls himself, and Jack Morris, the wrestler. The other was between "Kid" Smith off Denver and "Kid" Watkins of Kansas City. The latter was badly dazed by a rain of blows in the last round and the crowd cried for Smith to knock him out. He frequently went to the floor to save himself. The exhibitions were good.

BIG CROWD PRESENT.

The building was crowded to overflowing, and as the fighting was fast the spectators cheered vociferously as they watched the two little scrappers duck and dodge. There was not much Jacobs money in the house, but the friends he had were wrought to a high pitch of excitement and urged him to still greater effort as they saw him cleverly slip beneath the Mexican's vicious leads. Though the contest was short-lived everyone appeared to be well pleased.