1902-03-13 Joe Walcott D-PTS10 Young Peter Jackson [Eureka Athletic Club, Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, MD, USA]

1902-03-14 Baltimore Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 4)

Walcott-Jackson Battle
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PETER STAYED LIMIT
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Barbados Wonder Failed to Administer the Necessary Knockout
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Germania Maennerchor Hall was packed to the doors last night and many who came late to see the Walcott-Jackson battle were compelled to go away, simply because it was a physical impossibility to get another man into the house. Indeed, it would have been difficult to have stuck a needle into that crowd.

Not only the galleries and the body of the house were filled, but the new three dollar seats, erected for this occasion at the ringside for the wealthy, were every one taken. It was the biggest gathering ever seen at a fight in Germania Maennerchor Hall.

It was a mighty high toned assemblage, too, for a boxing show, and the solid element of Baltimore was to be seen on every side. And the fight was worthy of the crowd--it was a peach.

By the terms of the agreement made between the men Walcott was to knock Young Peter out in 10 rounds or forfeit the whole of the purse. He failed to accomplish the desired end, and at the close of 10 rounds Young Peter was still on deck and handing out punches as hot as tabasco sauce.

Of course, by the strict terms of the agreement Walcott had forfeited all claim to his share of the juicy purse, but there is a strong suspicion that Manager Al was generous, and that the Barbados Wonder didn't go away without cigarette money. Quien sabe?

This was the third time that Walcott and Jackson had met. The first was at Music Hall, when Jackson stayed 20 rounds, but Walcott had the better of it and got the decision. The second was a few weeks ago at Philadelphia, when the two men boxed six rounds, in which honors were easy. Since the meeting at Music Hall Jackson has improved wonderfully. He has acquired confidence and last night he did quite as much of the fighting as Walcott.

Both men were eager as hounds, and from the first tap of the bell the pace was heart-breaking. At the start Jackson rushed in to force matters and was met more than half way. The result was a series of rounds that would have warmed the cockles of the heart of the most blase ring follower. There was not a second but something was doing, and the big house grew almost crazy with excitement. Every round to the very finish was red hot and the infighting was the fiercest ever seen here.

Jackson started out with the view of reaching Walcott's commissary department, and all the earlier part of the battle he devoted himself to body punches. And many a stiff one he handed out. Once or twice he put his right over Walcott's heart with force enough to have killed an ox.

The sixth round was the hottest of the bunch, and in this Jackson showed to the front. He landed a succession of stomach punches that made Walcott wince, and for a while, at least, the Barbados man was very wabbly. In the last three or four rounds Walcott showed a shade the better. He kept meeting Peter's rushes with stiff uppercuts.

At the end of the 10th round, both men being on their feet, according to agreement, the decision was a draw. Speaking of the fight, Referee Mantz said that strictly on points Walcott had a shade the better of it. Possibly this may have been so, but the majority of the crowd were quite satisfied that Jackson had done fully as much damage as his opponent, and a draw seemed to be just on the strict merits of the case without reference to the agreement.

Joe Gans, Harry Lyons and Raymonds Coates seconded Jackson, while Jimmy Kelly, Florrie Barnett and Al Lewis were in Walcott's corner. George Mantz refereed.

Jimmy Kelly announced that he was ready to meet Joe Tipman before the Eureka Athletic Club, and would bet $250 on the side that he would best Tipman.

Several fine preliminaries were pulled off. Jimmy Farren disposed of Harry Boxley in one round, and afterward got a decision over Al Mason in three rounds. Alonzo Jackson and Joe Howard boxed a draw. Lanky Bob beat Buck Washington in three rounds, and Sammy Harris got the decision over Joe Washington in three rounds.


1902-03-14 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 6)

WALCOTT COULDN'T
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Young Peter Jackson Fights Him hard For 10 Rounds.
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THE BATTLE IS A DRAW
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Barbadoes Wonder Meets A Fighter Who Is Greatly Improved Over His Form In Last Contest.

Joe Walcott, the "Barbadoes Wonder," attempted to put Young Peter Jackson out in a 10-round fight at the Germania Maennerchor Hall last night. Joe Walcott failed.

According to the agreement Walcott was to make his colored brother quit in the prescribed 10 rounds, or else he was to forfeit any claim to the money which came in at the box office. Both men were strong at the end of the battle, and the referee decided the fight a draw. Walcott would have gotten the decision had the award been made on points by Referee George Mantz.

There was plenty of money in the box office to spur Walcott on to try to put his man out, but he simply could not do it despite his wonderful fighting ability.

In November, at the Music Hall, Walcott gained a decisive victory over Jackson in 20 rounds, and he then concluded that he could put Jackson out in half the time. Hence his contract. Now he knows more about it. He found the "Peter Jackson" of March, 1902, a much improved fighter over the "Jackson" he met in November, 1901.

Big Fight Attendance.

No larger attendance was ever in the Germania Hall than was present last night, and there would have been more had the hall been large enough to hold the people. Many went away from the doors when they found that even standing room could not be had. It was not altogether a local attendance. There were large delegations from New York, Philadelphia, Washington and other cities.

The New Yorkers, especially, believed that Walcott would win, and they backed their man and lost. They were loud in their praises of the fight Jackson put up. It was without doubt the best "Jackson" has ever made. He showed great improvement over his previous good form, and if he ever faces Walcott again the betting should be even money--"Jackson" to win. He is not yet as clever a boxer or ring general as Walcott, but his improvement is rapid, while Walcott has reached his zenith.

Great Men Physically.

Seldom have two better physical specimens of the negro been seen in a ring. Both are big and powerful in shoulders and back. Walcott is the larger in the lower body and thighs, while "Jackson" has the greater height. Each has wonderful hitting powers and both are as tough as humanity could be made. Each has the ability to take the most severe punishment, as they proved in their 10-round battle.

When the two black gladiators entered the ring they were clad in robes of hues that would be valuable in the Barbados. When they were thrown off the crowd gave vent to their admiration of the physique they disclosed.

The men knew the conditions under which they were to clash and lost but little time in taking instructions from the referee. The struggle was quickly on, and was by rounds as follows:

Round 1--Jackson went right at his man at the start and kept at him throughout. His plan of battle was quickly comprehended. Jackson was a bit overanxious at first, but he got settled after a few fierce interchanges. Walcott was the first to land a dangerous blow and it was a right to the body. Exchanges followed and at the gong Jackson landed a hard one on Walcott's jaw.

Round 2--Walcott sent his left straight to the face, and as Jackson ducked away Walcott uppercut nicely. Jackson landed a stinger on the jaw, and in trying again slipped down.

Walcott found that Jackson was ducking his head low and tried to uppercut, without success. Then he resorted to left jabs and was more successful. At the end of the round Jackson walked into a hard facer.

Round 3--Walcott jabbed and tried a right cross, which fell short. Peter ducked his head and Walcott sent his right over on the ear. For the first time Jackson was forced to break ground. Walcott continued to jab and finally got in right and left to the body. "Joe" Gans called to Jackson to go in. Walcott told Gans to keep quiet. Peter had heard Gans and waded in, and at the gong missed a lead and slipped down.

Good Even Round.

Round 4--Both were good and fresh. Walcott landed two to the body. A series of hits and clinches followed. In breaking from a clinch Jackson landed a neat uppercut on Walcott's chin, sending the head of the Barbados wonder back forcibly. Jackson followed with a hard jolt to the jaw and tried to right cross.

The round was very evenly fought. The battle was nearly half over and Walcott looked to be about as far away from stopping Jackson as he was at the beginning.

Round 5--Jackson began to force the fight even harder than before. Walcott aimed a vicious right, which was short. Later he landed a hard body jolt. Jackson retaliated on the jaw. Walcott then went at Jackson, forcing him to the ropes, where some fierce infighting ensued. When they broke Walcott reached Jackson's body good and hard. At the end of the round Walcott had Jackson on the ropes, and Jackson said, "Keep on, rough it, old man."

Fearful Head Blow.

Round 6--Jackson led off with a blow to the head. It was a fearfully hard blow, but did not appear to hurt Jackson's head a particle. It brightened up Walcott a bit, and he landed two hard blows without a return.

Jackson sailed in, and at short arm work outfought Walcott.

His best blow was a staggerer to the jaw. In a wild lead Jackson slipped and fell. When he got up Walcott had to fight him quickly, as he feared to let the dangerous local man get set. The round was Jackson's, and Walcott was not very dangerous at the finish of it.

Round 7--Walcott came up fresh and landed three face jabs before Jackson could counter. A series of clinches followed. Walcott landed a hard blow on the ear and tried for a right swing, but failed. Later he landed an uppercut.

Gans Urges His Man.

Round 8--Gans had instructed Jackson to go at Walcott, and Jackson did it. Walcott kept him off by left jabs. Walcott landed hard on the neck, but Jackson kept on forcing the fight. Walcott landed at the finish on Jackson's body. It was Walcott's round.

Round 9--Jackson led to the face and then walked into a hard body blow. A clinch ensued and Walcott handed out some words to Jackson that would not look well in print. Al Herford was in Jackson's corner and remarked to Walcott.

Joe's Last Chance.

Round 10--Both men were strong enough to be very dangerous. It was Walcott's last chance to earn the money, and he took some chances trying to get his right over effectually. A series of clinches marked this round, and Referee Mantz was getting hoarse from yelling "Break! Let go!"

Jackson got in a hard blow on Walcott's right eye, a spot that he had swelled by previous blows. Walcott got in a right and left to the face, and Jackson clinched. As they broke from the clinch Jackson landed an uppercut on Walcott's chin. Walcott reached his man's body and they were in a clinch when the gong put an end to a battle that was as hard fought and that abounded as much in skill as any given in Baltimore.

Walcott was cared for by Florrie Barnett, Kid Lewis and Johnny Kelly. Jackson's seconds were Joseph Gans, Harry Lyons, Herman Miller and Raymond Coates.

The Preliminaries.

The preliminary fights were as follows:

Jimmy Farren made Harry Boxley quit in one round.

Alonzo Jackson, colored, and "Joe" Howard, colored, fought a three round draw.

"Lanky Bob" and "Buck" Washington had a side bet of $25 which was to be settled by a six round fight. "Lanky Bob" outfought Washington and got the decision.

Jimmy Farren had had so easy a mark in Harry Boxley that he came on again and boxed Al Mason, colored, three rounds. Farren made Mason look cheap and easily won the decision.

Sammy Harris and "Joe" Washington, both colored, fought three rounds, and Washington was nearly out when it ended. Harris got the decision.

Frederick Sweigert, "the old trialhorse," refereed the preliminary fights.