1906-03-17 Joe Gans W-TKO10 Mike Twin Sullivan [Chutes Park, Los Angeles, CA, USA]

1906-03-18 Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, CA) (page 8)

GANS KNOCKS OUT SULLIVAN
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DUSKY CHAMPION DISPLAYS GREAT FORM
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Clearly Outboxes, Outgenerals and Outfights Boston Boy and Ends Bout In Tenth Round With Rights and Lefts to Jaw
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After playing with Mike Twin Sullivan for nine weary rounds, Joe Gans stepped in and hammered the Boston boy into a knockout In the early stages of the tenth round of what was scheduled to be a twenty round battle between them under the auspices of the Arcadia Athletic club at Chutes park last night.

There never was a moment from the time the battle began until it ended with the knockout, that Sullivan had a chance to win. Gans so clearly outclassed him that he was wholly at the mercy of the negro throughout

The bout was one of the prettiest and most one-sided affairs ever witnessed in Los Angeles. Gans was entirely too clever for Sullivan and his neat blocking always saved him from punishment, while his speedy returns almost as invariably landed and in an effective manner.

Sullivan tried repeatedly to land leads for the head and face, but Gans blocked all attempts and returned with effective jabs or swings for the head or face.

The exhibition of boxing by Gans was admirable, while the ineffectiveness of Sullivan was remarkable. Gans forced the fighting and seemed able to land almost at will, frequently staggering Sullivan with fierce rights and lefts to the head and face and escaping any serious counter by Sullivan.

The beginning of the end came in the first mixup in the tenth round, when Gans landed a hard right lead to the jaw. Sullivan wobbled and rushed into a clinch to save himself.

When Referee King separated them, Sullivan seemed unable to put up an effective guard or protect himself from the rush of Gans and the negro landed hard rights and lefts to the jaw, which forced Sullivan to again seek shelter in a clinch.

Counted Out

Gans realized his advantage and pushing Sullivan away from him, yet holding the Boston boy within reach with his left hand, he began to rain right uppercuts to the jaw and Sullivan slid out of the semi-clinch to the floor and was counted out.

The first right swing to the jaw in this round really ended the fight, as Sullivan was dazed and wholly unable to protect himself. In a bewildered manner he raised his guard, but Gans rushed in between his outstretched arms and put Mike out of the running by planting a right and left swing to the jaw.

Sullivan in a manner realized that he was done for, but rushed into the clinch to stall it out. Gans was too cute for this sort of thing and broke out of the clinch in a hurry and sent in more of the deadly rights and lefts.

The audience saw the end and began to yell, while Gans delivered the finishing touches. The timekeeper tolled off the fatal ten seconds, and when the count was finished Referee King announced the winner.

Sullivan's showing was a great disappointment, to his followers in Los Angeles. With an advantage of twelve pounds in weight Sullivan was believed to hold an advantage sufficient to enable him to turn the tables on Gans, but Twin fought solely on the defensive and seemed afraid to get into close quarters.

Occasionally he would rally and fight back, but his blows lacked steam and seldom landed. Gans blocked almost every lead the Boston boy attempted and generally countered with effective returns.

Gans Concedes Weight

Sullivan had twelve pounds advantage in weight and this occasioned a delay of nearly an hour while the principals and their managers quibbled. When the battlers weighed in at 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon Sullivan tipped the beams at 148½ pounds, while Gans was able to move the lever at 136.

Sullivan refused to allow Gans to claim his forfeit money because of the postponement of the fight from Friday night. As a compromise Gans demanded that if both men were on their feet at the end of the twentieth round the battle should be declared a draw.

This was agreed to and Referee Alvie King announced the agreement and also declared off all bets, inasmuch as the difference in weights left room for dissatisfaction regardless of the result, unless it should be in favor of Gans and through a knockout.

The main event was preceded by a scheduled six-round affair between Kid Snyder and Joe Kelsey. Kelsey was matched with Terry Davis, but Davis failed to appear and Snyder was substituted at the last moment.

After about one minute of fiddling Kelsey hooked his right to Snyder's jaw and put him down and out. The end came with such suddenness that the crowd scarcely realized the bout was on before it was ended.

After a delay of nearly an hour the principals in the main event came into the ring, posed for their pictures and Referee King gave the highball to the official timekeeper for the gong, and the battle was on.

The battle by rounds follows:

Battle by Rounds

Round 1--The men fiddled for a moment before Gans tapped a light left to the stomach, which led to a clinch. After breaking they sparred for an opening. Gans placed a right and left to the head. They clinched and Sullivan sent a left to the stomach, twice in succession. Twin tried for the body, but the negro blocked his leads. Gans rushed and Mike clinched. Twin tried for the jaw, but the black warded off his leads. They clinched and after the breakaway Joe whipped a hard right to the Jaw. Two clinches followed and before the gong Gans put his left to the jaw.

Round 2--The men sparred for an opening and Sullivan's first lead to the stomach fell short. They clinched and after the break Gans shoved both hands to the face continually. Joe shot a right to the jaw and a clinch followed. The men sparred easily and Gans reached the face with a left. Twin returned with a right to the face, as Gans placed his left to the stomach. The negro jabbed a left to the face and after the sparring which ensued Twin found a place for a left to the jaw. Gans drove his left to the stomach, and after the gong Joe put a right to the jaw.

Round 3--Playing for an opening Mike put a light left to the stomach. Gans reached the same spot with his left. Gans placed a right and left to the head. Sullivan reached the negro's face with his left and they clinched. A rapid exchange followed and Gans avoided punishment by clever ducking. Sullivan uppercut with his right und Gans placed a light left to the jaw. Mike placed a left to the face and a clinch followed. Joe drove a hard right to the jaw. Mike got in a left and Gans a vicious right to the jaw. A wicked exchange ensued and the men were mixing it at the gong.

Round 4--The men sparred, Gans blocking Sullivan's leads in effective manner. They clinched. Gans put a left to the stomach and Sullivan came back with a left to the same spot. They fiddled again and Gans ducked a right swing for the head. Twin drove it vicious right to the head and followed it with a right uppercut to the jaw. They sparred and Gans placed a right to the kidneys. Joe dug a right to the kidneys in the clinch. After the break Sullivan reached the jaw with a hard right and the negro appeared to stagger. His head wobbled and his knees shook, but the attitude was plainly a stall and Sullivan refused to be drawn in. Gans continued his stalling tactics until the end of the round.

Round 5--Both men came up fresh and Gans placed a left to the stomach. The black ducked a left for the head and clinched. Gans tried with his left for the body and Sullivan put a left to the face. Gans hooked his right to the jaw and two clinches followed before Gans reached the stomach with his left. They clinched again and after the breakaway Gans drove a terrific right to the jaw. Three clinches followed and Gans succeeded in reaching the jaw, this time with his left. Joe placed another right to the jaw and followed it with a right uppercut. Sullivan sent a left to the face, and the end found them clinching.

Round 6--Gans reached the stomach with his left and they backed away to spar. Gans put a right to the stomach and followed it up with a right to the head. Joe reached the stomach with his left and easily blocked Sullivan's leads. Twin ducked a wicked left swing for the head which had knockout attached to it. The remainder of the round was a clever blocking exhibition.

Round 7--Sparring marked the opening and before a blow was struck the men ran to a clinch. Gans placed his right to the stomach. They clinched twice and then fought carefully, Gans trying for the stomach and Sullivan jabbing for the face. Gans landed a left to the stomach and blocked Twin's leads. Sullivan got in a right uppercut to the body. Gans swung a hard right to the head and followed it up with a right to the stomach. They clinched. Gans swung again for the head and Sullivan avoided the blow by stepping in close. Sullivan drove his left to the neck and the men mixed it at the gong.

Round 8--Gans commenced tapping at the stomach with his left and two clinches ensued. Gans' two lefts to the face called for a vicious exchange, during which both men took and gave equally. Gans reached the face with a left and right. They exchanged rights and lefts before clinching. Gans sent a withering left to the face and Twin was willing to clinch. Both men exchanged evenly though Gans' blows possessed by far the more steam. Gans placed a light left to the head at the close.

Round 9--The men sparred for an opening, blocking cleverly the attempted leads. Gans found Twin's jaw constantly with a light left. The black reached the stomach with his left and Sullivan sent a hard right to the jaw. More blocking and Gans put two rights to the face. They clinched. Sullivan ducked a right to the head and landed on the face with his left. Gans swung a high left to the head and caught Twin somewhat off his balance. He endeavored to keep his equilibrium but slipped to the floor. The blow was not hard but a moment after he reached his feet Gans drove a damaging right to the jaw and followed it with another in the same place. They clinched as the gong sounded.

Round 10--The men fiddled and clinched. Sullivan's attempt to uppercut with his right went wild and they clinched. Sullivan placed a left to the stomach and Gans put a right to the face. The negro again found the jaw with his right and followed with a vicious right and left which weakened Twin. A well aimed right and left to the point of the jaw and Sullivan sank to the floor. The timekeeper at the ringside commenced calling the seconds rapidly and Morris Levy called for him to count slower. Referee King motioned Gans to one side and ran to where the timekeeper was counting, in the confusion which followed. He asked if Sullivan had been counted out and receiving answer in the affirmative called "Gans wins." Sullivan arose and walked toward the referee as he awarded the fight to Gans.


1906-03-18 Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA) (page i5)

GANS KNOCKS OUT SULLIVAN.
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White Man Is Outclassed and Outfought Throughout.
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Three Right Crosses to Head Does the Work.
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Sullivan Wanted a Frame-up, but Gans Balked.

Joe Gans knocked out Mike (Twin) Sullivan at Chutes Park last night after nine and a half rounds of fighting in which there was nothing but Gans in sight. Sullivan was outclassed, outgeneraled and outfought at every turn and not once did he do anything to worry the colored man unless it was in the fourth round, when the Boston man ripped over a hook to Gans' face and reeled him back.

The knockout came shortly after the beginning of the tenth round. Sullivan had been fighting in the clinches, although the men were not permitted to do so. Gans grew tired of the tactics and mixed it a little himself. The men fought themselves out of the clinch, when Gans sent in a right cross to the jaw, staggering the Twin. Another cross from the same quarter took all the fight out of the white man, and when the third vicious wallop landed Sullivan grabbed Gans around the neck and attempted to weather the storm, but the colored man had been twice cheated of his victory by the tactics and ran backwards. Sullivan's knees wobbled, and as Gans tore himself loose the Twin fell full length on his face not to rise again until Timekeeper George Feld had tolled the fatal ten seconds. Sullivan slowly rose to his feet and staggered about the ring. Gans started for him again, but the referee stepped between them and pointed to the colored man as winner.

Just before the main event, Sullivan refused to go unless he had a guarantee of $1000. Then he wanted to box Gans ten rounds to a draw, finally agreeing to fight if a draw was awarded at the end of twenty rounds and then men were on their feet. Sullivan weighed 148 at 6 o'clock and Gans 137.

Referee King then declared all bets off and called the men up for instructions.

Gans was looked after by Willie Fitzgerald, Kid Williams and Billy Perry. In Sullivan's corner were Al Kaufman and Jack (Twin) Sullivan. James Ferdon of Chicago was announcer and George Feld was timekeeper.

Gans opened the first round with a left to the heart, Sullivan backing away, looking nervous and frightened. Gans jabbed away with his left for the heart, trying occasionally with a right hook for the jaw. Sullivan was sluggish of movement and was kept busy trying to get away from that right cross. Sullivan whipped over a right to Gans' head with little effect, and when the round ended the white man looked tired. Gans had forced the fighting and kept Sullivan walking backwards. There was no damage.

Round Two. Gans began jabbing his left first at Sullivan's face then at his wind. Sullivan straightened his left to Gans' nose and began to step in, gaining confidence and threatening to mix it. All the time Gans kept up a tattoo on Sullivan's ribs with his straight left jab, playing to get in his right to the jaw. At the tap of the gong they were mixing it at close quarters, neither seeming to land.

Round 3--Gans stung Sullivan over the heart seven times in succession without a return, the white man trying to get back from the punishment and guarding his head closely against a hook. Gans straightened his left to the jaw and as Sullivan attempted to counter, sent in a right hook to the jaw, staggering Sullivan, who clinched and held on. Sullivan was plainly in distress. Just before the gong sounded they came into a hot mix-up, with honors about even. It was plain that Gans had his man's measure and would need but a few right to finish him.

Round 4--Sullivan started things by jabbing Gans hard to the nose twice and then swung for the head, landing a terrific blow with his right. Gans staggered for a second, but quickly recovered, and then began to stall as if hurt, thinking Sullivan would step in. Sullivan would not step into the trap. Gans smiled as he went to his corner.

Round 5--Gans began playing a tattoo on Sullivan's ribs, which were as red as a beet. Sullivan lowered his guard for a moment and got a right cross to his jaw, followed by two more light ones. It appeared Gans could not find the exact spot for a knockout. Sullivan became wild and began hitting in the clinches. Sullivan was growing tired and distressed.

Round 6--Gans went at Sullivan again with his left jab to the heart, backing him all over the ring. Again the colored man sent his right cross to the head, with little effect. Sullivan contented himself by keeping his left well out and jabbing away at Gans's nose, occasionally trying to hook his right, always to be met with a dangerous right to the head. Sullivan's clinching and hanging on clearly showed he was out to stay for the draw. The crowd roundly hissed this round.

Round 7--Gans backed Sullivan around the ring, drawing him in close long enough to try a right and left hook to the head. Sullivan covered up and stalled. Gans kept up that tattoo on the ribs, seldom using his right except to feint. Both men would fall together with their lefts straight out, Gans going under and landing on the heart.

Eighth round--Both started in to mix things and began fighting wild, no damage coming from either side. Gans tried for a knockout and Sullivan clinched and hung on until the referee parted them. Sullivan looked distressed and scared. This round was about even as far as damage went, which was little.

Ninth round--Sullivan started in to force matters a little, and it looked as if he meant business. Gans broke ground once, getting a left and light right to the face. This came near costing Sullivan the fight in this round. As he dropped his right Gans whipped over his dangerous right cross to the jaw and Sullivan dropped to his knees. Sullivan pulled himself up quickly by Gans's knees to receive another hard right, which staggered him to the ropes. Gans overlooked an opening to finish his man and Sullivan clinched and hung on, the gong saving him.

Tenth round--Sullivan was still dazed as he came to the center of the ring, and made a desperate rally to outgame the colored boy. He rushed to a clinch and wrestled and hung on. Gans had difficulty in pulling away. As he came out of a clinch Gans hooked his right to the jaw, Sullivan all but going to the floor, saving himself by a clinch and fighting as he was holding on. Gans then began hitting back in the clinch, fighting Sullivan loose. He stepped back and let drive another right cross to the jaw and again Sullivan hugged close and would not break. It was plain Sullivan was all in and trying to weather the round. Gans again tore away and landed a smash to the jaw with his right and Sullivan clinched around the colored man's neck. Gans pulled away and the Boston twin fell full length to the canvas, being counted out before he could rise. He got up slowly and staggered about the ring, looking for Gans, but the referee stepped between them and held up Gans's glove.