1909-03-23 Owen Moran W-PTS12 Harlem Tommy Murphy [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1909-03-24 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 9)

OWEN MORAN WINS THE DECISION OVER MURPHY AT ARMORY
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Loser Cries Robbery, But the Verdict Was Honestly Earned by the Briton.
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Owen Moran was given the decision over Tommy Murphy at the Armory A. A. last night at the end of twelve rounds, and the Briton earned the decision handed out by Maffit Flaherty, although there was a minority of the members who disagreed with an award which seemed honest to those who followed the bout closely.

It was one of those contests which will cause discussion and may be a "rehash" of the two contests in New York between these two boys, where no decision was awarded on account of the law. But Moran was entitled to the decision awarded last night, as he did practically all of the forcing, and while Murphy landed many telling blows that caused his sympathizers to cheer lustily, the Briton had a lead which entitled him to the award.

Murphy was far from outclassed, but Moran forced the battle, and what brilliant work was done by Tommy was when he was on the retreat or forced to defend himself in rushes. Murphy showed flashes in several rounds but had a lead in but four rounds and might be credited with an even break in two others.

Murphy Cries Robbery.

After the contest Tommy claimed that he had been robbed, while Owen claimed that he won by a mile and said that the contest was easy. So there you are.

Murphy was the cleverer boxer, but Moran was the fighter and the puncher. Owen was cool and collected, while Tommy was nervous and "fidgety." Moran did the forcing and rushing, while Murphy resorted to clever footwork and made his best showing when the Englishman was looking for an opening.

There was ill feeling between the boxers throughout the contest and each availed himself of every opportunity to do damage and take advantage of every opening. It was a case of a determined, rugged fighter on the part of Moran and a marvelous boxer on behalf of Murphy. The fighter won against the boxer, although at times the scientific, clever Murphy clearly outpointed his more determined opponent, who was always willing to do the initiative in every round.

Clean, Scientific Contest.

It was a clean contest as far as the rules of boxing were concerned, and absolutely free from that which borders on brutality. There was not a knockdown through the entire contest, and beyond slight nose bleeds upon the part of Murphy, whose nasal organ has always been sensitive, there has seldom been a more scientific exhibition in this city.

Owen Moran is more than a fighter and is a clever boxer. While he did not outpoint Murphy from a scientific standpoint last night he won the award at the end of the twelve rounds, and Maffitt Flaherty, who refereed the bout, because Tommy Murphy objected to Jack Sheehan as referee, could not have decided otherwise in justice to himself, the members of the Armory A. A., and the contestants.

Bob Lee a Rank Quitter.

In the opening preliminary between Danny Murray of Roxbury and Max Baker, who substituted for Young Duffy, who was injured in training, Baker was given the decision at the end of six rounds. It was a hard, rugged bout, but Baker justly earned the award.

In the second preliminary Jim Flynn of the West End, who objects to being called "Porky," made Bob Lee quit in half a round. Lee started to rush matters and made Flynn cover up for a few seconds, but when Jim landed two punches Lee, who comes from New Zealand, quit cold and Flynn is credited with a knockout in "jig time."

The semi-final between Tim Sullivan of Newburyport and Henry Hall, the colored A. A. U. champion of last year, was a wizard. Sullivan had all the best of the first four rounds and that gave him the decision, but Hall came back strongly in the two closing rounds. Sullivan's ear was in bad shape and caused him bother during the last two rounds, but he deserved the award.

The preliminaries to the Packey McFarland-Dave Deshler bout next Tuesday night will be as follows: Jim Reardon of Cambridge v Tom Foley of South Boston; Young Dyson of Providence v Max Baker of Boston; Young Nixon of Cambridge v Tommy Rawson of East Boston.