1911-03-20 Packy McFarland W-TKO4 Syracuse Billy Ryan [Oswego City Athletic Club, Richardson Theater, Oswego, NY, USA]

1911-03-21 The Oswego Palladium (Oswego, NY) (page 3)

RYAN NO MATCH FOR M'FARLAND
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Big Crowd Saw Bouts in Theatre Last Night.
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Hugh Ross Pleased the Crowd With His Clever Work and the Only Regret Was That He Didn't Have a Worthy Opponent--Program a Disappointment.

Syracuse Billy Ryan didn't have the chance of a snowball in those regions that none of us hope to see, against Packy McFarland last night. Scheduled to go ten rounds in the main event of the card of the Oswego City A. C. at the theatre, Walter Ryan, Billy's Brother, threw up the sponge in the fourth round after the stockyard's champion had toyed with his man like a cat with a mouse. It was a case of one of the cleverest boxers in the country, in his prime, standing up against an old man who was never, at his best, more than a third rater and the result was inevitable.

All in all, the program was a disappointment to the 1,400 fans who filled about three quarters of the theatre. The only real fight of the evening was the first preliminary between Tony Guzzo, of this city, and Kid Long, of Syracuse, both Italians. They didn't know much about the fine points of the game, but they were in for blood and fought four hard rounds. Long, who also goes by the name of Ferrera had height, weight and reach on Guzzo, but the Oswego boy was there with a left that couldn't be countered. He was the fresher of the two when the bout ended and the go was a good draw.

Bobby Pittsley, of Norwich, who is a regular little horse, met "Kid" Fisher, of New York, in the second preliminary. Fisher's face belied his nickname unless there is such a thing as a thirty-year-old kid. They were to go ten rounds at 128 pounds. The Kid had a peculiar two-armed, short jab style of fighting that it took Bobby a couple of rounds to fathom, but after that there was nothing to it with the Norwich boy. Fisher, stalling, on the advice of his manager, Dan McMahon, lasted the third round, but was all but out in the fourth when Referee Tom Cawley stopped the bout.

It is too bad that Hugh "Kid" Ross wasn't pitted against a man somewhere near his equal in the semi-final. His opponent was Jack Clark, of Scranton and Philadelphia, and they were to go ten rounds at catch weights. The Kid is as smooth and clever a boy as has ever been seen in this city and his friends were agreeably surprised at his increased speed, confidence and general knowledge of the fine points of the game. Clark, who was a big, husky youth, faded after fighting less than two minutes, Ross putting a right to the stomach and a left to the jaw that took all the fight out of the Quaker, who fell gracefully to the floor and refused to get up. Those who were close enough to see the ginger behind the Kid's blows didn't hardly blame him.

It was a little after ten o'clock when Cawley came out with the gloves for the main event. Ryan entered the ring first, and had behind him his brother Walter, Joe Uvanni, Howard Morrow and Kid Julian. McFarland followed five minutes later and was given a big reception. His manager, Emil Thiry, was his chief adviser. Yank Sullivan, of Syracuse, was the timekeeper. Packy jumped to the center of the ring when the gong sounded, supremely confident. Ryan was cautious, and the first round was slow, McFarland contenting himself with slapping his opponent without closing his fist.

In the second he put on a little more steam and gave a marvelous exhibition of ducking, side-stepping and countering. Ryan's blows, which didn't have juice enough to do any damage anyway, never got inside his guard. Packey aimed only at the Syracusan's face and had the latter's complexion a pretty deep red when the bell rang.

In the third both went to the floor in a funny mix-up. Ryan swung so hard with his right, and didn't hit anything, that he lost his balance and McFarland tripped over him. Then Packey started in to clean up. He made a monkey of the old man from then on and had to ask Cawley to cut the third round short, he seeing that Ryan was about all in.

In the fourth and final round Ryan didn't do anything but try to guard himself and he was at all successful in that. Packey battered his head and face and the Saltine was a pleased boy when his brother took a hand and tossed the sponge in the ring. Packy on the other hand had hardly worked up a perspiration. The stockyards champion had a little on Ryan in weight and a good deal in height and reach. They were matched to go ten rounds at catch weights.

The theatre proved an ideal place for the battle. The ring was pitched in the middle of the stage and there were raised seats on three sides, so that every one, including those on the stage and in the house got a good view of the battle. There was no smoking allowed and fine order prevailed. After the fight McFarland was the center of a big crowd. "I fought as clean as I could and used Ryan as well as I knew how," he said. About 200 came down from Syracuse and Fulton for the fight and there was also quite a delegation from Palaski, Watertown and surrounding towns. Among those who occupied a ringside seat was Harold McGrath, the Syracuse writer.


1911-03-21 The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) (page 12)

M'FARLAND WINS OVER RYAN IN FOUR ROUNDS; REFEREE STOPS BOUT
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Peer of Lightweights Easily Outclasses Syracuse Boy--Latter's Brother Tosses Sponge Into Ring--Ryan Badly Punished.
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Special to The Post-Standard.

OSWEGO, March 20.--Packy McFarland of Chicago made Billy Ryan of Syracuse look like a light preliminary boy in four rounds of their scheduled 10-round go as the feature bout of an all-star card staged by the Oswego City A. C. at the Richardson Theater to-night.

Syracuse Billy was plainly outclassed from the first by the stock yards boxer, and Referee Tom Cawley stopped the fight when Walter Ryan, a brother of the Salt City fighter, tossed a sponge into the ring early in the fourth. Though members of the club, attracted by the appearance of one of the foremost lightweights in the fistic arena, were given a short show for their money, what they did get was well up to the snuff and not one left the theater dissatisfied with the entertainment.

From the first McFarland made Ryan appear like a novice.

While little was done in the early part of the first rounds, save for a few "feelers," the stock yards champion quickly found out what he was up against and then he went after his man in a manner more akin to the situation. Ryan never had a look-in, and the clean blows he landed were few and far between.

Packy side-stepped, blocked, countered and ducked, and rarely did Ryan land hard, save by accident. After Packy had used his left to reach Ryan's jaw, face and nose at will in the first round, Syracuse Billy seemed to lose his nerve and with it his science, and all his side-stepping and clever countering availed him but little.

When Packy really let himself half out he hit Ryan whenever and wherever he wanted to. He rushed Billy all of the way and kept Ryan's back as close to the ropes as possible. Packy's clever ducking of Ryan's wide right and left swings caused much merriment in the audience.

Once, in the third round, Ryan started a wicked right for McFarland's jaw, and when the latter ducked the force of the blow was spent in the air and Billy rolled on the floor. McFarland attempted to uppercut him and fell over the prostrate Syracuse boxer. In the fourth round Ryan landed a single clean cut blow. Continually he ran away from McFarland, and the latter, following well his advantage, rained countless blows upon every part of Ryan's anatomy above the belt.

Cries of "Don't hurt him, Packey," were heard in the early part of the third round.

McFarland rushed Ryan to the ropes from one corner to the other, and at last caught him in Billy's own corner, and landed without hindrance stinging jabs, right and left, to the face and jaw. It was evident that Ryan could not stand the punishment longer, and Syracuse supporters of the Salt City fighter breathed a sigh of relief when Walter Ryan, brother and chief second of the fallen Billy, tossed the sponge into the ring.

Ryan was badly battered about the head, face and ears.

After the bout McFarland, who came through without a scratch and did not stem to work up even a sweat, was the center of an enthusiastic crowd of fight fans who swarmed into the ring, bent upon shaking hands with him. Said Packey to a Post-Standard reporter:

"I have the utmost respect for Billy Ryan, and to tell the truth I fought as clean and used him as well as I knew how."

The entertainment was a success.

Clarke Out in First Round.

Hugh (Kid) Ross of Oswego scored a knockout over Jack Clarke of Philadelphia in the first round of a scheduled ten-round go at catch weights. After a few light taps had been exchanged and after some prancing, Ross sent his left to the stomach. Clarke went down on his knees for some two or three seconds and then stretched out on the floor. Referee Cawley patted him on the back but Clarke refused to get up.

No Match for Pittsley.

Wicked rights to the head with stinging lefts to the jaw landed cleanly by Bobbie Pittsley of Norwich caused the undoing of Kid Fisher of New York in the third round. Robbie had his man going in the first and only the advice of Dan McMahon, manager of the Gothamite, saved the New Yorker.

McMahon signaled in the first for Fisher to hang on and it was only a matter of time before Pittsley landed the finishing touches. Fisher went very groggy in the third and Referee Tom Cawley used good judgment in stopping the milling and giving Pittsley the technical decision.

Decision for Kid Long.

Younk Ferrara of Syracuse, introduced to the fans as Kid Long, won a four-round decision over Tony Guzzo of Oswego in the first preliminary.


1911-03-21 The Syracuse Herald (Syracuse, NY) (page 24)

McFarland a Revelation to Local Boxing Fans
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Chicago Wonder Proves Too Strong and Too Clever for Billy Ryan and Bout at Oswego Is Ended in the Fourth Round--Pitssley and Ross Win.
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BY BECK.

Packy McFarland is all the good things the New York newspaper critics have said of him since his bout in the big town with Owen Moran. Just for safety, add a few nice things on your own account and you'll have Patrick McFarland sized up about right.

Central New York boxing fans were prepared to see Packy show some wonderful form in his bout at Oswego with Billy Ryan last night, but what Packy did show them was a revelation. Billy Ryan was badly beaten, but a defeat at the hands of a man who showed the class of McFarland last night is no disgrace.

Jabbing, uppercutting and swinging, McFarland forced Billy about the ring last night for a little more than three rounds. In the fourth round Walter Ryan, who was acting as hi brother's chief second, tossed in the sponge and the bout was ended.

Possibly Packy McFarland doesn't hit as hard as the late Stanley Ketchel, but he showed last night that he is no weakling when it comes to handing out wallops from any angle. McFarland's work last night was that of the perfect fighting machine.

In justice to Billy Ryan it must be said that he did not make his usual aggressive fight. He was outweighed by McFarland, and from the first gong Packy started in an aggressive campaign. He never gave Billy a chance to become set. Always on top of the Saltine, McFarland pressed in steadily and gradually wore Billy down. Right uppercuts, left hooks and an occasional straight left were rained on Ryan's face.

Both Boxers Are Clever.

In the second round there was a pretty exhibition of sparring and the clever work of both men was attested by the fact that each blocked numerous blows. Near the end of that round Billy got home with a couple of hard swings to the body. In fact, it was the body swings which counted for Ryan last night. Packy guarded his head exceptionally well, but Billy's peculiar left slammed on the ribs many times during the bout.

In the opening round Packy started by leading a left and then repeated a jab, following it with a left swing to the head. Billy swung his right with considerable force but Packy ducked low and Ryan slipped and fell to the floor. Packy sent a straight left to the face and again to the body. He evaded Billy's two swings and jabbed the left to the face again. Packy stepped inside a right swing and they traded rights in close. Billy gave Packy a right uppercut on the jaw and for this he was rushed to the ropes. Packy put a right swing to the head in return for right and left swings to the body. Packy ducked a straight left and then each evaded left swings. Billy jabbed a left to the face at the bell. It was Packy's round.

Stops Packy's Aggressiveness.

Billy hooked two lefts to the body in the second round and then each showed ability in ducking and blocking numerous blows. Billy put lefts to the head and body, and some fast milling in close ensued. Packy ducked a straight left but Billy's right swing went to the head. Billy put right and left swings to the head and for the first time in the bout he stopped Packy's aggressive tactics, but only for a few seconds. Packy came back with a right uppercut and they traded right swings and straight lefts to the face. Twice did Packy's right swing go to Billy's head, while he ducked and dodged Ryan's blows. Packy put right and left uppercuts to the face, drawing blood. Billy hooked his left to the face and took right and left swings to the head. It was McFarland's round but not by a large margin.

McFarland began to get his first real advantage in the third round. Billy blocked four successive straight lefts, and Packy ducked a left swing. Packy jabbed his left to the face and Billy evaded his right. Temporarily adopting Packy's own tactics, Billy rushed the Chicagoan with a left uppercut to the face and a right swing to the body. Packy retaliated with a right swing to the head and ducked Billy's right swing. Packy poked two straight lefts to the face and took right and left swings to the body. Rushing in Packy swung right and left in the face. Packy backed Billy and landed almost at will. Ryan's right went over Packy's head and he lost his balance and fell, Packy tripping over him. Backing, just before the bell, Billy tripped and fell again.

The fourth round saw McFarland pressuring Ryan hard, jabbing, swinging and hooking short but hard blows to the face and head. Billy gave him a few swings to the body, but Packy was not to be denied and after he landed two hard uppercuts on the face Walter Ryan tossed in the sponge and ended the bout.

They Exchanged Compliments.

There was an immediate rush for the ring and both boxers were soon having receptions. McFarland told Ryan that he had gone after him just as he would as if it was for a championship. "I hated to do it, Billy, for they all tell me that you are one swell fellow, but we are both in he boxing business and it was a case of give and take. Let me congratulate you on your clever work to-night."

When he was dressed Ryan had little to say. He realized that he was a bit "off color" last night, but said that Packy is nothing short of a wonder and the best of the dozens of good men that Ryan has faced in the ring during a career of fourteen years.

Jack Clarke of Philadelphia or Scranton, it doesn't matter which, wasn't game for the gruelling punishment dealt out by Hugh Ross in their semi-final, which was carded to go ten rounds. Hugh's right found Clarke's jaw in the first round and it was all over. Ross is showing steady improvement and last night he was against a boy who looked several pounds heavier, but the Oswego lad absolutely outclassed him.

Bobby Pittsley went after "Kid" Fisher of New York with the intention of making quick work of him. Bobby turned the trick in the third round, but there were lively doing when the bout lasted. Fisher was a game fellow and he had a kick in either hand, but was hardly as hard a hitter as Bobby. The first round was even and Bobby had only a shade in the second.

The third round was a slam-bang affair. Pittsley floored Fisher once, but the latter was game and waded right in again. Bobby staggered him around the ring and followed up his openings better last night than in any of his recent contests. Fisher was plainly in distress and Referee Tom Cawley did the right thing by stopping the bout, though Fisher protested against this, claiming that he was still on his feet and had a chance. Against a boy who is not such a hard hitter as Pittsley, Fisher would have put up a fast bout, as he is clever.

Tonny Guzze of Oswego and "Kid" Ferarrao of Syracuse put up an interesting four-round preliminary in which the honors were about even.

Attendance Is Very Poor.

The attendance last night was woefully out of keeping with the calibre of the entertainment. Northern New York "fell down" when it came to turning out an audience that would fill the big Richardson theater. Syracuse did well, and more than 300 fans returned on the special fight train at midnight. Many had gone up on the day trains and about 200 went up last night on the special.

The Oswego City A. C. deserves every congratulation upon the excellent arrangements at the Richardson theater. This big playhouse is one of the most comfortable in the State, and if the fans did miss their smokes they were enjoying seats that seldom fall to the lot of boxing fans. Every seat in the house gave an excellent view of the stage.

Billy Ryan's corner certainly was a gathering place for Central New York ring celebrities. Howard Morrow, Bobby Pittsley, Joe Uvannt, "Kid" Julian and Hugh ROss were chatting with Billy as he made ready for the bout.

Packy McFarland probably weighed 137 to 138 pounds last night, and there is a big question as to whether or not Packy can really make 133 pounds for a lightweight championship contest. Ryan entered the ring a little over 135 pounds.

Packy has relatives at Syracuse, Liverpool, Fulton and other places in Central New York, and he last night expressed a desire to box in Syracuse in the near future.

McFarland, his brother, Johnny and Emil Thiry, his manager, returned to Syracuse on the fight special last night. Packy headed for Chicago early this morning with his brother, while Thiry left for Boston, where he will second Hugo Kelly in a bout there to-night.