1916-03-31 Benny Leonard ND10 Freddie Welsh [Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA]

1916-04-01 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 14)

Leonard Whips Welsh in Whirlwind Battle
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All But Knocks Out the World's Champion Lightweight.
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TITLE HOLDER HAS HARD NIGHT'S WORK
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Crowd Equal in Size to Moran-Willard Gathering Sees the Contest.
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By W. O. M'GEEHAN.

Bennie Leonard, Harlem's favorite son, knocked everything but the lightweight title out of Freddie Welsh at Madison Square Garden last night. Compared to Leonard, the man from across the sea looked like a novice. The little Harlem Hebrew outfought and outboxed the champion in every round. And Welsh tried, too--tried as he has not tried for years.

It was probably the best fight that Welsh has put up in a long while. He wanted to "show Leonard up," but instead he was shown up himself, as a champion about to pass.

Leonard had the fire of youth, in addition to a knowledge of boxing more brilliant than that of any lightweight since Gans. Ring generalship was the only thing that saved Welsh from a knockout and the loss of his title.

The proof that Welsh tried was a cut over Leonard's eye, the first visible injury he has received in over 250 fights. In return Leonard started the blood from Welsh's nose in the fifth, and in the eighth he cut a gash over the champion's eye.

It was one of the fastest and most spectacular battles ever seen at the Garden, and decidedly the cleverest. Welsh put up a game and aggressive fight. If he had battled that way before last night he would have been the most popular of the lightweights. In addition, the veteran used every trick of blocking and holding, but the clear-eyed Jewish boy found openings, and landed with precision.

It was Welsh, the old fox, the veteran, who missed. When the champion tried to mix it Leonard ducked and had him looking like a novice. The crowd was half delirious as the pair flashed around the ring like a couple of lithe young panthers. Not since the days of the very great ones has there been such a battle.

When he found himself outpointed in the first few rounds Welsh grinned sarcastically; but later his mouth dropped with worry. Once or twice he showed flashes of real anger, but Leonard subdued him with tantalizing jabs and right uppercuts.

Toward the end Welsh's face was gray with anxiety. In the seventh round the champion was visibly in a bad way. Leonard shot a left to the body and Welsh bent over. His face twitched with pain.

The champion's worry increased when he saw that the younger man was watching for a chance to land the knockout. Leonard had ceased to jab. He flitted about peering through his narrowed eyes for the chance to send home the blow that would bring him the championship.

It was then that experience came to Welsh's aid. He covered up well. He built for his body a defence like that of the turtle, making a shell of his arms.

In the eighth round Welsh took a desperate chance and swung to the head with his left. The blow should have dazed the Jewish lad, but it did not.

Welsh's face had become tragic. It was the one fight he wanted to win, and he had no chance. The yells of the crowd told him that the "king of lightweights" was very dead in popular favor. They also hailed Leonard as the king to be.

If the fight had gone longer, or if there had been a decision, Welsh certainly would have lost his title. And he would have lost it to a better man than he has ever been.

For this Harlem Jewish boy has everything--the knowledge of boxing, the punch and the courage. Also, and most important, he has the fire and enthusiasm of the comer.

In the first preliminary Terry Edwards resigned his position as antagonist to George Brown in the third round. Brown jabbed Edwards into a state of bewilderment with his left. In the second bout Joe Smith outpointed the Corona Kid, a pocket edition of Jim Flynn. Larry Murtha, a little black Irishman with a fine left hand, outpointed Charlie Treybull, of Chicago, in four rounds.

In the semi-final event Johnnie Drummie, the Jersey Humming Bird, outpointed Kid Boonton in six rounds. Drummie was seconded by Joe Shugrue, who was clad in a wallpaper shirt that made even Billy Roche's official coat-of-mail look subdued.

The crowd began to gather early and filled all but the far section of the first balcony. Numerically it was equal to the crowd that saw the Willard-Moran bout.

Leonard entered the ring first, attended by Billy Gibson, his manager, and his fighting brother, Charlie. Harlem's favorite son wore a snow-white sweater and a smile of serene confidence.

There was a little delay and the crowd began to kick up the dirt of the Garden. The floor had been removed and the air was full of dry dust. The crowd became impatient as Welsh lingered in his dressing room, resting and picking up weight. It always was part of Welsh's ring strategy to take his time coming into the ring.

The Welsh procession finally entered the ring late. The great tangoist and vegetarian was closely followed by 'Andsome 'Arry Pollok. The band struck up "It's a Long Way to Tipperary." Welsh looked very fit. He had worked for this bout. The weights were announced as Welsh 136½ and Leonard 132. Bennie got the louder cheer and Freddie looked a bit peeved. A moment later the fun began.


1916-04-01 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 8)

LEONARD GIVES WELSH BEATING OF HIS CAREER
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"Freddie" Welsh's world's championship lightweight title had everything but wings attached to it last night in Madison Square Garden, and in all probability had it not been for "Benny" Leonard's right hand giving way through injury as the result of the tremendous cannonading he shot the Englishman's way the crown would be resting on the brow of the sensational Harlem lightweight, if such a thing were possible.

In some quarters it is argued that Welsh cannot lose his title when he fights at a poundage over the lightweight limit, but it is a certainty that if he will get to Leonard's weight, or even that of the scale adopted by the State Athletic Commission, the champion would not know whether he was coming or going at the end of ten rounds.

As it was, with Leonard giving away four and a half pounds, he scaled 132, and administered quite the tidiest beating to the title holder that worthy probably ever received. Leonard was the winner all the way, garnering the honors in the first eight rounds and the tenth, with the ninth an even affair, which constituted Welsh's best showing.

Ably assisted by the referee, Welsh was enabled to "save up" times out of number with this phase of the proceedings and Leonard's injury the factors which warranted him in staying the journey.

In the majority of his bouts hereabouts Welsh's long suit has been his ability to outbox, if not outfight, his opponents, and this, coupled with his ring generalship and covering up tactics, has abled him in keeping his death grip on the title. Not so last night, however. Then he met a man who clearly outboxed, outfeinted and outhit him, with the manner of his superiority so pronounced in every department of the game except hanging on, that it appeared as though Welsh had parted with all of his boasted cleverness, hitting ability and stamina in the ring the night he fought "Frankie" Whitney.

It was at that bout that Leonard got his first peep at Welsh, and that he must have "got an eye full" of the right method to attend to a champion was shown when he met him in the ring, as if there was anything the Harlemite didn't do to his opponent, it was only his failure to give him his quietus.

Leonard had all the appearance of being the champion and Welsh the veriest tyro. The Harlemite was the stake horse of the pair, with Welsh an also ran. From the fifth round on Leonard showed by his impatience to be up and doing at the bell announcing the continuance of hostilities that he was like a sprinter leaving his mark, so speedily did he bound across the ring almost to Welsh's corner to meet him.

While he won several of the sessions by the proverbial mile, it was in the seventh that he nearly caused the portcullis to be dropped by the champion. Leonard parted with everything he had in stock and had his man woozy from his continued attack. Welsh never lost his head, however, and although beaten almost to a whisper he managed to dodge out of trouble and weather the storm.

Throughout most of the battle Leonard found his man a mark for left jabs which the champion's science was unable to throw off. With these in many instances followed up with nicely timed rights to the head or body he had Welsh tied up in knots and in many cases unable to do anything but take everything that came his way.


1916-04-01 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 10)

LEONARD DEFEATS WELSH WITH EASE
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Vim and Aggressiveness of Harlem Lightweight Too Much for the Champion.

Benny Leonard, the aggressive little Harlem boxer, took his place in the front rank of the world's lightweights at Madison Square Garden last night when he defeated Freddie Welsh of England, the title holder, in a rattling fast ten-round bout which kept the big, crowded arena in an uproar from start to finish. Leonard was the aggressor all the way, and the boxing skill of the phantom-like Briton was overshadowed by the persistent, ready-punching power of the younger boy.

The generalship and experience of the champion saved him from bad punishment, for many of Leonard's short-choppy jolts were cleverly blocked when they were directed to the point of Welsh's jaw. It was a case of a youth charged with fight from his toes to his head pitted against a veteran ring master whose long sojourn in the ring is counting against him--for the old-time skill of Welsh is plainly on the wane.

Leonard carried the fight to the champion from the first round, and there was no time during the bout when Welsh was able to measure up to the aggressive fistic campaign which Leonard waged against him.

There were more than 9,000 men and women in the Garden last night, and they showed more enthusiasm in one round than was demonstrated during the whole ten rounds of the Willard-Moran engagement. It was the largest gathering that has witnessed a lightweight bout here since the Frawley law went into effect. The house was with Leonard, although at times the most partial Leonard enthusiast could not help cheering the masterly defense of the agile, foxy Welsh.

In the crowd were many of New York's best known citizens, and a large number of women occupied seats in the arena boxes. It was a good bout to watch, as it teemed with action all the time, and there was hardly a moment when young Leonard was not carrying the fray to the champion, trying to make him mix it up, when it was plain that Welsh had no such desire.

For a boxer so new to the game, Leonard's showing was remarkable. He was as cool as an old-timer, and not once did he lose his head or get wild. His smashing right-hand punch, on which he relied to batter down the champion, did not get in its most effective work, as the defense of Welsh was so good that the power behind the blow was usually smothered.

When the bout was over Welsh's face showed plainly that the youthful Harlem boxer's blows had hurt. The champion's left eye was cut and his nose was swollen and bleeding. While Welsh used every trick in the game to protect himself from Leonard's fast attack, the shower of blows came so fast at times that his defense was battered down and he had to take a punching in spite of all his cleverness.

Leonard was the first to appear in the ring, and he got a reception which made the big amphitheater resound. Welsh kept him waiting for several minutes, but if the champion imagined that Leonard would get nervous he was much mistaken, as the latter was the cooler of the two men when the gong started the first round.

As quick as a flash Leonard put three light jabs on Welsh's face and surprised him. Welsh kept backing away and covered himself effectively, but Benny got in an occasional smash which set the crowd cheering. When the first round was over and it was seen that Benny had a safe margin the hosts from Harlem stood on their chairs and threw their hats into the air in glee.

In the third round just before the bell Welsh endeavored to force the boxing and drove Leonard to the ropes. Leonard fought his way out and drove the champion back into the centre of the ring under a shower of punches.

In the fourth round, when Welsh began to dance out of the way, he found out that Leonard could step even faster. Leading with his left to the face, Leonard followed up this lead with an occasional right hand jolt to the face which made the champion blink. In this session Leonard planted one right to Welsh's jaw which rocked his head and his smile became somewhat forced. Many of Benny's blows bounced off Welsh's gloves, but although the champion was effective at blocking, he failed throughout to take the upper hand and carry the fighting to Leonard.

In the fifth a quick left stab flattened itself on Freddie's generously proportioned nose and drew first blood. Leonard's hands worked in and out with great rapidity, and Welsh found it a hopeless task to try to stop all the blows. In the later rounds of the bout, Welsh began to practice the best of his ring tricks, but he found himself tired and made little impression on the energetic youth from Harlem.

The sixth round found Welsh tired, and the youth and stamina of Leonard began to take effect. Welsh, with head down, came at Leonard with a rush, but a stiff uppercut brought the English boxer's head back with a jerk. Welsh didn't bore in head first after that.

After the seventh round Welsh often ran into clinches and covered up to protect himself. At infighting Benny ripped uppercuts through Welsh's guard and landed on his body and face frequently. It was only occasionally that Welsh's quick left jab, which in the past has worked like a piston against the faces of his opponents, landed on Benny's face. When Welsh was trying to cover up in the eighth round Leonard rushed at him and sent his head back with rights and lefts which made the champion think that Leonard had called several extra mitts into action.

A smashing glancing left hook to the face opened a cut under Welsh's left eye in the ninth, while the only mark on Leonard was a slight scratch at the side of his left eye. The last two rounds showed Leonard's decided advantage, for he ripped his blows against the champion's body and head with great apparent ease. It was Leonard's bout from bell to bell.


1916-04-01 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 10)

Benny Leonard Outpoints Freddie Welsh in Fast Bout at Garden
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WELSH'S CUNNING IS WHAT SAVES HIM IN LEONARD BOUT
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Lightweight Champion Outpointed in Nearly Every Round of Garden Bout.
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BENNY HAS FREDDIE GOING FAST IN SEVENTH
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Benny Leonard is not yet lightweight champion, but he came near winning the title last night at Madison Square Garden. He outpointed Freddie Welsh, the Englishman who defeated Willie Ritchie for the world's honors of this particular class.

It was a thrilling ten round battle, one of the best engagements of this or any season, and Welsh has no reason to feel disgraced at his showing. He met a man cool, crafty and clever. The Britisher fought every minute of the way, but his stiffening sinews had to give way to the vigor and dash of youth. But for the cool and calculating cunning of the veteran, Leonard would have grasped the title without further ado. Several times Benny had Sir Frederick in distress, well spent of the speed and fury. But always on such occasions the Englishman called into play his great generalship, which he had learned in the school of tough experience.

What the result would have been had there been no limit to the length of the encounter is a matter open to speculation. Welsh was far from spent at the final bell. In the last round he steamed up to the highest pitch, trying for one redeeming punch, and he did hit Leonard hard, too. But of the two Leonard was the fresher.

Experts who saw the bout said Leonard will be the next lightweight champion if nothing happens to him. They added that last night's fight should prove an experience almost as valuable as all his other 250 odd ring battles combined.

Welsh called into play every trick and strategy of his fertile brain. At close quarters, especially, he took advantage of the youth's innocence. He elbowed, shouldered and butted Benny, but always so cunningly that the referee didn't catch him at it.

Welsh was a dancing master, but he fought as courageously as the challenger. He was a marvel at defence, but the phenomenal speed of Leonard broke down this defence. Benny shifted about and opened his batteries from so many directions that Freddie soon decided to make a give and take affair of it.

It was a hammer and tongs affair during the early rounds. But from the third on Leonard began to draw away, first a shade at a time and then in spurts until in the seventh Welsh's only hope of victory lay in a knockout.

Until the seventh Welsh's blocking was a thing of beauty. Then the local lad rushed in and ripped Freddie's body with a dozen well placed lefts and rights and had the champion leg weary and blown when the gong clanged.

Rally after rally marked the second round, with little damage to either party. Starting the third, Welsh rocked Benny with a wicked right. He repeated the blow a few seconds later, but Leonard retaliated with a good left hook flush on the jaw and half a dozen snappy straight lefts, on which there was no comeback.

The fourth was Leonard's all the way. He tried a score of times to measure Freddie for the right and did land several times, but for the most part the Englishman would spill his man before he could wing the right home. Welsh also got inside the right a lot. But several times this good right did whistle home with effect, once flush on the jaw and again to the face, and wiped out many times the several left jabs that Welsh got to the mark.

The fifth was Welsh's best round. Time after time he bored in recklessly, raining lefts and rights to Benny's head and body. He popped Leonard's head to one side with a left hook and in a rally just before the gong cut Benny's left eye badly.

In the sixth Welsh contented himself with playing for the body with his left. Leonard continued to stab with the left as he walked around the Britisher and played the right to the body in well meant uppercuts.

Through the eighth and ninth rounds Leonard continued to play for the body with his left, snapping it home to the stomach a dozen times or more. A right gashed Welsh's right eye in the eighth, for Benny kept playing for the jaw with the good mauler. The tenth was one continuous rally that fairly raised the roof, with honors even for this closing session.

Leonard was the first to enter the ring. When he appeared promptly at 10 o'clock in long trousers and white sweater his loyal band of rooters fairly raised the roof with applause.

Welsh left little Benjamin in the ring all alone for nearly ten minutes. After clambering into the ring the champion strolled nonchalantly to Leonard's corner and wished Benny a happy evening. Welsh weighed 136½ pounds and Leonard 132 stripped ringwise.

A tremendous throng turned out early for the mill. The crowd cluttered the main entrances on Madison avenue and littered the side streets, but there was no evident disorder anywhere. Police were on hand in sufficient numbers to keep the fans in check at all times. The historic Garden was jammed to the roof. Every seat was sold an hour before the battle. There wasn't as much class to last night's crowd as that which turned out to see the Willard-Moran bout, but there was more enthusiasm. The "regulars" who had to sit in the galleries last week were back in their accustomed places in the pit.

The throng sat contentedly through the semi-finals and most of the preliminaries whetting their appetites for the main event. No ringside betting was in evidence. But in the sporting places about town early in the evening Leonard was quoted on the long ends of the odds. This doubtless was due to Leonard's wonderful following. He has absorbed all of Leach Cross's hero worshippers since the battling dentist took the count from the sturdy right of Milburn Saylor.

Corona Kid and Kid Smith in the four round curtain raiser boxed a creditable draw. Larry Murtha of the West Side outpointed Walter Traybull of Chicago in four rounds.

In the six round semi-final Johnny Drummie shaded Paul Freda, formerly known as Kid Boonton.

1903-03-30 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien ND6 Joe Choynski [Washington Sporting Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1903-03-31 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 5)

O'BRIEN WINS ON POINTS.
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His Blows Lack Force, and He Fails to Knock Out Choynski in a Six-Round Bout.

PHILADELPHIA, March 30.--"Jack" O'Brien of this city tonight outpointed Joe Choynski in a six-round bout at the Washington sporting club. Choynski was not match for O'Brien, whose failure to score a knockout was due to the lack of force behind his blows.

Choynski started well, but appeared to lose heart under O'Brien's unceasing rain of left-hand jabs. From the second until the last round Choynski's only object seemed to be to stay the limit.

The third and fourth rounds were particularly tame and the referee warned the men. In the sixth O'Brien was more aggressive and subjected his opponent to a severe drubbing, but his jabs and punches lacked the power to put Choynski to sleep.


1903-03-31 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 10)

JACK O'BRIEN'S JABS BEWILDERED CHOYNSKI
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Majority of Spectators at Bout in Philadelphia Thought Quaker Had Better of It.
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(Special to the Evening World.)

PHILADELPHIA, March 31.--Jack O'Brien added another leaf to his laurels last night when he defeated Joe Choynski in six rounds. The bout was far from satisfactory to the majority of the spectators because the men resorted to clever boxing. The referee warned the men in the fifth to box harder. The warning was not thrown away, as the men let out a few wraps and showed what was possible.

In the first two rounds there was little to be desired. The two men were on their best behavior. Choynski eased up in the third and took matters easily, either from self-inclination or inability to land on the elusive Philadelphian. O'Brien followed suit, but it was less noticeable than in his opponent. The fourth was a repetition of the third and the crowd began to hiss.

In the fifth round the men were cautioned and soon made the fur fly again. The sixth and last round was a hummer. Many of those present thought the men were faking because they were not covered with blood.

O'Brien and Choynski are boxers, part excellence, and not fighters of the stamp of Maher, Marvin Hart and "Kid" Carter. The Philadelphian is one of the quickest and cleverest two-handed fighters in the business, and ordinarily clever men appear slow beside him. Choynski is clever also, but the continual passage of O'Brien's gloved hands in front of his face somewhat nonplussed him.

Whether O'Brien's fast work made him appear slow, or whether despairing of reaching O'Brien's vital spot he eased up, is best known to himself, but it is a long time since Joe made such a poor exhibition. He seemed afraid to lead and his nimble opponent was on top of him all the time. Once or twice he made O'Brien wince with the effect of blows on the face and over the heart, but at no time did a knockout appear imminent. O'Brien from the start resorted to his mode of attack, jabbing with his left and trying to cross with his right. Time and again he got home on Choynski's brow and face, but the blows lacked steam. He did most of the leading and seldom failed to land.

Joe was some time sizing his man up, and just before the end of the first round caught O'Brien a vicious jolt under the eye which raised a "mouse." The second was a repetition of the first. O'Brien worked his left repeatedly in Choynski's face without a return. He varied this with an occasional swing. Choynski opened the third round with a stiff punch over the heart, but Jack got back on Joe's nose six times in succession. He had Choynski on the ropes at the end of the round.

There was no boxing in the last round. Choynski showed to better advantage than in any of the previous rounds. He caught Jack a stinging blow in the face which straightened up the Quaker. He then visited Jack's ribs two or three times. O'Brien got home several stiff heart blows when Joe set the blood flowing again from the cut over O'Brien's optic. O'Brien wound up the bout by several nasty jabs in Choynski's face. The bout was all O'Brien's.

Willie Mack, the clever light-weight boxer of Brooklyn, easily bested Otto Knapp, the Cleveland welter-weight, in the semi-wind up. The men engaged in a six-round bout, and, although Knapp had every advantage over Mack, the latter outpointed him throughout the contest. Mack used a straight left continually into Knapp's face and raised a lump over his eye. He also dazed the Clevelander several times.

Mack came near finishing Knapp with a few left hooks on the jaw, but the bell sounded in time to prevent such a proceeding. Mack's showing was so good that he has been promised a match with one of the best men in the Quaker City.


1903-03-31 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)

CHOYNSKI DID NOT TRY WITH O'BRIEN
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Failing to Take Advantage of Opportunities Offered, He Is Jeered by Crowd
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Referee Warns Him Towards End of Fifth Round and He Extends Himself in First Part of Sixth
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There is every reason to believe that another barney was foisted upon the public at the Washington Sporting Club last night, and there is not the slightest reason for believing that either the club or Jack O'Brien stood in the play. The plain, bald fact is that Joe Choynski did not try a yard except when it was really necessary to lend to the farce the glamor of realism.

An explanation from Mr. Choynski is in order.

There was some pretty work in the first two rounds--pretty work, but not convincing, although at that a large-sized mouse was started over O'Brien's eye.

In the second round O'Brien's jabbing was beautiful to look upon, but none of the jabs seemed to have the slightest effect upon Joseph. There was some clever ducking. Vicious swings wasted themselves upon the thin air, and many hard punches landed on the hard--the very hard--part of Jack's anatomy, but there was not a minute when he was in any serious danger.

At the start of the fifth round there was a series of mixes, jabs, ducking, feinting and holding. Then the house started up a chorus "Fake, fake, fake." Referee Rocap toward the close of the round put a temporary stop to the proceedings, and gave Choynski to understand that he must spiel, or there would be nothing doing at the box office after the bout. A lively exchange followed and the bell sounded.

In the third round Choynski started to rush things, and some of the more enthusiastic spectators began yelling "Save a piece for Fitzsimmons, Joe." This was entirely superfluous. Choynski himself was evidently willing to leave everything for Fitzsimmons. Opening after opening was permitted to escape, and finally in the middle of the fourth round, when it became so flagrantly apparent that there was nothing doing so far as Joseph was concerned, the spectators began yelling "Take them off." And yet in this round Joe landed the hardest punch in the bout--a right on the side of the face that seemed to jar O'Brien.

Choynski was evidently stirred up by the referee's admonition, for he started in like the really good fighter that he is in the sixth, and there was plenty of action for a while; but it was only for a while. He soon let down, and there was a repetition of the rounds that preceded the last.


1903-03-31 The Washington Times (Washington, DC) (page 5)

THE O'BRIEN-CHOYNSKI BOUT SAVORED OF A FAKE
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Audience Hissed the Forbearance Displayed.
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PHILADELPHIA, March 31.--From a spectator's point of view the bout last night between Jack O'Brien and Joe Choynski had a very bad look. The men were engaged to fight six rounds, at the Washington Sporting Club, and a big crowd turned out despite the storm. There's no question as to the sincerity of the principals until the beginning of the fourth round, when Choynski let slip by many chances that, had he tried, he could have done considerable damage to Jack. But on the contrary, he invariably drew his arm back when the blows was already on its way.

The crowd was quick to see that something was wrong, and hissed Choynski time and again for not following up his leads. The fifth round was worse than the preceding round. Choynski did not even try to land on Jack. On the other hand, O'Brien jabbed, uppercut, and hooked as he pleased, but his blows were rather weak. The referee at this stage of the proceedings stopped the men long enough to caution them. O'Brien said that he was doing his best. Evidently he was, as he hit Choynski three to one and clearly outpointed him at every stage, and he could have no reason to enter into an agreement with the Chicago man, having bested Choynski in Chicago some time ago.

After the referee cautioned the men Choynski let out a few links and went after O'Brien right and left, but Jack danced nimbly out of harm's way, and hooked his left to the face when the bell rang. They came out of their corners for the sixth and cut out a terrific pace. O'Brien, as in the previous rounds, was much the quicker and landed oftener than Choynski, but his blows lacked the necessary steam to do much damage. Again in this round Choynski, after his spurt, let up, and it looked as though he was not trying to fight. The crowd again started hissing and yelling to stop the bout, and kept up this sort of thing until the gong for the end of the sixth round sounded. Choynski paid no attention to the hissing, and only smiled. After the bout was over the spectators seemed to be glad of it, and gave vent to their feelings in very strong language.


1903-03-31 The World (New York, NY) (page 9)

O'BRIEN VICTORY TOO EASY FOR SPECTATORS.
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They "Roared" When He Tamely Defeated Choynski.

(Special to The World.)

PHILADELPHIA, March 30.--What was expected to be an interesting hard-fought ring battle at the Washington Sporting Club to-night between Jack O'Brien and Joe Choynski developed into a one-sided farce in which the former had all the better of the boxing.

O'Brien landed scores of times, but apparently was not anxious to put much steam behind his blows, while Choynski was contented to act as a punching-bag and seldom attempted a lead. From start to finish the bout had a very queer look, and at its conclusion a roar of disapproval went up from the big crowd present.

1904-03-29 Dave Holly ND6 Joe Grim [Southern Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1904-03-30 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 5)

JOE GRIM WAS ALL BUT OUT
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Dave Holly Gave Him the Worst Pounding He Has Received in His Career.
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Philadelphia, March 29.--Joe Grim, "the human punching bag," received the worst punishment in his career tonight, when he met Dave Holly at the reopening of the Southern Athletic Club. No one is quite sure whether they boxed five or six rounds, but at that Grim was all but out and it was just as well for him that the bout ended, even if it was only five rounds.

From the very first round Holly began a tattoo of punches of all kinds. Round after round Grim faced the fusillade manfully, giving but little in return. In the last round Holly fairly rained blows upon him, and Grim became helpless so far as returning punishment or even defending himself, and everybody was glad when it was over. It was like a man battering away at a see-how-hard-you-can-hit machine.


1904-03-30 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 12)

BEATING FOR GRIMM BUT NO KNOCKOUT.
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PHILADELPHIA, March 30.--Joe Grimm, he of the iron jaw, who boasts of not possessing a polar plexus, was the recipient of one of the worst beatings of his career last night at the Southern A. C. Dave Holly, the husky colored lightweight, was the boy who delivered the trouncing to Grimm, and the Italian champion was a sorry looking spectacle when the six rounds were ended. How Grimm ever managed to last the limit is indeed a mystery. He received enough punishment to stop any two ordinary men, yet with the exception of the latter part of the sixth round, when he was knocked down twice, he stood up gamely under the terrible gruelling.


1904-03-30 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)

HOLLY BEAT GRIM.
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Dave Administered a Terrible Gruelling to Italian Champion.

Although Bob Fitzsimmons, Jack O'Brien, "Kid" Carter, George Cole and various other lesser lights of the prize ring have had a crack at Joe Grim, the Italian boxer, it is doubtful if any of the former gave Grim the terrible grueling that Dave Holly, the colored light-weight, of this city, administered to him at the Southern Athletic Club last night. Grim had every natural advantage over Holly, but made little or no attempt to fight Holly except in the clinches, when he would pound Dave on the back. As a consequence Holly had things pretty much his own way throughout the six rounds. Holly did not give Grim a chance during the bout to cut up any of his usual capers, being at Grim all the time and making a veritable punching bag of the Italian. The fourth round, perhaps, was the worst for Grim. Holly punched him from one corner to another until it looked as though Joe would surely go down. He was very unsteady on his feet, and the crowd was yelling for Holly to finish him. But by holding Holly round the waist Grim managed to last the round out.

In the first round Holly, in his anxiety to stop Grim, became a little too rough, and was warned by Referee Schlichter for throwing Grim to the floor.

Grim plainly showed the effects of Holly's punches as he came out of his corner for the sixth round. Holly fairly flew at Joe and neither one shook hands. Holly forced Grim to the ropes and ripped his right and left to body and jaw. Grim clinched, and Dave in order to get away began tugging and pulling, until Grim fell to the floor. When Joe got up he again clinched and they went through the same performance. Holly didn't give Joe a chance to clinch when the latter got up, but measured his distance and gave Grim a terrific smash on the jaw, and Joe went down. Grim was up before the full count and Holly was like a wild bull. He rushed at Grim right and left and finally sent the Italian down again from a left hook on the jaw. Grim was still on the floor when the bell rang.

Terry Martin outpointed Jimmy Casey, of Bristol, in a fast six-round bout in the semi-wind-up.

Jack Bowler, the ex-amateur, and Harry Monaghan put up the best bout of the evening. It was a rattling good "go," with Bowler having the better of the first four rounds. In the fourth and fifth rounds Monaghan boxed very fast and had the ex-amateur champion in trouble several times.

In the other contests Reddy Flynn and Joe Croke boxed a draw, while Phil Griffin stopped Billy Keator in the fifth round.

1916-03-28 Jack Dillon ND10 Battling Levinsky [Broadway Sporting Club, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1916-03-29 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 14)

Jack Dillon Again Shows Levinsky How to Fight
--------
Thrashes Hebrew Boxer in Hair-Raising Return Match at Broadway Sporting Club.
--------
By W. O. M'GEEHAN.

Jack Dillon and Battling Levinsky appeared at the Broadway Sporting Club last night in a complete change of repertory. It was Dillon's decision again, but Levinsky put up one of the gamest exhibitions seen in these parts for many a day.

In the sixth round Dillon battered Levinsky's nose and brought blood. In the seventh the Bear-Cat dropped Dan Morgan's meal ticket to his knees with a choppy right hook to the jaw. The courageous Hebrew boy was up in an instant, fighting back like a young fury.

More than once Levinsky was dazed by a choppy left hook, but he never stopped fighting for an instant. This was Levinsky's tenth fight since the 28th of last month, and he appeared a bit stale. Dumb Dan Morgan, his impresario, explained that Levinsky had hurt his right hand in the last fight with Savage.

To even up matters, Dillon seemed to make little use of his own justly celebrated right. He contented himself with battering Levinsky's head with the left.

The harder Dillon stung him the harder Levinsky fought back. Despite the injured hand, Levinsky started out to make a cyclonic finish. He was jabbing Dillon all over the ring, when the Giant Killer shot over another choppy right cross and Levinsky reeled.

The first few rounds were slow, and the crowd began to suspect a repetition of the "brother act," but Dillon cut loose in the fifth in a very unbrotherly fashion. Only a tough and courageous boy could have stuck up under that beating. Both men gave and took punches that would have upset a dozen Tom Cowlers.

It was no rehearsal act last night. If it had been Belasco would have been outdone.

Levinsky will rest his hand for a few hours, and probably arrange for another fight somewhere to-morrow. Dan Morgan believes that a fighter should keep busy to save training expenses. Needless to say, Daniel is a manager, not a fighter.

In the semi-final, Larry Williams, Levinsky's sparring partner, stopped Johnny Saxon, Weinert's sparring partner, in the second round. This may be held a technical decision over Weinert in favor of Levinsky.

In the first preliminary Young Murtha outpointed Willie Gardner in four rounds. Murtha did most of his work with a left to the body. In the second Young Fried, a nephew of the wild man of Borneo, fought a whirlwind draw with Frankie Bell. In the third bout Soldier Zepstein, U. S. A., won by a shade over Johnny Herman, of Ridgewood.


1916-03-29 The Daily States (New Orleans, LA) (page 13)

DILLON OUTPOINTED BY BATTLING LEVINSKY
--------

NEW YORK, March 29.--Taking the offense in the sixth round, Battling Levinsky carried the fight to Jack Dillon in the remaining frames of their ten-round bout at the Broadway Athletic Club and succeeded in outpointing the Indianapolis fighter. He scored repeatedly with left hand jabs to the head, landing occasionally to the body.

Dillon did most of the fighting in the early rounds, but at no time was either in danger of a knockout. Levinsky weighed 177½ and Dillon 169½.


1916-03-29 The Elkhart Truth (Elkhart, IN) (page 8)

FIGHT RESULTS
--------
(International News Leased Wire.)

New York, March 29.--Jack Dillon, the Indianapolis heavyweight, outboxed Battling Levinsky of New York in ten rounds.

Larry Williams, a Philadelphia heavyweight, knocked out Johnny Saxon of Newark, N. J., in the second round.

Soldier Zepstein shaded Johnny Herman in ten rounds.


1916-03-29 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 10)

DILLON BEATS LEVINSKY
--------

"Jack" Dillon, the short but mighty boxer from Indianapolis, defeated "Battling" Levinsky, of Philadelphia, in ten rounds at the Broadway Sporting Club, in Brooklyn, last night. Levinsky fought his usual elusive fight, bringing into play his well established methods of defence, wherein his long left arm and speed carries him through against men of more rugged physique.

In the fourth round the Hoosier unbuckled one of his well known swings, which landed rather high on Levinsky's jaw. The latter swayed for a moment, and before Dillon could take any further advantage, the bell terminated the round. The Quaker came out in the fifth round, however, in good shape and proceeded to mingle with the "Man Killer." Dillon was fortunate in landing another hard swing on Levinsky's nose, drawing the claret. "Bat," however, then employed his left hand and jabbed the rushing Indianapolis boxer away from him.

Levinsky decided that he would abandon his defensive methods in the final round and set about to mix it with Dillon, and the result was a series of fierce exchanges, in which both men landed some hard blows. The decision belonged to Dillon. Levinsky weighed 177½ pounds and Dillon 169½.

In the semi-final bout "Larry" Williams stopped "Johnny" Saxon in two rounds of a ten round engagement.


1916-03-29 The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (page 16)

Dillon and Levinsky Draw.

New York, March 29.--Battling Levinsky and Jack Dillon fought ten fast rounds to a draw here Tuesday night. Levinsky weighed 177½ pounds, Dillon 169½.


1916-03-29 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 12)

DILLON DEFEAT LEVINSKY.
--------
Has Slight Margin on Points Over Quaker City Boxer.

Jack Dillon, the Indianapolis light heavyweight, slightly outpointed Battling Levinsky, the big, blonde heavyweight of Philadelphia, in the feature ten-round bout last night at the Broadway Sporting Club of Brooklyn. The contest was witnessed by a good-sized crowd of enthusiastic boxing fans.

Dillon won the contest by his aggressiveness and his ability to get inside of his opponent's tantalizing jabs with effective blows to the face and body. The Indianapolis boxer pursued this method of attack throughout the early rounds, and in practically every session he had the clever Philadelphia heavyweight on the defensive.

Near the conclusion of the bout, however, Levinsky, evidently realizing that he was being outpointed, made a lively rally, and during the last two rounds carried the fight to his opponent. However, although he clearly outpointed the Hoosier boxer in the two closing chapters, he could not offset Dillon's early advantage.

Dillon assumed the aggressive at the beginning of the bout. In the fourth and fifth rounds he forced his taller opponent about the ring with alternate blows to the face and stomach. In the seventh session Dillon sent Levinsky to the ropes in the former's corner with a left to the face, and followed this up with a right to the jaw which sent the Philadelphia boxer to his knee for a moment. The latter was up in an instant, and Dillon, trying desperately to end the contest, became wild, and the majority of his blows fell harmlessly.

In the final bout, scheduled for ten rounds, Larry Williams of Philadelphia knocked out Johnny Saxon, a Newark heavyweight, in the second round with a succession of right-hand blows to the jaw.


1916-03-29 The Rockford Morning Star (Rockford, IL) (page 1)

BATTLING LEVINSKY WINS.

(By Associated Press.)

NEW YORK, March 28.--Battling Levinsky of New York outpointed Jack Dillon of Indianapolis in a ten round bout in Brooklyn tonight. Levinsky weighed 177½ pounds and Dillon 169½.


1916-03-29 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 10)

DILLON AND LEVINSKY IN A THRILLING DRAW
--------
Indianan Smashes and Rushes and Battler Not Only Jabs, but Fights.
--------

Jack Dillon, the Hoosier assassin, and Battling Levinsky fought a thrilling ten round draw in the final bout at the Broadway Sporting Club, Brooklyn, last night.

Dillon did the forcing throughout and landed the more damaging blows. On the other hand, Levinsky was the cleverer and perhaps outpointed his man in a technical sense.

Indianapolis Jack was a bit blown at the end, but was never in danger. Levinsky was knocked to his knees by a right hook to the jaw in the seventh round. There were several other occasions during the closing periods when the Battler was in grave danger and when he saved himself by holding.

Throughout the first half of the battle Levinsky piled up a dainty lead.

Levinsky used his left for jabbing Dillon back from vigorous rushes and his right to the body with good effect at close quarters. Dillon was particularly wild--wild even for him--and the Battler had little difficulty in pulling away from, getting inside of or blocking the haymakers. In the fifth, however, Dillon's sweeping right caught Levinsky flush on the nose, drawing first blood for the assassin.

In the sixth Dillon rocked Levinsky with hard lefts and rights to the jaw, but the Battler fought back furiously and hammered Dillon hard on the body. Through the seventh, after he was dropped, Levinsky was forced to hold and stall. In the ninth Dillon again staggered the Battler with a right haymaker.

The tenth was one continual volley, with both men slugging might and main for a knockout. Levinsky surprised the talent by wading right in and exchanging wallops. At one time it looked as if he had Jack on the run, but Dillon closed strong with a shower of lefts and rights, many of which found their mark.


1916-03-29 The Syracuse Herald (Syracuse, NY) (page 20)

JACK DILLON IS VICTOR IN BOUT WITH LEVINSKY
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Hoosier Bearcat Drops the Hebrew to Mat in the Seventh Round.
--------

New York, March 29.--Battling Levinsky is one of the best groomed knights of the hempen ring.

He always crawls through the ropes with his fighting trunks spotlessly and immaculately white, his hair neatly combed and a general look of cleanliness and wholesomeness about him.

And he generally leaves the ring in the same state. The battler is so splendid a defensive fighter that it takes a hard bout to even muss up his hair.

When Levinsky clambered out of the ring at the Broadway S. C. last night at the end of his ten-round bout with Jack Dillon, Levinsky's white fighting trunks were of a crimson hue. His left ear was puffed and swollen and his features as well as his curly blonde locks pretty badly mussed up.

There was a reason. The Battler just had been through one of the hardest bouts of his career, Jack Dillon, the Indianapolis Bearcat, handing him a terrific hammering. It was Levinsky's superb ring generalship that prevented the "man killer" from winning by a knockout. Levinsky took enough punishment for a whole army of average heavyweights, but no matter how badly he was hurt he never lost his head and defensively managed to do just the right thing at the right time.

It has been a long time since the fight fans have seen Levinsky knocked off his pins.

But that's what happened to the Fighting Sheriff of Stamford last night.

In the seventh round Dillon lashed a left to the head and quick as a flash nailed Levinsky with a following right--Jack's deadly one-two punch. Levinsky's knees crinkled up and he started sagging to the floor. Instead of stepping back, however, Dillon stood over him. Levinsky grabbed the Bear Cat's legs and clambered quickly to his feet.

During the remainder of the round Dillon tried desperately to finish his man, but Levinsky's wonderful ring generalship prevented the "Man Killer" from accomplishing his object.

During the first four rounds it looked as if the mill was going to be an even one, but in the fifth the Bear Cat cut loose with a savage attack, and from then on to the end he gave out cruel punishment.

In the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds Jack handed the "Battler" a terrific lacing, and a rally by Levinsky in the tenth again awoke the "Man Killer" to fighting fury, and once more he almost beat the "Battler" to the boards by the savageness of his assault.

Last night's mill with Dillon was the eleventh ring battle Levinsky has engaged in this month. Apparently his other ten battles only were sparring bouts to shape him up for the struggle with the "Man Killer" last evening.

Levinsky had eight pounds the best of the weight, according to Johnny Dunn, who in his velvety baritone warbled the weights as Dillon 169½, Levinsky 177½. Both men weighed in in ring togs.


1916-03-29 Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) (page 13)

JACK DILLON WINS OVER LEVINSKY IN TEN-ROUND BATTLE
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Hoosier Bear Cat Had all the Better of the Milling With Clever Boy
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LEVINSKY IN TROUBLE
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Is Sent Down in the Seventh But Manages to Stall Through Round
--------

New York, March 29.--Jack Dillon outfought Battling Levinsky at the Broadway Sporting Club last night in ten rounds. Levinsky was never nearer to a knockout than he was in the sixth and seventh rounds of the fight.

In the seventh Levinsky was floored with a wicked right-hander that brought him to his knees with a bang. The curley headed warrior bobbed up like a cork in a pool and fought back viciously.

Dillon gave Levinsky a terrific drubbing in the sixth round. Rights and lefts had the perpetual motion machine rocking dangerously near a knockdown. Dillon seemed to tire after the seventh, and Levinsky began to outscore him. Jack made up for lost time in the tenth, however. At the finish he had Levinsky wobbling again from hard rights and lefts to the head.

Levinsky has seldom been punished in a New York ring as he was in the sixth. Dillon started him going with a left to the head and the Hoosier followed this up with a furious attack with both hands. A right to the jaw sent Levinsky flying to the ropes, the latter saving him from going to the floor. Dillon was as relentless in the seventh, besides the knockdown he scored heavily with either hand throughout.

As Levinsky got up off the floor after being sent to his knees, Dillon sent him sailing back across the ring with a hard left to the jaw, for once he seemed powerless to block the onrushing bearcat. Dillon won round of applause in the last part of the tenth round by stepping back to allow Levinsky to regain his footing after he had slipped. Levinsky exhibited a badly swollen right hand after the bout, claiming that he had injured it in the third round.

Barney Williams stopped Young Saxon in two rounds in the semi-windup.

1902-03-27 Joe Gans W-KO5 Jack Bennett [Eureka Athletic Club, Ford’s Opera House, Baltimore, MD, USA]

1902-03-28 Baltimore American (Baltimore, MD) (page 5)

RIGHT HOOK PUT BENNETT DOWN.
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GANS SCORED A KNOCKOUT IN THE FIFTH ROUND.
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McKeesport Welterweight, While Fighting in Good Form and Giving the Lightweight a Great Battle, Was Jolted Into the Count by a Blow That Reached the Proper Point of Jaw--For Four Rounds the Victor Sized Up His Man and Well Judged Distance, After Which There Was a Change of Pace and a Quick Result Followed--Great Power of a Short-Arm Jolt.
--------

In the fifth round at Ford's last night Joe Gans sent a short right hook to the jaw of Jack Bennett, of McKeesport, Pa., and Charlie White stooped over and counted out Bennett, who was temporarily as dead as though struck by lightning. Thus ended one of the best battles in which Gans has appeared here, and the great colored lightweight knocked out the best welterweight whom he has yet met, for Bennett is a welterweight of distinction, having fought with credit with many of the best in that class.

For four rounds the fight was splendidly contested and Bennett seemed in the game. In the third round Bennett scored a left jab to Gans' stomach that seemed to make the local man wince. In the four rounds Gans was simply measuring the distance and sizing up his man, throwing in an occasional jolt that did little damage. In the fifth round Gans began to fight in earnest, and the wise ones saw that it was up to Bennett to take the count. Gans whipped over a succession of short right blows, and then came the chance for which he was looking. For an instant Bennett's jaw was uncovered, and that instant's indiscretion was his undoing. There probably never was before a fighter with such nice judgment of distance as Joe Gans. It is his method, if he is against a good man, to spend several rounds in a minute study of the distance between a short right hook and an antagonist's jaw, and the most vulnerable part of the jaw at that.

Knows Where to Hit.

He goes about this with as much skill as the surgeon wielding a knife marks the space of a quarter inch that spells the difference between the success of an operation and the death of a patient. It is not that Gans hits a man in the jaw, but that he hits him in precisely that portion of the jaw that jars his brain into inactivity, and he falls a senseless mass to take the count. This is just what happened to Bennett last night, and it tells the whole story.

For four rounds they fought in open fashion. Bennett's advantage of weight was apparent in the clinches, but Gans fought shy of this advantage by aiming to fight in open order. Gans kept away as much as he could, his quick eyes all the time measuring the distance to the point of the jaw, to reach which was the goal of his present ambition. But once did the chance come and that once meant the finish of Bennett. During the second and third rounds Gans marked up Bennett's eye, and Gans landed repeatedly on the body, but Bennett was no dead one. He was in excellent condition, was nervy, took a chance, did not break much ground and was sufficiently aggressive. Gans neatly blocked repeated leads for the face and head and wiggled out of the way of much body punishment. By these means and several neat side steps Gans got out of the rushes of the heavier man and with little damage, all the while figuring out how to snap a blow on Bennett's jaw and stop the game. There was much sparring throughout, with Bennett fighting carefully and creditably.

Bennett in Good Form.

Until the knockout Bennett was in good condition, and he looked able to go 20 rounds just a second before he took the count. It came at the close of a mix; and, when Bennett was gathering himself for another effort, Gans shot his right fist to the jaw and down went Bennett. The remarkable power developed by Gans in these short-arm punches brings about much of his success. A blow starts from nowhere and ends somewhere and the referee begins to count. There is but a short arc to this blow, and Gans' wonderful forearm propels it with terrific force with but a short start. This power and the science with which the blow reaches the proper angle of the jaw does the business and is making Gans one of the greatest fighters who ever lived.

The fight was refereed by Charlie White, who gave one of the cleverest exhibitions of that business seen here. He had the men under excellent control all the time and helped make it a clean, hard battle, with the winner one of the champions of the world.

Bennett is a good boxer, with science, strength, ambition and a most clever foot movement. He and Gans in the same ring made a great display of some of the finer points of the game possible to men nimble on their pins and good blockers. Gans made away with this clever welterweight so easily that it will now be about impossible to get lightweights to meet him, and Erne is apt to get a weakness of the spinal column.

Fun in the Prelims.

The preliminaries did not lack their usual interest, and in each the contestants went after each other in rattling good fashion. There were eight preliminaries before the star bout. Kid Washington lost to Kid Hamburger in three rounds. Al Mason won from Dave Frederick; Charles Boyer and William Torsch fought a draw; Johnny Leckner made Kid Smith quit in the first round; Jimmy Farren stopped John Rahn in the first round; Alonzon Jackson and Joe Howard went four rounds to a draw; Ed Terry won from William Perry in three rounds. The semiwind-up was between Raymond Coates and Charles McElderry, the St. Marys county Bully. Coates won and incidentally chopped up the Bully's face.

Herman Miller and Tim Kearns will appear in the next boxing show of the Eureka Athletic Club, which will be next Friday night, at the Germania Maennerchor Hall.

Among the out-of-town sports who witnessed the fight were Fred Taral, Jockey Bullman, Patsy McCue and Jimmy Colville, the once noted referee. The house was packed and the crowd orderly. The entire show was conducted without a hitch and Manager Herford should be commended on the rare skill with which he pulled off the whole program.


1902-03-28 Baltimore Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 4)

GANS DOWNS BENNETT IN A CLEVER FIGHT
--------
Knockout Blow in Fifth Round Ends One of the Most Scientific Bouts of the Year.

Joe Gans is eligible to lightweight championship honors. He broke down the stipulations imposed by Frank Erne and before 3000 persons knocked out Jack Bennett at Ford's Opera House last night in the fifth round.

It was one of the cleverest exhibitions ever pulled off in this city. While it did not last any length of time, it was from start to finish a neat exhibition of scientific sparring. Gans took his time in taking Bennett's measure and when the opportunity presented itself he blocked Bennett's lead and returned with a short straight right arm blow to the tip of the jaw, which lifted the white lad off his feet and he went down and out. Bennett was carried to his corner by his seconds--Archie McEachern, Bobby Thompson and Mike Campbell.

Joe Gans was almost mobbed by his friends, who crowded around him to offer congratulations. Manager Al Herford also came in for a share of the compliments and was kept busy shaking hands for quite a while. Charlie White, the prince of referees, was not forgotten, and was besieged by friends of both of the fighters. To the Herald reporter Referee White said:

"It was one of the cleanest knockouts I have seen in a long time. Gans evidently waited for his opportunity, and when it presented itself he took advantage of it. That is all there is to it. It was a clean scientific exhibition and Gans proved the better man."

In the first round the men fiddled in order to size each other up. Bennett was the aggressor and led several times. Gans blocked his leads, but Bennett succeeded in planting one on the colored lad's ear, doing but little damage.

Round 2--Bennett seemed confident at the opening and swung a vicious right to Joe's head, but the Baltimore boy ducked. Both were shifty on their feet and each sparred carefully for an opening. Gans led with his right, which Bennett blocked, and a clinch followed with a breakaway at the gong.

Third Round--Gans whipped over his right, which Bennett blocked. The colored boy then sent a stiff punch to Bennett's right side and Jack retaliated by shoving his right to Joe's head, which shook the latter up considerably. In a mix-up Joe led for the jaw, but it went high and cut Bennett over the eye.

Fourth Round--In the fourth round both men went in to mix affairs, and it was give and take. Both landed body blows with telling effect. Bennett let himself out in this round and it was here that Gans took his measure.

The Finish--At the opening of the fifth round Gans was the aggressor, and it was easy to be seen that something was about to take place. Joe rushed Bennett around the ring and both men administered and received some stiff punches. Gans sent his right to Bennett's jaw with but little damage, and the white lad got back with a stiff body punch. While in close quarters Joe's trusty right shot out, landed, and it was all over with Bennett. When the knock-out was administered the house rose as one man and howled itself hoarse. It was by long odds one of the cleverest mills ever pulled off in this city.

The preliminaries were up to the usual standard presented by Manager Herford, and acted as an appetizer to the main bout.

Al Mason was awarded the decision in a three-round bout over Dave Frederick, both colored. Charlie Boyer, colored, fought William Toss, white, three rounds to a draw. John Leckner, white, and Kid Smith, colored, were to have gone three rounds. Leckner knocked Smith through the ropes and the latter started for the tall timber, ending the bout. John Rahn met Jimmy Farren, but Rahn was outclassed, and the bout was called off. Alonzo Jackson and Joe Howard, both colored, went to a draw.

Ed Terry and William Perry furnished the most interesting set-to on the program of preliminaries. It was a rough and tumble go, and Terry won. Raymond Coates and the Bully of St. Mary's County ended the first part by a hugging match, in which referee Fred Sweigert gave the decision to Coates.

At the ringside was a contingent of racing people from Bennings. The followers of the ponies included Jockey Fred Taral, Jockey Bullman, Patsy McCue and the old referee of Boston, Jimmy Caldwell.


1902-03-28 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 6)

GANS ONCE MORE
--------
Knocks Out Jack Bennett Within Five Rounds.
------
FEARFUL SMASH ON THE CHIN
------
McKeesport Lad Strong And Clever, But Soon Measured Up--A Line On Coming Contest With Erne.

At Ford's Opera House last night before an attendance which packed the theatre Joe Gans knocked out the welterweight Jack Bennett, of McKeesport, Pa., in a fight which lasted less than five rounds.

The knockout blow, a right half swing to the point of the jaw, came quickly and unexpectedly. The contest was to have been for 20 rounds, and much money changed hands on the result.

Mingled in the large attendance were horsemen, bookmakers, trainers and jockeys from the Benning race track. New York, Philadelphia and other nearby cities and towns were well represented. The Eastern visitors backed Bennett to stay the limit, and with the odds on Gans they bet on Bennett to win.

The McKeesport boy proved to be a good, clever one, but he was up against a much cleverer lad. Bennett proved a hard hitter, a good blocker, a fair ring general, showed that he knew the game and looked to be a boxer who could beat most of the claimants as topnotchers in his class. The fight simply proved that Gans today is a nonpareil. Indeed, it was confidently asserted by men last night who know the game well that the only way to best him is to produce a freak such as Robert Fitzsimmons was when he weighed in and thrashed the great Jack Dempsey.

Like Jack Dempsey.

Gans in his winning career may well be compared with Dempsey. He is unlike John L. Sullivan or Terry McGovern, men who have been beaten by cleverer sparrers. Gans' cleverness is such that it will take immense brute strength combined with cleverness equal or nearly equal to his own to defeat him.

Bennett was clever and strong, but was not quite clever enough. Frank Erne, the champion, will be Gans' next competitor, and many who saw last night's fight believe Gans will wrest the championship from him when these two meet at Fort Erie. Many of them were at Ford's last night to make up their minds on this point.

Both Gans and Bennett were in good condition. The fight by rounds was mostly interesting to those of the spectators who were well up in the science of sparring. It was devoid of slugging and was scientific from start to finish. This is how it went by rounds.

Fiddling To Start.

Round 1--Considerable fiddling was done, and Bennett appeared the more anxious. Gans was doing a waiting act. In a lead of Bennett's Gans got in a light counter on the ear. It was the only blow that landed in the round.

Round 2--Gans was careful, and it was not until the middle of the round that he made his first attempt to lead. The lead fell short. Bennett got his left to Gans' body, and there was no other blow of note before the gong sounded.

A Staggerer On Gans.

Round 3--Gans opened up with a lead for the body, but did not reach. Bennett stepped in and Gans countered on the body. Bennett then sent in a half arm swing, which landed on the side of Gans' face. It was a staggerer and the crowd yelled. No other damage was done in the round. Both men were doing beautiful work.

Joe Wakes Right Up.

Round 4--Bennett jabbed to the face with the left and got in on Gans' body a moment later and Gans woke up.

Gans then sent a straight left to Bennett's face and shortly afterward repeated the blow. Bennett rushed in and landed on Gans' head hard. Just before the gong ended the round Gans tried a full right swing, which was cleverly avoided. It was a vicious blow.

Round 5--Bennett led off with a slight blow to the body and followed with one to the head. Gans countered the last blow with one on the chin and thus looked as if he had taken Bennett's measure. Bennett led and landed lightly on Gans' body. Bennett tried to repeat and Gans sidestepped. Then, just as Bennett was getting away, Gans shot his right hand over and it landed squarely on the point of Bennett's jaw.

A Crushing Smash.

Bennett was lifted off the floor and fell heavily on his back. He was out for the count and when his seconds picked him up and brought him around he said he saw the blow coming, but thought he was safely beyond it.

Gans was seconded by Harry Lyons, "Young Peter Jackson" and Herman Miller.

Bennett's attendants were "Mike" Campbell, "Bobby" Thompson, Archie McEachern and Ernest Jones, the latter a colored man.

The battle was fought strictly according to Marquis of Queensberry rules. The veteran "Charley" White, of New York, was the referee, and, as usual, did his work faithfully.

As The Preliminaries Went.

The preliminaries resulted as follows.

"Kid" Hamburger got a decision over "Kid" Washington, colored, in three rounds.

Al Mason, colored, beat David Frederick, colored, in three rounds.

Charles Boyer, colored, and William Toss made a three round draw. Toss did most of the fighting.

John Leckner, the clever little white boy who has been doing some fast fighting in preliminaries, knocked "Kid" Smith, a negro boy, through the ropes early in one round, and when the black fellow crawled back into the ring Leckner went at him like a bulldog and Smith ran out of the ring.

Jimmy Farren then faced John Rahn. They were to box three rounds, but Rahn was no match for the clever Farren and was taken out of the ring at the end of the first round.

Alonzo Jackson and Joe Howard, both colored, boxed four rounds to a draw.

Edward Terry beat William Perry, colored, in three rounds. They were welterweights.

Raymond Coates and the St. Mary's county Bully boxed three rounds and referee Frederick Sweigert awarded Coates the verdict. The bully, however, did all of the fighting and the spectators thought he should have gotten the verdict, or at least, a draw.

1884-03-26 Charley Mitchell D-PTS4 Jake Kilrain [Institute Fair Building, Boston, MA, USA]

1884-03-27 Boston Daily Advertiser (Boston, MA) (page 8)

SPARRING EXHIBITION.

A crowd of about 5000, including representatives from all classes of society, gathered in the Institute Building last evening to witness the sparring match between Charles Mitchell, the champion heavy weight of England, and John Kilrain of this city, the champion middle weight of New England. Previous to this match the gloves were put on first between Johnny Murphy and Joe Clark, both of this city, in which the latter came off best, also between Tom Bates of London and John Connolly of Boston, in which the latter had the advantage. In the rounds between young McManus of Lowell and Mike Dyer of this city some lively work was done, the latter apparently showing the most skill. In the contests between Billy Frazer of Boston and Denny Costigan of Providence, and between Charley Norton of Newark, N. J., and young Nixey of London, the former in both instances were entitled to the honors. The rounds between Mitchell and Kilrain were fought with gloves which were but an apology for soft gloves, and some very lively work was done on both sides, Kilrain having the advantage. Among those present were Aldermen McDonald, Nugent, Whitten, Leighton and Pray, and Councilmen Lee, Fraser, Blume and Killduff, and many members of the Crib and Somerset clubs.


1884-03-27 Boston Morning Journal (Boston, MA) (page 3)

Boxing Witnessed by 5000 Men.

About 5000 men, representing the extremes of Boston's social life, assembled last evening in the upper hall of the Institute Fair Building to witness a series of boxing contests. The wind-up, and that which was the principal attraction, was a battle between Charles Mitchell, the heavy-weight champion of England, and John Kilrain, the middle-weight champion of New England. The sympathies of the audience were evidently with the American. The first round they both were cautious, feeling each other out; the second round the Englishman got rather the worst of it, the friends of Kilrain shouting themselves hoarse; the third round was tame, and the fourth was not much better; Kilrain fell once, and it was decidedly a drawn battle, and a tame affair to what had been expected.


1884-03-27 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 1)

GIVING AND TAKING.
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Kilrain and Mitchell Spar to a Draw.
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All of Boston's Sporting Men on Hand, with Many from Out of Town.
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Battles of the Gloves by Many Scientific Boxers.
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"Show your tickets, gentlemen, and tear off your coupons!" piped the boy in uniform who was perched over the narrow entrance to the hall of the Institute building last night to the pushing, jostling crowd that thronged in to witness the debut of Boston's second heavy weight, Jake Kilrain. The burly policemen in the meantime bellowed in their melodious bass, "Now, easy, gentlemen, don't crowd; you'll get in quicker if you'll just go light." The crowd, however, was unreasonable, like most crowds, and refused to listen to the admonitions of the guardians of the peace, but elbowed and crowded each other to their hearts' content. Once in the hall, all confusion ceased as the crowd melted away, and some made their way to the reserved seats, while others took up their positions in those portions of the vast hall that afforded the best view of the stage. It is safe to estimate the size of the audience at 5000. All classes were represented in the throng, and as the stream of humanity poured in one could see a venerable alderman or a respected member of the Common Council, or maybe one of Boston's most solid and eminent business or professional men jostling and joking with an impecunious man of the town, whose ticket cost him half his worldly wealth.

The stage was placed against one side of the hall, and was raised about four feet from the floor, and measured about twenty-four feet square. Around three sides the reserved seats, numbering in the neighborhood of 2000, and costing the fortunate possessors $2 each, were ranged, while the space behind was used by those who had simple admission tickets.

The interest of the evening was of course centred in the contest between John Kilrain and Charles Mitchell. Mitchell is known to everybody as the man who gave Sullivan the hardest fight that he has yet had, and as the knocker out of every other man with whom he has fought. Kilrain, although possessing considerable of a local reputation, has never been pitted before against a man of acknowledged strength and skill as a heavy-weight. He has sparred quite a number of times in private exhibitions, and he always acquitted himself with credit.

As to the result of the trial there can be but ne verdict. If Mitchell sparred to win, and to down his man, Kilrain is a phenomenal sparrer and fighter. The honors, to say the least, were easy, and if Kilrain didn't get the best of the fight neither did Mitchell. No blood was spilled on either side, and, although Kilrain went down once, it certainly didn't appear like a knock-down, since Kilrain came up smiling and not the least bit groggy. Indeed, both men at the end of the so-called assault-at-arms were perfectly fresh and uninjured. It was a very pretty exhibition of sparring, and both men showed themselves to be clever fighters, although Mitchell displayed none of that dash and hard hitting that was to be expected from his previous record. Mitchell and Madden, it is said, receive one-third of the gross receipts, which probably amounted to at least $6000, making their share $2000. The remaining two-third was divided among James Keenan, Kilrain and the other gentlemen under whose auspices the exhibition was given.

The Introductory Bouts.

At 8.20 o'clock Patsey Sheppard and Billy Mahoney, who were jointly masters of ceremonies, stepped upon the stage. Johnny Murphy, a doughty little red-headed chap, and Joe Clark followed them, and, after being introduced, opened the entertainment with three really clever rounds. Tom Bates, the Englishman, and John Connelly were next introduced, and then young McManus and Mikey Dyer indulged in light sparring. Billy Frazer of the Hub made an elegant showing with Denny Costigan of Providence, and Charley Norton of Newark, N. J., and young Nixey of London followed, Norton especially giving a fine exhibition of scientific boxing.

Patsey Sheppard and Billy Madden, who were down on the bill, did not, to the disappointment of many of the auditors, put on the mittens; but as they were to act as seconds for Kilrain and Mitchell respectively, in the four rounds that followed, and could not possibly do so without inflicting a very tedious waiting spell upon the audience, it was deemed for the best that they should not do so.

A long wait, however, did follow, which was broken by Arthur Chambers stepping upon the stage, accompanied by William Sheriff, the Prussian. Billy Mahoney introduced both men to the audience and announced that Mr. Chambers would back the Prussian to fight Mitchell to a finish with gloves for $1000. The audience received the gentlemen and the statement with great applause. Then another aspirant clambered over the ropes and was introduced as Bendor of London, anxious to fight Charles Godfrey, the colored boxer, or Florrie Barnett.

The Coming of the Giants.

Another brief interval and Madden, with bottles, sponges, towels and other necessary adjuncts to a battle, was noticed making his way through the crowd. Following him was Mitchell, and at the sight of the latter applause rout the air. Charley Norton brought up the rear. When Mitchell stepped upon the stage it was 9.25 o'clock. A few minutes elapsed, when an uproar started, announcing the coming of Kilrain. He was preceded by Patsey Sheppard and followed by little Tom McCarty. W. E. Hardy, who was to act as time-keeper, then mounted the stage.

After tossing for choice of gloves, Kilrain selected a two-ounce pair, which Mitchell's friends had brought on. The mittens being donned, and, the men introduced, time was called, and, as both men stepped to the centre of the ring, a breathless silence prevailed. Mitchell's physical form was on the whole superior to that of Kilrain, although the latter showed plainly that nothing had been left undone to bring him to the scratch in the finest shape.

The men eyed each other for five seconds, when Kilrain led with his left, landing lightly upon Mitchell's right cheek. A few more seconds of eyeing one another ensued, when Mitchell feinted with his left and sent a terrific right-hander for Jake's stomach, but that part of the Bostonian's body was two feet away fortunately. The men were wary, and the audience gazed with the expectation that at the next lead one or the other must go to the floor. A little more preliminary work and with a rush they came together. The clinch lasted but a few seconds, but while it did last it demonstrated either that neither man wanted to punish the other or that they were both afraid. While Mitchell was thinking what tactics to resort to that harmless left of Jake again caught on, and time was called.

Neither man showed exhaustion or any effects of punishment upon the opening of the second round. Thus far Mitchell, excepting the one straight right-hander aimed at Kilrain's stomach, and the bit of sparring indulged in by him during the clinch in the first round, had done no work that would entitle him to be considered an extraordinary man. The many who were awaiting an exhibition of his skill were losing faith in him when he let go his right hand. It went over Jake's left shoulder, as did another a few seconds later. The men closed, Mitchell forcing Kilrain to the ropes. They remained clinched four or five seconds, neither showing a disposition to break, and both apparently pounding each other with all their strength, but when they separated a smile o'erspread both of their faces. A lively little tilt ensued, and it was getting pretty warm, with honors easy, when time was called.

The third round was most interesting, that is, the men worked harder, for as soon as time was called Mitchell made a rush at Kilrain and sent a right-hander flying over the latter's head. He got in a very good left-hander, and grazed Jack's bread-basket with his right. Jake opened with the left and Mitchell struck him a body blow, or at least it so appeared, that sent Jake to the floor. Mitchell smiled as Jake came to the front again. The round was a rattling give and take from this rally to its close. The audience cheered wildly meanwhile.

The fourth round was a rattling go-as-you-please, come-again-tomorrow sort of an affair. Every time the men closed, and they closed scarcely less than a dozen times, the audience fairly howled, and as Kilrain, who naturally had the largest number of friends, landed either his right or left, the audience shrieked at him to follow Mitchell up. This enthusiasm reached its climax when, after a clinch, Kilrain struck the right jaw of the Englishman with his left forcibly enough to stagger him. The audience, to a man, stood up, many of them in their chairs, and urged Jake on. He did not, however, and it seemed difficult for Mitchell to suppress his laughter. The round finished a moment or two later with the men clinched, and Jake Kilrain's name and fame as a boxer made.

At the close of the fight both men were as fresh as when they commenced, and the only evidence of a blow being struck was a slight bruise upon Mitchell's right cheek.

1904-03-25 Joe Gans W-PTS15 Jack Blackburn [Eureka Athletic and Social Club, Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, MD, USA]

1904-03-26 Baltimore Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 1)

GANS GOT DECISION OVER JACK BLACKBURN
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Bout Went the Limit, But Local Man Had the Better of It on Points.

Joe Gans, the lightweight champion of the world, was given the decision over Jack Blackburn, of Philadelphia, last night at the end of their fifteen round bout before the Eureka Athletic and Social Club, at Germania Maennerchor Hall. The hall was crowded to the doors.

The contest was far from being a spirited one, and interest lagged many times throughout the fifteen rounds. It was evident after five rounds had elapsed that Blackburn's sole intention was to stay the limit with the champion, and this he succeeded in doing with no discredit to himself, although as a result of his tactics the contest proved rather uninteresting.

While the bout was a rather tame affair, each man landed blows which left their marks. Although Blackburn twice took the count, it was not necessary, and he could have been up before the referee counted one.

Several times Gans started to rough matters, but his opponent would go to a clinch and hold on. Gans clearly showed that he is Blackburn's master in both blocking and judging of distance.


1904-03-26 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 3)

JOE GANS GETS DECISION OVER BLACKBURN
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Latter Was Over Weight and Stalled Throughout Fight.
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BALTIMORE, March 26.--Joe Gans was given the decision on points in his 15 round bout with Jack Blackburn of Philadelphia last night before the Eureka Athletic and Social Club. The Philadelphian was apparently 10 or 15 pounds heavier than the lightweight champion, although the men were to have weighed in at 140 pounds each, it being understood that it was not to be a championship battle. Gans did most of the fighting while Blackburn was repeatedly warned by the referee for holding. Jimmy O'Hara was the referee and his decision was cheered by the 2500 members who saw the battle.


1904-03-26 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 10)

GANS GETS THE DECISION
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His Bout With Jack Blackburn A Tame Affair, However.

Before the Eureka Athletic Club at Germania Maennerchor Hall last night Joe Gans, champion lightweight of the world, got the decision over Jack Blackburn, of Philadelphia, after 15 rounds of very slow, tame boxing.

Blackburn should have been disqualified early in the fight for constantly holding Gans' glove. Gans did not show championship form. He was slow, had no dash and measured distance badly. The fight was a disappointment.

The attendance filled every inch of the hall and gallery.


1904-03-26 The Trenton Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 11)

GANS FOUGHT POORLY BUT BEAT BLACKBURN

Baltimore, March 26.--Joe Gans, the light-weight champion, last night received the decision over Jack Blackburn in a fifteen-round contest before the Eureka Athletic Club before 2,500 people. The bout was a tame one from start to finish. Gans did not display championship form, while Blackburn's only desire was to stay the limit. Gans was the aggressor throughout, but his blows lacked steam and his judgment of distance was poor.

1903-03-24 George (Elbows) McFadden D-PTS12 Mike Twin Sullivan [Criterion Athletic Club, Boston, MA, USA]

1903-03-25 Boston Morning Journal (Boston, MA) (page 10)

GEORGE M'FADDEN DREW WITH MIKE SULLIVAN
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But "Elbows" From Brooklyn Had Advantage Over "The Twin."
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WAS CRITERION'S MAIN BOUT
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Visitor Was Persistent in His Sparring and Gave Grand Exhibition of Covering.
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George McFadden of Brooklyn and Mike (Twin) Sullivan of Cambridge went twelve rounds to a draw in the feature bout at the Criterion Club last night. McFadden won many admirers by his persistent style of boxing. He gave the best exhibition of covering seen in this city for years and his cleverness was clearly shown and appreciated.

Both men went in at almost a moment's notice, taking the place of others who were scheduled, but they were in superb form and the bout was fast enough to suit everyone. McFadden insisted on forcing matters from the start and had the advantage on leading all through, and his blows had more steam when they landed. Sullivan was always in with both hands and was quicker in their use, but was apt to take every chance in the rules on breaking away.

The men sparred warmly in the first round, but Sullivan made the better impression. McFadden focused his attention on Sullivan's body and put in several straight lefts that jarred the Cambridge boy. McFadden kept sparring at close, and protected himself so well that Sullivan could scarcely land. At the end of the bout the men appeared fresh in spite of the fast work cut out.

Previous to the main bout Eddie Carr of South Boston got the decision over "Young" Pantz of the North End in six rounds. "Billie" Mellody of Charlestown took "Jig" Stone's place to go against Fred Winsdale of Worcester, and got his man in the second round with a right swing over the heart. Eddie Dailey of Baltimore furnished much amusement in the bout with Joe Mullens. The former had a peculiar style of falling every time he attempted to deliver a blow. He was too awkward for even Mullens to get in a decisive blow, but his seconds saw the folly of continuing after the second round.


1903-03-25 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 5)

BOUTS AT THE CRITERION.
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Mike ("Twin") Sullivan and George McFadden Box 12 Rounds to Draw--Carr, Mellody and Mullins Win.

Mike (Twin) Sullivan and George McFadden of New York boxed 12 rounds at the Criterion A. C. last night, and the bout was called a draw.

Duane and Gardiner were the original card, but Duane was taken sick, and the club manager had to put on Sullivan and McFadden.

McFadden landed some good lefts on his opponent's stomach.

Sullivan did some good jabbing with the left and reached McFadden's body often with both hands. He also crossed his right to McFadden's jaw several times, which shook the New Yorker up a bit.

The only redeeming feature of McFadden's work was his blocking.

In the opening preliminary Eddie Carr got the award over Kid Pantz in six rounds. Young Mellody made the going so fast for Fred Dinsdale that the latter stopped in two rounds after getting a punch in the stomach.

Joe Mullins had an easy time against Eddie Daily of Baltimore, and after two rounds Referee Eugene Buckley gave the decision to Mullins.


1903-03-25 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)

M'FADDEN AND MIKE SULLIVAN DRAW.
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Boston, March 25.--In the main bout at the Criterion A. C., last evening, George McFadden of Brooklyn and Mike (Twin) Sullivan of Cambridge boxed 12 rounds to a draw. The bout was substituted for the one scheduled between Jimmy Gardner of Lowell and Danny Duane of New York. Duane's illness made a change necessary.

McFadden, although not what he calls fit for the go, the notice being such a short one, made a fine showing, and forced matters from the beginning. He showed all of his old-time blocking ability, and though some of Sullivan's left jabs landed, many more were blocked. It was almost impossible for the Cambridge man to get to McFadden's body.

Several times during the go McFadden worked his double and triple punch, much to Sullivan's disgust. Sullivan's best work was with his left, and many times he stopped his man with stiff, straight jabs.

The first few rounds the men were cautious, but later there were some fast mix-ups. The bout, as a whole, was marked by clever and scientific work.

McFadden will remain in Boston to prepare for his bout with Patsey Sweeney, which takes place next Tuesday evening.

Prior to the main bout last evening Eddie Carr of South Boston won from Kid Pantz in six rounds. Billy Mellody of Charlestown stopped Fred Dinsdale of Worcester in two rounds, and Joe Mullins had it his own way with Eddie Daly of Baltimore for two rounds, after which the referee stopped the bout.

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.

1917-03-22 Benny Leonard W-RTD9 Packy Hommey [Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, NY, USA]

1917-03-23 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 14)

Benny Leonard Stops Hommey in the Ninth

Benny Leonard disposed of Packey Hommey in the ninth round at the Fairmont A. C. last night. A right to the jaw sent Packey to the floor, and when the bell rang for the tenth session Packey's seconds tossed in the sponge. It was Leonard's fight all the way.

Frankie Daly shaded Joe Burman in the ten-round bantam bout.


1917-03-23 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page S2)
Benny Leonard gave a masterly exhibition of shadow boxing at the Fairmount Athletic Club in Manhattan last night, using Packey Hommey as the shadow for eight rounds when he suddenly remembered he was in a fight and finished his man in the ninth round. Hommey was in such bad shape that his manager refused to let him come out for the tenth.

In another ten-rounder Joe Burman beat Frankie Daly all the way, winning with a left jab and a right cross. Burman, who has been touted as a comer, failed to show any claim to distinction, displaying a notable absence of aggressiveness.


1917-03-23 The New York Times (New York, NY)

Leonard Trounces Hommey.

Benny Leonard, the popular Harlem contender for championship honors in the lightweight class, administered such a severe beating to Packey Hommey, the east side boxer, in their bout scheduled for ten rounds last night at a special show of the Fairmont A. C. of the Bronx that Hommey was unable to answer the call for the tenth round. Leonard outclassed and overwhelmed his opponent from the start of the bout. In the other ten-round bout Joe Burman, the Chicago bantamweight, and Frankie Daly of Staten Island furnished an interesting draw.


1917-03-23 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 13)

HOMMEY IS STOPPED BY BENNY LEONARD
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Fails to Respond to Call in Tenth Round in Fairmont A. C. Bout.
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PACKEY BADLY BEATEN
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By GEORGE B. UNDERWOOD.

A combination of boxing skill that hasn't been seen since the palmy days of Young Griffo and a terrific right hand punch enabled Benny Leonard of Harlem to give Packy Hommey such a lacing that the little Italian's manager wisely refused to allow Hommey to come to scratch for the tenth round in their bout at the Fairmont A. C. last night.

A wiser and more humane action would have been for Referee Billy Joh to have stopped the bout as early as the eighth round. At that stage Leonard had Hommey hopelessly beaten and there was no reason for his being subjected to another round of needless and dangerous punishment.

With every hit, stop and getaway of the manly art at his glove tips, fast with both feet and hands, alert and quick of thought as he was cool and collected of demeanor, timing his punches splendidly and showing a fine judgment of distance, Leonard had Hommey at his mercy. Benny feinted his opponent into bowknots, creating openings through which he crashed lefts and rights with the accuracy of a sharpshooter's bullet. He rolled and twisted around most of Hommey's leads. He blocked or ducked others. A few wild left hand swings which Leonard took going away were all the punches poor Packy could land.

For seven rounds Leonard was content to give Hommey a boxing lesson. In the eighth Benny cut loose with the heavy artillery and started to batter Hommey to the boards. A smashing right hand punch to the jaw practically put out Hommey on his feet. Another right hand blow sent Hommey reeling along the ropes. Benny followed with pile driving punches but still the courageous little Italian failed to sink to the canvas. He was helpless, however, and Leonard appealed to the referee to save Hommey from further punishment. Referee Joh told Leonard to "go on."

During the rest of the round the helpless Hommey was battered from pillar to post. Time and again Leonard, setting himself for the punch and putting all of his weight behind the blow, crashed his right hand home. Once Hommey went to his glove tips, but quickly tottered to his feet. The crowd was yelling for Joh to halt the slaughter when the gong rang.

The ninth round was a repetition of the seventh, with Leonard showering Hommey with lefts and rights. One of the blows dropped the Italian for a count of nine. The fans beseeched Joh to end the massacre. The gong rang without Joh taking action.

So earnestly did the fans roar at Joh not to allow the bout to continue that between the ninth and tenth rounds Joh went to Hommey's corner and asked Packy if he wanted the bout stopped. The Italian shook his head, but his manager, Harry Lenny, wisely consented to allow Joh to end the mill.