1891-04-27 Bob Fitzsimmons W-TKO2 Abe Coughle [Battery D Armory, Chicago, IL, USA]

1891-04-28 The Chicago Herald (Chicago, IL) (page 3)

KNOCKED OUT BY FITZ.
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HEAVY-WEIGHT COUGLE BADLY DAZED
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The Champion Middle-Weight Uncorks a Cyclone of Decisive Blows in Anger During the Second Round--Jim Hall Seen to Good Advantage.
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Before a crowd of 3,000 howling and yelling spectators in Battery D last night Bob Fitzsimmons, the conqueror of Jack Dempsey, exhibited his prowess by knocking out Abe Cougle, the local heavyweight. He accomplished the feat with dispatch by means of half a dozen terrific half-arm blows, delivered with a viciousness that fully pleased the cheering crowd and explained in a measure Dempsey's defeat. Fitzsimmons showed himself a strong, quick hitter, but his short work with Cougle spoiled the show, for it cut off all opportunity for the crowd to judge between the two middle-weights who are hooked for a battle for championship honors and a big purse in July, as Cougle refused to go on with Jim Hall for the wind-up after his experience with Fitzsimmons. Statesman Sol Van Praag was the timekeeper and Patsy Fallon was master of ceremonies. After exhibitions by local talent Jim Hall and Billy Woods, the Colorado heavyweight, appeared in a two-round contest. Hall showed himself to be a very clever man. He is a handsomer fighter than either Burke or Mitchell and delivers the cleanest kind of blows. He is very quick, uses either arm at will, both at striking and at guard, and in fact demonstrated himself a graceful master of ring tactics. He received great applause for his clever work, and the short set-to was pronounced one of the best ever seen in the battery. Fitzsimmons and Cougle appeared next. Bob's awkward "kangaroo" figure and his position astonished the expectant 3,000. Cougle started in with a will, and was throwing his superior weight at Fitzsimmons in a business-like way, while the New Zealander was taking things easy. Cougle planted a right handr on a sore on Bob's mouth and the latter went to his corner bleeding profusely. The crowd sighted the claret and yelled, "Do him, Abe," "You haven't got Dempsey now," and made other remarks that Fitzsimmons did not relish.

Rushed and Fell in a Heap.

The champion began the second round lively, and with his famous reach kept Cougle away and played freely on his head with both hands. Cougle rushed, and Dempsey's conqueror evidently lost his temper, for he swung his left on his opponent's right jaw, repeated the tap on the left, and the heavyweight went reeling across the ring and down in a corner. He came up partially dazed, and the slim man from New Zealand again closed on him. He showered six short punches on Cougle's jaws and neck, and the South Water street gladiator collapsed in a heap. Lieutenant Alex Ross and a squad of police climbed over the ropes, but time was up before Cougle could arise. He was led to his corner and fanned into consciousness. Fitzsimmons was afraid of the police, for he left the ring in a hurry and made his way to his quarters over the heads of the crowd. Many criticized Fitzsimmons for worsting his opponent, and claimed that he did it deliberately and without provocation. But the fighter's friends claim that Cougle "crossed" the champion with the intention of "making a monkey of him," a feat which Cougle couldn't accomplish in a hundred years. Many were delighted over the punishment meted out to him. Cougle left the hall as soon as he could get into his clothes, and with a gang of admirers laid in wait for Fitzsimmons outside of the hall. The crowd was dispersed by Captain Fitzpatrick and Lieutenant Ross, who warned Cougle and his crowd not to attempt to make trouble. The latter started away, however, threatening his late opponent.

Fitzsimmons and Billy Woods wound up the entertainment with a three-round contest, the final bout being very lively. The crowd was greatly disappointed over Hall's failure to appear the second time, as no opportunity was given to make comparisons between the two men from the antipodes. Fitzsimmons had demonstrated his ability in all directions, while all the experts could make out of Hall's appearance was that he is a very clever and scientific fighter.

On the bill were hot glove contests between Bowen and Harper, colored; "Professor" Williams and Steve Stevens, colored; Joe and Billy Sullivan and "Sparrow" Lewis and Billy Taylor. Billy Murphy, in a spirited bout at catch-as-catch-can wrestling, lasting six and one-half minutes, won a fall from Mike O'Day, while Al Zimmerman and Dan Kalb wrestled for fifteen minutes to a draw. Ben Mowatt, the club juggler, gave an exhibition.