1904-04-11 Dave Holly W-PTS10 Sam Langford [Cambridge Athletic Association, Cambridge, MA, USA]

1904-04-12 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 5)

HOLLY TOO HARD.
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Langford Loses in 10 Round Bout.
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Philadelphian Shows His "Loop-the-Loop" Punch.
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Cambridge Lad Unable to Beat This.
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Sam Langford, the colored lightweight of Cambridge, who jumped into prominence by getting a well-earned decision over champion Joe Gans at the Criterion A. C. some months ago, ran against a tartar at the Cambridge A. A. last night in the person of Dave Holly of Philadelphia.

Holly administered a sound beating to Langford in the 10 rounds they boxed and the outcome was a big surprise to the local followers of boxing.

Holly's ability to cover up and avoid punishment and his quick recovery when in close was the cause of Langford's downfall. Sam started in his usual snappy style and his lightning left jab and quick right cross worked well for the first couple of minutes, but after that Holly changed his style and his peculiar crouch and guard completely bewildered Langford.

The Philadelphian did his best work after Langford's leads, for then he began ripping and tearing away with both hands for the body, varying with twisting his body while Langford held on, and shooting his right upward to the jaw and face.

This was his famous "loop-the-loop" punch, and it worked well at times. Whenever Holly essayed to box cleverly Langford greatly outpointed him, and at such times Holly was forced to resort to his old crouch with his head and jaw protected by his shoulder and his body well covered.

Both men devoted a great deal of attention to the body and Holly proved to be the harder hitter. He early realized that Langford was too clever for him and he then worked his way inside Langford's guard and began pegging away for the body and head.

The early rounds were rather tame and uninteresting, but as the bout progressed Holly began to show his strength and in the eighth drove Langford all around the ring with straight rights to the jaw and left and right short-arm jolts to the stomach and ribs.

The Cambridge man was tired at the end of the round, but he came back strong in the ninth and held his own by jabbing.

The last round was a hurricane affair with Holly doing the forcing and Langford holding on at every opportunity, but even as Sam hung on Dave slammed away and near the close of the round drove Langford to the ropes with a hard right swing to the jaw.

Referee Harry Hodgkins awarded the decision to Holly. It was a popular decision.

In the semifinal bout Charles (Kid) Fanning disposed of Jack Sumner of Cambridge in the third round. Young Cahill of Roxbury and Johnny Lynch of Cambridge boxed one of the fastest and cleverest six-round bouts ever seen in Cambridge. Cahill won by a very close margin. Harry Gilman of Roxbury also defeated Billy Phillips of Boston in six rounds, after a hard contest.


1904-04-12 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 5)

Dave Holly Defeated Sam Langford In Ten
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Bout Was Fierce All the Way Through With Philadelphian Leading.
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Dave Holly, the Philadelphia boxer, defeated Sam Langford of Cambridge at the Cambridge A. C. in ten rounds last night. It was a fierce battle between two crack colored lightweights and went at terrific speed the whole distance. Holly won on his aggressiveness, as he had Langford on the run continually, forcing him to back away in order to avoid these onslaughts. Holly did all his execution at close range, boring in on his opponent and smashing away with both hands until Langford tied him up. Langford did his best to keep Holly away by stabbing a game at which he has few superiors, but to offset this strong point of the Cambridge lad Holly dove inside and got home substantially.

It was a case of two dissimilar styles, in which Langford's standoff methods were conquered by Holly's swings and infighting.

Holly was the most willing throughout and banged away as long as one arm was free. He stretched the rules a bit by holding Langford's right and swinging with his loose wing. Langford had trouble in reaching his dusky confrere at the start and was bothered in this direction throughout the bout.

Holly had a peculiar crouch that, with his perfect covering, made Langford's attack almost fruitless till he could find an opening, which Holly seldom allowed.

They were away at a hot clip and immediately it was seen that Holly had the punch, while Langford was point racer. Langford got inside several times with strong left hooks but received a battering on the head that caused him to step up short. They mixed it freely till the seventh round, and in this session Holly got over his right to the jaw that staggered Langford, but he came back with straight stinging left jabs.

The eighth was worse for Langford, as he was driven to the ropes where Holly administered a severe drubbing and had the local boy distressed.

Langford was game and recovered quickly, retaliating with his straight aim work.

The windup was a slashing mixup, each trying for a knockout. They went at it fast from the gong, Holly endeavoring to put the hooks in and letting go swings in rapid succession. Langford blocked well and showed his science, but he was not in it with the roughing tactics of Holly.

In the semi-final Charles Fanning of Boston won from Jack Sumner of Cambridge in two rounds. Sumner looked strong as a bull, but ran up against a few of Fanning's "haymakers" and it was all off.

Young Cahill of Roxbury beat Johnny Lynch of Cambridge in six rounds and Harry Gilman of Roxbury got the decision over Billy Phillips of Boston, after getting the worst of it for three rounds.


1904-04-12 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)

DAVE HOLLY BEAT SAM LANGFORD
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At the Cambridge Athletic Club at East Cambridge, last evening, were held some lively boxing contests in the presence of about 500 spectators.

The first event was a six-round bout between Harry Gilman and Billy Phillips, both of Boston, Gilman got the decision. Johnnie Lynch of Cambridge and Young Cahill of Roxbury boxed six very fast rounds, the decision being given to Cahill, who did most of the leading. Jack Sumner of Cambridge was outclassed by Charles Fanning of Boston. The bout was to have been eight rounds, but Fanning was awarded the decision in the third round.

The event of the evening was a 10-round bout between Sam Langford of Cambridge and Dave Holly of Philadelphia. Holly's peculiar style puzzled Langford somewhat, but he punished the Philadelphia boy badly up to the finish of the eighth round.

Both were on their feet at the close of the 10th round, during which Holly landed almost at will, making a whirlwind finish, and being given the decision.