1911-05-30 Johnny Kilbane ND12 Jimmy Walsh [Auditorium, Canton, OH, USA]

1911-05-31 The Evening Repository (Canton, OH) (page 6)

KILBANE AND WALSH GO TAME
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Crowd Hisses Fighters When They Spend Time In Fiddling; Neither Has Much On Other
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Boston Scrapper Appears Willing To Make It A Battle, But Cleveland Adversary Keeps Dancing Away And Shows Foot-Work, Not Fist-Work.
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If the Kilbane-Walsh and Dunn-Lemaster bouts at the Auditorium Tuesday night had been reversed in the order given the small crowd of fight fans would have departed with better tastes in their mouths. As it was the Dunn-Lemaster curtain raiser created an appetite which the Kilbane-Walsh go failed to appease.

The two men might have been placed in the ring with their hands tied behind their backs and the bout probably would have been as interesting as it was, for the major portion of the activities were devoted to footwork. It was a liberal education in fancy stepping, the ballet dancers having nothing on these prancers of the squared circle. A small crowd of the faithful looked on with amazement and wondered why the boxers didn't land a clean smash once in a while. They are still wondering.

The gladiators at the finish stepped from the ring without a mark. Not a drop of gore was drawn, though Kilbane did emit a drop or so in the last round, but whether it came from forced breathing or whether he pushed his nose to Walsh's glove is a question.

"For points only" correctly describes the affair. Most any 15-year-old lad could easily have assimilated every blow struck and felt "bully". It was the most affable affair ever seen hereabouts.

Many expected to see Kilbane "put something over" in accordance with his advance information. A little on the K. O. order would have had the soothing effect on the crowd. Some of Johnny's press agent stuff of his battle with Rivers had preceded him and the fans were expectant, but those wallops which stopped and dazed and mystified the terrible Mexican must have been left on the Pacific coast. Many in the crowd believed that the protest of the churches to Mayor Turnbull had the effect of slowing down the affair.

At any rate Kilbane was content with doing fancy stunts about Walsh like a Comanche chief and Walsh is no novice with his feet, either--so it was a grand display of the possibilities of pedal pugilism. Walsh, however, set himself right with the crowd by making an attempt to fight.

When the men were not dancing about out of range of each other, they were in loving embrace, pushing their gloves in each other's faces and occasionally Kilbane would tap Walsh in the stomach. The crowd couldn't see these gentle taps and it's doubtful if Walsh felt them. The crowd would hiss and Referee Kelly would insist, "Gentlemen, we're doing the best we can." Some fan would yell "rotten," and another deluge of hisses would roll down over the ring. The boxers would respond with a clinch and Kelly would work hard to separate them.

On several occasions in the breakaway, Kilbane put a right hook to Walsh's head and the crowd showed its disapproval. Kelly explained, "The men must protect themselves in the clinches."

Considering that both men were on their feet and going fast at the finish and that no telling blows were struck, also the fact that Walsh was aggressive in spite of Kilbane's superior cleverness, it would not be the usual ring procedure to call the bout anything but a draw.

FIGHT BY ROUNDS.

Round 1--With the gong the men met in the middle of the ring. They didn't go through the formality of shaking hands. For about thirty seconds they feinted and fiddled about neither leading or landing. Walsh tapped Kilbane lightly with a left and in the clinch that followed Kilbane pushed his left to the chin. They broke and again dropped into a clinch when neither could land. Kilbane lead for head but blow was blocked. The round ended with the men dancing about.

Round 2--They danced some more and then Walsh put a light left to head but Kilbane was backing away and no damage resulted. The men embraced each other and in the break Kilbane missed a left hook, but succeeded in putting a straight left to face. They clinched and Kilbane put two light lefts to face. The round was a repetition of clinches.

Round 3--The round was appropriately opened with a clinch, which were more and more becoming hugging matches. Kilbane did some infighting and showed speed. It was evident that Johnny had it on the ex-bantam weight champion at the infighting game. Walsh put his left to the head and in the clinch that followed Kilbane used left successfully on Walsh's jaw. They were pushes instead of punches. Kelly was the hardest working man in the ring.

Round 4--Kilbane as an opener put a snappy left jab to the face. Walsh continued to force the fighting but couldn't successfully penetrate Kilbane's defense. Kilbane did some rapid fighting landing lefts and rights in clinch and Walsh broke ground. It was Kilbane's round.

Round 5--Kilbane put his left to the chin and in the break that followed the clinch sent his right to the head. Walsh landed a hard left to the head and the men clinched. "Quit wrestling," admonished Kelly. Kilbane pushed his left to Walsh's head and in the break hooked Jimmy on the head with his right.

Round 6--The feature of this period was the hissing of the crowd, which showed its disapproval of the tactics of the combatants. The fighters were clinched half the time and the remainder was utilized by Kelly in getting them apart. In the final break Kilbane managed to get in his customary right hook to the head, but there was no steam behind the blow.

Round 7--The hissing had the desired effect, and Kilbane started the round actively. "I thought you were going to knock him out," yelled one of the spectators to Kilbane. Walsh landed a left to the head and in the clinch Kilbane landed left and right to body. Kilbane worked his left overtime but the blows lacked steam. In this round Kilbane landed three light blows to Walsh's one. Kilbane's round.

Round 8--The men were in a clinch before they got started and both missed right swings. Kilbane showed greater cleverness in the clinching and succeeded in tapping Walsh frequently.

Round 9--The men exchanged lefts and rights and clinched. The crowd became boisterous and Kelly told it to keep quiet that he would do the best he could. Someone yelled "Stop it," but there was nothing to stop. Walsh managed to find a resting place for a right swing alongside Kilbane's neck. Kilbane countered with a stiff left which rocked Walsh's head slightly. Walsh rushed and a clinch resulted.

Round 10--Kilbane put Walsh's head back with a straight left and Walsh rushed. Kilbane put a hard right to Walsh's wind and followed it with left to face. Walsh rushed, and the round ended with the men's shoulders together.

Round 11--Walsh stuck his left in Kilbane's face twice in succession and also landed left and right in a clinch. Johnny tapped Jimmy on the face getting under his guard, a fancy stunt practiced by all amateurs. Kilbane put his left to the face and Walsh rushed into a clinch.

Round 12--Walsh put light left and right to head and Kilbane caught Jimmy on the neck. Walsh rushed and Kilbane met the onslaught half way and proceeded to push Walsh through the ropes. Walsh then pushed Kilbane to the ropes and the men clinched. Kelly to the rescue. Walsh rushed and the gong relieved the crowd of further distress.

1912-05-29 Packey McFarland ND10 Ray Bronson [Independence Ball Park, Indianapolis, IN, USA]

1912-05-30 The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN) (page 10)

Big Crowd Witnesses Boxing Bouts at Washington Park.
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BRONSON HANDS PACKEY SURPRISE
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Makes Low Weight and Holds His Own in Bout With Clever Chicagoan.
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CHICK HAYES TAKES COUNT
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Popular Bantamweight Runs Into Punch and Loses to Young Herman.
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BY H. G. COPELAND.

Packey McFarland had his hands full last night when he met Ray Bronson in a ten-round, no-decision bout before 8,000 enthusiastic ring fans at Washington Park. Packey, it was announced, was coming to Indianapolis for a big guarantee and thirty minutes of good exercise. He got them both, but it's a big question whether a referee would have given him anything more had a decision been given.

Bronson is entitled to credit for the battle he put up, for he entered the ring only a few minutes after little Chick Hayes, his protege and close friend, had unexpectedly been knocked out in the second round by Young Herman, the hard-hitting bantamweight from Pekin, Ill. The defeat of Hayes didn't unnerve Ray, but he was sorely disappointed over the youngster's defeat, and he waded into his own battle as if he had Hayes's conqueror in front of him instead of McFarland.

The big contest was not three rounds under way before the clever McFarland learned he had a task on his hands, and he knew he would be fortune to get a shade in the battle.

Packey used his punishing left hand to good advantage, but that is about as far as he got.

BRONSON'S FOOTWORK FAST.

He bruised Bronson's mouth when he got through with his left jab time after time, but Ray's footwork was so fast and clever that McFarland couldn't do a thing with his bread-winning right uppercut. In the work at close range Ray really had the better of the argument and at no time was he in danger, for McFarland wasn't there with the punch. There was only one knockdown--if it could be called a knockdown--in the contest. It came in the third round, when Packey sent a right hook to Bronson's jaw and Ray sat down, only to bounce up and tear into the stock yards champion.

Bronson entered the ring at 9:40 and McFarland followed a moment later while Battling Nelson was making a speech.

Emil Thiry, McFarland's manager, and Packey's brother Johnny and his cousin Johnny were in his corner. Jack Dillon and Walter Owens were Bronson's chief seconds.

Two decisive defeats by the knockout route marked the two preliminary bouts and put the big crowd on edge for the main go.

Honors went to the boys with a punch, for the punch decided the first two battles. Freddie Cole showed he still carries a wallop, when he put Bobby Long down and out in the fifth round of the first bout, and a popular idol was badly disfigured when young Herman knocked out Chick Hayes in the second round of the second contest. The end came before the second round was one minute old. Herman lived up to all his press agent promises when he caught Hayes on the chin with a right smash and Hayes was the same as finished. It would have been better had he stayed down the first time, for he was so dazed he was unable to save himself by ring generalship and was forced to take a severe beating.

MANY "LIGHTS" IN CROWD.

There were numerous pugilistic luminaries at the ringside, and Battling Nelson was among those present. Before the Hayes-Herman bout began the grand stand was about half filled, the ringside seats were taken and there were several hundred spectators in the left field bleachers.

There was only a short delay before the principals faced each other for the big bout of the evening. Tom Dillon, the club's referee, was the third man in the ring and in the main bout Ed W. Smith, a Chicago boxing critic, was the referee.

Bronson and McFarland weighed in at 138 pounds at Dan Smith's at noon and Bronson surprised the spectators by his fine physical condition. He stepped on the scales clad in his underwear and did not tip the beam. McFarland, who was supposed to be under weight, was forced to strip to the last thread and then spit to keep within the required figure. As soon as he weighed in, Bronson partook of a nice, juicy steak and then jumped into his automobile and went out to his home near Riverside, where he spent the afternoon. McFarland took an automobile trip in the afternoon to get his mind off the coming battle. Both boys expressed confidence in their ability before they entered the ring.

LONG AND HAYES KNOCKED OUT.

Bobby Long entered the ring at 8:40. Referee Tommy Dillon and Freddie Cole followed a moment later.

Boxing fever was high and the steady stream of spectators which poured into the stands made it one of the biggest crowds that ever witnessed a ring contest here. There was little betting on the outcome of the main bout, although McFarland was the ruling favorite.

It was 8:40 when the announcer bellowed through his megaphone, and the first bout was on.

Cole and Long looked to be in good shape. They were cautious in the first round. Toward the close they mixed it and honors were even.

There was more action in the second, but neither boy gained a lead. Cole's cleverness in blocking saved him punishment.

Long had a slight shade in the third, getting in the cleaner blows and forcing most of the milling. It was nip and tuck in the fourth, with Long taking the lead by his aggressive tactics. Cole finished strong and opened a cut over Long's eye, gaining an even break.

Long rushed into a right swing that all but put him down in the fifth, and was cautious, but Cole sent a right and left to the head and Long began to weaken. A right swing to the jaw put Long down and out.

CHICK'S CLEVERNESS FAILS.

Hayes and Herman entered the ring at 9:15 o'clock. Harry Donahue was in Herman's corner. Larry Donovan and "Bob" Barnes looked after Hayes. Herman is a stocky little chap and stripped like a wrestler.

The little fellows lost no time in going to work. Hayes was too clever for Herman in the first round. In the infighting Herman got in a right uppercut, but Hayes made him miss a right swing and step into a left punch that slowed him up. The round was even.

Then Hayes met his Waterloo. He relied on his cleverness to save him, but he stepped into one of Herman's right swings to the chin which sent him to the floor with a thud. He managed to get up at the count of nine, but a right and left to the jaw sent him down in a heap. The little fellow arose and staggered about the ring. Herman urged the referee to stop the bout and then drove Hayes to the ropes, and, since Hayes was helpless, the bout was stopped.

The fact that Ray Bronson, Chick's tutor, was not in Hayes' corner lessened his chances and Chick made the mistake of swapping punches with the hard hitting Illinois boy after outboxing Herman in the first round. It was the first time Hayes had lost decisively and the first time he ever had been knocked out.

Herman was unmarked at the close of the bout, and before he left the ring he went over to Hayes's corner, where Chick's seconds were working over him, and shook hands with the boy he defeated.

Round by Round History of Big Battle Between Ray Bronson and McFarland.
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ROUND 1--It was 9:41 when the principals came to the center of the ring to receive instructions from Referee Smith in a drizzling rain. They shook hands and sparred. Bronson put in two light left jabs in the clinch. Packey tried a right uppercut and missed twice. Bronson swung right for the head and left for the body and stepped away from an uppercut. Ray forced the fighting and landed half a dozen rights to the kidneys. He sent a hard right to McFarland's head and stepped away from an uppercut. McFarland sent a left to the wind and they clinched. Bronson sent his right to the head, and in the clinch McFarland sent an uppercut to the face. McFarland rushed and sent right to the face and crowded Ray into his corner, sending a right to the face. Again he rushed and jarred Bronson with a right to the face. They were sparring in McFarland's corner at the bell.

The round was fairly even, but McFarland was forcing matters at the bell.

ROUND 2--Bronson rushed in with a left to the face and worked his right to the body. He slipped to the floor in missing a swing, and McFarland hit him before he arose, and they shook hands. McFarland sent right and left to the jaw and apparently dazed Bronson, but a moment later Ray worked his horseshoe punch and nearly took McFarland off his feet. He rushed Ray to the ropes and Ray came back strong using a left to the jaw. They clinched and Packey sent his right to Ray's wind. The blow looked low, and the referee cautioned him. Ray jabbed and tried for a right cross and missed. McFarland wrapped a right around Bronson's neck and they slugged, and Ray more than held his own in the rough work.

The round was even.

ROUND 3--Bronson rushed in with left to the stomach and they sparred. A right hook to Bronson's head pushed him, and he ducked a left swing and ducked a right swing, and they exchanged rights. In the fierce milling that followed McFarland sent Ray to the floor, but he bounced up like a rubber ball. Packey sent a left to the face and they both missed right swings to jaw. Bronson used his right to the kidneys in the clinch. McFarland sent two lefts to the face, and missed right swings. McFarland sent a back-hand right to Bronson's face as the gong sounded.

The round was a little in Packey's favor.

ROUND 4--McFarland sent a light left to the jaw and missed right and left swings. Both missed swings and McFarland sent a light back-hand right to Bronson's face. They slugged and exchanged rights to the jaw. Bronson had the better of the infighting. McFarland got a right and left to the head, but Bronson ducked and avoided danger. McFarland rushed Bronson to the ropes, but Ray clinched and worked out of danger. Bronson sent two lefts to Packey's face and in the clinch McFarland again hit low. Bronson ducked two left swings and caught a right to the head.

Honors were fairly even, with the shade in Bronson's favor.

ROUND 5--They sparred in the fifth and McFarland missed two swings. Packey whipped his left to the wind in a clinch and jarred Bronson with an uppercut. They exchanged right and left swings. After an exchange of lefts to the face, they exchanged rights to the body and worked more cautiously. Packey sent his right to the head and shook Ray with a stiff left to the face. In a clinch Bronson played for the kidneys and in the breakaway caught a hard left to the face and they clinched.

McFarland had the shade.

ROUND 6--They went into a clinch and Ray sent two rights to the head which forced Packey to clinch. Packey rushed Ray to the ropes, and Bronson backed away from a vicious uppercut. Packey sent three lefts to Bronson's mouth and a moment later whipped a left to the wind. Bronson sent a stiff left to McFarland's face and caught a hard right to the chin, which sent him to the ropes, but he bounded back and mixed at close quarters. Bronson caught a stiff right to the face and missed a right swing. McFarland sent two lefts to the face and they clinched at the bell.

Honors were fairly even in this round.

Both boys were going strong and up to this time neither had a decided advantage. Bronson was bleeding from the nose, and McFarland had two big bruises over his left eye.

ROUND 7--Bronson rushed in and they clinched. McFarland got through Ray's guard with a left jab to the sore face, repeating the trick half a dozen times. He came out of a clinch and McFarland sent another left to the face and a moment later sent a right to the head. Bronson rushed Packey to the ropes, but no damage was done. Bronson missed a right swing and caught a right to the head. McFarland rushed Bronson with two lefts to the face, and a moment later sent right and left to the head.

McFarland's round. McFarland used his left to good advantage and had Ray's mouth sore.

ROUND 8--They exchanged rights and Packey got through with right and left. Bronson used his right to the kidneys in the clinch. McFarland sent his right to the face. McFarland sent a hard right to the jaw and McFarland fell into a clinch. Both missed right swings. Ray sent right to the wind and went into clinch. McFarland sent right to the head and rushed Bronson to the ropes. McFarland's left again found Bronson's mouth, and they were sparring at the bell.

McFarland had the shade in this round, although Bronson did not seem to be the least distressed.

ROUND 9--They worked into a clinch and both missed swings when they broke. McFarland planted two stiff lefts to Bronson's jaw. Bronson missed a swing and slipped to the floor. They worked at long range with little damage. McFarland sent three lefts and a right to the head and they clinched, both playing for the body. They clinched again and, on the breakaway, Ray rushed Packey to the ropes and swung three lefts for the head, bringing cheers from the crowd. McFarland rushed, but Bronson kept out of danger and they were fighting close at the bell.

The round was even.

ROUND 10--They shook hands and rushed into a clinch. Packey rushed Ray to the ropes, but no damage was done. McFarland missed an uppercut. Ray put three lefts to the head and a right to the body. Ray missed a right swing and they clinched. They exchanged lefts to the face and then clinched, sending rights to the body. They exchanged blows and clinched. They worked to the center of the ring in a clinch as the bell sounded.

Honors were even and the bout was a draw.

1917-05-28 Benny Leonard W-TKO9 Freddie Welsh [Manhattan Sporting Club, New York, NY, USA]

1917-05-29 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 9)

BENNY LEONARD, NEW CHAMPION, RESTORES OLD WEIGHT LIMIT
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Will Defend Title Monday Night Against Joe Welsh and Then Plans to Enlist in Army--May Meet Johnny Kilbane on July 4.
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Up in Harlem last night a little mother sat patiently awaiting a telephone call from her son, a message that would bring joy or sorrow to the family circle. At last, toward the witching hour of midnight, the 'phone bell rang and Benny Leonard, new lightweight champion of the world, flashed to his folks the magic words:

"I knocked Welsh out in the ninth round."

Was there a celebration at the Leonard domicile? The answer is yes, and the followers of the fortunes of Benny were still going strong and keeping the neighborhood awake when many were rushing to catch the 6 o'clock subway train to work this morning.

And the neighbors who were kept awake did not begrudge their sleep. They had followed the career of Benny Leonard since Billy Gibson first took the lad under his wing several years ago. Benny never has failed, whether he was boxing in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland or the Far West, to immediately notify the home folks of the result of his battles. Last night was no exception, and all the neighbors who were not at the ringside waited up for the news. The new champion was no slacker; he fought all comers and was not afraid to tell the truth when he met defeat. Consequently the telephone company profited quite extensively when Leonard was a contender.

Benny Leonard, in private life, is Benjamin Leiner. He is a son of George Leiner and is a native born New Yorker, being therefore the first champion to come from the big town. Benny was born in Manhattan on April 7, 1896, and celebrated his majority only last month. He began his real boxing career when Billy Gibson saw him in a preliminary bout at an obscure club. The "Mayor of the Bronx" immediately saw the possibilities in Leonard and he secured the consent of his parents to manage the lad, who was then only 16 years old.

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Billy Gibson, a Prophet.

Shortly after this, Gibson came to a group of newspaper sporting writers one afternoon and asked them to take a trip to the St. Nicholas Rink to see the next American who would hold the championship of the world. The boys thought Billy was too enthusiastic, but as Bill always had the reputation of being a good fellow, some decided to oblige him. What they saw impressed several, and while it was conceded that Leonard had a lot of faults, he pleased the experts with his agility and judgment of distance. It was true he could not hit very hard, but a lad of sixteen has not gained his full strength, and Billy told them to wait.

Gradually Leonard waded through the preliminary boys and invariably he was returned the winner of the short bouts. He never asked any odds; any match with the weights close enough suited him. All of a sudden it began to dawn on the fight promoters that Leonard was a real fighter. As he grew older and stronger he developed a punch, and being a lad who always lived clean, he had little to worry him. But the fight to the top of the ladder was not all peaches and cream. Benny had to take his lickings. Twice he was carried to his corner after the fatal ten seconds had been counted over him, and he lost "newspaper" decisions many times. But never discouraged by reverses, Benny always had in mind the ambition of his life, and that was to see his name billed as the lightweight champion of the world. A defeat merely stung him to greater efforts, for he was a student of the boxing game and would go over the battle he lost and find out where he made his mistakes.

Became Prominent in 1915.

In 1915 Leonard jumped into prominence when he knocked out Tommy Houck. Tommy was one of the best lightweight boys fighting. That year Benny had four knockouts to his credit, the victims being Jack Sheppard, Al Schumacher, Gene Moriarty and Joe Mandot. The last named win gave Benny a real reputation, and thereafter Billy Gibson decided that he meet only the topnotchers.

Benny at once made good. He started the 1916 season on January 1 by putting Joe Welsh away in five rounds in a Philadelphia ring. Five weeks later in Boston he met Phil Bloom and Phil took the count in eight rounds. Jimmy Murphy was the next victim of the rapidly developing right of the Harlem boxer, and then followed Sam Robideau, Shamus O'Brien, Eddie Andrews, Frankie Conifrey, Ever Hammer and Tommy Thorpe. In the intervals between these knockout victories, Leonard was busily engaged in no decision bouts in New York.

His meeting with Welsh last night was the third time he had faced the erstwhile titleholder, and the decisions were fifty-fifty up to the ninth round of the battle with the Pontypridd lad. Leonard also has met Johnny Dundee, who is a contender for the honors that rests on the Leonard brow, although Johnny Kilbane will probably be Benny's next opponent for the title. Leonard meets Joe Welsh in Philadelphia next Monday night.

Gives Credit to Manager.

Leonard said last night, after the fight, that he had no plans for the future. He declared that Billy Gibson deserved all the credit for his success. "Whatever Billy says goes," said Benny before leaving the Manhattan A. C. for his home, at 101 West 115th street, where his father and mother were awaiting his arrival. And father and mother, brothers and sisters were not the only ones to greet Benny. Neighbors came from blocks around and--for the sporting tickers had flashed the news even before Leonard's 'phone message reached the home district--several hundred persons were on hand when Leonard arrived.

Benny was carried on the shoulders of his admirers into the house, and after greeting his father and mother he had to recount the story of the fight as well as he could. Leonard is not much in the Bill Bryan line, as he would rather fight than talk, but he tried his best to give the home talent who did not have the $15 to pay to see him in the ring a good version of the victory.

"I was confident," said Benny, "when I entered the ring, and after the first two rounds I knew I had the title within my grasp. It was in the sixth round that I was certain. In this session I put a right swing to Welsh's wind and felt him crumble up under the force of the blow. "That was a good one," I remarked, half under my breath, and from that time on I played for the body.

Wasn't Rattled in Ninth.

"Welsh surprised me by his rally in the seventh and eighth rounds, but it was my opinion that his efforts were those of a man who was desperate, and I bided my time. In the ninth round I again turned loose that half-uppercut to the wind. This time Welsh wobbled visibly and I saw my chance. Some of the critics remarked that I immediately became excited and, losing my head, rained in punches at all angles, knowing I had the title in my grasp. Such was not the case. I was fighting at top speed, and that may have given the impression that I was anxious, but, believe me, I was measuring my blows to the best of my ability, and had a clear head at all times.

"If anything, I was taking even greater pains, for I knew what a perfect defense my opponent had. The blow that I tried for the jaw, and the one that sent Welsh down for the first time was perfectly timed, but by instinct Freddie ducked and it caught him on the temple. He reeled to the ropes and went down on one knee. When he pulled himself up I saw by the look in his eyes that he was practically out, and as I stood over him raining rights to his unprotected jaw I was in hopes that the referee or the seconds of the then champion would stop the bout. I do not like to punish a game man, and if there ever was a game boxer his name is Freddie Welsh.

"Yes, I was a little dazed when they told me I was the champion, for in the heat of battle I was thinking only of putting Welsh away and I did not realize what I had accomplished until I nearly lost both arms trying to shake hands with about 300 persons at the same time.

"Billy Gibson deserves a lot of credit for the victory. For the last two weeks, Billy, Jimmy Lee and myself have been going over the plan of the fight and I obeyed orders to the letter."

Gibson corroborated this later at a little celebration held for his friends.

Plans to Enlist.

Leonard will fight next Monday night in Philadelphia, where he meets Joe Welsh, one of the best lightweights in the Quaker City. A big delegation of the admirers of the new champion will make the journey, for Leonard has won his last five fights by knockout and when such a record includes the winning of a world's title, the boys can afford to spread a little. After this battle it is the intention of Leonard to enlist in the army. Matt Henkel of Cleveland was a spectator at the ringside and he immediately made Billy Gibson an offer for a match with Johnny Kilbane, at Canton, O., for July 4. Gibson will consider the terms today. Gibson said last night that he would re-establish the lightweight limit at 133 pounds, as that is the weight recognized in this country.

Welsh at His Farm.

Freddie Welsh was recovering at his farm at Summit, N. J., this morning, but he had nothing to say. Recently, in an interview with a Brooklyn Eagle representative, Freddie gave his views as to how a champion should defend his title. It was Welsh's idea that the ten-round bouts he was engaged in were only exhibitions; that he was not getting the champion's share of the purse for his efforts, and that it was only necessary for him to defend himself against the attack of his opponent, and not hurt his hands trying for knockouts when the bouts were no-decision affairs. When it is considered that Welsh paid part of $27,500 for the privilege to fighting Willie Ritchie in London, and winning the title, perhaps he was right. Ritchie was to get the money, win, lose or draw, and Welsh thought a champion was always entitled to a big purse if he was to place his title in jeopardy in a ring where a referee would give a decision. This view never made the Welshman popular in New York, and while there was nothing in the rules against the covering-up tactics he used, it was not real battling according to the fans.

Near a Riot When Benny Won.

The clean-cut win of Leonard came rather unexpectedly, and when the crowd realized that a New Yorker had won the world's championship, Bedlam broke loose. The rush to the ringside broke down the railings, chairs and press box, and the special police were powerless to check the avalanche of human beings tearing toward the ring. Hats were crushed, coats lost or torn, and even heads bumped in an endeavor to congratulate Leonard.

At that the crowd was slow to perceive what had happened. Welsh had been going along in his usual style, covering up and taking all of Leonard's punches on his gloves or arms, when Benny let go with the right to the body. Weakened from previous punches to the mid-section, Welsh virtually collapsed, and thus was a new champion made.

Pollok Rejects the Verdict.

There was a lot of friends of Welsh, including Harry Pollok, his manager, who raised a howl because Referee Kid McPartland did not count ten over Welsh. It was Pollok's and Welsh's claim that he had not been counted out, and that therefore he still retained his title. But it was all wrong, for when Welsh was released from the ropes he reeled across the ring like a drunken man, then fell through the ropes into the press box. He had to be carried to his corner, and it was fully a minute before he regained his senses. The referee might have counted two hundred and Welsh could not have responded. Leonard is the real lightweight champion, though the question may be debated for many weeks by letters from the Welsh camp. And Benny and Billy Gibson deserve the honors that it took five years of real work to win.

1910-05-27 Stanley Ketchel W-KO2 Willie Lewis [National Sporting Club, New York, NY, USA]

1910-05-28 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 6)

LEWIS DROPPED TO THE MAT IN SECOND ROUND
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Ketchel Swung Over a Right Chop and the Bout Ended in a Hurry.
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Well, there was nothing to it. Stanley Ketchel just landed on Lewis' jaw with a right hand chop, and "Willie" took the count last night in the second round of a scheduled ten round bout at the National Sporting Club, in West Forty-fourth street.

After sparring for about one minute in the second, Stanley hooked a left to "Willie's" midsection, and he doubled up like a jack-knife. Then the middleweight champion stepped back a foot and measured his distance very carefully, then shot over a short right hook to the point of the jaw.

Lewis fell to the mat like a log, turned over on his back, rolled his eyes, then closed them as Referee O'Rourke counted ten. His seconds rushed over and carried him to his corner, helpless.

In the opening round Lewis seemed to have a slight lead at the finish, but it could be plainly seen that Ketchel was only trying his opponent out. "Willie" landed a fierce left jab to the face and in the close quarters Stanley worked a short uppercut to chin and missed two right swings in the breakaway, which, had either reached its mark, would have ended the fight.

Ketchel made his appearance through the aisles first in a long black overcoat and seated himself in the northwest chair, where he stripped to black trunks and was looked after by his manager, "Jimmy" Smith and "Joe" Ferguson, followed in a few seconds by Lewis, who received the lion's share of applause, as his followers were on hand in large numbers.

"Willie" took the southeast corner and was handled by "Dan" McKetrick, his manager; "Danny" Morgan and "Jim" Stewart. After donning the gloves the boys stepped to the centre of the ring to receive instructions and agreed to fight until ordered to break by the referee.

While waiting for the gong Lewis looked a bit nervous and shuffled his feet in the rosin, while Ketchel chatted with friends around the ringside and shook hands with each of his seconds. He looked in good shape and appeared to be well trained for the occasion.

Long before the time set for the fight to begin 2,500 enthusiasts, who came from all directions and included many whose faces have been familiar in and around ringside events for many years, were seated in the boxes and chairs anxious for the bell to start the boxers on their journey.

"Jim" Savage, "Jim" Stewart, Sailor Burke and "Tommy" Maloney were introduced to the members while the principals were getting ready for their contest.

"Jim" Smith, Lewis' sparring partner, met "Sailor" Carter, a negro middleweight, champion of the navy, in the semi-final bout, scheduled for six rounds, but it did not go the limit, as Smith had the sailor all but out in the first session, when his second threw up the sponge.

It was a good fight and furnished the crowd with plenty of excitement. Smith floored Carter twice in the first round, but he came back and fought hard and took a severe beating up until the time his second called a halt.


1910-05-28 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)

LEWIS LASTED LESS THAN TWO ROUNDS
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Champion Ketchel Wins at National Sporting Club Without Damage to Himself.
--------

Willie Lewis, with a halo of Parisian ring victories around his devoted head, but a knockout in three rounds by Papke in the French capital to his discredit, was put soundly to sleep last night by Stanley Ketchel at the National Sporting Club one minute after the second round of their ten-round bout had started. Nor was there any doubt about the manner and completeness of Ketchel's victory. Lewis was out for fully five minutes after being hit on the jaw by a short right-hand swing, and had to be carried to his corner by his seconds and Referee O'Rourke.

The first round was a sparring contest. Ketchel assumed a style absolutely new for him of boxing with his opponent at long range. Only two or three blows were landed in these first three minutes, and at their conclusion the bout had every appearance of going its scheduled distance. A half minute before the gong sounded in the first round Ketchel landed a light right to the face, and coincident with the clanging of the bell Lewis put a straight left on Ketchel's mouth.

Apparently cheered by his ability to land in this wise, Lewis started the second round by jabbing three times with his left to the face. Ketchel's defense was wide open at this time, but he was constantly the aggressor. Lewis was, as he had been during the first round, very nervous and fidgety, frequently covering up hard when his opponent was completely out of range.

Soon after the second round started Ketchel forced Lewis into a neutral corner and landed right and left to the face. The second blow, a clean half swing, landed on the jaw, and it seemingly dazed Lewis, for the latter started to mix it up with his heavier opponent. Ketchel, carefully measuring the distance, then shot a terrific right half-swing flush to the point of the jaw.

Lewis lurched forward and fell on his knees and then toppled slowly over until his shoulders touched the floor. He lay on his left side, his left arm under his head, as completely out as a fighter ever was. Referee O'Rourke slowly tolled the seconds over him, but Lewis's involuntarily twitching his legs were the only signs he gave of life.

After the tenth second had been counted O'Rourke leaned over and started to lift Lewis to his feet. The latter's head hung limply over his left shoulder and his eyes still had the glassy stare that marked total unconsciousness. By this time Lewis's seconds had climbed into the ring, and three of them, with O'Rourke helping, carried the defeated man to his corner.

After working on him for about five minutes his seconds finally brought Lewis's senses back, and then he clambered shakily to his feet and tottered across the ring through the ropes and down the aisle to his dressing room.


1910-05-28 The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) (page 12)

WILLIE MAKES FATAL MISTAKE
--------
Kids Himself That He Can Trade Jolts With Ketchel.
--------
Special to The Post-Standard.
BY HARDY D. CASHMAN.

NEW YORK, May 27.--Willie Lewis made the mistake of his fighting career early in the second round of his bout with Stanley Ketchel at the National Sporting Club to-night. He kidded himself into the belief that it was safe for him to swap punches with the middleweight champion. Then his seconds had to carry the Lewis boy to his corner and work over him some five minutes before he recovered consciousness.

A snappy right hook flush on the point of the jaw terminated the fracas. During the first period few blows had started and the fingers of one hand would suffice to count the number that landed.

During the intermission Dan McKerrick whispered in Willie's ear that Ketchel could not hurt him. Willie gave heed; hence the fatal error. After landing a smart left on the face that shook Ketchel to his heels, Lewis discarded his caution. He whipped over a right that grazed the chin.

Stanley woke up.

Bing!

Good night!


1910-05-28 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 11)

QUICK FINISH FOR LEWIS.
--------
Ketchel Knocks Out Welterweight in Two Rounds.

Willie Lewis, the local welterweight, who made a reputation as a fighter by whipping second and third raters in France and England, was knocked out cold in the second round by Stanley Ketchel, the middleweight champion, at the National Sporting Club in West Forty-fourth street, last night.

After a tame first round in which neither man exerted himself, Ketchel began to fight in earnest. Lewis was a pigmy in his hands. He landed a couple of left hand jabs as Ketchel rushed, but that was the best he could do. Ketchel almost knocked the wind out of him with a body punch and then at close quarters he hung a fearful right hook on the chin that sent Lewis into dreamland.

Ketchel, barring two punches, did not half try, because he evidently realized that he was up against the easiest of marks. Very few of the spectators in the big crowd figured that Lewis would stay ten rounds, but everybody was surprised by the quick ending of the battle. That Ketchel is one of the hardest hitters in the world was the general opinion as the crowd piled out of the building.

A representative crowd of members occupied expensive vantage points in the finely appointed arena long before the fun began. Ketchel had not appeared at a local club since he beat Philadelphia Jack O'Brien in a sensational fight. Ketchel weighed 158 pounds at 6 o'clock and probably took on three or more in the four hours he rested and ate before getting into the ring. Lewis on the other hand did not weigh more than 148 pounds.

The semi-final was of interest because Chuck Carlton, colored, the middleweight champion of the navy, met Jim Smith, Lewis' sparring partner, for six rounds. In the second round Smith staggered the Jack Tar with a smash on the jaw. Carlton rallied and scored a knockdown with a right hand swing on the head. Smith did all the fighting in the third and fourth and when the bell rang Carlton was just getting up from another knockdown. Smith beat the negro to the floor with the same tactics when the fifth round began and the latter's seconds threw a towel into the ring to indicate defeat.

Ketchel showed up first and was rather quietly received as he got into his corner with his seconds.

Then came Lewis, who promptly shook hands with the champion, the latter sizing him up from head to foot with a grim smile. When they stripped for the fray they looked very fit. Both wore bandages on their hands. Tom O'Rourke was the referee. The betting was 10 to 7 that Lewis would not stay the limit.

First Round--Ketchel led with a left that went high. Lewis clinched as Ketchel moved closer, and tried a right for the head. Lewis let go a left, but it was blocked, and then clinched his man in a corner. Ketchel feinted a moment and then drove a right to the body with little force. Lewis blocked and covered up and also stepped away from a dangerous right. Just before the bell Ketchel shot a left to the eye. It was Ketchel's round, but there was little or no hard work by either man.

Second Round--Ketchel put a left on the neck and followed with a right on the side of the head. Lewis danced away from another attack and then came back with a couple of lefts in the face. Ketchel took the punches with a grin and rushed Lewis to a corner. He drove in the left to the stomach with so much force that Lewis was half doubled up. Lewis squirmed out of close quarters, but Ketchel was after him like a flash. Another punch in the stomach made Lewis hang on, but Ketchel threw him off and then shot a left to the neck. Lewis tried to mix it and in so doing he made a fatal mistake, for Ketchel cut loose a fearful right hook that caught Lewis squarely on the point of the jaw. Lewis dropped like a log and rolled over on his back. The referee counted off ten seconds and then picked Lewis up. The latter was clean out and did not regain his senses for several minutes. Then he burst into tears and was led away by his seconds. The time of the round was 25 seconds.

1899-05-26 Terry McGovern W-KO5 Sammy Kelly [Broadway Athletic Club, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1899-05-27 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 6)

MC GOVERN IN FIVE ROUNDS.
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Knocks Out Sammy Kelly in an One-Sided Battle at the Broadway Athletic Club.
--------

It took Terry McGovern only twelve minutes and thirty-eight seconds at the Broadway Athletic Club, last night, to convince Sammy Kelly of New York that he could not fight as cleverly as he thought he could. Kelly had been a most interested spectator at Terry's previous contests and after careful study he concluded that McGovern was an easy proposition, but he was wrong.

The boys were matched to go twenty-five rounds at 120 pounds, the weight being a concession on McGovern's part. When they entered the ring both looked to be in the best of condition, but Kelly had an advantage in height and reach. When they came together however Kelly had no chance. Terry sailed right in with heavy blows to the body and Kelly commenced to hold for dear life. Terry fought himself loose and forced his opponent all over the ring, keeping him continually on the run.

By the end of the second round Sammy was severely punished. Kelly made his only showing in the fourth, when he fought Terry's head with both hands, but was unable to keep away from the Brooklyn boy's furious onslaughts.

When they came up for the fifth, Terry went right in and Kelly thinking that he was still after his body lowered his guard and like a flash Terry sent in his left to the chin and followed with his right to the jaw, and Kelly went down and out.

The fight was not interesting, but showed that Terry is a good boy for many others to keep away from. Little betting was done, McGovern being the favorite at 2½  to 1 and better than even money, that Kelly would not stay the limit.

In the preliminary Hugh McWinters stopped Ed Darrell in seven rounds.


1899-05-27 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 9)

McGOVERN KNOCKS OUT KELLY.
--------
Job Neatly Done in the Fifth Round at Broadway Athletic Club.

It took Terry McGovern of Brooklyn just four full rounds and thirty-two seconds of the fifth round to give Sammy Kelly his quietus at the Broadway Athletic Club last night. The boys were scheduled to go twenty-five rounds at 120 pounds, and a large crowd was on hand to see the battle.

McGovern's admirers were never in danger of losing their money, for the Brooklyn boy won from start to finish, and so badly punished Kelly in the first three rounds that it was evident the fight would not last the limit.

Kelly managed to land a couple of stiff left-hand punches on the head, but that was all. He came up fresh in the fifth round, feinted, and then led, but missed, and like a flash McGovern was in, first with a left hook to the stomach, then a right to the jaw, and Kelly staggered. McGovern planted another, then a hard right jolt on the jaw, and Kelly went down like a log. He made a feeble effort to rise, but was counted out.


1899-05-27 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 9)

M'GOVERN WINS IN FIVE ROUNDS.
--------
Sammy Kelly Put to Sleep in the Ring of the Broadway A. C.

In the fifth round of their twenty-five-round bout at the Broadway A. C. last night Terry McGovern of Brooklyn, who is fighting his way to the first rank of the featherweight class, knocked out Sammy Kelly of this city with a left-hand jolt on the jaw. Kelly didn't have a chance from the first tap of the bell. A body punch in the first round made him clinch and hold, tactics which he perused to the end. McGovern never let up in his vigorous attacks, and simply beat his man to a defeat. The house was crowded.

The betting was 100 to 50 on McGovern, with not many speculators on Kelly's chances. The latter's defeat some time ago at the hands of Oscar Gardner, when he was not only put to sleep but also had a rib broken, was remembered by the talent, who figured that McGovern would come near repeating the Omaha Kid's achievement. There was quite a lot of betting that Kelly would not stay the limit. Even money was offered at first on this proposition, then 25 to 20. Johnny Ritchie of Chicago, who is matched to meet McGovern on June 17, was present, prepared to size up the little Brooklynite. Kelly's seconds were Frank Peabody, Bob Dillon, Paddy Moran and Barney Knight. McGovern's handlers were Terry Lee, Charley Mayhood, Tim Kearns and Sam Harris. John White was the referee and George Considine timekeeper. The odds had lengthened to 2½ to 1 on McGovern when they shook hands. McGovern was compelled to take off the bandages he wore on his hands. The conditions were twenty-five rounds at 120 pounds. When the men were introduced Kelly got the greater welcome.

As they stood up for the first time it was noticed that Kelly was the taller. He did not possess McGovern's physique, but looked to be well trained. McGovern began a fierce attack without delay. He reached Kelly's side near the bad rib with his right and landed heavily on the jaw on the first breakaway. Kelly did some holding in a clinch, and was warned by the referee.

There was apparent ill feeling between the men, for they exchanged taunting remarks as they came up for the second. McGovern roughed his man repeatedly on the ropes until the crowd yelled "Foul!" Then he mixed it until Sammy retreated twice around the ring well out of range. McGovern's assault didn't give Kelly a chance to rest.

Kelly held with both hands in the third, McGovern losing his temper and literally fighting himself free. Kelly's body was raw from the smashes that Terry had put in, and he fought at long range during the last two minutes. He finally swung a left to McGovern's neck, but the latter rushed in as if he hadn't felt it. Kelly got another warning for holding while he was in his corner.

Kelly landed a few good lefts on the neck in the fourth, but McGovern continued his attack. It was 3 to 1 on McGovern when the fifth began. McGovern rushed at once and ripped in two hot body blows. He followed with swings and landed a left on the neck. This was quickly followed with a right to the side of the head and another left, which caught Kelly squarely on the point of the jaw. The last blow was a settler, as Sammy fell over backward, his head striking the floor. He was counted out, the time of the round being 38 seconds.

Hugh McWinters of this city and Ed Darrell of Australia, both colored, met in the preliminary of ten rounds at 138 pounds. Darrell was saved by the bell in the sixth round, and in the eighth he was practically knocked out. McWinters was pronounced the winner.


1899-05-27 The World (New York, NY) (page 3)

M'GOVERN WON IN FIVE ROUNDS.
--------

More than 4,500 persons saw Terry McGovern knock out Sammy Kelly in their bout at the New Broadway A. C. last evening. The fatal blow was landed after but eight seconds of fighting in the fifth round.

From the start it looked like McGovern. He was aggressive and confident, while Kelly was purely on the defensive and badly scared.


1899-06-17 The National Police Gazette (New York, NY) (page 11)

McGOVERN KNOCKS SAM KELLY OUT
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Little Champion More Than a Match for the Veteran.
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LASTED ONLY FIVE ROUNDS.
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Right and Left Hooks On the Jaw Ended the Agony.
--------

It proved to be an unequal match between "Sammy" Kelly and "Terry" McGovern, which was fought at the Broadway Athletic Club on May 26. From beginning to end Kelly never had a chance against the sturdy young Brooklynite, who again demonstrated his right to be looked upon as the best man at his weight this country has ever produced. He had the veteran tied up from the time the fight started until he finally dropped him in the fifth round with a succession of left and right-hand blows on the point of the jaw.

Kelly was handicapped in a measure by the rules. He expected to fight with clean breaks and no hitting in clinches, but McGovern insisted upon a strict interpretation of the Marquis of Queensberry rules, according to the articles signed, and Kelly had no other alternative than to fight that way. After receiving the first blow Kelly held continually at close quarters and was warned several times for so doing. The affair ended in the fifth round after the Brooklynite had landed three blows in rapid succession, the finishing punch was a left on the jaw that sent Kelly to the floor, his head striking the mat with sufficient force to knock him out. The attendance was large, fully 4,000 persons witnessing the bout.

McGovern took every advantage of the rules. The bout was scheduled to go twenty-five rounds, at 120 pounds. Both men at 6 o'clock weighed under the limit.

The first round opened with careful sparring on the part of both. When they finally came together in an exchange the breakaway resulted in "Mac" sending a number of blows on "Sammy's" head and kidneys. The latter looked at "Mac" in amazement, whose face took on a broad grin. They came to two clinches before the round ended, and in both of them "Mac" scored repeatedly before "Sammy" could get away.

In the second round Kelly broke away without any damage to himself, after an exchange and clinch, but they came together in the next attempt, and "Mac" played a tattoo on "Sammy's" ribs. Instead of attempting to break or inflict punishment "Sammy" looked in an appealing manner at Referee "Johnny" White, who finally separated them and again explained the rules, at the same time telling "Sammy" that "Mac" had thus far lived up to the rules and that the referee had no right to step between them.

Kelly opened the third round by pasting McGovern hard on the jaw. "Mac" only laughed and when "Sammy" got away from the clinch without being hit the grin broadened. Again "Sammy" got in with a right on the jaw, but this time he was not successful in avoiding punishment in the infighting.

"Mac" carried him to the eastern end of the ring, Kelly attempting in a futile manner to pinion his arms. After "Sammy" got away "Mac" followed him all over the ring. Kelly at this stage looked more frightened than hurt, and when the bell sounded they were again clinched. "Mac" stopped in his snakelike actions with his arms at the sound of the gong, and "Sammy" appeared to be utterly unable to get away without being punished.

The fourth round was a repetition of the preceding rounds, Kelly backing and "Mac" forcing him around the ring. No really long range blow was delivered during the round, but there was plenty of infighting, during which "Mac" landed hard and often on the ribs and over the heart. When they retired to their corners "Sammy's" sides over his kidneys were raw. "Mac" was cutting him every time he hit him.

The fifth round was hardly a minute old when they came to a clinch in the center of the ring. On breaking away "Mac" landed his right and left a number of times on "Sammy's" jaw and stomach, and the latter fell in a heap on the floor, finally settling on the flat of his back. His eyes were closed, but after Referee White had tolled off five seconds he raised on his elbows and attempted to rise. He sank back, only to make another effort, and before he could reach his feet the unwelcome "ten" was recorded. Referee White ordered McGovern to his corner, and when Kelly finally recovered his equilibrium he wobbled over to "Mac's" corner, beseeching him to continue and appealing to White with tears in his eyes. He was half assisted to his corner by his seconds as clearly beaten from the first tap of the gong as any man who ever donned a glove.

A great deal of money changed hands on the result, most of the bets being at even money that Kelly would not stay twenty rounds. After they had gone three rounds the same betting was offered that he would be knocked out before ten rounds. As good as 2½ to 1 was offered that McGovern would get the decision at the end of twenty-five rounds.

1900-05-25 Joe Gans W-KO2 Dal Hawkins [Broadway Athletic Club, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1900-05-26 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 10)

GANS KNOCKS OUT HAWKINS IN THE SECOND ROUND.

"Joe" Gans, of Baltimore, knocked out "Dal" Hawkins, of California, at the Broadway Athletic Club last night in the second round of fast fighting. The men were scheduled for twenty-five rounds at 133 pounds. Hawkins assumed the aggressive with both hands as soon as the contest began. He smashed Gans with a left hook to the chin just after they put up their hands and dropped him. It looked as if the bout was over, but Gans took the count of nine and got to his feet. Hawkins followed up his advantage as soon as his opponent arose, but Gans blocked his blows, and in a fierce mix up at the ropes the latter sent in a right swing to the jaw that floored Hawkins. Hawkins struggled to his feet at the count of nine, and the gong sounded.

In the second round Hawkins was still aggressive. His swings were short, however, while Gans seemed to land at will. Hawkins clinched to avoid punishment. On the break Gans landed on his rival's mouth and made the blood spurt. He then put both hands to the jaw, and repeated it again, and Hawkins seemed dazed. Gans then sent his right to the jaw, which put Hawkins out.

In the preliminary "Jim" Burke received the decision over George Jansen after twelve rounds of sparring.


1900-05-26 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 14)

GANS' SENSATIONAL WIN.
---
Colored Pugilist Knocks Hawkins Out in Short Meter.

In one of the most sensational fights ever witnessed hereabouts Joe Gans, the Baltimore negro, knocked out Dal Hawkins of California at the Broadway Athletic Club last evening after a little more than two minutes of the second round had been consumed. Short as the bout was there was more fighting to it and greater excitement among the spectators than has been witnessed at the Broadway Club since its incorporation. The race track contingent was there in force to root for Hawkins, and root they did. For a brief space of time it looked as if Hawkins would win and his followers were jubilant, but the negro's superior science stood him in good stead, and with a well directed punch he sent the Californian to the land of dreams.

No sooner had the gong sounded for action than Hawkins, after a few feints, let fly his famous left hook to Gans' jaw. It was a little too high, but it sent Gans sprawling and Hawkins' followers were on their feet with a yell that almost lifted the roof. Gans took the count and when he arose blocked Hawkins' rushes cleverly. They mixed it up and just before the bell sounded Gans crossed his right flush to the jaw and Hawkins measured the length on the floor. He managed to regain his feet and was saved by the bell.

Hawkins was fairly fresh in the second, but realized that his only chance to win was to win quickly, and he started like a whirlwind. He swung his left hard to the wind, but Gans was cool and delivered his blows with precision. It was fast, clever and vicious fighting until Gans suddenly landed a left to the chin that dazed Hawkins and followed with s straight right that dropped Dal for good.

In the preliminary Jim Burke defeated George Jansen in twelve rounds at catch weights.


1900-05-26 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 8)

GANS KNOCKS HAWKINS OUT.
------
Sensational Fight at the Broadway A. C. Ends in the Second Round.

Though Dal Hawkins, the California lightweight, was put to sleep in the second round by Joe Gans of Baltimore at the Broadway A. C. last night, the fight was one of the most sensational ever seen in a local club. Hawkins, with the first blow landed in the battle, knocked Gans flat. Had this punch been an inch or so lower, it would have landed on Gans's chin and the battle would have ended then and there. But Gans, who was in superior condition, managed to recover quickly and by better generalship, gameness and hitting won the money. It was a slugging match instead of a careful scientific go, but that was because each man knew that an early knockout was essential after Gans had been floored. There was no time for pretty sparring after that, so the men went at it hammer and tongs, while 5,000 spectators were worked up to a remarkable pitch of excitement. Though Gans won, he had a narrow escape and those who offered as much as 2 to 1 on his chances had a temporary attack of heart disease until Hawkins was stopped.

The preliminary was a slasher. For twelve rounds Jim Burke, a local lightweight walloped George Jansen, the former Pastime A. C. champion, but the latter refused to be put out. Burke was eight pounds heavier. He got the decision.

Gans and Hawkins were matched to go twenty-five rounds at 133 pounds, weigh in at 3 o'clock. Gans's seconds were Al Herford, Harry Lyons and Sooner Temple. Hawkins was handled by Dan Creedon, Dave Sullivan and Jack Shimler. Gans was a 5 to 3 favorite with heavy betting. John White was the referee.

The bell had scarcely started the first round when Hawkins let fly his left hand so swiftly that Gans could not block the punch. The blow landed an inch above the point of the jaw and knocked Gans flat on his back. In an instant the crowd was in an uproar. Everybody stood up and yelled. Gans took a full count, and, when he regained his feet, he was staggering. Hawkins immediately cut loose for a knockout. He swung all kinds of smashes to the colored man's head, but Gans had rallied and literally fought himself into his usual steadiness. As they exchanged the punches the crowd was in a frenzy. A rapid right hander on the jaw finally knocked Hawkins down, the back of his head striking the floor. It looked as if he had been settled, but when the referee counted the ninth second Dal crawled up and rushed blindly. Then ensued another fierce mix-up in which both men were reeling from the force of the blows. When the bell sounded the cheering was deafening.

They were slower when they began the second round. Hawkins opened with carefully placed lefts which were blocked and then Gans rushed, driving the white man to the ropes. Getting out of this predicament, Hawkins mixed it in the middle of the ring with considerable effect. He jarred Gans with numerous left jolts on the neck but the colored man was letting out his power by degrees, especially as his opponent was fighting with a wide open guard. Soon Gans put a hard right on the ear. It staggered Hawkins, who received a quick left hook on the neck. Like a flash over came Gans's right, flush to the jaw, and Hawkins fell heavily, his head again striking the floor with a bang. This time the Californian was done for. Referee White counted him out and declared Gans the winner.

1907-05-24 Abe Attell W-PTS20 Benny Kid Solomon [Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, USA]

1907-05-25 Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, CA) (page 8)

ATTELL PLAYS WITH SOLOMON FOR 20 ROUNDS
--------
Local Boy Never Has Even Look-in
--------
Whatever Credit Given to Solomon for Staying Until the End Is Due Attell--Two Rattling Preliminaries
--------

Poor Kid Solomon stayed twenty rounds with Abe Attell last night at Naud Junction pavilion, but to Abie must be given credit for Solomon's extended sojourn between the ropes. Nothing less than a slaughter ensued with Solomon acting as the sacrifice.

Maybe Abe Attell did not have it in him to send his opponent away, but there are few who witnessed the farce that believe Solomon remained on his merits. Abe fought a cruel battle. A knockout would have seemed more humane from and standpoint. But Attell was content to tantalize and cut his man, sneering and mocking as he jabbed and uppercutted.

When the final gong sounded and Solomon had shuffled to his corner bleeding and tired, Attell stepped to the ropes before removing his gloves.

"My hands are so sore I can hardly stand it," remarked Abe.

But if Attell's hands are sore, how must the poor Kid's face feel this morning? For twenty rounds Abe peppered the Sonoratown pride until it seemed as though the limit of endurance had been reached.

But Attell was not trying for a knockout. This was amply confirmed in several instances when Solomon did something to displease the curly headed youth before him. At times Solomon in a vain attempt to raise excitement rushed Attell. The latter backed to the ropes, covering, while the crowd yelled for Solomon.

Back to the center would come Attell, grimacing and feigning grogginess. Then his sparkling eyes gleamed with wickedness, the little demon stung his man with vicious rights and lefts, which if continued would surely have resulted in a knockout.

At such moments Solomon's head rocked and his eyes closed with weariness as he weakly stumbled about. But Attell was not carried away by savageness. He wanted to leave a remembrance upon Benny's features.

Attell Is Cruel

Time and again Abe rasped his glove over Solomon's ear as though bent upon printing the "cauliflower." At the ringside they begged Abe to go in and finish his man. Nothing of the sort. Abe was minded to be cruel and if vengeance for Solomon's audacity in challenging him was sought he surely gained sufficient satisfaction.

A remarkable feature of the affair and one which would tend to prove that Attell was out for an exercise gallop only, lies in the fact that Attell absolutely had no sign of perspiration on his body when the final gong sounded.

Without doubt Solomon was weak and fearful of what lay in store for him. His footwork was way to the bad and half of the punishment he received came from his own wild rushes into Attell's waiting gloves.

Several times during the performance Solomon fell to the floor, once half way through the ropes. In one instance the difference in strength became more than ordinarily manifest.

During the second round Attell put a right to the stomach. The blow was not overly severe, but as Solomon attempted to back away he stumbled and fell. Attell in a rush also slipped. As the boys landed Attell in some manner went beneath the sorely pressed kid.

It was not Solomon, however, who came up first. Like a lizard Attell twisted out and flashed to his feet in time to tender Solomon aid. There was not a moment during the wearisome affair when Solomon looked to have a chance. Attell felt him out in the first few rounds and then made fun of him for the remainder.

Desperate at his inability to land, Solomon became wild. The woozier hee waxed the more patronizing became Abe. Stumbling half blinded about the ring Solomon was a sorry sight. Early in the fray his nose resembled a robin red breast, and at the end it might not have been likened to anything in particular.

Delay at Start

Not altogether smooth was the manner of starting. For some reason or other Attell delayed the proceedings for forty minutes after Solomon had entered the ring. Rumors were to the effect that Attell looking over the house decided that at least a goodly guarantee be made before he climbed between the ropes.

Evidently he came to satisfactory agreement as a smile of contentment hovered over his features as he at last made an appearance. The wait proved wearisome to the fair crowd in attendance and resulted in a late hour conclusion of a frosty affair.

The men went gingerly about their business, Attell trying to draw his opponent out. From the start Attell simply made a fool of the kid. As early as the fourth he was laughing and kidding about the ring, stabbing with rights and lefts that wreaked havoc among Solomon's features.

But for Attell helping him Solomon would have fallen at the end of the fifth as he swung wildly with a wooly left. Solomon let nothing get by him, for if there is any kind of a blow which the champion failed to plant those in direct view of the proceedings failed to make note.

Solomon cannot be touted as a game ringster judging from last night's affair. He accepted an awful beating but was not there with the stiff lip. In the seventh he endeavored to claim a foul and sank to one knee after Attell had put a right to the body and a left to the head. He remained in a stooping posture until Eyton had counted seven. Then came the gong.

Again in the eighth Solomon flirted with the foul. Eyton was forced to warn him against hitting low. The only round in which Solomon could claim partial recognition was the ninth in which he landed several blows that had little or no effect.

It was biff bang and jim jam for Attell until the final gong. Referee Eyton raised Abe's hand, though Manny Lowenstein could have made no protest had Eyton forgotten to render a decision.

Two good six-round preliminaries furnished excitement. In the first go Young McGovern took a decision from game little Jimmy Erwin. Some objection was entitled to Tommy Walsh's verdict, though McGovern seemed to have a nice shade.

Early Saine did not know sufficient about the game, but Kid Webster, who gained the decision, fought a rather mediocre battle.

1921-05-23 Tommy Gibbons W-KO1 Jack Heinen [Canton Auditorium, Canton, OH, USA]

1921-05-24 The Evening Repository (Canton, OH) (page 15)

Let's Go, Says Tommy; And He Slams Heenan In Slats For Kayo In First Round

Just a few minutes before he stepped out of his civies and into the Auditorium ring last night Tommy Gibbons informed us that he would flatten Jack Heenan, Chicago heavy, just as soon as possible. He proceeded to do so but required two minutes and five seconds to turn the trick, which was exceedingly slow time for Tommy, considering the fact that he was in a hurry to hit the hay and rest up for his fights at Youngstown on Friday and Brooklyn on Monday.

Yes, slow for Gibbons but not slow for the fans, who voiced their desire to see a bit more of the St. Paul wonder. They implored Gibbons to box with Heenan and leave him stick for a round or two, but Tommy is out gunning for Jack Dempsey and is piling up an impressive record against all comers. He stops them all just as soon as possible so that when the time comes Dempsey will have no weak spots at which to point as an alibi. Tommy can't be blamed for slaughtering Heenan. He's out for the big stuff.

Gibbons took just enough time to display his power as a puncher. He stepped out of his corner with the bell, squared off with the Chicago boy and shot a wicked right under the heart. The punch travelled no more than a foot but it carried an awful jolt, and Heenan went down--not immediately but as soon as the blow took effect on his heart. He just sank and the fight was over right there, so far as Mr. Heenan was concerned, even though he gamely crawled to his feet at the count of nine to absorb a one-two combination on the jaw and another jolt in the body. Being a merciful chap, Tommy rammed this one into the right side of Jack's torso with his right fist. It was the fourth knock-down and the final, as Eddie Davis motioned Gibbons to his corner and helped to carry Heenan to his chair.

Many of the bugs seemed to think that Heenan quit, but he didn't. He took two deadly jolts to the body and two on the jaw, just short ones but with all of the Gibbons snap and rip in them. He lasted about as long as most of Tommy's opponents have been lasting, ever since the St. Paul chap has been trying to force a fight out of Dempsey.

The so-called crowd, which did not pay off the furniture debt for the American Legion as expected, was disappointed only in the fact that it did not get a chance to really see Gibbons work. He put on the big stuff so gosh-darned quickly that it was all over before the fans had restored their sweat-soaked kerchiefs to the natural reposing place of a half-pint flask.

The card opened up well, with two good scraps of six rounds in front of a semi that smelled badly. The less said about this semi-final, the better for the game, as a bird labelled Leo Williams toted about 20 pounds of surplus fat into the ring and then got a near-draw with Johnny Thiel. Both are from Akron, and probably working in the same gym. Williams looked as if he had just hopped over the counter into his trunks, which were about two sized too small.

George Parr, Canton 125-pounder, put up one of the best battles of his career but ran second to Dick Mette in the best mill of the evening. He took two of the six rounds by slamming his right to the jaw with staggering effect, but Mette kept piling up points continually and was well in the lead when they quit. Parr was short on too many of his leads, while Mette's judgment of distance and his timing were good, especially with his left.

Happy Hartman took a lacing, and a bloody one, from Muggy Mullane in the opener but he stuck the limit of six and was fighting when they quit. Muggsy had him in deep troubles on several occasions but Hap kept fighting back even when his legs were white and shagy. A gory mouth and a badly cut eye were Happy's portion.

1905-05-22 Abe Attell ND6 Battling Nelson [National Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1905-05-23 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)

ATTELL SHADES BATTLING NELSON
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At the Distance, Corbett's Two-Time Conqueror Was Under a Serious Handicap
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Attell, Instead of Tin Canning as Was Expected, Mixed It Up Whenever Asked To
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Battling Nelson is not a six-round boxer. That was clearly demonstrated in his wind-up with Abe Attell at the National Athletic Club last night.

There is no use of going into speculation as to what might have happened had last night's engagement been a twenty-round affair. It wasn't. The boys were scheduled to go six rounds, and the popular verdict was to be determined upon what they did in that time. And taking everything into consideration, looking at the boxing from every angle, whether it was aggressiveness or pure science, Attell lost nothing by comparison. Were decisions permissible here it would have been his.

In clean punching, in outfighting and cleverness he made the Battling One look like a novice, and when the disparity in the weights are considered, allowances may be made for Attell's somewhat poorer showing in the mix-ups. In a long-drawn out affair Nelson's superior ruggedness and natural doggedness would doubtless carry his colors to the front. He's got the power at the expense of speed; Attell has the speed, but it is doubtful if, hooked up the way he was last night, he could go a route at the same clip.

From the very start Nelson adopted the tactics which Terry McGovern brought into vogue, and his style suggested that of Terrible Terry when the latter was good. He kept boring in from bell to bell, but only at rare intervals did Attell show any disposition to decline the issue, and then only to feint Nelson into trouble. The boys agreed to box under straight Marquis of Queensberry rules, a style of game which is to Nelson's advantage, but the rules did not seem to bother Attell a little bit. In the clinches he was at a disadvantage, but even there his cleverness in slipping away from Nelson's weall-meant, and, if they had landed, damaging short-arm punches, put the Dane all at sea. In the third and fourth rounds Attell's cleverness carried the house by storm. Even Nelson's rooters joined in the applause, and Nelson himself plainly showed the vexation he felt at his inability to land the one punch needful. It must not be supposed that Nelson did not inflict damage. He did notably in the fourth, when his body compelled Attell to cover for the first time in the bout. It was a great exhibition of both sides of the boxing game, and though on points Attell would have to be declared the winner, Nelson, whose style is so obviously different, only deepened the good impression made by the reputation which preceded him.

Rounds

Round One--As they shook hands Nelson seemed to have a slight advantage in height and weight. Both were eager, but Abe landed the first blow, a jab to the face, which caused the crowd to yell. Attell followed up his aggressiveness with two straight lefts, and Nelson assumed a crouch, apparently to escape his opponent's jabs. The Dane failed to land after trying to swing right to face. Abe jabbed at will, most of the blows getting to Nelson's face squarely. They clinched repeatedly, but Attell on the breakaway generally landed left and right to Nelson's face and body before the Dane could get into action. It was all Attell's round and the crowd was cheering wildly as the bell rang.

Round Two--Nelson started the second with a rush, but his awkwardness and the clever foot work of Attell made the Dane look like a novice. Attell swung right to face, and followed it up with three straight jabs without a return. Nelson swung right and left to Attell's body, but took a stiff left in the face in return. Abe brought the blood from Nelson's nose with a right and left to face, and followed this with two successive lefts to the nose. He then landed four straight rights and Nelson was holding as the bell rang. The round was all Attell's.

Round Three--Attell got home two rights to the body and jabbed a straight left to the face. Nelson missed a wicked swing for the head, but landed on the body when coming in. Attell swung a right to the head and followed with a clever left to the face, which made Nelson's head rock. The Dane put two light lefts to Attell's body, but missed many right-hand swings. Attell set the crowd wild by his clever foot work and by landing his left three times in quick succession on the Dane's face. This round clearly belonged to Attell.

Round Four--Attell opened up hostilities by getting home a left and right, but in the mix-up which followed Nelson swung a right, which landed on Abe's head just as the latter slipped in Nelson's corner. The Dane was fighting furiously and Attell gave away before the cyclonic speed of his opponent. Nelson swung right to the body and Attell was holding to escape the furious fighting of the Dane. Abe jabbed left to face, but Nelson, boring in, was gradually wearing down Attell by his vicious fighting. This was Nelson's round.

Round Five--The Dane opened the fifth with a rush and landed a left to Attell's chin. Nelson kept boring in and whenever he was in a clinch his head frequently butted Attell. The latter did not make much of a protest, but his seconds were yelling. They exchanged punches in a half clinch and on the breakaway Abe landed left to face. Nelson kept following up Attell persistently and landed right to body whenever they got together. Attell was breaking ground to escape Nelson's wind rushes, but generally came back with a left after being forced to a standstill. Nelson did not appear to mind the jabs, but simply kept boring in to get into close quarters. The round favored Nelson.

Round Six--Nelson either failed to see Attell's extended hand for the hand shake or else avoided it on purpose. This brought forth a groan of hisses. Attell seemed angered by Nelson's actions and he waded in, swinging left and right to face. Nelson was wild and missed two rights to face. The Dane landed a left to the head and Abe was holding to escape Nelson's rushes. Attell jabbed two straight lefts to the face, but Nelson retaliated by swinging right and left to face. Attell jabbed cleverly to face with his ever-ready left and escaped a wicked right hand punch by clever side stepping. Nelson kept forcing Attell, but the latter's cleverness kept the Dane from inflicting any punishment. The bell ended the round with both men boxing at a distance.

1906-05-21 Sailor Burke W-KO3 Joe Grim [Remsen Athletic Club, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1906-05-22 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 9)

JOE GRIM KNOCKED OUT.
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"Human Punching Bag" Put to Sleep by Burke.

Eight bouts were put on at the Remsen A. C. last night, and each go was good. The first mill was between Terry Edwards and Young McCarty and the best they could do was to draw. Danny Hickey and Charles Goldman fought three fast rounds, with Goldman in the lead. The third set-to was the best of the preliminaries, which brought together Dick Grimes and Jimmy Hunt. The latter at the tap of the gong got right at his man and before the end of the first round a hemorrhage started from Grimes' nose. Todo Moran had it on Jack Ashton. Freddie Dittels was outfought by Young Carter. Tim O'Brien forced all the fighting to Young Camphor.

Young Otto, of this city, who was billed to meet Frank Haney, of Philadelphia, in the semi-final, did not don the gloves because of a sprained ankle. Billy Cobb, also of Philadelphia, was substituted. He started off at a rush with head down and directing all his blows at the stomach and ribs, and the referee was kept busy breaking them, for Cobb knew that he could only get his man in the clinches. The crowd hissed Cobb and bade the referee to take them off, as Haney was not getting fair play. The first and second round Cobb outfought himself and in the third he was at the mercy of Haney, although Frank could not put his man away.

Sailor Burke, one of the toughest propositions in the welterweight class, and Joe Grim, the "human punching bag," whom such men as Jack Johnson and Bob Fitzsimmons failed to knock out, furnished the four-round star bout of the evening. Grim addressed the crowd, saying he was 23 years old, has fought 275 battles and has never been knocked out. He gave his customary challenge to any man in the world. The first round was very tame, for each was trying the other out. In the second, however, they began hard. In the middle of this round the sailor smiled at his seconds and remarked to Grim that he would knock him out in that round. Grim replied, "You will, like fun." Just then Burke sent one over to the jaw and Joe went to the floor, but he was up quickly and before the sailor could hit him again the bell sounded. Grim, however, staggered to his corner. The audience then asked him to make another speech. In reply he said he would when the four rounds were over. The gong sounded. After being floored seven times, Grim vainly tried to get to his feet. He was out. The crowd began to jump on the stage and but for timely interference by the police several mishaps might have occurred.


1906-05-22 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 8)

SAILOR BIRKE THE FIRST TO KNOCK OUT JOE GRIM
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Joe Grim hitherto "iron-jawed," whom Fitzsimmons, Jack Johnson and hundreds of other fighters could not knock out, at last met his Waterloo at the Remsen A. C. in Brooklyn last night, when Sailor Burke, of Brooklyn, found a soft spot on the Italian's jaw and landed a sleep-producer in the third round of their bout.

Grim did not try to fight back, but took punishment with his usual grin. Burke put every ounce of his strength into each of his blows and fought with great deliberation, timing each wallop and measuring the distance before he let the punch go. A hook to the jaw was Grim's undoing.

While the Italian was writhing on the floor after the flow was landed Capt. Shaw, of the Adams Street Station, jumped into the ring and arrested both principals. They were held in $500 bail to appear in court to-day. At the station-house Grim blithely congratulated his conqueror, and said that he was the best man he ever met.

1921-05-20 Harry Greb D-PTS15 Jeff Smith [Louisiana Auditorium, New Orleans, LA, USA]

1921-05-21 New Orleans Item (New Orleans, LA) (page 6)

Smith Demonstrates To Greb
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HOLDS HARRY TO DRAW BY BOXING THE PITTSBURGER AT HIS OWN GAME
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What Puzzle He Is To Others
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Referee Wambsgans Can't Pick Winner Between Greb's Leading, But Missing, and Jeff's Cleaner Punching
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BY WILL HAMILTON

Referee Al Wambsgans would have been hard put to pick a winner between Harry Greb and Jeff Smith in their 15-rounder at the Louisiana Auditorium Friday night so he chose the easier and more satisfactory way, calling it a draw.

Doubtless the bulk of opinion was that Greb won, because he was the aggressor in the majority of rounds. Smith plainly excelled in the number of hard, clean blows.

Greb's Own Eccentric Style Baffles Mr. Greb

It was not the spectacular fight that Greb's usually is because Smith, having met Harry some five or six times, had the eccentric Pittsburgher figured to a fine point and in some rounds he completely frustrated Greb's efforts to pull the circus stuff that makes him at once a puzzle and a marvel to both opponents and spectators.

In the early rounds Smith boxed Greb at Greb's own style and at times he out-Grebed Greb in that, while he let Greb lead, he repeatedly got in a good straight, stiff punch while Harry was missing.

Confronted by a mimic of himself Harry was at a loss for Greb never before had fought Greb. He now knows how much of an enigma he is to his opponents. If he kissed the canvas in his well known manner of bringing up a punch from the submarine depths Smith also kissed it; if he danced Smith danced; if he clinched Smith clinched, and let it be said that in the clinches Smith was pretty much to the mustard for he tied Greb so effectually that he could hardly do a thing while his own shorter arms frequently got in short, stiff hooks that might have told on a weaker specimen than the Pittsburger.

Both Show Marks Early in Vicious Tug-o-War

But if the bout was not as spectacular as some of the fans expected to see, it was no less interesting for the very reason that Smith was so successful in foiling Greb at his own game, and it was also vicious enough for the most blood-thirsty ringsider.

There was so much close fighting of the tugging and wrestling kind, Smith being an even match for Greb in strength, that both got their marks early. Greb was first to bleed from a slightly torn ear, then Smith's left eye began to redden and later on it puffed out so that his backers feared it might close altogether, especially as Greb made it a target for his overhand rights--or howsoever he lands his right, which was his only weapon of account in this combat. Greb sustained a slight cut over his prominent cheek-bone, and once there was a little trickle from either his nose or his mouth, but he came out of the battle less cut up than his opponent.

Smith Wins Early Rounds

Weights of the pair were announced as 161½ for Smith and 165 for Greb. Both were in great shape and they went right to it when the bell sent them together. Smith made Greb look like a novice in the first round by ducking all of Harry's leads and countering effectively to the body. The Jersey boy also won the second and third rounds and got in some pretty nice hooks to the side and stomach.

There was a lot of tugging in the fourth. Greb got over a couple of jabs in this round for the first time and evened it up.

The fifth was a big Smith round in which he again outboxed Greb at Harry's own style, not only making Greb miss but hooking hard to the body at least three times.

There was a lot of wrestling in the sixth, when both men showed remarkable knowledge of catch-as-catch-can holds. Smith did the cleaner punching.

Greb Begins in Seventh

The seventh was Greb's first round. He scored a number of times with his right hand and had Smith's left eye red and puffing. Smith connected with another good left hook.

The eighth was a good slugging match with Greb having a decided advantage.

Smith's eye bled considerably in the ninth and Greb won this round by a big margin.

The tenth was an even round though Smith did the better punching. Jeff's eye bled continually after Greb landed on it a couple of times. Jeff shook Greb up with a corking right cross to the point of the jaw.

Smith won the eleventh with three or four good clean punches with both left and right.

The twelfth went to Greb, who got in two or three good rights after Smith had scored first by catching him with an uppercut as Harry went in.

Greb continued to score with his right hand in the thirteenth and won the round and he had a slight margin in the fourteenth in which there was plenty of mixing.

Strong Finish for Both

It appeared that if Referee Wambsgans was going to name a winner the fifteenth would decide it. Both fighters evidently realized this for they both made a grand finish. Smith had Greb a little on the run in this round but Harry was hitting all the time and perhaps landing a few more punches.

The consensus of opinion seemed to be that Greb had a slight lead but that Smith would have had better than an even chance had they gone the five additional rounds that Smith wanted to go.

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Colletti And Burns Win

Pascal Colletti, former Southern A. A. U. bantamweight champion, and his rival of amateur days, Bill Doclar, both figured in the preliminary battles to the Greb-Smith contest at the Louisiana auditorium, Friday night and both were winner.

Colletti defeated Mike Russo who has a good bit more experience than the average preliminary battler hereabouts. Doclar outslugged an Italian with the ring name of Young Corbett.

All the preliminaries furnished good speed. Young Secara gave Al Pisa a good trouncing, while Chick Burns won from Mike Frisco in a slugfest.

A crowd of more than 6,500 saw the auditorium bouts and the receipts were in the neighborhood of $12,000. The crowd was well handled both by the promoters, commissioners and police. Corporal Lenine was in charge of the police squad.


1921-05-21 New Orleans States (New Orleans, LA) (page 10)

Smith, Lucky As Well As Clever, Is Given Draw By Wambsgans
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Repeated Clinching and Holding by Smith Marred Contest; Fighters Add 'Nother Draw to Long List.
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BY COL. CLUKE.

Jeff Smith fought the first and last minute of the fifteenth round last night at the Louisiana Auditorium. Jeff was clever, extremely so, and incidentally, lucky. In return for his "turning on the juice," Referee Wambsgans gave him a draw decision with Harry Greb.

Wambsgans, if anything, was evidently in a charitable frame of mind. There was no demonstration against his decision. The $12,000 worth of spectators accepted it as a matter of fact, something which usually happens when two clever fellows get together in the ring.

The contest which promised so much, didn't produce the goods. From a standpoint of fighting, Greb did all of the work. He could have drawn worse than a draw as easily as he received the 50-50 decision.

The most important angle in connection with the Smith-Greb affair, is that Smith doesn't need twenty rounds to knock the Pittsburg mauler off his feet. Smith should ask for twenty years, and maybe the privilege of using a six-shooter.

Greb Only Fighter.

Greb did all of the fighting. He was the aggressor from start to finish. He fought in and out of the clinches. Smith was on the defense strictly until the first and last minute of the final round. Maybe Smith has a peculiar style of fighting. He is undoubtedly a clever boxer. His ducking of the punches Greb aimed from every possible angle, at least gave the spectators an idea what naturally must come when clever men meet.

The first six rounds, the fourth excepted, were devoted almost exclusively to holding and wrestling. Neither of the men seemed to muss each other up. Greb began fighting a little in the fourth, and the seventh found him going at top speed, which he continued until the tenth, winning every round by a comfortable margin. From the thirteenth to the final going, Harry, if anything, outfought Smith. It is no great wonder that the Pittsburg mauler and his manager shouted: "Never Again!"

There were no knockdowns during the contest nor the slightest semblance of one. Greb fought the same type of battle that he introduced Happy Littleton to a few weeks ago. His efforts--to some of the spectators and Smith's manager, were regarded clownish, but they seemed of the type to give the fans a run for their money.

Had Greb fought the same type of contest at any time during the fifteen rounds that Smith resorted to there probably would have been splendid assistance rendered the occupants of the gallery seats from those at the ringside in the cry of "Fake!" which came quite frequently from the upper tier.

Smith's most valuable asset during the entire contest was an occasional right hand punch to the body and holding on. Greb fought all he knew how. Naturally, Referee Wambsgans' decision was a disappointment to the Pittsburger. Still, it was a battle in which two men who have fought so often and know the style of each other so well, that is at least compared favorably with some of the other 50-50 melees in which they have engaged.


1921-05-21 The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) (page 14)

JEFF SMITH AND HARRY GREB FIGHT FIFTEEN ROUNDS TO A DRAW
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HARRY GREB IS LUCKY TO GET DRAW VERDICT
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BY WM. McG. KEEFE

Youth and the stamina to assimilate terrific punishment, which permits him when he is hurt badly to act as if he isn't hurt, earned Harry Greb of Pittsburg a draw in the opinion of Referee Al Wambsgans with Jeff Smith in their fifteen-round match at the Louisiana Auditorium last night.

While the fight was not a really great scrap, it was well worth seeing and was thoroughly enjoyed by 6300 fans who paid $11,900 to get into the auditorium.

Greb was a disappointment. Against "Happy" Littleton here several weeks ago Greb, taking advantage of Littleton's limited experience and especially Littleton's greenness with unsportsmanlike tricks of the trade, looked like a champion--a world beater.

But at times last night, pitted against a man who was his superior at everything except holding, wrestling, clowning and stamina, Greb looked like a dub.

And it was evident, at the end of the fight why Greb in the first place did not care particularly about fighting Smith and in the second place why Greb did not want to go any further than he had to. Under the terrific body punching of Smith, Greb fast was sagging at the end and showed it in spite of his acting and also in spite of his phenomenal endurance and constitution.

In Smith local boxing fans saw a real master fighter. On occasions Greb, by employing crude, slam-bang methods which no true boxer ever would expect from an opponent, seemed to bewilder Smith. But those at the ringside could have seen Smith's contemptuous smile as he knocked off four out of five of the blows Greb showered on him--blows which to spectators sitting a few rows back undoubtedly seemed to land.

But Greb must be credited for his acting and his ability to stand up under heavy punching. And, as has been said, in those rounds where he galloped in on Smith like a wild horse, Smith could find little time to do anything but block, and Greb consequently earned the rounds by good margins.

When it came down to clean punches and sportsmanlike fighting, however, the difference between Smith and Greb was the same as the difference between night and day. Class stood out in Smith; luck and burlesque characterized Greb.

It was because of the many punches Smith missed; the many clean and hard punches Smith landed and the fact that Greb continually held while trying to make it seem Smith was holding, that the writer thought Smith earned the decision. Our tab of the fight by rounds gave Smith a big majority.

Greb, himself, seemed to sense he would become unpopular in the fighting if he resorted to his clownish jumping about. He laid off of it until he found himself compelled to turn the tide of battle, as Smith stepped out and took the first four rounds from him.

It was after that that Greb began to hold, wrapping his right arm about Smith's left and holding like a vice, the while keeping Smith's gloved left behind his back to make it appear Smith was holding. Once, too, Greb got a strangle hold about Smith's bull neck and the man from New Jersey smiled disgustedly as Greb crushed in in an attempt to choke his man.

There were times, too, during the fight when Greb butted and one of his blows with his head opened a wicked gash over Smith's left eye. Greb did not win any friends by devoting all his attack after that to Smith's wounded eye. Not many had seen Greb butt Smith, but Referee Wambsgans had, and he warned Greb twice about it.

Towards the end of the fight, there were times when the blood trickled from the cut above Smith's eye affected his sight, and Greb always pressed such advantages to the limit.

Landing several wild swings and locking Smith effectively in the clinches so Smith could not get in much effective work, Greb earned the fifth round, but Smith came right back and took the sixth by a wide margin.

Greb then got the jump on him, and for the next four rounds tore in so fast and furiously Smith found little or no time to hit back. But the eleventh found Smith again master of the situation for the session, while in the twelfth he battered Greb about the ring and won by a big margin.

Greb took the thirteenth by storm. Smith lined him up in the fourteenth, however, and had slightly the better of a hard-fought round, while in the fifteenth, a real sensational windup, was about even.

Smith seemed as fresh as a daisy at the end, while Greb's knees were sagging and he seemed to be getting his breath in gasps. He stopped left hooks and right uppercuts to the body, however, which would have put many another man to the mat. Smith also connected solidly with Greb's on occasions, though Greb's jaw is a bobbing, elusive target.

Greb's best punch was a right cross to the jaw, which he managed to land time and again cleanly. It was the only clean punch he could land on Smith. His left swings, which seemed to land, found their marks mostly on Smith's protecting elbow, or banged harmlessly against Smith's gloves as, with an eagle eye, Smith stood coolly and picked them off as fast as Greb showered them.

Referee Wambsgans decision seemed to be a popular one. Greb was hissed time and again for holding and snatching Smith about the ring.

While the attendance did not nearly reach the point of congestion it did at the Greb-Littleton fight, the big arena was comfortably filled by the time the first preliminary went into the ring. The crowd appeared much smaller than it really was while streaming in because of the fact it was so well handled.

No sporting event held here in recent years was more smoothly conducted than last night's show. There was not one hitch, either in the admission, the program or the exit.

And the preliminaries furnished one of the best periods of entertainment seen at any recent boxing show.

The first preliminary was a four-rounder between Young Corbett and Young Doclar, the latter getting the decision after a slam-bang and evenly balanced match.

Young Secara outfought Al Pisa in all four rounds of the next prelim and won the decision. Al didn't much cotton to the rough stuff and held on for dear life the last two rounds, as he was given plenty of roughing.

In the third prelim, Chick Burns won over Mike Frisco in a four-round scrap in which the two lads fought each other out of the ropes and in again and battled like two Kilkenny cats.

Pascal Colletti, the former Southern amateur bantamweight champion, easily outpointed Mike Russo in the fourth and last preliminary. The two boys at times were hissed for the lack of interest. Both are light punchers and each inclined to protect himself a little too much.

However, all four matches showed the result of excellent matching and conscientious training upon the part of each principal.

Fight by Rounds

ROUND ONE--Smith, watching carefully, stepped in and hooked a left to the body. He then jabbed to the nose with a left. Greb missed an overhand right and Smith put a right uppercut to the body. Smith blocked cleverly and ducked several as Greb danced about. Greb put a right across to the jaw. They clinched, both holding hard, and Greb had the better of the blows that were landed. At the end of the round they both feinted each other into knots without a blow being landed. It was Smith's round.

ROUND TWO--They clinched and Smith put a hard right to the body. Smith ducked and made Greb miss half a dozen left and right swings. Greb danced about, Smith carefully watching for an opportunity to sock in a punch. Greb hardly stood still, however, and held tightly, being wary of Smith's terrific left to the body. It was another Smith round.

ROUND THREE--Smith walked right in, covered, and put a hard right to the body. Greb missed an overhand right. Smith hooked a left to the jaw. Greb jumped into a clinch and landed a few light blows, having the better of it. Greb jumped back and then in again with a right cross to the jaw. Greb missed. Smith hooked a left to the head in a clinch and split Greb's left eye. Smith's.

ROUND FOUR--Greb rushed in, but missed and looked ludicrous. Smith spun him around in a clinch and smashed a terrific right to the body as Greb came in again. Greb held hard. After the break Greb came right back, swinging rights and lefts, but Smith blocked and crushed. Smith put two heavy rights to the jaw. Greb landed a right to the jaw while backing away. Smith's round.

ROUND FIVE--Smith backed him to the ropes and landed a heavy left to the belly. Greb grabbed him and choked him with his arm. Smith rushed him with a hard left to the body. Greb scored two left swings to the head. Greb landed a right to the ear. Slightly Greb's.

ROUND SIX--Smith stepped in with a left to the body. It was a smashing punch and Greb held. Smith blocked an attack and hooked a hard right to the body. Greb landed a left swing to the jaw. Greb worked his right to the back of Smith's neck in a clinch. Smith blocked a right and left. Smith put a hard right to the body. Smith lifted him with a right uppercut to the body. It was all Smith's.

ROUND SEVEN--Greb missed a right and left but tore in with a volley of rights and lefts and got several through Smith's guard to the head. Greb scored with a right cross and quickly rushed in. He opened a small cut on Smith's right eye with a left. Greb showered a fusilade on Smith's arms and glove and Smith smiles, though a few blows got through. Greb shifted, landing an overhand right and left. Smith calmly watched and waited and just before the bell rang shook Greb with a left to the jaw. It was all Greb's.

ROUND EIGHT--Greb rushed and landed a left swing. Greb missed a right and left. Smith covered as Greb put a right to the body. Greb then rocked his head and protecting arms with rights and lefts and carried Smith to the ropes before a fusilade of blows, most of which Smith cleverly blocked. Greb kept tearing in, and he appeared to be having the fight all his own way, but he wasn't hurting Smith at all, as was subsequently proved. It was another Greb round.

ROUND NINE--Greb landed two rights to the jaw. They held each other's poised gloves like fencers and feinted for openings. Greb shot a hard right downward to the ear as Smith ducked. Greb got behind him and swung two lefts, Smith blocking them both. Greb tore in and butted Smith in the left eye with his head, splitting Smith's eye. The referee warned Greb. Greb landed a right at the bell. Smith seemed perfectly at ease and unhurt, but it was another big Greb round.

ROUND TEN--Greb missed. Smith shook him with a right to the jaw. Greb landed a right uppercut and then shot a hard right to Smith's bleeding eye. Smith sunk a hard left to the body and came back with a left to the nose. Greb landed two left swings to the head and missed a right. Slightly Greb.

ROUND ELEVEN--Smith landed a terrific right to the body. Greb seemed hurt. He came back and feinted, Smith rocking him with a left to the jaw. Smith blocked rights and lefts and shot a short right to the jaw, knocking Greb back. Greb shot a right to the eye. Greb worked both hands to the head as Smith covered. Smith's.

ROUND TWELVE--Smith shot a right uppercut to the body. Smith then swung a terrific right to the face. Greb fought back hard and landed a right to the jaw. In a fast exchange, Smith, covering and blocking at the same time, ripped a right to the body. Smith jabbed to the face. Greb rushed into a clinch and held. Coming out Smith lifted him from the floor with a right uppercut to the body. All Smith.

ROUND THIRTEEN--Greb landed a right cross. Smith smashed a left to the body. Greb rushed and Smith landed a right uppercut to the body. Greb hooked a left coming in. Greb backed off and danced in wildly, showering rights and lefts on Smith's arms and gloves. It was slightly Greb's round.

ROUND FOURTEEN--Smith landed a right to the body. They both missed. Greb put a hard right to the jaw. Greb hooked a left to the head. Smith buried a left to the body and hooked a wicked left to the jaw. Smith rocked him with a left to the face and hurled him on the ropes with a right to the heart. Smith's round.

ROUND FIFTEEN--They went at it hammer and tongs. Greb got the jump and banged away with rights and lefts. Smith held up his arms to block, but Greb got in several blows. Smith straightened him up with a terrific right. Greb's knees sagged, but he tore right in and landed a right and left to the head. Smith hooked a hard left to the body and Greb landed a right cross. Greb made a grandstand finish the last half minute and the round was fairly even.