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Sunday, June 19, 2011

1917-06-19 Fred Fulton W-TKO7 Sam Langford [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1917-06-20 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 8)
LANGFORD QUITS, STARTING SEVENTH
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Sam Declines Any More of Fulton's Punishment
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Colored Boston Heavy Takes a Hard Drubbing at Armory A. A.
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Sam Langford, the colored heavyweight, regarded by many at one time as the best fighter in the world, quit cold to Fred Fulton, the Western heavyweight, when the seventh round of their bout was called at the Armory A. A. last night.

The big crowd was surprised, for they never expected to see Sam playing that role. He has always been game, but the walloping Fulton gave him was enough to discourage most any boxer.

That Langford was not knocked out by Fulton was somewhat of a surprise. It looked in the second as if the Westerner would end Sam's career as a boxer with a knockout.

Fulton stood head and shoulders over Langford and was in great shape, except his hands, which bothered him to such an extent that before he went into the ring a physician treated his left. Judging by the way he used it, however, no one would think that there was anything the matter with it.

Fulton knocked Langford down in the second round with a left hook to the jaw. He took the count of nine and was badly dazed when he got to his feet. Fulton drove his left time after time to Langford's eyes, mouth, nose, jaw and stomach. When Sam quit his eye was closed tightly.

The Western giant did some handy work, too, with the right, planting many rights to Sam's jaw. In the fourth, one of them nearly put Langford to the mat again. By grabbing Fulton about the waist he kept on his feet.

Not content with banging Sam on the jaw with his right, Fred also shook Sam up many times with short right-hand uppercuts.

Fulton fought a careful battle, in a cool manner, but did not escape some of Sam's punches. He did not seem to mind them much, however. Sam did not have a chance to reach Fulton a great many times, for the latter blocked many vicious left hooks Sam sent for the stomach and jaw. Fulton's left also kept Sam back most of the time when he worked to get close to his tall opponent.

At times Fulton made the once great fighter look like a crude amateur. It looked several times as if Langford was trying to lose on a foul, as some of his blows were low, but they did no damage.

When he went to his corner at the end of the sixth round he looked about all in. Bill LeClair sounded the bell for the start of the seventh and Langford's seconds jumped out of the ring. The fans expected to see Sam start again, but he remained seated and shook his head to the referee. His seconds went to his side and after a brief talk one of them threw in the sponge. Fulton did not have a mark on him.

Matt Hinkel of Cleveland refereed the bout.

To add to Sam's discomfort he was arrested in the afternoon by Deputy Sheriff C. Reardon, on a writ sworn out by Pete Walker, who claims that Langford owes him for services rendered. A friend of Langford's went his surety and he was released.

In the semifinal bout Jack Savage of Brockton made Al Nelson of Manchester quit in the fourth. Teddy Murphy won the decision over Charlie Mitchell in six rounds, and Jerry Leo and Charles Miller boxed a six-round draw.

Chick Simler and Frankie Callahan will box in the feature bout at the club next Tuesday night.


1917-06-20 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 8)
LANGFORD QUITS TO FULTON IN SEVENTH ROUND OF BOUT
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By Jack Malaney

Some three, four, or maybe five thousand fistic fans, local and visiting ones, went to the Arena last night and saw an old Boston favorite, Ho Ho Sam Langford, get left-handed to defeat. Deciding that prudence was the better part of valor, Sam refused to answer the bell in the seventh round, and there was nothing else for Referee Matt Hinkle to do but to award Fulton a technical knockout.

As a heavyweight battle it was practically a joke. The sizes of the men made it so, if nothing else did. Everybody knew that Fulton was a giant and that he was going to be much taller than Sam, but it was not until they got together in the center of the ring for instructions that the crowd really realized how much taller than Sam Fulton was.

Helped Sam Decide

And it was that disparity, also Fulton's great advantage in reach, that made Sam decide that he had taken enough. It didn't take any great amount of brain work or even common sense on Sam's part to know that he didn't have a chance. For any man who has been hit 307 times, or somewhere in the vicinity of that number, with one sort of punch alone, said punch being a straight left-hand jab, besides numerous other punches from both right and left hands, in only six rounds, should know where he gets off.

It was just like the pride of the village, an accomplished boxer, taking on the tough little guy from the next town. There had been many who thought that everything would be arranged for Fulton to "get" Sam in order to re-establish himself as a heavyweight of note. If those who thought that were present and saw the affair they soon became convinced that Frederick didn't need to have any fixing done for him, that it was almost simple for him to whip Sam with everything up to snuff.

Kept Left Working

Not only did Fred continually keep shooting that left hand at Sam's face until his nose was sore, his left eye closed and his lips were well cut and bleeding, but he also scored a sure and clean knockdown. In the second Fred had started out from where he left off in the first, jabbing to his heart's content. Sam got peeved and rushed in close. Fulton quickly shot a left hook to the head and Sam went down and stayed down for nine counts.

Besides that straight left, Fulton showed that he had several little items of offense in his repertoire. Against Langford, he had what could be called a fine one-two. After shooting his left straight several times, Fred's right would then come out straight from the shoulder. That his left hook is a fine one was asserted when he dropped Langford with it.

Failed to Prove Class

With all his fine showing last night, Fred failed to prove that he is the best heavy in the game. He lacked aggressiveness and he was not a bit vicious, a something that is getting to be common in heavyweights. Of course, his lack of aggressiveness last night could be credited to cautiousness, for he knew well that the Langford punch is dangerous. But with the battle going along so easily for him as it was, he could have extended himself a little more and tried to stop Sam, which he didn't even try to do.

Fulton has got plenty to learn yet about his defense. There, again, he might have an alibi on his defense of last night. Langford was so much shorter that it perhaps was better for Fred to keep his hands down around his mid-section most of the time. But when Fulton punched, that is, outside of jabbing, the inactive hand would invariably drop and leave him open.

Fulton Stood Guff

It has been said that Fred doesn't like to get hit hard. He didn't show it last night, then, if he doesn't. Langford may not have landed as hard on him as he wanted to nor as squarely as he generally likes to hit an opponent, but he certainly did connect with Fred and more than once. Not only did Fulton's body get walloped properly hard at times, but his head came in contact with Sam's padded fist sufficient times to warrant the saying that he is not punch-shy. And he took many of Langford's blows gracefully, too, having acquired the knack of letting his head go away from the wallop and thus escaping the full force of the punch.

Nelson Calls Halt

Like the feature event, the semi-final contest likewise ended. In this Al Nelson of Manchester decided that he had received enough from Jack Savage in the fourth round. Nelson had gone down a couple of times in the third and several in the fourth before Referee Conley stopped the bout.

Teddy Murphy proved too clever for Charley Mitchell in their six-rounder and won out. The crowd didn't like the decision, for Mitchell is a big favorite and Murphy is not, but it was a right one. In the opening six-rounder Charley Miller boxed a draw with Jerry Leo.


Bob Dunbar's SPORTING COMMENT
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"Every knock is a boost"--Bob.
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Fulton is remarkably nifty and speedy for such a big fellow, even allowing for the contrast between his pace and Sam Langford's slowness at the Triple A. last evening. But nobody was convinced that Fred is the man to take the heavyweight crown away from Willard. He does not even seem to have the temperament of a scrapper, although Jess is also a very good-natured off-hand sort of a chap. Fulton would better not wear that Glacier Park bathrobe into the same ring with the Cowboy until a few more winters and summers have passed over the heads of both.
*
Ho Ho Langford, being under no obligation to demonstrate courage after 15 years in the ring, did a perfectly sensible thing when, with one eye shut tight and the other a mere slit, decided to remain in his corner after the six rounds were over. He was practically helpless--and no championship was involved.


1917-06-20 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (pages 12, 17)
LANGFORD QUITS TO FULTON
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Beaten Badly From Start, Tar Baby Refuses to Leave Corner In 7th Round.
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KNOCKED DOWN IN SECOND
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(By Staff Correspondent.)

BOSTON, June 20.--Rather than let the white giant knock him out for the first time in a ring career that dates back 15 years Sam Langford, the Boston Tar Baby, refused to come out of his corner for the seventh round of his bout with Fred Fulton of Hudson, Minn., at the Armory A. A. last night. Knocked down cleanly by a wicked short left hook to the jaw in the second round, one eye almost closed after the fourth from Fulton's steady jabs, and discouraged by his inability to score with his former deadly left hook, Sam Langford, the terror of his class for years, was licked and he knew it. Matt Hinkel, after the bell clanged in the sixth, waited for Langford to come to scratch and when the bulky negro continued to sit blinking in his chair the Cleveland referee gave Fulton the bout.

Thus did Fulton, an aspirant for Willard's honors, emulate against Langford the success of Jess the circus proprietor against Jack Johnson. Up to last night no white man, since the days Langford has been recognized as one of the "greats," has ever stopped the Boston Tar Baby. There is no question but what Fulton, who had height, weight and reach on Langford, would have won on a knockout had the bout continued much further. Langford was helpless before the big fellow. It was like a baboon fighting a giraffe. Langford seldom was able to break through Fulton's guard and in the second round Fulton floored him heavily with a left drive that forced the negro to take the count of nine.

Not Yet Ready for Willard.

In kicking from the heavyweight track the last chunk of coal Fulton partly obliterated his recent sorry showing against Carl Morris. The ponderous plasterer from Minnesota does not appear, however, a formidable opponent for Willard. He has a good stiff left hand and a right cross that is fairly effective, but he is slow and lacks confidence. Any time after the second round Fulton should have been able to beat his old, puffy opponent. The fact that Langford surrendered before the bout had gone more than half the distance indicates clearly how far he was gone.

Fulton was the first to enter the ring. The western giant wore over his togs a gaily decorated Navajo bathrobe that made his great height all the more conspicuous. He was attended by Al Palzer and Fouler Mike Paulson, who took turns fanning him until Sam Langford, accompanied by a dusky retinue, put in a belated appearance.

Fulton Towers Above Langford.

When the men met in the centre of the ring the marked discrepancy between the combatants raised an amused howl from the crowded house. Langford, with huge rolls of fat around his bronze stomach, came only up to the shoulder of the blond, clean-limbed giant. Even as the six-foot fighter from Minnesota bent over to hear Referee Hinkel's instructions he was fully a head taller than anybody else in the ring.

Fulton lost no time getting his famous left hand working the minute the bell rang. Langford took four or five jabs and then tried to put over a left chop but missed by yards. Fulton jabbed again and then shot over a hard right. Langford sent his right and left gloves to the body with no effect and Fulton in response popped him on the chin with both hands. For the remainder of the round Langford coolly took jab after jab, vainly trying to break through Fulton's guard.

Fulton Drops Langford Cleanly.

The westerner resumed his jabbing in the second round and, suddenly, as Langford rushed him into his own corner, Fulton set himself and shot a short left hook straight to the negro's chin. Langford dropped, as if shot, upon his haunches, rolled over like a barrel and amid a perfect frenzy of cheering took the count of nine. When he got up Fulton tried hard to rush him, but the crafty ring general was soon himself again and finished the round strong.

In the third Langford started to cover more, but when the Tar Baby blocked leads for his head Fulton began to shoot punches to the body, so Langford again pursued Fulton in the hope of getting close enough to land his left hook. Invariably the punch whistled harmlessly short of the mark. Langford, however, held Fulton even in this round, the only one that Fulton did not carry.

In the fourth round Fulton laced Langford so steadily with his left that one good right-hand punch seemed all that was necessary to jolt the negro off his pins, but despite the exhortations of the fans to "Knock him out, Fred!" the plasterer took no chances and kept the Boston heavyweight at long range.

Sam's Last Shot Fails.

Fulton kept stepping in with his stiff left in the fifth and although Langford twice rallied and hammered him in the body Fulton only grinned and kept raking the Tar Baby. This inability to hurt Fulton must have had as much to do with the negro's quitting as Fulton's blows. In the sixth round he showed signs of despair after a last coup failed. Working Fulton into a favorable position for such a move, Langford suddenly lashed out his left hand and smote Fulton a wicked hook flush on the jaw. It was the old Langford punch--the kind that used to make men's knees knock together. But Fulton only grinned as the blow bounded off his chin, and from then on to the end of the round Langford gave up hope and simply tried to block punches. It was evident, when he failed to come to scratch in the seventh, that he had put his all in that punch and, failing, had decided that further resistance was useless.

The semi-final was also an abbreviated affair. Al Nelson of Manchester bothered Jack Savage of Brockton for one round with his left jab, but after that Savage's punches broke through Nelson's defense, and in the third Savage flattened the Manchester middleweight with a heavy right smash to the body. Savage floored Nelson twice more before the round ended and was making a punching bag of him when Referee Larry Conley stopped the bout in the fourth. Nelson hit the floor three times in this round.

In the preliminaries aged Teddy Murphy was given a doubtful decision over Charlie Mitchell and Charley Miller and Jerry Leo boxed a draw.


Langford Meets Legal K. O.

BOSTON, June 20.--Sam Langford was arrested yesterday afternoon on a complaint made by Peter Walker, a trainer, who alleges that Langford is indebted to him in the sum of $1138 for services. The arrest was made by Deputy Sheriff Reardon of Sheriff Kelther's staff. Bonds were furnished for the heavyweight boxer by George Dearborn, a local hotel man.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

1903-06-18 Joe Walcott D-PTS20 Young Peter Jackson [Balanee Box, Portland, OR, USA]

1903-06-19 Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR) (page 11)
FIGHT CALLED DRAW
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Joe Walcott Escapes Losing His Title.
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FIERCE BATTLE FOR 20 ROUNDS
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Young Peter Jackson Makes a Game Try for Welterweight Championship, but Lacks a Knockout Punch.
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Joe Walcott, the world's champion welterweight, came nearer losing his title in his battle last night with Young Peter Jackson than he has since he gained the title. For 20 rounds both men fought one of the fiercest and gamest battles ever seen in Portland, and while Referee Jim Neil called the fight a draw at the end of the 20 rounds, the last five rounds were largely in favor of Jackson.

The fight was for the welterweight championship of the world, and if Al Herford, Peter's manager, had his way, and the fight had gone 25 rounds instead of 20, there would have been a new welterweight champion this morning. Walcott fought his usual clever and masterful battle. During the earlier rounds his ducking, leading, blocking and ring generalship made Peter look as slow as a carthorse compared with him. But Peter was fighting under instructions, which were "bore in all the time; take what's coming, but always keep covered." And how closely he followed these instructions showed as the battle waged. And it was a battle, for round after round the two black pugilists clashed, smashed and walloped each other until it looked as if both fighters would fall from sheer exhaustion. But they did not. At the sound of the gong, which brought them to their feet, Joe and Peter were at each other, with Walcott ripping rights and lefts to the body and head and Jackson jabbing a straight left to the face, and then in the clinches working both hands like pistons on a donkey-engine.

Fighters Go a Fast Pace.

Not a one of that great crowd present, after Peter and Joe got mixing it, ever dreamed that the fight would go to the limit. It seemed, at the pace they were fighting after Walcott had sent Jackson to the canvas in the second round with a right swing that nipped Peter on the cauliflower ear, that one or the other of the boxers must take a peep into pugilistic dreamland, where the fighter, like in a dream, wakes to half-consciousness to hear his master receiving the plaudits and cheers of the crowd. But the fight grew faster and faster as the great bell over in the official timekeeper's corner tolled off the rounds. And with each round Jackson began to unlimber. He seemed to grow stronger. He straightened out of his smothered pose and started after the champion and kept after him until he had Walcott holding in the clinches in the last two rounds. As Jackson grew strong, Walcott, while he lost none of his skill at ducking, his blows seemed to lack steam, and his judgment of distance became less accurate. It was Jackson's straight left that kept reaching Walcott's face that was beating the champion. He realized it as well as the crowd, which, during the earlier stages of the fight, was with the Black Demon from Boston. But when Jackson's stinging left repeatedly found lodgment against Walcott's jaw and face, his right smashing into Joe's wind, or ripping an upper cut which sent Walcott's head back with a snap, the tide of favor turned, until in the 18th round the crowd was yelling like mad and howling, "Jackson! Jackson!" Jackson tried manfully to deliver what the crowd wanted--a knockout punch--and it was only because of Walcott's ability to stall that saved him.

Walcott Grows Serious.

Of course, Walcott doesn't think he was anywhere near beaten. His seconds share his opinion, but it was noticed that the laugh was no longer tripping merrily from the lips of the Barbadoes Wonder. There was no longer the ready jibe and witticism; instead, the black from Boston was serious--as serious as a miser counting his hoarded wealth. The yawn and the assumed air of sleepiness had also disappeared, and on his ebon face there was an expression of anxiety and consternation. He was fighting to save his title, and no longer to hear the laugh of the crowd. All this time Jackson, like a mole working under ground, was wearing his antagonist down. In the 19th round a series of lefts to the face, and a number of herculean uppercuts had the champion wobbling and rocking like an old-fashioned cradle. At that Walcott was at all times dangerous, and, although badly weakened, there was a knockout punch lingering in those brown arms. Jackson knew this, and he never became careless; in fact, all through the rough journey both men fought hard, but carefully.

There was the usual delay in getting the men in the ring, and even after they were in the arena there was a short parley about the number of rounds. Herford wanted the men to fight 25 rounds, but Walcott would not consent, and they finally settled on 20 rounds. The men were brought to the center of the ring and introduced. Dixie Kid was introduced, and offered to fight any man in the world at 145 pounds. Jackson and Billie Woods are matched, and the fight will be pulled off in San Francisco.

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MEMSIC WINS PRELIMINARY.
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Snailham's Seconds Throw Up the Sponge--Ah Wing Boxes.

The crowd as usual was on hand early and as the hour for starting the mill rolled around there were the usual calls for the fighters, Ah Wing and Ed Wiley. At 8:45 Ah Wing with his queue stuck in the rear of his tights, was first to show. The crowd yelled him a loud welcome, and the cousin of Wu Ting Fang smiled in return. Wiley is Wing's sparring partner, and the round exhibition pleased the crowd hugely. The Chinese was clever and demonstrated that he knew something of the boxing game. In the third round both boxers gave a fine exhibition of light slugging. In the fourth and last round Wiley allowed the chink to wallop him and gave a show how the knock-out is delivered.

It was 9 o'clock when Mike Memsic, followed by his seconds, entered the ring. Dick Memsic, his brother, and Joe Cotton were in his corner. Snailham followed shortly and he was looked after by Fred Newhouse and Mike Sullivan. Billie McClain, Dixie Kid's manager, officiated as referee. The boys were a trim-looking pair and looked to be in fine condition. It was Dick's initial appearance and he showed himself a bit of a master of the game. Snailham had only a right that he tried frequently, and missed just as often, for the wind. Memsic's straight left jab soon had the Californian in distress. In the second round Memsic used both hands effectively and just before the bell Memsic sent Snailham down with a right to the jaw. Just as he got to his feet the gong sounded.

Memsic tried to finish the battle in the third round, but his blows, while they punished greatly, lacked steam. Snailham was the gamest kid that has boxed in Portland for days. He gave away at least five pounds and certainly was a glutton for punishment. The crowd liked the Bay City kid's gameness and cheered him roundly when he landed a stiff punch. Snailham came back strong in the sixth round, and he had a shade the better of the argument. Snailham's ankle went to the bad early and he limped painfully, but in spite of this and the beating he got he kept coming back for more until about one minute and a half of the ninth round, when his seconds threw up the sponge. His ankle as much as anything helped make him quit. The fight was awarded to Memsic, who is a good, clever boy.

Friday, June 17, 2011

1907-06-17 Jack Blackburn ND6 Terry Martin [Washington Sporting Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1907-06-18 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)
WERE YOU DOWN?
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By Great Effort Blackburn Permits Martin to Stay Six Rounds

Jack Blackburn had the time of his career at the Washington Sporting Club last night in his wind-up with Terry Martin. He had gone through many a tough mill in his brief, but meteoric experience, but never before has he been compelled to utilize all his resources. But he was game--game as a pebble, and though he was a footsore, tired and weary he won out. Martin was there at the sound of the bell at the end of the sixth round, and the sure thing players who wagered as high as 2 to 1 that Martin would stay had a shake fest.

In the semi wind-up Jack Roller, of Brooklyn, stopped Johnny Murray, of this city, in three rounds. In the preliminaries, Bobby O'Neil and Tony Haney boxed a fast six-round draw. Harry Brady, of Shamokin, and Harry Carton, of this city, also boxed a draw, and Kid Kelly, of Brooklyn, and Tommy Stone, of this city, went the limit with honors even.


1907-06-18 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 8)
BLACKBURN BEAT MARTIN
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Colored Boxer Could Not Stop the Tough Little Dane.

Jack Blackburn defeated Terry Martin at the Washington Sporting Club last night, but he could not stop the tough little Dane, who was there doing business at the end of the sixth round, although he was minus four of his front teeth which Blackburn had knocked out during the progress of the contest. After the speedy manner in which Blackburn had put away Fred Bradley it was expected that he would make short work of Martin. Although he hit Terry almost as he pleased during the contest, he was never able to land a blow on the right spot, although he had Martin holding in every round and had Terry's nose and mouth bleeding. Blackburn seemed to be too anxious to end the bout with one punch, and he missed a dozen swinging blows that he aimed at Terry's jaw. There were times when it looked as if the colored boxer was too easy with Martin, for when he would have a chance to land a blow he would draw it back without hitting him. Martin did very little boxing during the progress of the contest outside of the sixth round. He seemed contented to stay and take the punishment. When he was getting it hard he held on and kept his jaws and stomach covered. In the last round, however, Martin made a good rally and fought Blackburn blow for blow for about half the round, and then he went weak, or was satisfied with what he had done, for he started holding again and covering till the end of the round.

In the semi-wind-up Jack Roller stopped Johnny Murray in four rounds. Tony Haney and Bobby O'Neill boxed a hard draw, both being nearly all in in the last round. Tommy Stone and Harry Kelly boxed a draw, as did also Ed Carton and Young Grady.

1905-06-16 Sam Langford W-PTS15 Young Peter Jackson [Douglas Athletic Club, Chelsea, MA, USA]

1905-06-17 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 3)
LANGFORD THE MASTER
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Jackson Should be Content Now.
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Boston Boxer at All Times Ahead of the Baltimorean.
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Briggs and Coffey May Meet Again.
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Young Peter Jackson was defeated for the second time by Sam Langford of this city when the two met last night at the Douglas A. C. The Baltimore boxer should rest content now and admit that he has met his master.

The bout last night was somewhat of a repetition of the contest at Marlboro, only last night Langford was more confident of the result.

There never was a time when he did not feel that he was winning. His left hand jabs found a resting place on Jackson time and again. The visitor resorted to his stalling and blocking tactics, but they availed him very little. When they got to close quarters Jackson got in some good punches, but he found Langford pretty handy at infighting, too.

Time and again on the breakaway Jackson tried to get over his famous right, the punch that knocked Jack O'Brien out twice, but it was no use with Langford.

In the bout at Marlboro Langford got one taste of the dangerous wallop and it came near losing him that battle, so last night he was prepared for it.

When the referee gave Langford the decision the greater number of those present fully agreed that the verdict was the only one that could have been given. Of course, Jackson could not see it, but there was no alternative.

Langford will now seek matches with some of the other pugilists who think they are entitled to the middleweight championship.


1905-06-17 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 5)
Langford Won From Jackson In Slow Fight
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Sam Langford of Cambridge and Young Peter Jackson of Baltimore fought fifteen dreary, weary rounds at the Douglas A. C., Chelsea, last night, Langford winning the decision by all kinds of margins and angles. Jackson did not have any chance for victory except to send Langford down and out. He came within an ace of the point, but "nears do not count."

Langford's work was pretty in the extreme sense of the word. He stabbed repeatedly with the left hand on to Pete's nose and face and the right-hand blow which crashed onto Jackson's jaw was also used often as a supplement to the left-hand jab. The left-hand hook to the body by Langford was also telling. Four times during the contest Langford's right smashed so hard onto the black Oriole's jaw that he was staggered half way across the ring.

Jackson had fifteen or twenty pounds advantage in weight. He pursued the tactics he employed when he showed in this city before and did nothing but stall and cover up and try for one "haymaker." But while Langford was eager to stab and jab with the left and smash with the right on the jaw, he was also wary. He never forgot to guard his jaw, and also remembered that there is such a warning among canal boat men as "low bridge," for he ducked more than once out of harm's way.

Jackson's right, which carries destruction in its path, sailed over Sam's head several times, as he saw it coming.

It was a case of clinch on Jackson's part and to protect himself Langford was also obliged to grapple. Fifteen or twenty times during every round found both boys locked in a warm embrace, working desperately with the free hand.

Kid Lester of Cambridge dropped twice to the floor to avoid punishment. The second time he went on his hands but not his knees. While in this position his antagonist, Harry Edels of Chelsea, punched him. Thereupon the referee disqualified Edels, who had beaten Lester at the rate of fifty to one, overlooking the fact that Lester had gone down to avoid punishment without being punched, a clear violation of the rules.

In the first bout Johnnie Fitzgerald of South Boston won from Tommy Murray of Roxbury. It was all Fitzgerald in the last round, and it appeared a bit brutal. The referee showed good judgment in stopping it. Murray was game to the core and made a good showing till the last round when the tide of battle turned against him.


1905-06-17 The Washington Post (Washington, DC) (page 8)
LANGFORD BEATS JACKSON.
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Baltimore Fighter Unable to Get Close to Boston Man.

Special to The Washington Post.
Boston, June 16.--Sam Langford, of this city, knocked out Young Peter Jackson in their fifteen-round fight before the Douglas A. C. members in Chelsea tonight. The colored fighter from Baltimore exhibited a capacity for punishment that only equals Joe Grimm's ability in that line, yet he kept Langford stepping pretty fast to keeo out of the way of his wide swings.

In the last round Langford had Jackson all but gone. The Boston man simply hit Jackson when and where he pleased. Jackson willingly took powerful swings on the jaw in order to get in close, but it seemed impossible for Jackson to get into position to land a punch.

Jackson was groggy and floundering around the ring in the last round.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

1921-06-15 Johnny Dundee W-PTS12 Jimmy Hanlon [Pioneer Sporting Club, New York, NY, USA]

1921-06-16 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 15)
Dundee Gains Judges' Decision Over Hanlon

Johnny Dundee was in fine shape last night in his battle with Jimmy Hanlon at the Pioneer A. C., bewildering the Denver boy with his clever boxing and constantly using a left hook to good effect. At the end of the twelve rounds the judges readily agreed on Dundee as the winner. In the ninth round Johnny sent Hanlon to the canvas with a clean left hook to the jaw, and when Jimmy got up at the count of two, he had a badly swollen lip.

Hanlon tried to outbox Dundee early in the bout, but was battered into submission in every round. In the seventh session he tried a slugging game, but Dundee came right back and outslugged him.


1921-06-16 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page S2)
Johnny Dundee Gives Hanlon a Boxing Lesson

Johnny Dundee, shifty as ever, gave Jimmy Hanlon, the Denver veteran, a nifty lacing in the Pioneer S. C. last night. Hanlon was on the receiving end in every round, and he very seldom laid a glove on his elusive Italian opponent. On the good showing he made against Willie Jackson in the same ring a month ago. Hanlon was given a chance against Dundee, but the Western lad was up against a decidedly different proposition, and he never did fathom Dundee's jumping-jack tactics.

In only one round, the seventh, did Hanlon show a flash, and here he outfought Dundee in a fierce mixup, making Johnny clinch to avoid punishment. But Dundee immediately after was right on top again, and he landed enough lefts to keep a comptometer busy adding them up. In the ninth round Dundee caught Hanlon with a wicked left that put the Denver lad down for a couple of seconds. The bell was welcome music to the Westerner in this session. Dundee weighed 132 and Hanlon 132½.

In the semi-final Johnny Darcy, who is one of the best of the second division lightweights boxing around these parts, won his third consecutive victory in the Pioneer Club. This time Dick Stosh of Cleveland was the victim. Stosh lasted the 12-round route, but he was a badly beaten lad at the finish. This bout took the place of the scheduled heavyweight battle between Al Roberts and Bill Schellinger.

Sammy Schiff, an East Side lightweight of evident ability, was awarded the decision by Referee Danny Sullivan in his bout with Johnny Marto, because of Marto's foul work. Schiff was giving Marto a severe beating, and Johnny was warned for hitting low several times. In the fifth round Marto, half blinded--his left eye was completely closed--swung a right from his knee and it landed very low. Schiff fell and writhed on the floor with pain, and Marto was properly disqualified.

In the other bouts Al Boyle beat Ole Miller in six rounds, and Marcel Badeau and Harry Harris fought a six-round draw.


1921-06-16 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page S1)
Johnny Dundee Easily Beats Jimmy Hanlon
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Jumping Johnny Dundee, the Scotch Wop, took Jimmy Hanlon, of Denver, Colo., over the hurdles last night at the Pioneer Sporting Club and won an easy decision from the Westerner in the main twelve-round bout. Johnny, in the pink of condition at 132 pounds, his opponent a half-pound heavier, never was in danger and had the Denverite so confused he was unable to hit where Dundee was.

The ruggedness of Dick Storsch, a Clevelander, saved him from a knockout at the hands of Johnny Darcy, of the West Side, in the semi-final twelve-round go. Darcy was awarded the decision.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

1910-06-14 Billy Papke W-TKO2 Al Goodale [Grand Avenue Athletic Club, Hippodrome, Kansas City, MO, USA]

1910-06-15 The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO) (page 9)
The Umpire
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The miserable showing made by "Al" Goodiell in his bout with "Billy" Papke before the Grand Avenue Athletic Club at the Hippodrome last night is one of the "angles" which is killing the boxing game. While the spectators who went to the Hippodrome last night didn't expect to see Papke knocked out by a man with so little reputation as Goodiell possessed, they at least expected to see a man who would put up a creditable showing and give Papke an opportunity to display his goods. Some even went so far as to speculate on the Chicago fighter landing a lucky punch and adding to his reputation and future earning capacity, but there was no chance. The main ingredient of a fighter--sand--did not appear to be in Goodiell's makeup.

For the Grand Avenue Athletic Club and Papke it can be said that every effort was made to bring a worthy opponent to Kansas City to meet the "Illinois Thunderbolt." Promoter Welch tried to induce all the available middleweights, except Ketchel and Langford, to come here. Themen he communicated with could not or would not come and Goodiell was recommended as a worthy man who would make a good card.


1910-06-15 The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, MO) (page 6)
"AL" GOODIELL A REAL JOKE
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PAPKE MADE THE "CHICAGO HURRICANE" QUIT IN THE SECOND ROUND.
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Both of the Preliminaries Were Good and Resulted in Draws Between "Mike" Elliott and "Andy" Jewell and 'Young Bob' and 'Kid" Allison.
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"Al" Goodiell, the biggest quince that ever appeared here in a prize ring, was disqualified for quitting in the second round of a scheduled 10-round bout with "Bill" Papke at the Hippodrome last night. Goodiell was billed as the Chicago Hurricane. Perhaps he is in his line--but his line isn't fighting. Albert shook hands like a regular fighter; had tape on his hands, wore trunks and fighting shoes and knew how to pose for a picture. He had an awful hunch to quit in the first round, when Papke hooked one close to his jaw, but after lying on his back--when he found a soft spot--until the referee counted 9, he got up and hung onto Papke as though the "Illinois Thunderbolt" was a long lost brother. His seconds applied smelling salts at the end of the round and Albert wobbled out for the second session. The round hadn't been on thirty seconds before Goodiell fell to his knees and crawled to his corner. It was an exhibition of quitting that would make "Mexican Pete" Everett look like a dub, and Pete held the diamond studded belt for quitting. Referee Shea promptly disqualified the "gentle breeze" and his seconds threw a sponge into the ring to make the decision official.

The redeeming features of last night's show were the preliminaries. "Mike" Elliott, of the Kansas City Athletic Club and Andy Jewell of Kansas City, Kas., fought six hard rounds for the curtain raiser. Elliott had a big lead in the first three rounds and it appeared as though Andy's friends would be compelled to tell their friends that Andrew took the count. The effort to put Jewell out told on Elliott and the Kansas fighter made up a lot of lost ground when the K. C. A. C. youth tired and slowed down.

"Young Bob" Fitzsimmons of Fort Riley, Kas., has an excellent record as a soldier and as his term of enlistment is about up he decided to take up the fighting game. He went ten rounds to a draw with "Kid" Allison of this city. It was a corking good bout and while neither men showed any great amount of skill they more than made up for this defect in willingness. "Bob" had Allison very tired after five rounds but lacked the punch and the judgment to put him out. They kept the crowd applauding throughout the bout but both men were "all in" at the finish.

The preliminaries had the spectators worked up for some real fighting between Papke and Goodiel, but the miserable showing of the Chicago man made this bout a farce. Papke was in fine shape and what little work he did do gave the crowd an idea of what they might have seen if "Billy" had been matched with a fighter.

Monday, June 13, 2011

1906-06-13 Young Peter Jackson W-TKO5 Sam Langford [Southbridge, MA, USA]

1906-06-14 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)
SAM LANGFORD QUIT IN FIFTH WITH JACKSON
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WORCESTER, June 14.--Sam Langford stopped in the beginning of the fifth round of his contest with young Peter Jackson, at Southbridge last evening, and refused to continue. He claimed that he had been injured and that it was impossible for him to resume boxing. Jackson was awarded the decision by Referee Arthur Pratt.

The bout was surprisingly fast up to the end of the fourth round, when Langford claimed that the injury was inflicted. The appeal to the referee came after a clinch, but there was no evidence that Jackson had hit any unfair blow. When time was called for the beginning of the next round Langford refused to continue and was counted out while sitting in his chair.

In the preliminaries Johnny Sheehan of Boston knocked out Kid Williams of Lowell in the fourth round and Jack Curran of Worcester made Duke Ferguson quit in the fifth round.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

1916-06-12 Benny Leonard ND10 Johnny Dundee [Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA]

1916-06-13 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 12)
DUNDEE HAS SHADE ON BENNY LEONARD
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Italian Lightweight Outpoints Harlem Boxer at Madison Square Garden.

A crowd of 6,000 persons at Madison Square Garden last night saw Johnny Dundee, the Italian lightweight, win a close decision over Benny Leonard, the popular Harlem boxer. This was not the first meeting of this pair of boxers, anxious for a crack at Freddie Welsh's lightweight laurels, but it outshone any of their previous exhibitions. The clever Leonard, with a more complete knowledge of the finer points of the game, at times made Dundee miss and flounder when the latter would lunge at him. Dundee, on the other hand, although frequently met with a left-hand jab, alternated occasionally with a right-hand uppercut, was constantly coming at his opponent, and several times during the ten rounds forced Benny to retreat under fire.

The boxers set a fast pace from the tap of the opening gong, and the result was a bout which teemed with action. There was little clinching and stalling. Even when the boys were locked in each other's arms they both tried desperately to fight their way out of the mix-ups. The pace began to tell on Leonard toward the close of the exhibition, while Dundee appeared as fresh as when he entered the ring. At the final bell Dundee showed more aggressiveness than his opponent.

The Italian boxer was the first to enter the ring. The clambered up the short flight of steps to his corner at 10:15. He weighed 127 pounds.

For several minutes after the bronzed Italian had entered the roped inclosure the applause continued. Leonard followed his rival by about five minutes, and, although he also received a big ovation, it was plainly evident that it was a Dundee crowd, and the little Italian justified the confidence placed in him by his admirers. Leonard weighed 136 pounds.

As soon as the bell started the contest Leonard leaped out of his corner and began hooking and jabbing with his left to the face with lightning-like motions. The Harlemite had great speed, and Dundee's attempts fell short or went wide of their mark. Near the end of the session the Italian boxer rushed Benny to the ropes, and there tried industriously with swings for the stomach, but Leonard blocked well and used his left hand fast with an uppercut for the chin, which kept Dundee's head bobbing.

The same conditions prevailed in the second round, Dundee coming at his opponent with leads for the face or stomach, alternately, but the elusive Leonard evaded most of the Italian's leads and countered cleverly himself when Dundee left a suitable opening with stiff right and left hand swings to the face.

Dundee assimilated many blows without any signs of punishment, and always came back willingly. Before the bell he managed to connect with several good left-hand hooks to the side of Leonard's head.

There was no variation in the third session, Dundee leaving his corner with his usual rush, and sending his first blow, after feinting, home to the stomach. Twice, as the round progressed, Dundee, in his eagerness to land effectively, hit his opponent rather low, and upon Leonard's complaint Referee Brown censured the Italian.

Dundee showed to advantage in the fourth session, and, notwithstanding the fact that he was met with Leonard's snappy jabs to the face, he came in constantly and landed effectively on the Harlem boy with choppy blows to the face. In the fifth round Dundee again scored with a left hook, which had force behind it, and Leonard appeared somewhat shaken up. Dundee carried off the honors in the sixth session, and before the bell sounded had Leonard bleeding slightly from a cut over the left eye. In the seventh Dundee showed to advantage with his aggressiveness. The eighth round was even; the ninth went to Leonard. The tenth round was a whirlwind affair and found both men boxing fast. Dundee, with what seemed like superior strength, carried off the honors, and his aggressiveness won him the victory by a close margin.


1916-06-13 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 10)
LEONARD IS WINNER BUT BOUT IS CLOSE
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Dundee Fights Hard All the Way, but Harlem Boy Outpoints Him.
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LAST ROUND DECIDES IT
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Benny Leonard spent one of the busiest evenings of his young life at Madison Square Garden last night, when Johnny Dundee made him hustle all the way to get in a victory on points by the slightest sort of margin. Dundee made it a hot fight instead of a pretty little boxing match by continually throwing his fists Leonard's way.

The little Italian deserves all the credit for giving the crowd its money's worth, for Leonard was content simply to fight off the Italian's attacks. Dundee's assault was directed so poorly, however, that nearly all his punches hit the air, whereas the Harlem youngster had the range most of the way.

In Leonard's favor or maybe against him was the fact that he outweighed Dundee nine pounds. Tipping the beam at 136, he was a welterweight instead of a lightweight. He was stronger than in the past but lacked his usual speed. In many cases he would poke his left out firmly and let Dundee run into it for a good jolt.

As is stylish, the bout began with an even round. Dundee took the second and third, Leonard the next two, Dundee two more and Leonard evened it by winning the eighth and ninth. The tenth, barely in Leonard's favor, swung the balance. At no time did either gain a really decided lead, so well matched were they, and one who is not a stickler for detail might have found good argument for a draw decision. "Wouldn't this be a peach if it could go on for twenty rounds," said a ringster near the end. That was the consensus of the crowd which voiced its satisfaction with what it saw.

Dundee First in Ring.

Dundee was the first of the principals to enter the ring. He got a good hand until he looked around and selected the southeast corner; but it was nothing to the ovation Leonard received when he clambered through the ropes. There was a cowbell brigade, and somebody blew blasts on a bugle. The Harlemite's weight was announced as 136 pounds and Dundee's as 127. Bill Brown acted as referee.

The preliminary fiddling of the first round was over quickly. Both seemed bent on making it a fight instead of a boxing match. Leonard landed oftener than Dundee, both at long range and in close, with the exception of one brief rally near the end, when Dundee flailed Benny in a corner and thereby evened the session.

Dundee forced it in the second. He ran perhaps a full mile altogether, part of it toward Leonard and part around him. The young Hebrew connected a bit more, but the Italian's wild swings had a little more power in them and gave him the round.

A lot of clinching marred the early part of the third session, Dundee seeming to be the chief offender. Repeated cautions from Billy Brown made them open up and they travelled at a hot clip to the end of the round, which was another one for Dundee. Leonard seemed to be conserving his strength for later on.

Benny sent home three lusty uppercuts to start the fourth round and then directed his energies to making Dundee miss, which the latter did gracefully by a foot each time. Leonard during the rest of the period had a little the better of it.

Leonard Boxes Cleverly.

Clever infighting was shown by Leonard in the fifth. Dundee was glad to clinch every time they got together. The round was about a standoff outside of the close work.

A swing drew blood from a cut over Leonard's left eye in the sixth. Dundee, encouraged by the sight, pressed forward more vigorously than ever. He played the old trick of bouncing back off the ropes and Benny fell for it several times.

Dundee remained the aggressor in the seventh and excelled by a slight margin, Leonard again furnishing little action.

Leonard's left transacted a lot of business in the eighth and he also got home an occasional right swing that carried a sting. Dundee was growing tired. He moved about just as much, but accuracy was lacking.

Benny kept within range throughout the ninth session and made his superior judgment of distance count in dozens of lefts that reached the goal. He made a monkey of Dundee, who could not land a single solid blow, and toward the close the Italian looked rather worried.

They shot in alternate rights and lefts to open the tenth. Leonard got Dundee in a clinch and bombarded him with left hand uppercuts. The round was the usual red hot finisher, with Leonard having only the slightest edge.

Leonard did not have to be saving of his hands and strength for use against Freddy Welsh next Friday night, for the simple and sufficient reason that he is not going to meet Welsh next Friday night. It was announced last night that this bout is off. Some followers of the game go so far as to say it never was on. No reason was given for the announced cancellation.

Al Chung, supposed to be from Pekin, China, met Harry Thomas of England in the semi-final. The squat Briton outclassed his Celestial foe and knocked him out in the third round with a pair of right handers to the jaw. The novelty of an Oriental in the ring was apparently something of an attraction, for practically all the crowd was seated when the contest began. Altogether the attendance was nearly 8,000, the biggest crowd the Garden has held since Jess Willard licked Frank Moran.

1918-06-11 Jack Britton W-PTS12 Bryan Downey [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1918-06-12 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 6)
BRITTON WHIPS DOWNEY EASING UP
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Could Have Stopped Him in Armory A. A. Bout
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Shows a Hard Punch Despite Fall That Dazed Him
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Jack Britton of Chicago found Bryan Downey of Columbus easy game for him in their bout at the Armory A. A. last night and was given the decision in 12 rounds.

That Britton could have stopped Downey was the opinion of the fans. For the first three sessions the latter showed up well. He started to force the boxing, but in the fourth Britton got busy and from that time on made Downey look like a third-rater.

In the 10th, Britton had Downey in a bad way, but when it looked as if he could knock him out, he lessened the force in his punches.

Downey was in such a shape at times that the spectators yelled to the referee to stop the bout.

In the second round Britton, in making a lunge at Downey, slipped out of the ring and struck his head on the floor. He was dazed for an instant, but returned to the ring in a few seconds.

The preliminary between Mike Snyder and Jack Fallon was a great bout. Both little fellows fought fast and hard, Fallon scoring a knockdown in the sixth. At the end of six rounds it was called a draw. Joe Rivers of Gloucester defeated Panama Joe Gans in eight rounds, and Mike Castle stopped Young Sharkey of New Bedford in four.

Johnny Dundee and Young Britt will box in the feature bout at the club next Tuesday night. Shaver O'Brien and Sam Bell will meet in the semi-final; Billy Roberts and Jack Mansfield in one preliminary and Young Veira and Young Bruno in the other.


1918-06-12 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 10)
JACK BRITTON IS DOWNEY'S MASTER
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BOSTON, June 12.--Jack Britton, the master, overwhelmingly defeated Bryan Downey in a 12-round bout at the Armory A. A. last night. Downey looked and fought like an apprentice against the skill and superior ring craft of the former welterweight champion. The Columbus boxer had superb courage, otherwise he never would have lasted through. He fought one of the gamest up-hill battles ever seen in a local ring.

Panama Joe Gans substituted for Victor Dahl against Joe Rivers and lost the decision to the Gloucester man in an eight-round fight.

Mike Snyder and Johnny Fallon fought a fast six rounds to a draw and Mike Castle proved too fast for Young Sharkey and was given the verdict in the fourth round.

1913-06-10 Johnny Kilbane W-TKO6 Jimmy Fox [Piedmont Pavilion, Oakland, CA, USA]

1913-06-11 Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA) (page 10)
Johnny Kilbane Proves Himself Real Champion and Gentleman
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JIMMY FOX TOPPLED OVER IN SIXTH ROUND BY FEATHER KING
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San Franciscan Beaten Before He Entered Ring; Is Let Down Easy.
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(By THE TIMEKEEPER.)

Beaten before he climbed through the ropes, and hopelessly ???? little Jimmy Fox fell flat on his face in the sixth round of his bout last night with Champion Johnny Kilbane. Before two seconds of the count had been tolled off Manager Joe Sullivan acknowledged defeat by tossing a small face sponge into the ring. Fox was on his feet almost instantly and wanted to continue, but the crowd had started for the door almost before the sponge made its appearance. It did not take a very alert man to observe that Kilbane had mercifully punched just hard enough to drop his opponent and yet not hard enough to seriously hurt him.

Judged by his performance last night, Johnny Kilbane is a thorough gentleman, possessed of everything that goes to make up a champion, and the most workmanlike little boxer this section of the glorious west has seen in years.

The champion could have finished Jimmy Fox in the first round had he been so minded, but there was too much at stake for him to take any chances, and he evidently realized that the fans had paid their money to see him in action. Kilbane gave the youngster in front of him every chance in the world and did not take advantage of him once.

Again and again he held back the old poppy wallop when the bewildered San Franciscan offered a target as big as the barn door. Fox landed just about six light blows during the five and a third rounds, and showed 20 seconds after the bell rang that he didn't have any more chance than a jack rabbit at the north pole. It was hardly a test of Kilbane's real ability as a fighter, for his stamina, endurance, nerve and absorbing power were not called into play at all. Of footwork, feinting ability, dexterity with both mits, and ability to time his blows, Kilbane is endowed wonderfully. It is small wonder that there are no boys of his weight left and that he must seek other realms in which to conquer.

Kilbane and Jimmy Fox entered the ring at 9:50, Kilbane wearing his emerald tights, and Fox black trunks. Joe Sullivan and Spider Roache were behind the San Franciscan, and Jimmy Dunn and Cal Delaney handled Kilbane.

When Referee Toby Irwin sent the two together it was plain that Fox was suffering from a bad attack of stage fright. He managed to send in light left jabs to Kilbane's face, but was immediately feinted out of position repeatedly by Kilbane, who hopped in and out like a darning needle, finally crossing Fox with a jolt to jaw that sent the latter into a clinch. Short right uppercuts to the jaw broke through the Fox clinches and set the local boy's mouth to bleeding. Kilbane appeared in splendid physical condition and twice as strong as his opponent.

In the second round, the champion forced Fox into cover at once with a series of lightning lefts and rights that were intended only to bewilder. Fox tried desperately to lead but missed Kilbane's head by two feet with a vicious left swing. Kilbane planted a stiff right to the jaw, almost ending the fight and while Fox covered up with both arms, the champion danced around him three times smiling. A second right cross to the same place sent Fox scrambling into a clinch in which Kilbane extended both arms patiently. When the bell rang, Johnny tapped his opponent encouragingly on the back and the crowd laughed.

Kilbane did not seem to extend himself in the third round, and yet Fox went to the mat three times, coming up like a flash each time. Kilbane was not anxious to end the fight and the blows which knocked Fox down were apparently not intended as knockouts. The bell found Fox taking the count of three, and as he sprang up toward the champion they exchanged a few passes, being separated by seconds. Fox was with difficulty restrained from continuing but Kilbane took his seat laughing.

The fourth and fifth rounds were nothing else than sparring exhibitions. Fox was a piece of putty in the hands of Kilbane, who played with Fox as he would with his sparring partner. The champion on two occasions measured Fox against the ropes, holding him there with one hand, and drawing the right back for the knockout. Then instead of letting it go, Johnny circled his opponent's neck and tapped him lightly on the back.

Kilbane waited until the sixth round before sailing in, and then a rapid artillery attack with both hands on his opponent's jaw put the San Francisco speed marvel on queer street. Fox desperately clutched Kilbane about the waist with both hands and was whirled around and around until he let go. A left to the stomach followed by a right cross, just hard enough to turn the trick, sent Fox toppling forward on his face.

Kilbane made a great impression on the crowd. The fans got no chance to even encourage Fox and they finally turned loose the applause on the champion.

Only one challenge was received and hint was from Eddie Campi who offered a $1000 side bet for a match with Kilbane.

Sailor Ed Petroskey of Yerba Buena slipped into the ring with his usual challenge to Bob McAllister for anything over 10 rounds and the sailor got a good hand. Red Watson and Tommy McFarland were also introduced as well as Cat Delaney.

The six round semi-windup between Joe Azavedo and Young Abe Attell went to the former by a decision, but Azavedo will be given little credit for the victory. He got nothing but jeers last night, while the applause went to the loser. The men were not evenly matched for Attell is nothing more than a featherweight and not a very hardy one, while Joe Azavedo is a husky lightweight who weighed a good deal more than the lightweight limit last night. Attell's cleverness was of little avail against the greater strength and weight of his opponent, and he tired rapidly after the fourth round.

Azavedo put up a good battle and displayed improved boxing form. The match, however, was ill advised.

Frank Rome and Sally Salvadore traveled six peppery rounds to a Salvadore decision. Rome fought wildly and without defense, depending entirely upon a vicious right uppercut to bring the bacon homeward. Salvadore avoided these and beat his man with straight lefts and the old right cross. Rome was in a bad way at the finish.

Kid Romen finally managed to put out ???? though the result might have been different had not Referee Irwin seen fit to award the fight to Romen when the bell rang at the end of the second round with Freitas just rising to his knees after the third knockdown. Freitas probably would have recovered during the intermission and come back strong.

The youngster ran into a right  swing to the jaw in the last minute of the second round, and didn't have sense enough to remain down long enough to clear his head. He kept jumping up only to be knocked down again before he could get his sense of direction. The bell saved him, but Referee Irwin evidently figured that Freitas would not be able to recuperate during the minute of rest.

In the four round preliminary, Wild Joe Belasco found all the stars in the universe after little Joe Reilly had been turned loose on him. The little Filipino jumped about like a rubber ball and succeeded in stopping every punch with his face. He was dreaming of sugar cane and bolos when Referee Irwin interfered and held up Reilly's hand.

Apparently the local fans figured that ringside seats at a world's championship ???? land, though they might be worth $10 in San Francisco. The ringside seats were the only ones that showed a scarcity of occupants last night, though the balance of the house was well filled and the promoters lost no money on the show.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

1919-06-09 Benny Leonard ND10 Charley Pitts [Theatre Francais, Montreal, Quebec, Canada]

1919-06-10 The Gazette (Montreal, QC) (page 10)
BENNY LEONARD ON EXHIBITION
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Lightweight Champion Gave Charlie Pitts a Boxing Lesson in Good Workout
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ASPIN KNOCKED OUT
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Roddy McDonald Showed Improvement and Scored Decisive Victory--Russel Scored Knockout
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Making his initial appearance in a local ring, Benny Leonard, champion lightweight of the world, pleased a well-filled house at the Theatre Francais last night, when he gave Charlie Pitts, of Australia, a boxing lesson and at the same time was having a good workout for his next bout. Leonard created a much more favorable impression than Jack Dempsey did here a few weeks ago. Leonard needs no recommendation, as he has earned his title and is without exception the cleverest boxer that has ever displayed his talent to a local public.

Leonard boxed with his opponent at all times and showed such clever defensive work that Pitts hardly laid a glove on him during the ten rounds. Leonard devoted a great deal of the time to shadow boxing rather than to administering punishment on his inferior opponent. Time and again he had Pitts at his mercy, but would stop his offensive tactics to allow Pitts to recover and start afresh. At times Leonard burlesqued the bout by dancing around his opponent, tapping him and breaking away, giving Pitts every opportunity to land, but the Australian was never able to take advantage of the offerings.

The champion is as fast as a featherweight. He has science and, when he lets his blows go, packs a hard punch, as was shown when he landed several times in the tenth round, staggering Pitts. Had Leonard followed up his advantage, he could have terminated the bout in any of the ten rounds.

McDONALD BEAT ASPIN.

The programme carried out by the Canadien Hockey Club furnished three knockouts. In the semi-windup Roddy McDonald, who was so decisively defeated by Marty Cross recently, knocked out Aspin, of the Canadian Vickers, in the fifth round of a scheduled ten-round bout. McDonald was fighting a man in his own class when he went up against Aspin, and for the first two rounds there was little advantage to be claimed by either.

In the third round Aspin landed a right cross that sagged McDonald's knees. The Glace Bay fighter did not go down, but hung on to his opponent until he rallied. Shortly after Aspin landed, McDonald put over a short left jolt that sent Aspin to the floor for the count of eight. On resuming fighting Aspin stalled McDonald off for the remaining time of the round.

In the fourth McDonald opened on the offensive and landed rights and lefts that staggered the local fighter. Aspin clinched to save himself, and, in the break, put over another right cross on McDonald, but failed to follow it up.

In the fifth McDonald came from his corner with a rush. He landed a left and right that staggered his opponent. Aspin clinched and in the breakaway McDonald landed a right uppercut that terminated the bout.

In the first of the preliminaries Gillis knocked Kid Herman out after a minute's fighting. In the next preliminary Russell knocked Barney Kauf out with a right cross to the jaw in the fourth round. Up until the knockout blow was struck Kauf had the better of the fighting.

Walter Mohr, who is to meet Jack Britton on Friday night, was introduced, and it was announced that Frankie Fleming would fight Frankie Brown, of New York, on Thursday night, June 19.

1905-06-08 Joe Jeannette ND6 Black Bill [Broadway Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1905-06-09 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)
JOE JEANETTE ON TOP
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Had a Shade on Black Bill in Wind-Up at Broadway A. C.

Joe Jeanette, of New York, was entitled to the verdict over Black Bill at the end of the sixth round last night in the wind-up at the Broadway Athletic Club. There was nothing of any particular interest in the bout, as both men were clumsy, very slow to take advantage of the many openings offered and clinched entirely too much to suit the crowd. Jeanette put Bill down in the first with a wicked right to the jaw, but the bell was a timely interference for the Merchantville man, and he managed to stagger to his corner for repairs. Jeanette failed to follow up his advantage in the second, and from that round on until the sixth they both plugged away, missed many swipes and clinched so often that the referee became exhausted trying to pull them apart. Bill landed some soakers on Joe's top piece, while the New Yorker jabbed a few stiff ones to the black one's face. Neither seemed able to dent the other's phiz or anatomy, but in the sixth there was something doing. Jeanette, urged on by Martin Neary and the rest of his coterie, went after Bill after they shook hands and getting home a "blinker" on Bill's jaw he had the big fellow guessing. Bill held whenever the opportunity presented itself and Jeanette in his eagerness to get a knockout before the bell rang swung all kinds of blows at his opponent. Some of the punches missed Bill's vital spots by a hair and others never came within a dozen feet of him. Bill was still doing business in the hugging line when the bell rang.

The semi-wind-up in point of interest and science was the best of the night. Joe Hagan and Billy Burke were the principals, and they worked every second of the eighteen minutes. Hagan floored Burke in the first and the Kensington boxer took the full count. He was wobbly when he arose, but Hagan was too anxious and could not land the telling punch. Burke steadily improved as the bout progressed and he easily evened up matters for that knockdown before the bell sent them out of the ring.

In the preliminaries Kid Kane quit to Ike Conway in one round, and then Ike made Kid Harlan stop in two rounds. It was Ike's night. Eddie Wallace and Kid Brown broke even, while Jimmy Casey pounded Billy Kolh unmercifully for six rounds. Billy, although very tired, was there at the finish.


1905-06-09 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 11)
BLACK BILL AND JEANNETTE
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Merchantville Boxer in Bad Shape at End of the Sixth Round.

The sound of the bell announcing the end of the sixth round probably saved Black Bill from being knocked out by Joe Jeannette, of New York, at the Broadway Athletic Club, last night. Until within a few seconds of the last round the contest, while fast, was not particularly interesting, being characterized by too much clinching. A right-hand punch on the jaw in the last round put Bill on queer street and he was wobbly at the end of the round.

Joe Hagen and Billy Burke fought six hard rounds in the semi-wind-up. Hagen knocked Burke down in the first round with a right on the nose and a hard left-hand punch on the jaw. Both were tired at the end of the sixth round.

In the preliminary contests Rex Kane quit to Ikey Conway in the first round. Conway later on met Kid Harlan and the bout was stopped at the end of the second round to save Harlan. Eddie Wallace and Kid Brown boxed a draw, while Jimmy Casey, of Bristol, made a punching bag of Billy Kolb for six rounds.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

1906-06-07 Jack Blackburn ND6 Kid Wilson [Broadway Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1906-06-08 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)
Not Easy for Blackburn.

PHILADELPHIA, June 8.--Jack Blackburn bested Kid Wilson in the wind-up at the Broadway A. C. last night. It was a hard fight all the way through and Wilson kept Blackburn on the go all the time, and in the fourth round landed a right swing which sent Jack to the floor. Jack used his left jab with telling effect and had things rather easy in the first two rounds, but in the third and fourth Wilson fought hard and had the advantage. From them on it was Blackburn's fight, but he did not win in any easy manner.


1906-06-08 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 11)
BLACKBURN DEFEATED WILSON
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Orange Lad Knocked Jack Down in the Fourth Round.

Jack Blackburn defeated Kid Wilson, of Orange, N. J., in a fast six round bout at the Broadway Athletic Club last night. But Blackburn did not have it all his own way, for Wilson proved a tough customer, and he made Blackburn hustle every inch of the way. Blackburn had the advantage in height and reach, but there was little difference in the weight, as Wilson is a stocky-built chap. The Philadelphia boxer had all the best of the first round. He jabbed Wilson repeatedly, and at the end of the round Wilson was bleeding from the nose. In the second and third rounds things were about the same. In the fourth round Wilson pulled himself together and, catching Blackburn on the point of the jaw, dropped him to the mat. Jack was up quickly and a few seconds later he put Wilson down. Wilson boxed hard in the fifth and made Blackburn use all his cleverness. In the sixth round they mixed it up fiercely and went at it hammer and tongs. Blackburn dropped Wilson twice, but the Kid would not stay down, and was up quick and soon was fighting back as hard as he could. They were at it hard when the bell rang.

After the bout Wilson claimed that six rounds was too short a distance for him against Blackburn owing to the latter's cleverness, but he believed he could beat Blackburn in a long contest.

In the semi-wind-up Buck Lincoln defeated Joe Kain in four rounds. Boxer Kelly defeated Young Lancey in three rounds. Kid Ross had the best of a six-round bout with Young Carter. Jack Kain defeated Kid Selb in three rounds. Peter Lowrie defeated Jimmy Wilson in four rounds.

Monday, June 6, 2011

1904-06-06 Dave Holly ND Joe Grim [National Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1904-06-07 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 10)
JOE GRIM GETS ANOTHER BEATING
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(Special to The Evening World.)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., June 7.--Joe Grim, he of the iron jaw and rugged constitution that has withstood more beatings than any five fighters that ever donned the mitts, was the recipient of another severe lacing at the hands of Dave Holly last night at the National A. C. While Grim managed to stay the prescribed six rounds, he was all in at the finish and was holding on to Holly for dear life. Holly was in a rocky condition at the end himself, but it was not the result of Grim's punches, but he tired himself out punching Grim. Joe showed his ability to take punishment, but he was there to stay the limit and he did so.

Young Erne and Johnny Marto, of New York, repeated their fierce go of two weeks ago. The boys went through six terrific rounds and in a couple of rounds science was thrown to the wind and the go resolved itself into an old-time slugging match.


1904-06-07 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 6)
HOLLY MADE GRIM TAKE THE COUNT
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The bout between Joe Grim and Dave Holly last night at the National Athletic Club was a corking affair for action, and it went the limit. Grim stood off another man, although the Italian was forced to take the count in the last round as the result of a stiff punch to the jaw. Joseph was decidedly to the bad at the close of the sixth.

In the semi-wind-up Young Erne and Johnny Marto put up a duplicate to their bout of several weeks ago. It was a splendid affair, and Young Erne had something the better of the going.


1904-06-07 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)
HOLLY BESTED JOE GRIM
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Outpointed Italian in Every Round at National Athletic Club.
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COULD NOT PUT HIM TO SLEEP
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Young Erne Outpointed Johnny Marto in Six Exciting Rounds in the Best Contest of the Night.
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Dave Holly bested Joe Grim in the wind-up at the National Athletic Club last night, but, although he had the best of every round and once put the Italian down for the count, the negro could not stop Grim, and at the end of the bout Joe was there just as good as ever. Holly did all of the fighting except in the fifth round, when Grim rushed matters for awhile. The bout was not interesting, for both men did too much clinching and wrestling, and a great deal of time was wasted in this kind of work.

In the preliminary contests George Walker outpointed Johnny Kelly in a rattling six-round bout; Eddie Rocap and Johnny Allen went the limit at a good clip, while Jimmy Devine and Jack Durane boxed six fast rounds, with honors slightly in favor of the latter.

1903-06-05 Sam Langford W-TKO2 Tim Kearns [Lenox Athletic Club, Boston, MA, USA]

1903-06-06 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 11)
KERNS BEATEN IN TWO ROUNDS BY LANGFORD
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Injured Arm Causes Boston Boxer to Give Up the Fight.
------
Sam Langford of Cambridge won from Timmy Kerns of Boston in two rounds in the feature bout at the Lenox Club last night. The match was to have been a twelve-round go, but Kerns refused to continue after he injured his arm on Langford's forehead in the second round. Langford had it all his own way in the first round and crossed a left hand smash on the jaw just before the gong rang that made Kerns groggy.

Eddie Carr of South Boston and Kid Paul of Fall River boxed a fast six-round draw and Young Bernstein of the North End got the decision on a foul in the second round over Young Dixon of Chicago. "Bangor" Connelly of South Boston was knocked out in three rounds by John Shea of South Boston.


1903-06-06 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)
KID PAUL AND EDDIE CARR DRAW.
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Boston, June 6.--Referee Donnelly stopped the feature event at the Lenox Athletic Club last night because Tim Kearns of Lawrence, who was contesting with Sam Langford, colored, of this city, injured his left arm. While the bout lasted it was a clever exhibition. The members were disappointed at the way it terminated, as it gave Langford a hollow victory.

Eddie Carr and Kid Paull did some excellent work in a six-round preliminary, which resulted in a draw.

The other contests ended as follows: J. Shea beat Bangor Connolly in six rounds and Kid Bernstein won on a foul from Young Dixon, colored, in two rounds.

1900-06-04 George Dixon ND6 Tim Callahan [Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1900-06-05 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 6)
DIXON OUTPOINTED BY TIM CALLAHAN
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Both at In and Out Work the Local Lad Had the Better of the Former Champion
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'TWAS RATTLING GOOD GO
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In the Semi-Wind-Up Harry Berger and Tom Cleary Had It Out Hammer and Tongs
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Tim Callahan outpointed George Dixon in the six-round bout at the Penn Art Club last night. It was a fast go from end to end, both boys fighting hard to secure the verdict. It was thought that they would box according to the modified Queensberry rules--breaking clean and no hitting in the breakaways--but they decided to have it out under a strict interpretation of the rules. From the very start Callahan demonstrated that he was more than Dixon's equal at any style of the game. It was supposed that in the mixes up Dixon would have the better of the exchanging because of his superior hitting ability, but this turned out all wrong for the reason that Callahan generally followed up a straight lead by rushing in, and keeping his head close to Dixon's body, kept up a merry tattoo of short rights on the former champion's body. These punches worried Dixon, who evidently did not look for that kind of milling. At outfighting there was nothing to it but Callahan. He landed one straight left after another on Dixon's face, but the requisite steam to effect a knock out or even a knock down was not there. Now and then, noticeably in the fourth round, Dixon did suggest the peerless champion of old, but it was only for a brief interval. He has not only lost his quickness, but his steam. Neither boy, outside of the inevitable "blowing" was much the worse for wear at the end of the bout. The rounds in detail.

FIRST ROUND.--After the usual fiddling Callahan landed lightly on neck with left and punched ribs with right. They clinched and both pounded body with lefts. Tim again landed lightly on neck, and George sent left to forehead. Tim sent left to mouth as the bell rang.

SECOND ROUND.--They clinched and pounded short ribs. Clinches were frequent, Callahan doing the better work. George sent left to neck and jaw. They were clinched at the bell.

THIRD ROUND.--Tim lead for head, but was short. George sent hard left to stomach and punched Tim's face with left and right in the clinch. Tim sent left to the body. George reached head with left, Tim replying with left on wind. George landed with left on jaw and swung, but missed. Tim landed lightly on neck.

FOURTH ROUND.--Tim landed lightly on jaw with left. Dixon sent left to chest. They both punched the body heavily in a clinch. Tim dug right on wind and George put left on jaw. Tim returned the same dose. George smashed hard left on wind and right to mouth.

Fifth--Tim landed left on wind, and George replied with right on wind. Tim put left to jaw, and George punched short ribs and sent light left to jaw, Tim replying with hard right on wind. George shook Tim with left on jaw, Tim replying with the same dose. They were fighting hard in clinch at the bell.

Sixth--George chased Tim around the ring swinging, but missed. George sent hard left to jaw. Tim landed right on neck and left to cheek, and they fought hard in the clinch. Tim jabbed left to jaw. George did the same. Tim sent left on jaw as the final bell rang.

The semi-wind-up was between Harry Berger and Tom Cleary. It was an old grudge they had to settle, and so far as punching went, they certainly had it out. The exchanges were about even up to the third round, when Berger put it all over Tom, and with a sequence of lefts and rights on the jaw Cleary looked a goner, but the bell came just in time. Cleary came up weak in the fourth, and was glad to clinch all through that round, but he could not get away from some hard jabs. The bell was Cleary's saviour again in the fifth, he was very rocky throughout the round. Tom tried hard to equal things in the last round, but it was too late. Berger was the winner.

There were three preliminaries, in which Sammy Smith outpointed Arthur Donahue. Joe Murphy and Fred Johnson fought such a miserable battle that the referee stopped the bout in the fourth round. Billy Madden put it all over Joe O'Hara for six rounds.

Friday, June 3, 2011

1889-06-03 George Dixon L-DQ2 George Wright [Parnell Athletic Club, Boston, MA, USA)

1889-06-04 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 2)
Opening Night of Parnell Athletic Club.
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The Parnell Athletic Club's inaugural meeting was held last evening at its gymnasium, 40 Kneeland street. Over 200 members were present. The gymnasium is one of the best in the city, is well ventilated and can comfortably seat over 400 persons. It is also well equipped, and the apparatus is admirably arranged. On the wall next to the ring is one of the new timekeeping clocks, such as is used at the California Athletic Club. When the minute rest allowed the sparrers is up a gong rings, and when the three minutes allowed for sparring is ended the gong again rings. This machine cost about $400, and does away with the usual timekeepers.

The programme of the evening included four boxing contests and a club swinging exhibition. The first of the boxing events was between young Isaacson of South Boston and young Ward of England. During the 10 rounds Ward had clearly the best of the contest, but the referee awarded the contest to Isaacson.

O'Connell and Herty of the North end then had a four-round set-to, that was very lively and interesting.

After Morris Cronin had shown how admirably he could swing clubs. George Bush and Jim Godfrey were introduced. They were to have sparred 15 rounds for a $300 trophy, but it lasted only five rounds. As soon as Bush had sparred a minute the members were satisfied that he had no show whatever with Godfrey. Bush failing to respond when the gong sounded for the fifth round, Godfrey was declared the winner.

The other event was to have been a 10-round set-to between George Dixon and Frank Maguire, but the latter failed to put in an appearance, and George Wright, the champion bantamweight of Canada, agreed to spar Dixon six rounds. Dixon had everything his own way from the start. In the second round he pounded Wright so hard that the Canadian appeared to be anxious to quit. As soon as the gong announced the end of the round, Dixon forgot himself and struck Wright two blows in the face. Wright pulled off the gloves and left the ring, while the members began to yell "foul." Wright was induced to again enter the ring, and the referee awarded him the contest on a foul.

In any other club the claim of foul would not have been allowed, and Wright "gave up" when he left the ring. At the next meeting of the club, Tommy McCarthy, the Woburn middleweight, will spar 15 rounds with George Smith of Boston.

1894-06-02 Jimmy Barry W-TKO11 Jimmy Gorman [Olympic Club, New Orleans, LA, USA]

1894-06-03 The Daily Item (New Orleans, LA) (page 4)
GORMAN DEFEATED.
Barry, the Chicago Boy, Puts Him Out in Eleven Rounds.

James Gorman, the champion bantam weight of Patterson, N. J., was defeated at the Olympic Club last night by James Barry, Chicago's champion of that class.

The fight lasted nearly eleven rounds and was one of the most scientific bouts ever seen in this city.

The winner is a clever and square fighter, and certainly deserves to be at the head of his class. Gorman, the vanquished, proved himself to be game and an accomplished boxer.

The match was a repetition of the Fitzsimmons-Dempsey one. Barry's height and reach won him the battle.

A few minutes after 9 o'clock the men entered the ring. Gorman appeared to be nervous. He was seconded by Jack Everhardt, Seymour Sullivan, Harry Block and Jimmie Scanlan, his backer. J. McGowen was Gorman's timekeeper. Barry was attended by Harry Gilmore, M. J. McGurn, P. H. Fitzgerald and William Stafford. Frank Carambat was his timekeeper. Mr. Ed. Curtis acted as timekeeper for the club and Prof. Gearhardt officiated as referee.

Throughout the first four rounds Barry was very much on the aggressive, and he punished Gorman badly. The little fellow was unable to land at all on the Windy City boy, except at in-fighting, and even then he got the worst of it. From the start off it could be easily seen that Gorman had met a superior.

Despite severe punishment he received Gorman did not show signs of weakening until the eighth round. In the seventh round he had things a bit his way. But upon toeing the scratch for the eighth a few blows on his stomach from Barry made him groggy. In the tenth round Gorman was knocked down four times. In the eleventh he was too weak to deliver a blow and after going down several times the sponge was thrown up by one of his seconds.

The little fellow had not been counted out, however, and he did not like the idea of tossing up the sponge. He admitted that he was weak and the chances for his winning were poor, but he wanted to be counted out so that his friends would not think him a quitter. He was pretty badly used up, and his defeat he took very hard. Barry after the fight first congratulated his victim on the showing he had made. He then received congratulations. Barry will meet the winner of the Levy-Connors fight which takes place on June 14.

1900-06-01 Charles Kid McCoy W-TKO13 Jack Bonner [Broadway Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]

1900-06-02 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 14)
Kid McCoy Disposes of Bonner in Thirteen Rounds.
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Kid McCoy won at the Broadway Athletic Club last evening, but not with the same ease with which he has been putting them away during the past few months. His opponent last evening was Jack Bonner of Summit, Pa., and was considered to be one of the easiest that the Kid has had to contend with in some time. They were announced to box twenty-five rounds at 158 pounds, but it was evident when they stripped for action that neither was anywhere near that weight. Bonner was heavier than McCoy by more than ten pounds and could not have been less than 175 pounds. The Kid looked to be in superb shape when he danced about Bonner in the opening round, seemingly content with blocking Bonner's leads--without a punch. The crowd thought that he was simply waiting to get an opening and win with a punch. It was soon seen, however, that the Kid had more than a little fear of the Pennsylvanian, notwithstanding the smile on his face. He would not take a chance and fought cautiously. His judgment of distance when he did try was bad and as the bout progressed he held but little more than his own.

Bonner cut both his eyes early in the bout and in the eighth round scored a clean knock down with a right on the jaw. The Kid was up immediately. He lost his head and rushed at Bonner, butting him in the face, for which he was cautioned. From here on Bonner lost steam, and although he landed many a blow the Kid forged ahead and used both hands on face and body, cutting Bonner's face badly. He uppercut, jabbed and crossed Bonner until the crowd, out of pity, called for Bonner to be taken off.

Bonner stuck to it gamely, but weakened fast, and in the last couple of rounds fell to the floor several times from body blows. In the thirteenth, shortly after the bell rang, he went down with another right on the body and was so far gone that his seconds threw up the sponge to save a knockout. McCoy was declared the winner.

The preliminary was an exceptionally clever exhibition between Alf Levy of New York and Danny Smith of Brooklyn, for twelve rounds at 110 pounds. The bout pleased the crowd immensely, and the referee at the end decided that Levy had won.


1900-06-02 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)
Another Victory for McCoy.

Kid McCoy added another to his long list of fistic victories at the Broadway Athletic Club last night, when he forced Jack Bonner of Summit, Penn., to give up in thirteen rounds. Bonner's seconds were forced to throw up the sponge in order to save their man from being knocked out.

Bonner proved to be game to the core, and it took all of McCoy's cleverness and hard-hitting capabilities to bring the big miner down. It was a fast and clever boxing exhibition, and the loser deserves much praise, for he put up a splendid fight.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

1915-05-31 Mike Gibbons ND10 Soldier Bartfield [Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1915-06-01 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 13)
OUTDOOR BOXING DRAWS WELL AT EBBETS FIELD
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Crowds Cheer as Bartfield Holds Gibbons to Close Decision.

Twelve thousand spectators set the seal of approval on open air boxing at Ebbets Field yesterday afternoon. Five ten-round bouts were contested, and few indeed were the spectators who left. This is the first battle fought in this city, or this vicinity, out of doors since Terry McGovern won the bantamweight championship of the world from Pedlar Palmer, at Tuckahoe sixteen years ago.

But now that the fans have had their taste of boxing under conditions that were really ideal, there is little doubt that shows held in the open air will become as popular here as they were in California. After five years of watching boxing bouts in superheated clubs where the air was smoke laded and impure, the enthusiasts hailed the chance to get out under the sun, where the boys could show at their best. The fighters also hailed the chance, and the pace was fast in every bout from the time that Dutch Brandt landed his first left jab on Battling Lahn until Al McCoy missed his last wild swing on Silent Martin.

To start the ball rolling Dutch Brandt defeated Battling Lahn after a rattling bout, coming through in the last five rounds. Then Battling Levinsky outboxed Dan (Porky) Flynn. The surprise of the afternoon, however, came when Soldier Bartfield held Mike Gibbons to a close decision, and although outpointed by a fair margin, was hailed by the crowd for his brave showing. Johnnie Dundee knocked out Johnnie Drummie in two rounds of a one-sided battle. The last bout resulted in a draw, and Al McCoy was one of the principals, with Silent Martin the other.

Soldier Bartfield astounded the crowd by his work against Gibbons. It was only that Mike landed his punches straight and according to the Queensberry rules that won for him.

The bout between Levinsky and Flynn was fast for big men. Levinsky scored a knockdown in the second round and outboxed his man easily. He weighed 179 pounds to 198 pounds for Flynn.

Experience and strength won for Dundee over Drummie. The speedy little Italian was entirely too good for the Jersey boy and had the additional advantage of five pounds in weight. A left and right hand punch to the jaw, landing simultaneously, brought the bout to a close.


1915-06-01 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 2)
First Open Air Boxing Show Makes a Big Hit With Fans
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Soldier Bartfield Surprises Mike Gibbons--Levinsky Pounds Porky Flynn and Dundee Hands Drummie the Kayo--Silent Martin Makes McCoy Look Anything but a Champ--Brandt-Lahn Go the Best.
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When approximately fifteen thousand men and women give up over twelve thousand dollars to see a few husky youths show their skill with the gloves, boxing looks as if it were really some sport. That is what happened at Ebbets Field yesterday afternoon, when Johnny Weismantel led his cohorts over from the Broadway Sporting Club to the home of the Superbus and put boxing on the map as one of the big outdoor sports.

When the outdoor game was first broached there were many who said that Johnny could never get away with it. But he did, and got away with it good. He put on a card that has seldom been equaled for class about these diggings, and during the forty-two rounds out of fifty that were originally scheduled there was neither action or word by either the crowd or the boxers that might offend the sensibilities of the most exacting.

The ring was pitched where the home plate is on ball days, and about it yesterday afternoon were many well-known Brooklynites and a score of big politicians from all the boroughs. Even Labor was represented in the person of Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor. What Mr. Gompers came for we do not know, but it was hinted that he has in view the forming of a boxers union with a graduated scale of prices. If such be a fact, the promoters will give every assistance, for what some of the fighters are getting away with gives the magnates cold chills down the back, even on so warm a day as yesterday.

Mike Gibbons Gets the Surprise of His Life.

The event of the afternoon had been forecasted by the prophets as a joke. And so it turned out, but not in the way predicted. Mike Gibbons, the St. Paul Wizard, met Soldier Bartfield, the local aspirant for welter-weight honors, and it was expected that Mike would kindly oblige with a little boxing lesson and Bartfield take the place of an animated punching bag.

But did it happen so? Not much. Wizard Mike received the surprise of his life. Mike had been guaranteed $1,500 for his little exhibition, $50 a minute, and he got it. In fact, he got more than that, but not in coin. As has been intimated, something happened that upset calculations. Mike was received with a roar of applause when he entered the ring, while Bartfield got a scattering hand and an acre of grins. The grins changed to a yell of surprise before the first minute of the first round had passed, and then to roars of encouragement for the rest of the battle.

Bartfield accomplished the impossible. He did to Mike what Mike has been doing to others. He made him look like a monkey. He outjabbed and outguessed Mike and landed two punches to the Wizard's one. He rubbed his nose before Mike rubbed his, and even beat him to the sneeze. He had stolen Mike's code book and had studied it to such advantage that he knew it better than Mike. The St. Paul lad tried every trick in his box, but none of them worked. With seven pounds the better of the weights, he naturally hit harder than the Brooklyn boy, but that was all.

Soldier Bartfield "Made" Himself.

With the exception of a couple of rounds, it was Bartfield all the way. The Soldier played on Mike's left side the whole distance, and with all his wonderful finesse Mike was never able to get on his right. In the clinches alone he excelled, but did no damage there. On the other hand, Bartfield had his left in Mike's face all through the bout, and worked his right to such advantage that Gibbons' left ear looked like a toy balloon before the bout was over. The Soldier "made" himself yesterday afternoon, and when he left the ring he received an even heartier cheer than did Mike when he entered it.

Almost as pleasing to the crowd was the result of the McCoy-Martin bout. Silent Martin took the place of Johnny Howard against the middle-weight champion, Al McCoy. The crowd showed sl well how it liked the champion when he appeared that Martin, although deaf, caught the drift and followed his cue to the letter. The champion was hailed as a joke and so he proved as a champion. Off the reel, Martin was after him like a wildcat, and the crowd howled in delight as the silent one forced him about the ring. McCoy grabbed and hung on at every opportunity. He did not like Martin's style and showed it clearly. Martin has not much style at that, but he is effective. He can punch, and to this statement McCoy can testify. For the full ten rounds Martin was on top of him all the way, and had McCoy stood to his guns and fought, instead of making a wrestling bout of it, there would have been a new champion without a doubt. As an alibi, McCoy's friends declared that his hands are in such bad shape that his doctor has told him he will never be able to hit hard with them. He lived up to the doctor's orders yesterday afternoon.

Johnnie Dundee had the easy time of the day. He went on with Young Johnny Drummie. This also was for ten rounds, but Dundee ended it in the second with a left to the body and a right hook to the jaw.

Battling Levinsky obliged by taking on Dan (Porkey) Flynn for ten rounds and almost tickled the porkey one to death with tantalizing lefts. Dan was on the received end from start to finish and was the prettiest decorated contestant of the day when the Battler got through with him. Only Dan's weight saved him on several occasions, and the final bell was a welcome sound.

Brandt and Lahn Furnish the Pyrotechnics.

The opening bout furnished the genuine pyrotechnics. Dutch Brandt and Battling Lahn were the principals, and while they were at it there was not a dull moment. In the early rounds Lahn looked like a sure winner, but he lacked the stamina of his opponent. Brandt's body blows took the sap out of him in the fourth round, and after that the Dutchman was always the aggressor. Lahn fought back gamely, but never had a chance to recover, and was a well-whipped lad at the finish. All in all, it was a wonderful day for the fight fans, and as they left the grounds there was nothing but praise for Johnny Weismantel, who had engineered the show.


1915-06-01 The New York Times (New York, NY)
GIBBONS HAS HARD BOUT.
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Soldier Bartfield Makes Westerner Hustle to Win.

Under a clear sky, with a warm sun tempering the rather stiff breeze, open air boxing was revived at Ebbets Field yesterday afternoon in the presence of 11,000 enthusiasts. The solid bank of straw-hatted fans in the upper tier of the big baseball stand, the circus seats and canvas walls on the field, the bright hued raiment of the women scattered throughout the big crowd, the boxers dancing around the ring, the referee clad in white flannel, the band and the clicking of the "movies," all tended to give real holiday color to the scene. The boxing show itself was good, very good. Five real star bouts were staged, and card, and the contest was somewhat of there was variety of boxing sufficient to satisfy the most ardent and exacting devotee.

The ring was built on the playing surface of the diamond, near home plate on the third base line, and its decorations of the national colors and its ropes covered with green velour made the setting a very attractive one.

Mike Gibbons, the St. Paul middleweight, and Soldier Bartfield, champion of the United States Army, furnished the star bout of the all-star a surprise as Bartfield easily earned a draw with the Westerner. Gibbons did not appear to exert himself and did not show the ability as a boxer which has marked his work in the past. Bartfield realized that he had the opportunity of his career and he displayed the best he had. Although the busy left jab that he shot to Gibbons's face repeatedly did not have any effect on the St. Paul boxer, but all his tricks were mimicked over a swing or jab that stung. At those times during the bout when Gibbons did let out, he easily showed his superiority over Bartfield, but these spurts were too far apart to give him any advantage. Only in the last two rounds did Gibbons cut loose from his apathy and jarred and staggered the soldier with his terrific wallops. Gibbons is a tricky boxer, but all his tricks were mimicked by Bartfield yesterday and were not of much value to the Westerner. Gibbons weighed 155 and Bartfield's weight was 148.

Dan (Porky) Flynn, who put a crimp in Al Reich's aspirations several weeks ago was pitted against Battling Levinsky, and the rugged young east sider had the better of the contest. In the second round Levinsky scored a knockdown, and several times during the bout he caused the blood to flow from Flynn's mouth and nose. Levinsky was careful and did not take any chances with the Boston boxer. He was always alert, on the defensive mostly, and kept the boxing at long range as much as possible. The Bostonian with his superior ring experience and generalship was able to keep Levinsky's attacks at a distance and but few times during the bout did he assume the offensive to the point where Levinsky was worried. The Boston boxer had an advantage of nineteen pounds over Levinsky, whose weight was 179.

The only knockout of the afternoon was scored by Johnny Dundee, the Italian-American boxer, who dropped John (Young) Drummie of Jersey City to the floor with a dull thud for the count in the second round. Dundee was hopping around through the air most of the time, and about the middle of the second round he drove a right and left uppercut to Drummie's jaw, and the Jersey boxer went down. He tried gamely to regain his feet, but those wallops had completely drained him of energy and strength.

Al McCoy, a Brooklyn middleweight, was matched against Johnny Howard of Bayonne, but Howard being laid up with ptomaine poisoning, Silent Martin was rushed from the trenches to take his place. McCoy didn't show much championship ability in his bout with Martin. Martin by his gruelling, aggressive method of boxing had the Brooklyn man plainly worried, and several times during the bout caused him to wince. Martin is by no means a polished boxer, but he can take reams of punishment and still be on hand for more. And he has a clever defense. He did not have to extend either of these qualities yesterday, but whenever McCoy did put on steam, the "dummy" merely smiled. McCoy had an army of advisers in his corner, who continually barked instructions at their charge, but even then the best he could get was a draw. He weighed 157 1/2 to Martin's 155.

Dutch Brandt and Battling Lahn furnished the opening ten-rounder, and it was a fast, hard hitting bout, with Brandt the winner by a big margin.


1915-06-01 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 13)
GIBBONS EXTENDED.
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Soldier Bartfield Surprises Him With Vigorous Attack.

The open air boxing bouts of the Brooklyn Sporting Club held yesterday afternoon at Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn baseball club, proved a big success. Nearly 15,000 fight fans, including a number of women, were in the stands to see five ten round bouts, one of which ended with a clean knockout in the second round. In this contest Johnny Dundee put Young Johnny Drummie of Jersey City away with a right hook to the jaw, followed with a left uppercut. Drummie lay flat on the floor of the ring and was counted out.

In the main bout of the afternoon between Mike Gibbons and Soldier Bartfield the Brooklyn man surprised his noted foe and put up a good fight. Gibbons won by only the smallest sort of margin. It looked to those around the ringside as if the St. Paul man wasn't going at his best. In the first four rounds the Soldier peppered Mike with jabs, while the St. Paul fighter smiled. As the ninth opened Gibbons caught the Soldier on the ropes and with quick right and left hooks to the jaw made the claret flow from Bartfield's mouth. The Soldier was cheered when he left the ring. Gibbons weighed 155 pounds and Bartfield 148.

In the opening bout Dutch Brant won over Battling Lahn. The bout was fast from start to finish, both boys putting up a clean contest.

Battling Levinsky and Porky Flynn furnished the second entertainment. Levinsky won. He weighed 179 pounds, whereas Flynn tipped the scales at 198. In the final Al McCoy made a poor showing against Silent Martin, who was substituted for Johnny Howard. In McCoy's corner were several seconds throughout the bout telling Al what to do. The silent man, who is deaf, had no one in his corner. One of his seconds remarked, "We only use the wireless when he is fighting."

The ring on the field was put up between home plate and third base and gave a good view to all those in the grandstand. Around the ring were benches and boxes. The seating arrangements gave everybody a clear view of the ring. It was the first open air contest around here in many years.