JOE GANS STILL A MASTER OF THE RING GAME
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WINS IN FIFTEEN ROUNDS OF TERRIFIC FIGHTING
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Sullivan Fighting All the Time. Is Game to End.
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Knockout Cleanest Seen Here in Many Moons.
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Ringmaster Joe Gans knocked out a bigger and younger man last night at Woodward's Pavilion--a man possessed of no little cleverness himself, aided materially by a reach that resembled that of an orang-outang. The man was Mike (Twin) Sullivan, widely heralded as the welter-weight champion of the world. The knockout came in the fifteenth round of a terrific battle and it was as clean a knockout as has been seen in years.For three or four rounds preceding the finish Gans had been in rather a bad way from a cut below his left eye, which completely closed that optic. General that he is, he cunningly stalled and waited for the chance that he knew would come to him. Sullivan would rush and Gans would block, warding off the blows of his white opponent with all of that old skill that was his in the palmy days. It was a case of wait, wait. Some people who did not understand thought that he was too tired for any supreme effort.
Finally the chance came. At about the middle of the fifteenth round the ringmaster saw it. His one eye was better than that of any two about the squared enclosure, for it is doubtful if the chance was visible to anyone but himself. He caught Sullivan partly turned away, not "set." A dusky right arm swung over with electric quickness. A sodden glove connected with the back of Sullivan's left ear. The Twin spun almost around with the force of the blow, and when he tried to steady himself he found that a straw-colored tiger in the shape and person of Joe Gans was upon him. Rights and lefts went with terrible swiftness to Sullivan's jaw. He staggered away. He reached out. He tried to touch something that he could cling to, for his knees were giving way and he was plainly in distress. In went Gans' right to the stomach. Over circled his left to the jaw.
LIMP AND HELPLESS.
And then Mike (Twin) Sullivan, much heavier and bigger than the colored boy, fell backward to the canvas. He was near the ropes and his head alighted and rested upon the lower rope, about one foot from the floor. There, with his hands hanging limp and helpless against his side, he lay prostrate on his back, his eyes wide open and staring with the ghastly stare of a man who does not see, while Timekeeper George Harting bawled out the seconds that told his end and the house went wild with the primeval joy of the moment.
Sullivan was entirely unconscious--"clean out," in the lingo of the ring. As soon as the "nine-and-out" had been said, his brother Jack and his trainer, Tommy West, climbed through the ropes and carried him back to his corner, where he revived a minute or two later. He was dazed for some time afterward, claiming in an interview that he had been hit in the ribs first and that this was the punch which started him going, while every one with a pair of eyes at the ringside saw that it was that right swing that landed just back of the left ear.
Once before, during the progress of the battle, Gans had the Cambridge twin in a bad way and it was only through the great strength and gameness of the white man that the knockout did not come then. This was in the eighth round. Gans had been playing for a round or two with Sullivan's defense. In response to cries from his chief second, Johnny Reid, he had been on the offensive, but only mildly so.
"Tie him up, Joe!" Reid had called throughout the sixth and seventh periods. Joe had industriously endeavored to "tie him up." Boxing as cleverly as he knew how, he had got the Irish boy puzzled, which was what Reid had meant by his cryptic advice.
Then, in the eighth, at about the middle of the round, Joe saw an opening, and with the speed which he alone has he shot right and left in rapid succession to the jaw. Sullivan sank to his knees, but got up in an instant. He was wobbly and had a distress signal flying at topmast. Joe was upon him with the same ferocity which characterized his later attack. He forced the twin around the ropes, throwing over both hands to the face and sinking awful punches into the body. It seemed impossible for a human being to stand up before that assault.
SULLIVAN GAME.
Sullivan did it. With the grit of his race he took everything that Joe could give him and still managed to keep his feet. He was helpless for almost a full minute, as the breathless throng about the ring counts time. Then Joe tired. He had expended much of his own strength in that furious attack. He slowed up. As he slowed Sullivan's equilibrium came back and he began to fight. Making as game a stand as any fighter ever made he stood up bravely and finished the round on his feet. Not only was he on his feet when the welcome clang of the gong came but he was fighting back and wasn't getting any the worst of it.
In the rounds that followed, up to the sudden end, Sullivan more than held his own. Of course, as has been pointed out, Gans did a lot of stalling, waiting for the chance that finally came to him. Sullivan, however, was fighting all of the time. In his bright lexicon there was no such word as stop. He was on the offensive for his share of the ninth, tenth and eleventh, and in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth he did more forcing than his dusky opponent.
The fight demonstrated one thing so conclusively that there is no room for argument. Gans is still "there." He is still a past master in all of the arts and wiles that go to make a really great fighter. His blocking last night was a delight to the eye, while his constant ability to take advantage of the slightest opening was little short of marvelous. In fact, Gans looked like the Gans of old. Those who had taken their cue from the decline and fall of Fitzsimmons, and bet their money that Gans would blow up, thinking him in the cemetery class with the speckled Cornishman, had a sad awakening.
STILL THE GREATEST.
Yes, Gans is still "there." He is still the greatest fighter of his weight in the world. By "his weight" is meant in the neighborhood of 145 or 136 pounds--no lower. He claims that he can make 133 with an afternoon weighing in, and it is quite likely that he can. But at 136 pounds he is head and shoulders above any fighter today before the public.
And he most assuredly made himself right with the sporting public. Before the fight it was his plea that if the public would give him another chance he would show that he can still fight, and he would give evidence that his intentions are to go in to win every battle. The evidence furnished by Mr. Gans at last night's trial was overwhelming, conclusive.
Now Gans wants to fight Britt. In his dressing-room after the fight he stated that he would rather meet James Edward than any other fighter that could be named.
"I know that the public wasn't entirely satisfied with the result of my fight with Britt," he said. "I won from Britt, but I want to win in a different way. I will meet him at 133 pounds at 6 o'clock in the afternoon--a weight that is easy for me. I have shown the public what I can do, and I think that I am entitled to this match."
As for Sullivan--he lost no friends by his showing. He made a wonderfully game fight, and he never once lost heart. Even in that eighth round, when he was wobbling about the ring in a groggy condition, he bore up as bravely as it was possible for a man to bear up. He claimed afterward that it was a lucky punch which finally got him, but, of course, that is the usual claim to make. It is doubtful if half the "lucky punches" claimed by fighters are lucky at all.
There was a good crowd out to see the battle, and it was wildly enthusiastic from the first gong. In fact, when the men started to mix things in the first round the crowd started to yell its approval, and it didn't let up until the whole affair was over.
There were the usual preliminary overtures, introductions and challenges. A noteworthy incident was the introduction of Young Corbett, who went into the ring in response to repeated calls from the audience. He was accorded a bigger ovation than any which he got in the days when he was a "champ." He made a little speech, saying that when a man has been beaten five or six times, it makes him feel good to get such a reception. And then the crowd gave him another cheer.
TWIN LOOKS BIG.
Then came the customary announcement and "let 'er go" and the men stepped forward. When the men came together in the center of the ring at the first gong the Cambridge Twin towered above his dusky opponent, seemed to outweigh the Oriole at least a half score of pounds and looked far and away the larger of the two in every respect. But it was the Gans of old, the Gans who disposed of Erne and who beat Walcott to a standstill, and when that's said there isn't much left in the way of comment.
Gans kept his promise that he would go quickly to work and force the milling all along the route. Not ten seconds of the first round had elapsed ere he shot a stinging left to Sullivan's head, going into a clinch immediately afterward and roughing his opponent in great shape.
The story of the first round is the story of every round up to the seventh. Gans was ever crossing his right, alternately hooking it straight in, jabbing it through Mike's guard from beneath or shooting it up over and down against the face. Cleverness was there in such bunches that after four or five rounds the majority of spectators forgot to comment on it audibly, just sitting back and absorbing the magnificent blocking and ducking of the negro.
At times, and they were numerous, Sullivan was fairly buffaloed. Close to him Gans stood, his hands poised with apparent carelessness, yet try where the Irishman would, he ever encountered a perfect defense, and repeatedly, as they came together, inches of gloved hand or forearm were to be seen between Mike's gloves and the Southron's body. For rounds at a time Sullivan found it impossible to land, while ever and anon a dusky arm would be whipped into his frame from some unsuspected point, jarring and jolting the Twin's anatomy in no pleasant fashion.
A score of times during the first half dozen rounds Sullivan was warned by Referee Welsh for hitting while holding. Repeatedly he threw his right arm around Gans' neck, holding it there while endeavoring to cross or uppercut with his right. After the seventh round he quit this almost entirely, for at the best it had advantaged him little or nothing.
SATISFIED WITH GANS.
The second round was almost a duplicate of the first, but for the fact that it wasn't quite so fast. The third found things going again. Gans ever feinting to loosen Sullivan's guard a bit, and then boring in like lightning wherever an opening showed. By the time the fourth period was reached the talent had settled back to await the end, for there no longer remained any doubt as to Gans' condition, or as to his possession of his old-time ability, and that seemed ample to account for Mr. Sullivan.
The fifth round was Gans' properly, and his title to it was clear cut. After opening it with a stinging right to Sullivan's body, the Twin retaliated with a wallop of the same caliber, but that was about all Mike accomplished in the round. Sullivan was willing to work, indeed he was always working but he ever encountered a well-nigh impregnable guard, and his best efforts brought forth fearful retaliation. The sixth was also Gans', a few hot exchanges at the opening inciting him to loosen up and attack in force.
The seventh round was a boxing match, Gans taking things easy, although ever on the alert for an opening, and outclevering his opponent every second of the route. It was a fitting prelude to the eighth, which saw some whirlwind milling and marked the apparent beginning of the end. With the opening of the eighth Joe changed his tactics slightly, going into clinches cleverly and devoting his energies to scoring hard while breaking away. Four times he sent his right to Sullivan's body, each time with stinging force.
Then Gans rushed, whipping first left and then right to the jaw, and when he saw the second wallop stagger the Twin, he rushed again, and more fiercely. Wasting but few blows, he buffeted Sullivan from one spot to another and the end seemed imminent. Then, in an instant, the Twin was nearly himself again, and while shaky and weak, he stalled cleverly, making Gans grow cautious with three or four healthy swings for the head. Had there been another half-minute the end might have come, but the half was lacking.
MIKE DISTRESSED.
The minute of attention and rest was hardly enough, for Mike came to the center of the ring for the ninth slowly and with something of distress in his countenance. But there was no dodging of the issue, no stalling or running away. He stood up and fought, fought his best and never flinched. He did well to keep away from several hard wallops, and came back for the tenth spasm with a left eye that looked somewhat swollen and something to the bad. The tenth wasn't especially fast, Gans seeming content not to force matters, and while the dusky one scored the oftener there was little damage inflicted either way.
The tenth round was a good one for Sullivan. With a ripping right hook he abraded Gans' face just beneath the left eye, and within a few seconds there was a limp of walnut dimensions underneath Joe's optic, causing him something of distress. Sullivan kept after the sore spot and while he couldn't connect with it with any force, he put his glove on it often enough to aggravate the injury considerably. The round closed in fairly slow fashion, Gans guarding the eye and confining himself largely to the defensive.
But with the beginning of the eleventh Gans forgot his bruised member and started an attack upon the body that bore results. One after the other he whipped his gloved fists to Sullivan's kidneys and ribs, only shifting his attentions to Mike's head long enough to cut the latter's under lip sufficiently to make the man from the vicinity of the Hub do some hard thinking.
The twelfth was rather slow, Sullivan not appearing to disadvantage, and the thirteenth was another good one for Sullivan. Gans seemed to have slowed somewhat, but whether it was because he was tired and wanted a rest or because he had become indifferent to the Twin's blows no one but Gans knew, and he didn't state.
FAST FOURTEENTH.
The fourteenth marked the resumption of fast work. Gans came quickly to the center with the bell and proceeded to bore in hard, feinting Sullivan until an opening showed and then going after him with both hands. That optic of the yellow man was pretty well closed, but his right seemed to keep him well informed concerning Sullivan's whereabouts, and he landed again and again, seemingly at will as to time and locality.
The fifteenth, and the last, was even faster. Like a flash Gans was on his man, raining blows upon his head and keeping him moving all over the ring. Then came one that counted. Sullivan threw a left across that fell short, and as it passed Gans swung his right for Mike's head with every pound of his weight back of the blow. Right under the Twin's left ear, and a half-inch back of it, the glove struck, and Mike went reeling and staggering away.
A right and then a left helped things, and then the Twin was close to the ropes on the east side of the ring. As Sullivan slowly raised his arms to protect his head Gans ripped a stiff right uppercut to the stomach. The Twin's head shot forward from the impact, and as it came it was met, half way, by a as clean a left hook as ever brought results.
Not slowly, but as though struck by a catapult, Sullivan went back to the floor. His neck fell fairly on the lower rope of the arena and there he hung his eyes wide open and staring, but his thoughts far, far distant. It was as clean a knockout as was ever administered and as effective, for it was a minute before the Twin knew anything, and during the passing of the fateful decemvirate of seconds he stirred not a muscle.
The end had come and Gans had come to his own again.
The receipts for the battle were close to $9000.
1906-01-20 The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA) (page 11)
JOE GANS KNOCKS OUT MIKE SULLIVAN
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FIGHT FIFTEEN ROUNDS AT A TERRIFIC PACE.
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CHAMPION SHOWS ALL OF HIS OLD-TIME FORM
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Keeps Inside His Opponent's Reach and Then Gives Marvelous Exhibition of Finished Boxing.
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Joe Gans, the wonderful lightweight champion boxer from Baltimore, went out of his class last night at Woodward's Pavilion and in a decisive manner defeated Mike (Twin) Sullivan, who has been hailed as the welter-weight champion. The men had fought one minute and forty-five seconds of the fifteenth round when Gans' right suddenly shot out and caught Sullivan flush on the jaw. The Cambridge man was knocked to his haunches, his head supported by the lower rope of the ring. He lay there with wide-open, staring eyes, watching George Harting toll off the fateful ten seconds. He seemed to realize what was going on about him, but he did not have the power to move a single muscle in his body.From first to last Gans showed his mastery over his opponent and throughout the fight gave an exhibition of boxing seldom if ever equaled in a Queensberry ring. He seemed to be handicapped at the start in both reach and weight. After they got going the latter did not seem to bother him, while he at once found a means to offset Sullivan's reach. The colored wonder fought in close to his opponent and the latter was able to land but few effective blows.
They had not gone two rounds before Gans had his man tied up in all sorts of knots so he could not use his cleverness of his ability to hit. Gans showed his class over his opponent throughout and there was never a time when he seemed in the least danger. The spectators came away enthusiastic over the exhibition of blocking which he gave.
DISPLAYS GREAT CLEVERNESS.
Gans never gave way an inch during the fight, but stood up and caught Sullivan's blows as an expert juggler would handle a set of billiard balls. No matter how fast the blows, nor from what direction, Gans' gloves were always there to receive them, and he worked in and out before his opponent like an eel. He changed his tactics nearly every round, so that Sullivan never knew what was coming. At one time Gans would devote all his attention to his opponent's head, and when he had Sullivan guarding that carefully he would suddenly switch to the body and would land some telling blows before his opponent could meet his change of tactics.
It was some terrific right-hand blows to the heart which took all the fight and indomitable courage out of Sullivan, and finally made him easy prey. On a par with Gans' cleverness was the remarkable display of gameness and of vitality shown by Sullivan. He had taken an incredible amount of punishment up to the thirteenth round, in which he went after Gans and administered considerable punishment to him, especially on the body and on his left eye, which he tried his best to put out of commission.
The first round gave the spectators a hint as to the remarkable contest they were about to witness. The men went to work at once at lightning speed, and it was given and take throughout the entire round. It was pronounced the fastest opening round ever seen here in any fight. While both men boxed at a rapid pace, for a time each seemed willing to stand up and slug, and it would not have surprised the spectators had the affair been brought to an abrupt termination this early in the game.
STILL HAS OLD-TIME SKILL.
The opening round showed Gans had lost none of his old-time skill, while the succeeding rounds showed that his stamina and hitting ability had not suffered after all the years of activity he has had in the ring. There were brief spells during the later rounds in which Gans' admirers thought they saw a tendency in him to slow down, but he weathered the storm and came back strong and with all his fighting instinct at its highest development.
After his showing last night it is expected that the majority of the shining lights of his weight will draw the colored line, politely but firmly. No one before the public to-day classes with Gans, who seems to be the survivor of that old school of fighting all the members of which had remarkable boxing talent as well as great hitting power. This school has given way to the heedless one of today, where ability to take and assimilate punishment has replaced the finesse of other days.
By his showing last night Gans renews his hold on the lightweight championship title, as he was within striking distance of 133 pounds, although he was anxious to weigh as much as possible up to the 142-pound mark, at which he signed with Sullivan.
One of the largest crowds ever gathered within the doors of Woodward's Pavilion witnessed the bout. It drew out men who seem to know the promising fights and who attend no others. Mayor Schmitz graced the occasion with his presence, and there were many familiar faces about the ringside. Up in the gallery the spectators were packed in as closely as sardines in a box, while on the main floor a seething mass of humanity swayed and surged about as the excitement ran high.
The racetrack contingent was largely in evidence, while many members of Gans' race were there and shouted encouraging words to their man.
FIGHTERS MAKE APPEARANCE.
The preliminary lasted only two rounds and there was some delay before the fighters came on for the main event. Gans was the first to appear, clad in a bathrobe and hat and wearing white trunks with a red, white and blue sash. He had discarded the trunks he wore for years while under the blighting management of Herford. Gans was seconded by Willie Fitzgerald, Willie Keefe, Johnny Reid and Mike Schreck. After a short delay, Sullivan, also in a bathrobe, appeared, his principal seconds being his brothers, Jack and Dave.
Billy Jordan presented him first as the pride of Lowell, and then on the other side of the ring he corrected it to the pride of Cambridge. Gans was presented to the spectators as the pride of Baltimore. Mike Ward, who was introduced as the champion lightweight of Canada, challenged the winner. Jack Sullivan was the next boxer to parade and announced his willingness to meet either Tommy Ryan or Jack O'Brien. There were constant calls for Young Corbett, who finally appeared in the ring. A speech was demanded and he thanked the crowd for its warm reception, saying he was more pleased than they were to be there and that he appreciated such a cordial greeting after his recent reverses in the ring.
When the gong finally sent the men together Gans went after Sullivan at once and caught him a hard left to the head. This stirred up Sullivan's fighting blood and there was a fierce slugging match for a time. They finally went in to a clinch, but both kept on hitting. As they broke away, Gans sent a hard right to the head and followed it up with another one. He blocked several blows in clever style. They exchanged rights to the head and near the end of the round Sullivan sent in a hard kidney punch.
FEINT CATCHES SULLIVAN.
Early in the second round Gans commenced feinting at Sullivan in an effort to get him to lead. He worked this often throughout the fight, once going so far as to make a bluff at blowing his nose. Sullivan tried to take advantage of it, but Gans was too quick for him and caught him a right flush on the mouth that surprised him. Gans soon sent his right as true as a die to the head. Sullivan came back with a right and left to the head, but there was no force to his blows. Sullivan tried to land a right swing, but Gans ducked under it and was out of danger before the blow could reach its mark.
At this early stage of the fight Gans had Sullivan worried and so tangled up that he did not know what move to make. Sullivan landed a left jab early in the third and Gans stepped in with a wicked right. Sullivan blocked one left, but got another hard one which started his mouth bleeding. Sullivan kept jabbing with his left, but few of the blows reached their mark. Gans sent a hard right to the head and shot the same fist up under Sullivan's guard just at the bell.
Sullivan worked overtime in the fourth round trying to find some part of Gans' body above the waist line that was not upholstered with boxing gloves. He seemed all at sea, but was persistent in his efforts to land. Gans sent a straight right to the head with so much power behind it that Sullivan seemed dazed. He followed up this right with another before the end of the round. The artistry of Gans had won the majority of spectators over to him by this time, and they were almost spellbound by his skill with the gloves.
SULLIVAN LANDS ONE.
Early in the fifth Gans sent a right to the body. Sullivan tried all he knew for a time and seemed unable to land, but finally got a right past Gans' guard. Gans came back with a left to the head and got a right to the body. Gans landed repeatedly before the end of the round with both right and left.
Gans worked the shift artistically early in the sixth round, and, before Sullivan knew what had happened, he got a stiff right and left to the head. Gans missed a heavy left swing which Sullivan ducked. Sullivan sent a right to the body and got another one in return. Gans had Sullivan holding on near the end of the round after he had landed left and right twice to the head.
Gans was bent on following up his advantage, and was just about to let go a terrific blow as the bell sounded. He heard the gong just in time to prevent his driving the blow.
Sullivan was in dire distress in the seventh round. Gans switched from his head to his body and sent in some crushing blows. Sullivan tried to rough it with Gans but could make no headway at this style of fighting. Sullivan tried a right swing, but missed, and Gans was quick to take advantage of the opening and landed a straight right. Gans landed right and left to the head near the end of the round and Mike almost went out.
CROWD CHEERS GANS.
The crowd nearly went wild in the eighth round when it seemed Sullivan must surely go out. Gans outfeinted him to such an extent that Sullivan seemed hypnotized, and finally, when he had his arms crossed Gans shot in a right to the head. He followed this up with a right to the body and then knocked Sullivan down with a stiff right.
There were still fifty seconds of the round to go, and it did not seem possible for Sullivan to withstand the fierce onslaughts of Gans. The latter tried his best to bring home the money in this round, and when he had Sullivan nearly out he waited for a chance to land the decisive blow. This opportunity did not come and Sullivan was able to go to his corner.
Sullivan was unsteady on his feet when he came up in the ninth round, but he had lost none of his fighting spirit. Gans hurt him with a quick left swing to the head, but he came back with a right to the body and also jabbed his opponent. Gans was using great generalship, as he did not take a chance of letting any one of Sullivan's wild blows reach their mark.
Sullivan was still shaky in the tenth round and his condition was not bettered when Gans sent a right to the jaw. There colored wonder then missed one that might have been a finisher. Gans landed four hard rights to the body without a return and then switched back to the head, shaking up Sullivan considerably.
LANDS BLOW ON BLOW.
Gans was like a great fighting machine in the eleventh, administering a lot of punishment. He landed three wicked blows over the heart and then a right and left to the jaw. He then measured the distance carefully and landed another hard right. Near the end of the round Gans overbalanced himself and went to the floor, but was up in an instant.
Gans' left eye commenced to trouble him in the twelfth round and Sullivan did his best to close it up entirely. The thirteenth was Sullivan's best round, although it is likely Gans was resting up. While Sullivan was trying all the time, Gans was playing possum and blocked the majority of the blows.
The end was in sight in the fourteenth round when Gans landed two hard rights just over the heart. The left side of Sullivan's body was nearly raw by this time and the blows seemed to take all the speed out of him. Gans alternated between fighting for the head and the heart.
Sullivan tried to protect his sore body in the last round. This gave Gans a chance to play for his head. He staggered Sullivan with a right cross to the head and finally sent him down with right and left.
The spectators cheered Gans for his wonderful victory as his seconds hoisted him on their shoulders and carried him about the ring. Sullivan was carried to his corner, and it was some time before he was able to go to his dressing-room.
GANS' PUNCHES TELL ON THE GRITTY TWIN
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Gans had all his old time steam behind his punches last night and when he landed Sullivan generally felt them. The Cambridge Twin was game, however, and never gave up till he was stowed away. Following is an accurate description of the fight by rounds:
FIRST ROUND.
After some sparring Gans swung a right to the head and they mixed it viciously, Gans swinging right and left to the jaw. Sullivan also swung right and left to the neck and they mixed, breaking slowly. Gans swung two lefts to the face and Sullivan retaliated with two lefts to the jaw and a right swing to the face. Both men fought hard and carefully. Gans did some clever blocking, stopping a terrific right intended for the body. Sullivan then landed a couple of vicious lefts to the stomach and Gans swung a right to the neck in return. They mixed it at close quarters without result and the gong rang. The round ended with the advantage a shade in Sullivan's favor. The men fought constantly and were cheered as they went to their corners. Both men were very cool.
SECOND ROUND.
They sparred and fiddled and after several missed swings Sullivan worked his right to the body. Mixing it, Sullivan swung right and left hard to the jaw. Another mix followed and Sullivan planted his right hard on the face. They exchanged right and left at close quarters Sullivan having the better of it. Sullivan then swung two lefts to the face and followed Gans about, planting left to the body and right to the head, worrying Gans. Gans, however, swung a left to the jaw, stopping Sullivan's onslaught. Another mix followed. Gans shot left to the body and Sullivan uppercut with right to the jaw. The men were locked in an embrace as the bell clanged. It was Sullivan's round. Sullivan elicited tremendous cheering by cleverly avoiding a fierce right swing that would have ended matters had it landed.
THIRD ROUND.
Sullivan missed a left for the face and Gans rushed in, landing a right swing to the jaw. He caught Sullivan off his guard, landing a terrific left uppercut to the mouth and then shot a right to the neck. Nothing daunted, Sullivan mixed it and put two lefts to the colored man's face. Mixing it, Gans swung a short-arm right to the jaw and Sullivan planted a straight left to the face and brought his right around to the body. Gans shot a hard right over the mouth. Sullivan shot a stiff right over the heart and at close quarters Gans swung a left to the head. The men fought continually and just as the bell rang Gans swung a hard right on the jaw. Gans had the honors in this round, which was fought fiercely from start to finish.
FOURTH ROUND.
Both were up quickly and fiddled for half a minute. Gans swung a hard right to the ribs and cleverly blocked Sullivan's attempts for the body. Gans missed a left swing and ran full tilt into a straight left that caught him on the face. Some clever blocking followed at close quarters, with Sullivan doing most of the leading. Gans rushed and missed a heavy uppercut, but then landed a left over the mouth that plainly staggered Sullivan. Sullivan uppercut with right to the jaw and Gans forced Sullivan to a clinch after landing a hard left to the jaw. He duplicated the blow a moment later and the round ended with the honors in Gans' favor. Gans had great force behind his blows, offsetting Sullivan's blows two to one by power.
FIFTH ROUND.
Sullivan swung his left to the jaw and Gans at the same time put his left hard on the chest. Sullivan landed right and left to the body and a moment later swung right to the body and jabbed his left to the face. A clinch followed and Sullivan landed a right over the kidneys. Gans gave a great exhibition of ring generalship and kept Sullivan constantly on the move. Then Gans shot his right hard to the body and in a mix got right and left short-arm blows high on the body. They mixed it at close quarters without effect and the bell denoted the end of the round. Once more Gans enjoyed an advantage.
SIXTH ROUND.
Gans missed a left for the body, as did Sullivan. They closed in, mixing it without result. In a rally Sullivan swung right to the head and several ineffectual exchanges followed. Sullivan planted light left over the body and quick as a flash Gans swung a right to the jaw and partly landed a left shift to the jaw. They fought hard at close quarters, Gans swinging a short right to the head. He kept Sullivan busy ducking and blocking and they mixed it at close quarters, Gans uppercutting with right to the jaw and in a clinch he drove three rights over the kidneys. The bell sounded at this stage. Again Gans had the advantage. Sullivan, however, made a good showing and never broke ground.
SEVENTH ROUND.
Gans missed two lefts for the body and hooked his right hard to the jaw. At close quarters Sullivan drove a hard right to the stomach and they clinched. Sullivan caught Gans off his balance and landed two rights like a flash on his dusky opponent's face. They went in close, exchanging rights to the face and Gans swung a hard right to the body. He followed it with hard right to the neck and Sullivan retaliated with a left swing to the jaw. Again at close quarters Gans mixed it viciously, landing two rights over the body. Mixing it again, both exchanged hard rights and lefts to the face. As the gong rang Gans swung a terrific right for the jaw, but it only partially landed. Gans' blows were more powerful in this round.
EIGHTH ROUND.
Sullivan came up very cool and they mixed it at close quarters, Gans landing a terrific right wallop over the heart. Sullivan fought back hard, seeming not to mind the blow. Breaking from a clinch, Gans landed a hard right to the jaw, but Sullivan countered in kind. In a terrific mix-up Gans sent Sullivan staggering and to the floor with a terrific right to the jaw. He followed Sullivan all over the ring, showering terrific rights and lefts to the jaw. Sullivan tried to stall and was plainly groggy. They mixed it at a terrific clip at close quarters, Sullivan fighting back hard. The bell rang with Sullivan apparently a defeated man, but game to the core. He saved himself from being knocked out by stalling and hanging on. He went to his corner in bad shape.
NINTH ROUND.
Sullivan went at once to close quarters, mixing it with Gans. Gans shot in a right to the body and a left to the mouth. Sullivan backed away and Gans followed to a clinch. Sullivan missed left for the jaw and Gans drove in vicious right and left swings to the jaw and mouth. He followed it with two right swings to the jaw, dazing Sullivan. Sullivan tried to remain cool in the face of terrible punishment, but Gans forced the fight, landing left and right to the jaw. Sullivan fought back gamely, however, and Gans could not land a vital blow. An instant before the round closed Gans shot a straight right to the mouth. Sullivan absorbed much punishment in this round and went to his corner none too cheerful. It was Gans' round by a big margin and he looked all over a winner.
TENTH ROUND.
Gans staggered Sullivan with a right swing to the jaw and the latter went to close quarters, seeking to block the colored man's blows. Sullivan received a hard right on the jaw and landed a left to the body. Then they clinched. Breaking, Gans drove a hard left to the body and easily blocked Sullivan's attempts to counter. Gans shot his right hard to the jaw and followed this, after a mix-up, with left and right swings to the jaw. Sullivan came back with two light lefts to the face and they mixed it, Sullivan trying to get in under Gans' powerful onslaughts. The round ended in Gans' favor. Sullivan still fought on gamely, standing up and taking punishment, but his blows were feeble. He stalled considerably.
ELEVENTH ROUND.
Both went to the center quickly and Gans at once shot a hard right over the heart and followed it a moment later with two terrific rights to the same place and then by way of diversion shot his left to the jaw. Sullivan, however, got in several blows to the body, but they had no effect on the colored lad. Gans then swung a right to the head and followed it a moment later with two similar blows, all being powerful swings. Sullivan then worked a hard right to the stomach and a left to the face. They mixed it, Gans landing left and right to the neck. Gans tried a right swing and Sullivan, catching Gans off his guard, landed a left to the body and Gans went to the floor. Gans was off his balance at the time, however, and the blow counted for naught. Gans had all the better of the round.
TWELFTH ROUND.
Sullivan planted a left on the Gans nose and after an exchange swung a hard right to the head. Gans whipped a left to Sullivan's head as the latter was backing away and they fought to close quarters. After Sullivan had landed left and right swings over the eyes, Gans shot a hard right to the body. Gans' left eye was badly swollen at this stage. A vicious mix followed, Sullivan landing a beautiful right over Gans' eye and a moment later duplicated the blow. The crowd yelled encouraging shouts to Sullivan, who, stimulated by this demonstration, worked right and left to Gans' face. Sullivan appeared to be growing stronger and Gans did not appear as strong as earlier in the fight. Sullivan had an advantage in this round.
THIRTEENTH ROUND.
They went at it quickly, Sullivan jabbing Gans' sore eye twice with lefts and once with a right. Gans' right eye was badly swollen at this stage. Sullivan then landed a hard right to the wind and an ineffectual mix followed, both boxing cleverly and carefully. Sullivan then shot two hard rights to the body and avoided Gans' attempts to counter. Sullivan suddenly landed a terrific right uppercut to the stomach and then a right to the mouth. Gans, however, swung a terrific left to the jaw. Sullivan offset this with a hard left to the stomach and the round ended with the advantage on Sullivan's side. Blood was trickling from Gans' eye as he went to his corner, that optic being almost totally closed. This seemed to take some of the vim from Gans' blows and worried him not a little.
FOURTEENTH ROUND.
Gans opened with a terrific right to the neck and followed it with right to the stomach, Sullivan countering with right to the eye and left to the stomach. Gans whipped a hard right to the stomach, but Mike met him with a terrific right to the face and followed it with two left jabs to the face. Gans then dropped two wicked rights to the Bostonian's stomach and the latter wilted perceptibly. They fought viciously at close quarters, Sullivan landing a hard right over Gans' sore eye, and Gans retaliated with several damaging rights over the heart and a left to the jaw. It was a fierce round, the honors being comparatively even. Gans' blows, however, were the more forceful and shook Sullivan considerably.
FIFTEENTH ROUND.
They sparred carefully and Gans drove in two powerful rights on the body and a right to the kidneys. Mike shot a hard right to Gans' discolored eye twice and brought his right hard to the wind. At close quarters Gans caught Sullivan on the jaw with right and a moment later sent him staggering across the ring and a moment later repeated the blow. Catching Sullivan off his guard, a terrific left was sent in flush to the jaw and Sullivan went down and out. Sullivan was completely knocked out.
SULLIVAN HEAVIER THAN GANS.
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Cambridge Man Has an Advantage of Nearly Nine Pounds.
If a match well made is half won Mike Sullivan is a master hand at the art. He led Joe Gans to believe, when negotiations for a fight were pending, that making a low weight would be as easy to him as breaking sticks.
The scales told a different tale yesterday at weighing-in time. Gans stepped on the scales at Corbett's in his complete street attire and failed to disturb the beam. Allowing eight pounds for his clothes he weighed about 134 pounds. Sullivan knew he was near the required weight of 142 pounds, as he weighed without even a breechclout. From this it was argued he would have an advantage of fully nine pounds in the ring, allowing for a slight gain after dinner.
The betting opened at 10 to 7 yesterday, and with the pressure of Sullivan money it went to 10 to 9. From this the odds dropped to 10 to 8, which was the prevailing price during the afternoon. The heavy bettors were down on Gans to a man, while those who bet small amounts had theirs on Sullivan.
Just before the men entered the ring the betting went up to even money, with plenty of coin on both sides. The boost in the price came about when a sudden flood of Sullivan money began to arrive at all the poolrooms. The Gans backers were there in numbers, but those who liked the Cambridge lad would not be denied, so it was even money and take your pick when the gong sounded.
1906-01-20 The Denver Post (Denver, CO) (page 9)
GANS ADMINISTERS CLEAN BEATING TO SULLIVAN
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Colored Fighter Displays Old-Time Form, and in Fifteen Rounds Succeeds in Forcing Game Twin to Take the Count.
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(By Post Wire, Longest in the World.)
(By W. W. Naughton.)
Ringside, San Francisco, Cal., Jan. 20.--Joe Gans did for Mike Sullivan in one of the greatest fights ever seen in a Queensberry ring. The end came in the fifteenth rounds, Sullivan going down under a battery of rights and lefts, and remaining with his head resting on the lower rope until the timekeeper announced the fatal word, "Out!" Gans' work was a marvelous display of two-handed battling. In the very first round he went at Sullivan as if bent on breaking all records for the briefest fight. He found Sullivan there with him at every stage of slugging work. When the arms of both men were flying Sullivan had, if anything, the better of it, his stature and length of arm standing him in good stead.
After two three-minute spasms of this hurricane work Gans found that his system was all wrong. He then settled down, boxed cautiously and found that it paid 100 per cent better than the haremscarem style of milling.
In the third round Joe was gauging distance and listing Mike's blows. In the fourth Gans gained a decided lead. He blocked straight blows with his forearms, ducked under swings and jolts, stopped body punches with his elbows, and whenever close enough to make sure of the range sent in right crosses that made poor Mike gape and stare.
By the time the sixth round was in progress the fight had a settled look. Gans seemed to be the master of the situation. As the fight progressed Joe became careless and Sullivan landed repeatedly with straight lefts. In the eighth round after suffering these light taps for awhile Gans cut loose with vim. He brought Sullivan to his knees with a hard right on the chin, Sullivan grabbing Gans around the body while dropping. When Gans freed himself and Sullivan stood erect Mike was knocked back to the ropes with lefts and rights. He clinched again and lasted out the round.
Gans after that took his time. He was like a fellow who had his job well in hand, and didn't care to botch it. Sullivan asked no quarter. He was there on the firing line, straightening his left and uppercutting with his right and doing his level best to turn the tide. At times his knees sagged when Gans cuffed him heavily with the right.
In the tenth and eleventh rounds Gans made a target of Mike's ribs, timing his right handers so that Mike bumped into them when leading and thus received double punishment.
In the twelfth round Gans rested himself. He blocked a greater number of Mike's blows, but Sullivan sneaked in a sufficiency of jolts and jabs to raise a big lump on the side of Gans' left eye.
Lack of action on Gans' part in the thirteenth seemed to imbue Sullivan with fresh confidence. Mike went at the colored man determinedly, the gallery encouraging him with cheers and yells.
In the following round Gans was as lively as a kitten. He ducked and blocked until he got close enough, and with the right. The whole of the left side of Sullivan's body looked raw from this constant battering.
In the fifteenth and final round Gans used his forearms to good purpose in stopping Mike's straight lefts. Joe, when he got close enough, dealt Mike a punishing right on the ear. They went into a clinch. The instant they broke Gans sent Sullivan tottering with a swift right clip on the point, and seeing his arm raised sent in left and right until Sullivan fell onto the ropes and was counted out.
The general impression around the ring was that Sullivan showed rare grit and that Gans never fought better in his life.
The fight by rounds:
Round One.
Mike feinted and circled around. Gans let go with left and right, catching Mike on the sides of the face. Mike responded with right on the ribs. They worked into a corner and slugged. Gans scored with rights on the face. Mike shot in a left to the stomach after the break. Sullivan shot in another hard left on the stomach and a right on the chin. They mixed it again, both reaching the head with the right. Gans blocked a left for the face and drove in hard right body punch. Sullivan planted a straight left on the stomach. Sullivan reached ribs with a right and Gans brought his right across on the cheek. It was an even round.
Round Two.
Gans touched Sullivan's face with slight left and they clinched. They broke and mixed it. Each man used a right on the head and body. Sullivan rammed in a straight left on Gans' midsection and brought the right around on the face. Gans shook his head and drew back. They drew close and slugged, Sullivan hammering at body with the right, while Gans swung right and left on the face. In the close fighting Sullivan used a right uppercut, catching Gans under the chin. Sullivan planted a straight left on Joe's nose. They were in a rally at the gong.
Round Three.
They led with their lefts, both missing. Gans smashed in a right on the chin, ducked a right return and drove in another right. Gans planted a hard left jolt on the jaw. Sullivan sent in a left on the mouth. Gans, who was bothered by Sullivan's reach and height, began to fight more carefully and watch for openings. Twice, when Sullivan tried with his left, Gans crossed him with a right on the face. Gans took a left in the mouth and then scored with both hands on the sides of the head. Gans stopped a right-hand body punch with his elbow and jolted Sullivan's face with the left. Gans ducked under a right-hander, sent in a heavy return right on the mouth as the round ended.
Round Four.
Both sparred cautiously. Gans feinted with the left and sent in the right to the body. Mike came back with a right body punch and also scored with a left on the stomach. Mike missed with a right uppercut. Joe clinched and grinned. Gans ducked a right and Sullivan caught him two light lefts on the mouth. Gans sparred rapidly till he got within range and then swatted Mike a hard right on the jaw. Gans still sparred for openings and nailed Sullivan with a left and right on the face. They were hard punches. Gans then made his opponent totter with a hard right on the jaw. Mike clinched. There was a mixup in which Gans scored twice with the right. Gans has a lead now.
Round Five.
Gans ducked a left and put in a right body blow. Mike got in a left on the face and repeated the performance. Then they clinched. Gans became cautious again and did some clever blocking. Joe sent in two light lefts on the face, and then whipped in a snapping right to the chin. Gans was making a pretty fight. He got under Sullivan's punches and drove in rights on ribs. Then he feinted rapidly and caught Sullivan with left and right on the face. Sullivan kept hitting away, but Gans' defense was perfect.
Round Six.
Gans drew Sullivan's fire and blocked Mike's leads. Then Joe drove his right into the stomach. Mike got back with a left to body. Gans contented himself by parrying for awhile then he forced Sullivan to the ropes with a right and left on the face. Mike began using a straight left and scored. Then Joe poked Mike stiffly on the ribs with the right. Gans got under a left jolt and used his right body punch. Sullivan came into a clinch and began to hold. Gans hammered him in the ribs with the right and on the face with the left while Mike was clinging.
Round Seven.
Gans ripped under a left and shot in a hot right. Mike scored with a hot left on the face. Joe's right crossed him on the chin. Gans blocked a body blow and then Mike swatted him on the ear with the right. Gans worked to close range and did fierce work on the ribs with the right. He brought his right over on the jaw, rocking Sullivan's head. Sullivan held on and fought and Gans mixed it with him without complaining. Sullivan reached Gans' face with right jolts and Joe whanged away at the Bostonian's ribs. Welch chided Sullivan for holding.
Round Eight.
Gans blocked Sullivan's leads and worked close, sending in a punishing right on the ribs. Gans blocked and ducked and put up a marvelous defense, reaching Sullivan's ribs or ear with right whenever he got within range. Gans reached Sullivan's chin with a right. Sullivan fell in towards Gans and clinched. Gans caught him a hard left-hander. Sullivan dropped to his knees, still holding. He arose quickly. Gans hammered him to the ropes with lefts and rights on the face. Sullivan swayed and tottered, but he managed to clinch again and hold on and hampered Gans. By the time Gans freed himself Sullivan's head was cleared. The gong sounded before Gans could cut loose.
Round Nine.
Gans fought cautiously to the ropes and nailed Sullivan on the chin. It was a glancing blow. Sullivan clinched. Gans was wondrous cool. He feinted and stalked after his man, blocking Sullivan's leads. Gans got within reach and let go the left and right again, catching Sullivan on the face. Mike's knees sagged by he straightened up gamely and lasted out. They came to a clinch. Gans took his time at breaking away. Sullivan got home with two lefts on the face and Gans uppercut him on the chin with the right. Gans fought cautiously and determinedly. They were in a clinch at the bell.
Round Ten.
Gans rammed in a straight left on the body and then snapped the right across on the chin. Gans blocked a straight left and put in two heart punches with the right. Gans forced Sullivan into a corner and rained right-handers on his ribs and neck. Mike smashed back with the right, reaching Gans' ear twice, but without any great force. Gans sent in a rasping right on the ribs and Sullivan caught him a glancing blow on the forehead. Gans brought a right across on the face. Gans then cut loose, uppercutting with both hands, reaching Sullivan's face. Gans stopped a body punch and countered Mike swiftly on the jaw with his right.
Round Eleven.
They came into a half clinch and Gans peppered the ribs with the right. When they broke away Gans came back, making a target of the ribs and using the right hand freely. Gans appeared to be master of the situation. He took his time and fought carefully and cleverly. He drew Sullivan's fire and came back with hard rights on the face and body. Some of the right-hand body punches Gans used appeared to have great punishing power. He used them as Sully was striking out and made Sullivan bump into them, as it were. Gans slipped to his haunches while following Sullivan along the ropes. When he arose he blocked Sullivan's leads cleverly.
Round Twelve.
Gans blocked and ducked and bided his time. Waiting for Gans to cut loose in this round was like watching the start of a field of horses. Finally he brought his right across on Mike's chin. Then Joe went to blocking and covering again for a while. When satisfied he had the range he sent in another right clip on the chin and followed it with a right on the ribs. Gans then seemed to grow careless and allowed Sullivan to land little stabs and jolts. The gallery cheered Mike.
Round Thirteen.
Gans came to the scratch with his left eye nearly closed from Mike's jabs in the previous round. Sullivan made the pace. He reached Gans' eye occasionally, but Gans blocked quite a number of them. Gans kept on the defensive and the crowd cheered Sullivan. Sully tilted Gans' head with a long straight left and there was quite a burst of cheering. Gans then drove in a right on the face and followed it with a left jolt which made Mike's head wag. Gans put in a right on the ribs and another right on the jaw. This was Sully's round.
Round Fourteen.
Gans stepped in with two rights in succession on the face. Sully clinched. After the break Gans blocked Sullivan's left and rapped him twice on the ribs with the right. Gans caught Sullivan a rasping body blow with both hands. Sullivan shoved in two straight lefts on the face and took two right handers on the ribs in return. Gans made a target of Sullivan's body for a while. Sullivan caught Joe on the face with the left twice in succession. In a half clinch Gans got in a hard right on the mouth and then poked Sullivan's ribs with the right.
Round Fifteen.
Gans was as lively as a bee again. He ducked under Sullivan's leads and punched Mike's face with the right at close quarters. Sullivan got home on Joe's swollen eye while holding and hitting. There was a deal of this grappling work, during which Gans kept changing. After the break Gans sent Sullivan to the floor with a hard right cross on the chin. As Sullivan backed to the ropes Gans went at him with both hands, landing on neck and jaw. A left and right landed almost together and Mike fell on his back, his head striking the carpet. On the rebound his head rested against the lower rope. He lay there stretched out until after the limit of time had expired. When Timekeeper Harting yelled "Out!" Referee Welch slapped Gans on the shoulder. Then Sullivan was lifted up and carried to his corner.