Monday, April 21, 2014

1897-09-27 Joe Gans L-PTS20 Bobby Dobbs [Greenpoint Sporting Club, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1897-09-28 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 4)
DOBBS DEFEATS GANS
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He Is Now the Colored Lightweight Champion.

Bobby Dobbs of Minneapolis won the decision over Joe Gans of Baltimore, after twenty rounds of fighting and with it the right to the title of colored light weight champion. Dobbs had the better of the fighting all through, Gans being unable to reach him. In the first four rounds not a blow was struck, but in the fifth Dobbs cornered his man and severely punished him on the body with both hands. In the seventh Gans sent his right to the mouth and drew first blood, but did little during the rest of the fight. Dobbs repeatedly cornered his man throughout and had him weak with body blows. The last round was fast, but the referee had no trouble in picking the winner.

In the opening bout George Munroe and Bob Reily met for ten rounds at 112 pounds. Reily was a novice, while Munroe had had some experience, and in the first landed his left on the face repeatedly. Reily improved in the second and sent his left to the face and right to body in good style. The fighting during the rest of the bout was all Munroe's, Reily taking enough punishment to stop much better men. Munroe tried hard to finish his man in the seventh, but did not succeed. The bout went the limit and Munroe received the decision.

The second preliminary was between Eddy Hayes of New York and Hugh Fitzsimmons of Greenpoint, ten rounds at 126 pounds. Both were cautious in the opening round. As the bout progressed the men warmed up and the fighting became faster, the last being in the hammer and tongs order. Neither seemed to have the advantage at the finish and the bout was declared a draw.


1897-09-28 The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY) (page 8)
DOBBS DEFEATED GANS.
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GOOD BOXING AT THE GREENPOINT A. C. LAST NIGHT.

The bouts of the Greenpoint Sporting Club, which were contested last night at the clubhouse in Greenpoint, were of the sort that pleased the large crowd of spectators present. The work of "Joe" Ward, the referee, in the second bout did much to cause an unpleasantness, which must have made his ears tingle. It was the consensus of opinion among the followers of the fistic art present that Eddie Hayes had won in a walk from Hugh Fitzsimmons, but a draw was the best he could get.

The main attraction of the night was a twenty-round argument at 135 pounds with Joe Gans, of Baltimore, and Bobby Dobbs, of Minneapolis, as principals. Both of these chocolate colored gentlemen showed in fine fettle, and consumed the first round in looking each other over. At all times Dobbs appeared like a pair of distended scissors, and proved a difficult man for Gans to reach. There was little to choose between them up to the tenth round. The ninth proved decidedly warm, both men doing effective work. After the tenth Gans let out several links and jabbed and uppercut Dobbs in a manner he didn't like. From the twelfth round on, however, Dobbs did the best work of the night, and received a well-earned decision.

The first bout showed George Munroe, of New York, and Tommy Riley, of Brooklyn. They boxed the required ten rounds, each weighing 112 pounds. Neither man knew much about boxing. Munroe obtained the decision.


1897-09-28 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 3)
BOXING AT THE GREENPOINT A. C.
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Bobby Dobbs Whips Joe Gans in a Twenty-Round Bout.

Joe Gans, colored, of Baltimore, was squarely defeated in a twenty-round bout by Bobby Dobbs, of Minneapolis, also colored, at the Greenpoint A. C. last night. Dobbs did all the work, and his victory was a decisive one. Joe Ward was referee.

Tommy Reilly of Brooklyn and George Monroe of New York battled in the first bout of ten rounds at 112 pounds. Reilly was a white-haired youth, who evidently had not been very long at the game. All he knew how to do was to stop a lead and drive his right home in the ribs. Monroe was more scientific and countered continually. He received the decision.

Eddie Hayes of New York, and Hugh Fitzsimmons of Greenpoint clashed in the next bout. The weight announced was 126 pounds, but Fitzsimmons appeared to be at least ten pounds heavier. The referee astonished the crowd by declaring it a draw.

Dobbs and Gans were in the ring at 10:45 o'clock. Al Herford, Eddie Bean of Newark, and Danny McBride were Gans's seconds, while Jim Johnson, Edward Bowman, and Jack Crealey attended to Dobbs's wants.

Twenty rounds at 135 pounds were the conditions. The boxers were in superb shape. Not a blow was struck in the first round. The second was lively. Dobbs forced the work, but only landed a short swing on Gans's ribs.

The Baltimorean was cautious and only staved Dobbs off. Gans was not so timid in the third. After being enticed in a corner and receiving a slight smash on the nose, Joe forced his way and staggered Dobbs with a heavy swing alongside the head. He would have scored a knockout had it been a trifle lower.

Dobbs distressed Gans with two terrific punches in the wind in the fourth. Gans would not take any chances after this, and confined himself to blocking Dobbs's speedy rushes.

In the fifth Dobbs kept Gans in his (Dobbs's) corner and puzzled him with feints. He was quick to take advantage, too, and landed one in the short ribs, which made Joe wince.

Dobbs visited Joe's stomach again in the sixth. Gans partly let himself out in the seventh, and made Dobbs's nose bleed.

The ninth was a corker. Dobbs piled blow after blow into Gans's wind and chest. Joe did not seem to relish it. He crossed Dobbs near the close and nearly put him down.

The tenth was fast, with honors easy. Gans missed two vicious rights in the next round. Dobbs did the better work, however. Dobbs was very weak on his legs in the twelfth.

Bobby tried for Gans's body again in the thirteenth, but was unsuccessful. Gans used his left with good effect and kept Dobbs in check. Gans hugged a corner again in the fourteenth and allowed Dobbs to do all the work.

Gans received most of the blows in the wind and under the heart. Dobbs did all the leading in the fifteenth, and his admirers were confident. Dobbs fell down in the sixteenth from weakness, but did all the leading.

In the final rounds Bobby trounced Gans for keeps, and received the verdict.


1897-09-29 Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 5)
PUGILISTIC GOSSIP.
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Manager Al Herford, of the Eureka Athletic Club, of Baltimore, is highly incensed at the treatment he received at the hands of the Greenpoint Sporting Club, of Greenpoint, Long Island, on Monday night, when his lightweight boxer, Joe Gans, met Bobby Dobbs, of Minneapolis. Dobbs was given the decision over the Baltimorean, when, in the eyes of every sporting man present, it seemed unjust. Gans during the battle had made things so lively for his opponent that he, throughout the match, resorted to clinching, and, though repeated calls were made to have it suppressed, the club management refused to stop it. Gans is confident that he is a better man than his opponent, and is ready to meet him at the earliest opportunity. He claims that the deal he received could only come from men who had a set purpose in view, and that he stands ready to make a second match with the provision that the winner is to take all, and that the bout be pulled off before a club other than the Greenpoint. He will also wager a side bet on the outcome.

A glance at the support Dobbs had is given by Gans' manager, who claims that nothing else could have been expected. Matt Kennedy, the president of the club, acted as announcer, while Jack Skelley, manager of the club, is manager for Dobbs, and Joe Ward, who refereed the bout, is a stockholder in the organization.


1897-09-29 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 6)
Herford and Gans Angry.

Manager Al. Herford, of the Eureka Athletic Club, of Baltimore, and Pugilist Joseph Gans are incensed at treatment they received at the hands of the Greenpoint Sporting Club, of Long Island, on Monday night, when Gans met "Bobby" Dobbs, of Minneapolis.

Dobbs was given the decision over the Baltimorean, when in the eyes of every sporting man present, says Mr. Herford, it seemed unjust. Gans made things so lively for his opponent that Dobbs throughout the match resorted to clinching, and though repeated calls were made to have it suppressed, the club management refused to stop it. Gans is confident that he is a better man than his opponent and is ready to meet him at the earliest opportunity, with the provision that the winner take all and that the bout be held before some other club. He will also wager a side bet on the outcome.

Gans says that the bout was once declared a draw, and that the referee upon being intimidated changed his decision and gave the bout to Dobbs.

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