WALCOTT DEFEATS HARRIS.
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The Contest Takes Place at the Casino--Six Rounds Are All That Harris Could Stand Under.
Joe Walcott knocked out Mike Harris in six rounds at the Casino last evening. The meeting of these two men has been looked forward to with great interest by the sporting fraternity in and around Boston for several weeks past. Now that Walcott has proved himself the better man, the claims of Harris, who once got a decision against Walcott in a sparring exhibition, and has plumed himself upon it ever since, will have no weight.
A crowd of 1500 men witnessed the contest last night. There is little ventilation in the cheese-box--shaped Casino Building, and it was such a hot place last night that nearly every spectator removed his coat, plied palm leaf fans vigorously and imbibed ice cold nerve food and ginger ale at intervals in order to keep comfortable. As it was every one sweltered.
The show began at 9.30 o'clock. Walcott was the first to appear in the ring, and he was applauded. The coal-black face of the invincible Bostonian was wreathed in smiles which exhibited his even rows of gleaming white teeth and the whites of his eyes to the spectators. O'Rourke, his backer, and two other white men, looked after Joe's welfare.
Several minutes later Mike Harris of New York, his white opponent, entered the arena with his backer, Charles Hoyt, and others. He was looked after by Howie Hodgkins and two other friends. Harris is a head taller than Walcott and appeared to be in first-class condition. He is a strong looking man with a good back, shoulders, chest and legs. The crowd seemed to think he would give Walcott a game fight and extended to him a cordial greeting.
The referee was "Jack" Kelleher, who filled the post very satisfactorily. He announced that the contest was for 10 rounds.
Then the bout began. In the first round Harris aimed several blows at Walcott's ribs, supposed to be his most tender spot. But Walcott met the white man every time with blinding smashes in the face. It was give and take for a while, Walcott getting in the greater number of blows. It looked as though Harris was going to be knocked out in the first round. He was sent to his knees and stayed there until the referee counted off eight seconds. Then he got up and stayed out the round, although a bit groggy.
In the second round Harris led several times, but Walcott had all the fun. He knocked Harris against the ropes frequently and sent him to his knees once more, when the counting began again. Harris got up in time to save himself and Walcott rained more blows upon him.
The black man came up serenely in the third round and landed several terrific thumps on Harris's face and body. Harris got in one or two on Walcott's ribs, but they seemed to have no effect. Then he began to run away from Walcott, but was knocked down again on his knees and narrowly escaped being counted out.
Harris did some good ducking in the fourth round, cleverly escaping several of Walcott's left hand swings. He was sent to his knees once more, but was not counted out. When he got on his feet again Walcott punched him all over the ring.
Both men were sweating from the force of their exertions in the next round, and their bare backs glistened in the glare of the electric lights. Harris was knocked against the ropes, and Walcott gave him some wicked upper cuts. He also chased him all over the ring again. Harris was down on his knees when the gong rang.
As they came up for the sixth round Harris appeared weak, while Walcott was very strong. Harris was nearly pushed through the ropes, and Walcott began whacking him again in earnest. Several of his swings missed their mark, however. Harris continued his running away tactics to avoid punishment. Finally Walcott caught him with a stiff straight-arm blow in the face, which knocked Harris out completely. This ended the contest, Walcott being declared the winner.
Before the Walcott-Harris bout there was a six-round contest between Al Allen of New York and Hugh Dally of Australia, which was declared a draw. It was an uninteresting bout.
1894-06-23 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 3)
WALCOTT WINS.
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Whips Harris at Casino in Six Rounds.
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New York Man Gives Way to Colored Man's Rushes.
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No Doubt About Decision After Few Minutes.
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Complete Reversal of the Bout in New York.
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About 1500 Attend and Cheer On Their Favorites.
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Ever since Mike Harris got a decision over Joe Walcott in a limited round bout in New York city last year, the colored boxer has been anxious to again meet his conqueror.The opportunity was given him last night and he proved to his friends that he was Harris' master. Harris made many friends and admirers when he boxed little Jack Green in this city last fall, and they expected him to make a good showing against Wolcott. The sporting people who had seen both men perform, however, were sanguine that the Boston man would be the winner.
The bout originally was to be eight rounds, but Harris thought so well of his chances that he had it increased to 10. He saw the Walcott-Tracy contest, and in some ways tried to imitate the latter, but he was not quick enough. He appeared nervous at the start, and it was plainly evident that he was not very confident.
Walcott, on the other hand, was full of confidence, and he forced the bout from the start, and there was little doubt of the outcome after the first round.
Both men had trained faithfully for a month, and were in fine condition. They both weighed in under the limit, 140 pounds. About 1500 people were present at the casino when the first bout began at 8.45.
Boyle O'Reilly, who was to meet Al Allen of New York, refused to go on, as Allen was too much overweight. Harry Dally, the bantam from Australia, took his place. Despite the fact that Allen was several pounds heavier and had the advantage of three weeks' training, Dally stood him off for six rounds, and it was declared a draw.
There was some delay in securing a referee, as Johnny Eckhardt could not come over from New York to act. There was only one man available that both parties were agreeable to have act, John Kelleher, and, under the circumstances in order to have the bout take place, he agreed to officiate.
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It was 9.40 when Walcott jumped through the ropes of the ring in which he has won many contests, that used by the Dixon company on the road. It is different from other rings, being of an octagon shape and about 18 feet in circumference.
Walcott had as seconds Tom O'Rourke, Maurice Kelly and Jack Havlin. Two minutes later Harris made his appearance, accompanied by Charley White, Howie Hodgekins and Jack Levi. The timekeepers were then selected, Dan Murphy acting for the club, Mike Bradley for Walcott and J. Potter for Harris. The gloves weighed eight ounces and were quickly adjusted, after which the men shook hands.
A minute later the bell rang and they went to the center. Harris had the advantage in height and reach. They lost no time in getting together, and Harris landed his right on the ear for a starter and they clinched. Walcott then landed his left on the face and uppercut with his right in the wind. Harris missed a left lead and went over on his face.
They clinched again, and after breaking away Walcott jabbed Harris twice with his left on the face and sent his right on the ribs. Walcott forced the boxing and Harris slipped to the floor several times to avoid his rushes. Just before time was called Walcott landed a hard right on the ribs and Harris dropped to the floor.
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In the second round Harris landed twice on the face and ribs with his right. In a clinch Harris slipped to the floor. Harris then rushed and they clinched again, after which both landed right cross counters on the jaw.
Walcott then sent his left on the face, and right on the jaw, Harris countering on the neck with his right. Walcott landed several left jabs on the face without a return and then Harris surprised everyone by landing three right handers on the neck and jaw. Walcott rushed and landing a hard left jab on the face forced Harris to the floor. He took his full time resting on one knee. Walcott then landed his right on the ear, and they clinched on the ropes. As time was called Walcott landed several left jabs and upper cuts on the face and wind.
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Third round--Harris landed his right on the wind and Walcott rushed, landing three left jabs on the face and wind and they clinched. Harris then landed his right on the ribs hard and countered with it on the face a second later. Another clinch followed and Harris landed his right on the wind.
Walcott then landed his right on the ribs twice, forcing Harris to the floor. He stayed there nine seconds and on getting up clinched. After breaking away Walcott landed two hard left jabs on the wind and a left uppercut on the face.
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Fourth Round--Harris landed his left on the face and a clinch followed. Walcott then landed with both hands on the face and jaw, Harris countering on the jaw with his right. Walcott jabbed with his left, and Harris swung his right on the ribs and they clinched.
Walcott then landed swings on the face and jaw with both hands, forcing Harris to the floor. After getting up they got together in a hot mix-up in the center of the ring, both doing some good boxing at short range with honors even. Walcott forced the boxing then, and landed with both hands without a return.
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Fifth Round--Harris jabbed with his left in the face, Walcott countering on the ribs with his right. Walcott then forced Harris to the ropes, landing some left jabs on the wind and face, and Harris dropped to the floor to escape his rushes. Walcott had it all his own way during the rest of the round, forcing Harris around the ring, landing with both hands without being countered in return until time was called.
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It was a foregone conclusion that Walcott would soon win and the sixth round was the last. Walcott landed a succession of rights on the face and jaw without a return and Harris slipped to the floor. He remained on one knee nine seconds and getting up clinched.
After breaking away Walcott cornered him, and landing with both hands forced Harris to the floor. He took his full time on the floor and clinched when he got up. After breaking away Walcott landed right and left swings on the face and jaw forcing Harris to the floor. He did not get up in 10 seconds, and Walcott was given the decision.
1894-06-23 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 2)
WALCOTT WON IN SIX ROUNDS.
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After Several Knockdowns Harris Was Knocked Out.
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The Sympathy of the Crowd at the Casino Was with the White Man, but Sympathy Didn't Count.
Joe Walcott won against Mike Harris of New York last night at the Casino in the sixth round. It was as conclusive as the falling of a house, and now the sports who saw the fight are wondering how Harris ever got the decision against the colored pugilist, which is chronicled in the rolls of scrapping history.
It was a hot fight, on a hot night, in the hottest hall in Boston. Every mother's son who was present--and there was a lot of them-stripped to the shirt sleeve stage, took his hat off, and panted for a breath of air.
The crowd had to wait some, as Riley, one of the artists in the curtain raiser, backed out at the last moment, and some little time was taken up finding Australian Harry Dally, a genial punching bag, the expansiveness of whose smile was in an inverse ratio to his skill as a fighter. He was never in it as a boxer, but managed to stay six rounds in the ring with Al Allen of New York, earning a drawn decision.
When the two stars appeared, each with a portentous array of seconds, the crowd was enthusiastic, if somewhat roasted. Walcott had a following in the crowd, which gave him a "hand," but Harris, stranger as he was, had a much larger faction to cheer him on. In the opening rounds, before he lost his grip, his every lead was greeted with a cheer, while Walcott's blows, though 10 times as numerous and twice as heavy, met with scarcely a notice. Toward the last, Harris hardly got in a return, and then was never effective. The sports then, with true sporting loyalty, gave the colored brother the long delayed expressions of approval.
The fight was an ideal one as an exhibition in a tenderly attuned moral community. There was not a drop of blood, no marks or discolorations, each man boxing fairly and with conspicuous regard for the rules of the ring.
There was some delay in finding a referee, two men failing to show up as agreed. Mr. J. H. Kelerher of the B. A. A. finally agreed to act, and made an excellent officials.
It was 9:45 o'clock when Walcott took his seat in the ring. Tom O'Rourke, Jack Havlin and Morris Kelley looked out for the colored man's interests. Harris was esquired by the irrepressible Charlie White of New York and "Hotbox" Howie Hodgkins of this city. Mike Harris kept time for Walcott, J. Potter performed a similar service for Harris, and Dan Murphy kept tabs on the clock for the club.
Harris was the first to lead. A clinch followed, with some infighting. Walcott appeared to be a trifle too anxious and was wild with his swings. After considerable sparring Walcott finally landed good and hard on the New Yorker's jaw and Harris went to the floor, taking the full time limit. Walcott later on planted his right near Harris' heart and the blow made Harris a bit shaky.
In the second round Walcott forced the fighting and Harris went down. Walcott's next play was to score on Harris' jaw with a stiff left round arm blow, and a second later was in again on Harris' left ear. Harris took his medicine gamely, and sent his right over on Walcott's jaw. Walcott resumed his rushing tactics and Harris went down. The round ended with Harris on the ropes, Walcott scoring a stiff uppercut. Harris seemed to lack generalship.
In the third round both men worked for the body, Walcott scoring three times to Harris' one. Harris planted his left squarely on Walcott's jaw, but the colored man only grinned. Harris used his right to good advantage, and got in a full arm swing on Walcott's wind. This roused the colored man's ire and once more he resorted to rushing, and Harris went to the floor. Walcott scored with his right on the body and left full in the face. The round was in Walcott's favor and it was only a question of time when he would win.
Walcott started out in the fourth round to finish his man, but Harris got in a left that staggered Walcott. It was only for an instant, however, as Walcott came back like a race horse, using his left and right on Harris' jaw with telling effect. Harris could not withstand the onslaught and went down. A hot rally at close quarters followed, Harris doing his share of the work. Walcott then went in and rained blow after blow on Harris' face and body, and had the New Yorker going at the end of the round.
Walcott followed up his advantage in the fifth round, and followed Harris all over the ring. After scoring a body blow and one in the face, Walcott got in a neat uppercut, and Harris was again on the boards. Once more Walcott tried hard for a knockout. He caught Harris full on the jaw with his left. Harris went down and the bell saved him.
The end came in the sixth. Walcott outfought Harris at every point, and soon had the New Yorker dazed. Walcott's stiff body punches had the desired effect, and finally Walcott sent in both hands for Harris' jaw, and Harris dropped to the floor like a log. Harris struggled gamely to his knees, but could not get on his feet, and fell forward on the floor at the end of the 10 seconds.
1894-06-23 The Boston Post (Boston, MA) (page 3)
WALCOTT AGAIN.
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Colored Boy Wins Quickly Over Mike Harris.
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BOUT LASTED ONLY SIX ROUNDS
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A Contest Free From Brutality, but All in Walcott's Favor From the Beginning---Joe Put Mike Down Many Times.
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Joe Walcott defeated Mike Harris of New York in six rounds at the Casino last evening in a battle for welterweight honors.The result was expected, for Walcott's victory over clever, nimble and agile Tom Tracey stamped him as a wonderful boxer.
The contest was to be of six rounds duration and the stipulated weight was 140 pounds. Both weighed under that and there was only a half pound difference in weight in Harris's favor, Joe tipping the scales at 138 pounds.
From the beginning to the end Walcott had things his own way, and after the first round it was a question of how long it would take Walcott to dispose of his man.
The bout was fast from the very start and neither man did any lagging. There were a good many strong blows struck.
It was a clean exhibition, entirely free from brutality and without any spilling of blood. In fact it was as clean a bout as was ever seen in this city. There was no police interference.
Harris had an advantage in height, but hardly any in reach. He adopted a peculiar way in position, with left leg away out and right leg far back, with body resting on hind leg. This position was probably used to steady himself against Walcott's onslaughts.
Joe was strong as an ox. He tried to win as quickly as he could, having no fear of the result.
He played a great deal on Harris's body, and that is how he won. The New York boy's abdominal region was visited about forty times with furious and powerful punches, delivered from Walcott's left hand. Joe usually swings a great deal with both hands for the jaw, trying to vanquish his man with one well-directed blow.
Last night he didn't box that way. He didn't try for the jaw at all. All of his attention was directed towards Harris's stomach.
THE END.
The end came in the middle of the sixth round. Harris tried to respond to Walcott's fierce scrimmages, but gave it up as a bad job after the first couple of rounds, when he got all the worst of the mix-ups.
The decision was not gained through any horrible knock-out blow. The end came soon after a terrible punch with the left in Harris's stomach. There were no disgusting details, and no staggering or reeling around the ring.
The gentleman selected to referee could not appear. Much stress was brought to bear on John A. Keliher of the B. A. A., and he finally, though rather reluctantly, consented to officiate.
In every round Walcott showed what a powerful man he is. He forced the pace. In every round Mike went down a couple of times. Three or four times he dropped to the floor on slight opportunities and gained time.
He never had a chance to win, and for one supposed to be a good boxer, used poor tactics. Walcott had a habit of rushing his man with his head down. He never tried to upper cut his man at all.
Harris had good seconds, who did their best to have him win. In his corner were Charley White, Howie Hodgkins and Z. Levy. Over in the opposite corner behind Walcott were Tom O'Rourke, Jack Havlin and Morris Kelley.
Dan Murphy, for the club, Mike Bradley for Walcott, and J. Potter for Harris, were the timers.
In the preliminary, Harry Dally and Al Allen of New York were the principals. Dally was very comical, grinning in a ludicrous and mirth-provoking way when he succeeded in avoiding any of Allen's leads. Allen did all the work. The spectators sympathized with Dally, who, however, was not in condition to go to Allen and mix it up. The referee declared the contest a draw.
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