DIXON AND ROSEBUD
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Have a Hot Go at Philadelphia.
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER.
Philadelphia, June 21.--George Dixon and Walter Edgerton, better known as the "Kentucky Rosebud," boxed six rounds at the Arena to-night with honors fairly even. It was the first meeting between these two boxers since March 22, 1894, when "The Bud" knocked Dixon out in the second round of a contest held for the benefit of the bread fund at Industrial Hall. That was Dixon's first and only knockout, and repeated but unavailing efforts were made to bring the two men together again until this evening. Dixon forced the contest, but found "The Bud" a very hard man to get at. Again and again he seemed to have the little black fellow cornered, but he always got out.
Dixon used a straight left for the face with good effect, and also got in some good body blows with his right when at close quarters, for which he was unjustly hissed by the spectators.
Edgerton countered Dixon in the face several times with his left, and also led frequently with right-hand swing, the latter usually taking effect on the back of Dixon's neck or on his shoulder. In the last round, however. "The Bud" caught Dixon coming toward him and swung his right inside the champion's guard, missing the vital joint of his jaw by only the fraction of an inch.
1897-06-22 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 4)
THE BUD'S GOOD SHOWING
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Puts Up a First-Class Go With George Dixon at the Arena.
The Arena, at Broad and Cherry streets, was well crowded last night by a lot of enthusiasts who were eager to witness the six-round boxing contest between George Dixon, the little international feather-weight champion, and the "Kentucky Rosebud," of local note, who is credited with having knocked out Dixon at Industrial Hall in this city, several years ago. It was a case of "yellow jack" against "chocolate," and the sweets mixed to the spectators' satisfaction.
The boys devoted the first round to drawing each other out. The "Bud" cleverly ducked most of Dixon's leads, but made no attempt to counter. In the second the "Bud" landed the left twice on Dixon's neck, but they devoted most of the three minutes to harmless sparring and clinching. Dixon ran into the "Bud's" elbow several times during the third round, and found the latter a difficult mark to hit. They exchanged lefts on the neck and clinched and Dixon followed it with a left on the eye just as the round ended.
Dixon started to rush in the fourth and sent the left twice to the "Bud's" face and swung the same member on his stomach, bringing out a grunt. Then the "Bud" landed a right swing on Dixon's head, staggering George. The latter sent in a good straight left on the face, but both were shy. With round five the spectators wanted more action for their money, and Dixon pleased them by sending the "Bud's" head back twice, but he received a hard right on the ear for his pains. Several times Dixon hit in a clinch, for which he was hissed. He punched the "Bud" a hard left just as the gong sounded.
Dixon planted his left on the jaw at the opening of the sixth, but the "Bud's" evasive tactics were too much for him and the boxing was tame. After a good exchange of rights they resumed their circus act and the contest ended without applause.
1897-06-22 The Times (Philadelphia, PA) (page 4)
BOXING AT THE ARENA
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Dixon and the Rosebud Put Up Six Fairly Good Rounds.
George Dixon, the champion feather-weight pugilist of the world, did not annihilate Walter Egerton, better known as the Kentucky Rosebud, at the Arena last night. The champion did not even best the local man, who showed all his old-time cunning in getting away from the rushes of Little Chocolate. The bout was rather tame, judged from a Philadelphia standpoint, and the blows given and received during the six rounds could be easily counted. Dixon tried his best to land effectively on the Bud, but the latter was particularly slippery and got out of some very tight places. The bout was as fair a draw as could be boxed.
Dixon was the first to appear and skipped through the ropes in lively fashion. The Bud came on a few minutes later. Both looked to be in fairly good condition.
There was quite a lot of fiddling after the bell rang for the first round, when both led lefts, which were parried after the come away. Dixon rushed in, planting left on body and right on the Bud's ear. This he repeated a few seconds later. Dixon then essayed a stiff left for the Bud's head, but went clean wild and the local man skipped away out of harm. Both came together and landed hard lefts. The Bud ripped over his left manly and it landed square on Dixon's neck, resulting in a clinch, in which the champion worked his right on the ribs. The crowd hissed this.
Dixon started the second round by landing a light left on Bud's chest. After some sparring the Bud landed a light left on Dixon's chest. Several exchanges then followed. Bud finally landed a good stiff left on the champion's mouth. In the close which followed the Bud slipped and went on his knees. Both were wary of each other and neither took any liberties.
Very little work was done in the next two rounds. The third round was taken up by sparring at long range. Dixon landed a hard left chop blow on the Bud's neck, and the latter neatly parried a left for his head as the bell rang.
The next round was uneventful, but for a few sharp rallies in the first minutes. Both landed straight lefts. The Bud's was the hardest. He then landed a left swing on the back of Dixon's neck. Dixon retaliated with left and right on body; bell tap.
Dixon started the fifth with a straight left on the Philadelphian's chest, the latter countering hard on chest. The Bud feinted with left and tried to bring right over, but was parried. Dixon then landed two light lefts on body. In the clinch which followed Dixon worked on the local man's ribs with him right. They were standing off as the bell rang.
After the bell rang for the last round, Dixon started across the stage with a rush. The Bud stepped back, catching Dixon's straight left but lightly on the jaw. This was repeated in the next rush. The champion came again, but the Rosebud jumped clear across the stage to get away from a left swing. The Bud came back, and landed a right swing on the champion's neck. Dixon then tried to get to the local man's stomach, but was stopped neatly. Just as the bell rang the Rosebud came within an ace of landing a right swing on the point of the jaw.
The first preliminary was between Adam Ryan and Young Mahony. This was a red hot go from start to finish, and Mahony had the best of it.
Pat Maguire's stay with Charlie Wood was short and sweet. A half a round was enough for his Patlet's. When Elwood McCloskey and John Henry Johnson were brought on for five rounds the going was fast and furious, but in the last round Johnson tired perceptibly. On the whole honors were generally even.
The semi-windup was between Frank Farley and Tom Cleary. A good, clever bout, in which Farley showed up slightly better than his opponent.
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