Britton and Lewis Box Draw at the Triple A
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REFEREE CONLEY CALLS BOUT DRAW
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The Lewis-Britton Bout Very Clever But Displeases Triple A Crowd.
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REFEREE CONLEY CALLS BOUT DRAW
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The Lewis-Britton Bout Very Clever But Displeases Triple A Crowd.
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By Jack Malaney
A draw was the result of the eighth meeting of the boxing marvels, Jack Britton and Ted "Kid" Lewis, held at the Armory A. A. show at the Arena last night. Everything considered, Referee Larry Conley made no mistake in so deciding the contest. A particularly hard decision to make because of the closeness of the battling and the fact that the men are so well matched, Conlay "called" the bout in a very wise manner, taking but little credit away from either man in doing so and, if anything, giving the Britisher a shade in the decision.
The last slashing, slam-bang and very satisfactory contest which this same pair presented here a few weeks ago made last night's bout seem poor in comparison. At least, the fans didn't appear to think so much of it.
While the mill did not call for the hissing which it drew at different times, it did not call, either, for as much credit and praise as did the last or any of the three bouts in this city.
Bout Too Clever
Last night's Britton-Lewis contest was altogether too skilful, too full of extremely clever boxing. Each boxer was trained down to better trim than ever before here, with the result they both were capable of doing considerable fancy stuff, which was fine and dandy to those who follow the game closely. To the ordinary fan, it was not a great contest.
Greatly to the surprise of many, but true to the predictions of Manager Jimmy Johnston, Lewis was away below the weight he was at on his last flying visit. Evidently he had done more training for this contest than he has for about a dozen others put together. This time he was out to beat his old rival. Both the condition he was in and the manner in which he worked made that much obvious.
Probably because this fact caused Manager Johnston to protest after the decision had been rendered. Only by word of mouth did Johnston object, he is too old in the game to lose his head and assault referees. From the way he registered his objection is looked as if he would liked to have done some assaulting, though, had he been a little bigger than he is and Referee Conley a little smaller and not so athletic looking.
But Johnston's squawk was simply the squawk of a manager whose pet meal ticket had just lost a decision, the second in succession to the same boxer within a short period of time and who was afraid that if he didn't squawk, fandom would believe that he was perfectly satisfied to allow his boxer to lose.
Hurt Britton Most
The draw decision hurt Britton more than it hurt Lewis. Knowing that he could not compete with Britton in the straight boxing line, in the exchanging of lefts, made Lewis make it a swinging try-to-knock-him-out affair. By doing that he had to make the pace. Possibly he did make the pace and was willing and aggressive all the way through. But so was Britton, although in a different manner.
Britton is too clever a boxer, has been too long in the game and has developed too wonderful a left hand to allow himself to wade into an opponent with caution sent to the four winds in an attempt to make it a battle such as the fans would like to have had him give. What is more, he knows as do many others, that he doesn't need to do that to beat Lewis. His straight left has been developed for just such purposes to beat opponents with--and that's what he used last night and to pretty good effect.
Right at the very outset of the contest was is plain that a different sort of a battle was to be seen. Seldom before has Britton opened up a contest as friskily as he did last night. He stepped around and ducked and dodged, not any better than lots of other boxers do, but as he doesn't very often do. And he started jabbing in the first round, also started to make the English kid miss.
Lewis Starts Strong
Lewis lost little time in showing both Britton and the fans that he was out to give Britton a hot time of it during the night and that he was going to punch hard all the way in an effort to score a kayo.
With Britton's jabbing and with Lewis missing so many times as to offset what nice work he did do, it was not until the fourth round that the Londoner really came to the fore. In that session he landed a left hook that certainly must have shaken Britton down to his heels. Although Britton is one of those boxers who can take a stiff wallop without wincing, it was pretty plain that he didn't like that one and he covered up and backed away for a few seconds. Lewis followed him up and tried to measure him for a knockout. The Britton stab pulled its owner out of danger.
The following round was not a particularly speedy nor flashy one, and it was at this stage that the whistlers and "cats" got to work. In the sixth a quick study of Britton's face showed that he was getting warmed up and was going to get busy. Grinding his teeth together and setting his lips firmly, he certainly personified a business-like boxer with a stiff task in view.
Hard to Pick Winner
Coming into the 10th round, it would have been quite some man's job to have declared rightfully and fairly which man was ahead up to that time. That was giving Lewis all the credit that was due him and partially forgetting the misses because of the pace-making.
Through the constant use of his stab, the 10th and 11th rounds were Britton's. The 12th had to have Lewis in the reckoning. At that, Britton did in that final round what he had failed to do in all the others--hit and hit hard with his right hand. Twice before the final bell rang did he savagely hook the right, and each time did it fairly and squarely crash against Lewis' chin. A couple of times also did Lewis swing and land some pretty good wallops in that finale while the speedy and ambitious battling he did also helped.
Final Round Rally Helped
It was probably the 12th round rally that Lewis made which prompted many of the fans to object to the decision and which also helped Johnston to have something to object about.
All in all, however, the Conley decision was a good one. Many a worse one has been given in Boston. Many a worse one has been handed to Jimmy Johnston, too.
Although the crowd did not attain the tremendous proportions expected, it was a better-than-ordinary one, yet not so big as that which turned out for the last Britton-Lewis contest. It was a divided argument in passing out of the building on the award.
The preliminary bouts were extremely interesting, each being filled to the brim with action. Tony Vatlin got a rather lucky break, so it was thought, when Referee Flaherty ruled his bout with Charley Bergin of New York a draw. But Vatlin didn't get any breaks in getting Bergen for an opponent. The newcomer had several pounds on the local port-sider, who gave him a fine battle, considering.
Vatlin Has Improved
Tony showed still more improvement. Not only did he do plenty of stiff punching, but he also showed new ability to side step, duck, and make his man miss. Bergen had to laugh himself at times, so well did Tony do his work.
In a boxer against a battler bout between Jimmy Gray and Nate Seigel was another draw called. The opening six-rounder went to Kid Lee, who beat Young Cohen.
As was exclusively announced in Monday's Journal, Britton will meet Charles White, in the feature bout next week. "Assessments" will be $1, $2, $3 and $5.
1916-11-15 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 9)
BRITTON-LEWIS BOUT A TAME ONE
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Some of the Fans Thought Boxers Were Not Trying
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Tony Vatlin Gets a Draw in a Hard Battle With Charley Bergin
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Jack Britton of New York and Ted Lewis of England had their fourth whirl in this city at the Armory A. A. last night, and the bout was called a draw at the end of 12 rounds.It was the poorest exhibition the pair have ever put up in this city, and judging from the talk of the fans they will not "fall" for another between these boxers.
Britton was entitled to the award, but Referee Larry Conly, because of the way the pair worked, evidently decided not to give either one any advantage.
Both looked to be in good shape and boxed at catchweights. Britton did the forcing and did most of his hitting with the left hand, stabbing Lewis' face often.
At times Britton left good openings, some of which Lewis took advantage of. Britton used his right very little. He landed it on Lewis' jaw a few times, but too high up to even stagger the Englishman.
Lewis landed some left jabs on Britton's face, but most of them had little force. Some of his blows were delivered with the open glove, a method Lewis does not follow when he is trying.
Both complained about being hit low, but the referee saw that no harm was done and made them continue. In the closing rounds they engaged in some fast mixing, but neither one did any harm to the other.
The fans were suspicious after the bout had gone a few rounds, and they let the fact be known by their remarks.
After the decision the boxers and their managers made a pretence of being sore, both sides claiming that they had been robbed.
The semifinal between Tony Vatlin and Charley Bergin of New York was the best bout of the evening. Bergin gave Vatlin the toughest argument he has had in this city for some time. At the end of eight rounds, the contest was called a draw.
In the opening bout Kid Lee, after a hard contest of six rounds, was given the decision over Young Cohen.
In the other preliminary Nate Segal and Jim Grey boxed a six-round draw. Charlie White and Jack Britton will box in the feature bout at the club next Tuesday night.
1916-11-15 The Boston Post (Boston, MA) (page 15)
BRITTON AND LEWIS DRAW
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At the end of 12 rounds of perfectly harmless boxing at the Arena last night Referee Larry Connolly made the customary motions with his arms signifying that the main bout of the evening between Ted "Kid" Lewis of England and Jack Britton of New York was a draw.There was little action to excite the large gathering of fans, who for the greater part of the bout witnessed Britton using his left hand in whiplike jabs. Lewis was a trifle more inclined to make a fight of it and during the latter portion of the tilt compelled his opponent to come out of his nap.
The first six rounder of the evening produced a win for George Lee of Beachmont over Young Cohen of Chelsea. In the other six-round affair Nate Segal of Revere went the distance for a draw with Jimmy Gray of Chelsea.
1916-11-15 The Lowell Sun (Lowell, MA) (page 7)
LEWIS AND BRITTON BOX 12 ROUNDS TO DRAW
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ENGLISHMAN NEVER WAS IN BETTER FORM WHILE CHAMPION IS OFF COLOR
BOSTON, Nov. 15.--Ted Kid Lewis and Jack Britton boxed 12 rounds to a draw at the Armory A. A. last night. The contest, while hardly as good as the one decided a short time ago, was a good boxing exhibition, with a lot of fighting that characterized the former meeting, when Britton won, left out.
Britton did not appear in anywhere near as good form as he did in the previous battle, while Lewis was never in better boxing form in his life. The Englishman tried for a knockout all the time and he lost several opportunities trying to land a sleep producer.
For six rounds Lewis held a lead in points over the champion and again in the final round also took a slight lead. Britton did some clever boxing in the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds, had a little the best of the 10th and the 11th, but fell off again in the final frame, when Lewis put it all over him.
Each thought he should have been given the decision and each was amazed when the referee called the contest a draw. This in itself is a good sign that the bout was close, but if the referee desired he could have drawn the line pretty fine and awarded Lewis the bout for the better boxing.
The preliminary bouts were good. Tony Vatlan and Charley Bergin of New York boxed an eight-round draw that had the fans on edge from opening to the closing round.
Jimmy Gray and Nate Segal went six rounds to a draw and Kid Lee defeated Young Cohen in a six-round bout.
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