1897-06-21 George Dixon ND6 Walter Edgerton (Arena, Philadelphia, PA, USA)

1897-06-22 The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH) (page 8)

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.

1896-06-16 George Dixon D-PTS20 Martin Flaherty [West Newton Street Armory, Boston, MA, USA]

1896-06-17 Morning Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 3)

FOR A DRAW.

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Martin Flaherty and Dixon Quit Even.

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Last of Ring Contests in Massachusetts.

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Martin Flaherty of Lowell fought Champion George Dixon to a draw in a 20-round bout, in what was the last of public boxing in this State, last night.

The contest took place at the Suffolk Athletic Club's Armory, about 2500 people being present. It was an interesting encounter, and showed that Flaherty is of very tough stock, and could have stayed probably 20 more rounds.

There was a delay owing to a misunderstanding on the weight, as it was claimed that Flaherty was two pounds heavier than the articles called for. There was quite a wrangle, and Flaherty agreed to forfeit the money he posted. The purse will probably be $1400, divided equally between the two men.

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Dixon had in his corner Frank Steele, Joe Butler and "The Pickaninny." Behind Flaherty were his brother Joe, "Maffit" Flaherty and a friend.

The West End contingent lost a good sum of money on Dixon, as they wagered that George would win in 10 or 12, or at the most 16 rounds. The betting was 2 to 1.

Flaherty looked heavier and bigger in every way than Dixon. The Lowell boy has improved a great deal, for Dixon did not look or fight as if he had gone back any.

On leading and forcing Dixon would have got the decision, but Jimmy Colville, who was referee, judge very fairly when he declared it a draw, for while Dixon scored a great majority of the blows, yet Flaherty was by no means a whipped man.

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From the 16th round Dixon fought at a very fast pace, trying, if possible, to knock his man out.

In the last round Flaherty made a decided stand. Flaherty used his elbow almost all the time, putting it on Dixon whenever the latter led. Dixon's punches were about all for the stomach and Flaherty's short ribs got a merry roasting. Dixon did not use his right once for the jaw, and only a few times for the body, in most instances for the heart region. A few of these were glancing blows.

Flaherty was strong at roughing it, and in mix-up and exchanges used his strength to good advantage. At no time did Dixon seem to have his man measured. He didn't punish him enough for that. Neither were marked a bit. The rounds were about all repetitions of one another, Dixon continually leading for the stomach with a left swing and Flaherty on the defensive.

In the eighth, ninth and tenth Dixon varied this attack by swings for the jaw with the left, and some of these blows on Flaherty's right cheek were powerful and stinging. In the eleventh George went back again to body punching and did not change from those tactics.

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The first bout was between Dave Sullivan and Joe Elms (colored), at 112 pounds. This was a rattling set-to. In the first five rounds Sullivan had slightly the best of the argument, but after that it was in favor of Elms by a good deal.

The end came unexpectedly in the tenth round, when Elms was having a sort of a country fair picnic with Sullivan, knocking him all over the ring. Suddenly, in the thickest of the fray, Sullivan pushed out his right.

It caught on Elms's jaw, and down went the black fellow straight on his head. It was a hard blow and on the right spot. Elms got up in about seven seconds, but he was dazed. Referee Colville sent Joe to his corner and called Davey the winner.

Elms scored a knockdown in the eighth round, and had he fought cleverly from that on would have won easily. His defeat came to him from his own fault, for had he used care in the tenth his would have been an easy win.

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The second bout had as principals "Spike" Sullivan, brother of young Dave of the preceding bout, and Lewis Sullivan of East Boston. This was to be eight rounds at 126 pounds, both being under 126 pounds.

This was a very odd contest. "Spike" was declared the winner in the second round.

In the first round Lewis did the fighting, and scored all but two of the blows. He was wild, though, and not quite steady enough. In the second round "Spike" did some of his funny maneuvres, which tended to rattle Lewis. The exchanges were lively. "Spike" got Lewis over into his corner and banged him hard several times.

After that Lewis seemed to be out of kilter. Then there was another mix-up in Lewis's corner, and before anybody knew it Lewis was on the floor writhing in agony. It was a curious knockout, and hardly anybody saw the cause. "Spike" jolted a right into the stomach and a left up at the chin. Spike was then and there declared a winner.


1896-06-17 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 5)

20 ROUND DRAW.

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Flaherty Held Dixon Off in Bout.

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Colored Man Did Nearly All Leading Right Through.

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He Seemed a Bit Off in Mixing It Up.

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Lowell Man Weighed Too Much Before Battle.

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Long Discussion Before They Went Into the Ring.

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George Dixon, the featherweight champion, and Martin Flaherty of Lowell boxed a 20-round draw at the Suffolk club last night. It was the last boxing contest that will be held in this state for a long time, and those who attended saw one of the best shows ever given in this city.

The surprise was Dixon's failure to defeat Flaherty. The colored boxer was the favorite in betting, odds of 100 to 35 being offered with no takers.

From the very start until the last round Dixon did all the leading. Time and again he tried to get his left over on the jaw, but it went too far or Flaherty stopped it. Nevertheless he landed on the wind repeatedly. Flaherty boxed for a draw and he got it. He did not lead more than half a dozen times.

Flaherty depended on his staying powers to pull him through and to wear Dixon down by repeated clinches.

The contest proved that Dixon needs a good rest before he enters the ring again, as the rushes that have made him famous were missing last night. In every round his admirers were expecting he would let himself out, as he generally does, but they were disappointed.

The boxers were to weigh in at 124 pounds yesterday afternoon at 1.30. Dixon got on the scales and they did not move. Flaherty, however, was one and a half pounds over weight. He weighed later on, it is said, at 124 pounds, and his backer refused to pay the forfeit.

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This caused a long wrangle, and for a time it seemed as though there would be no contest. However, just before 10 o'clock Dixon entered the ring with his second, Joe Butler, Joe Elms and Frank Steele. He was given a good reception, and Flaherty followed him five minutes later and also received recognition from the spectators. He was attended by his brother Joe, Pat Cahill and Moffitt Flaherty.

It took about 10 minutes to get things ready and they shook hands at 10.10. One minute later the bell rang and they stepped to the center of the ring. For half a minute they circled around looking for an opening, and then Dixon led with his left, but fell short, and they clinched. Dixon got in on the wind with his left and another clinch followed.

Dixon tried again with his left a couple of times, but missed and they clinched. Dixon got in his left on the top of Flaherty's head, as the latter ducked, and they locked again. Flaherty rushed but fell short, and another clinch followed.

Flaherty reached Dixon with a left on the face and then led with his left, but missed. Dixon swung his left, but it was wild and they clinched. In fact every exchange throughout the bout ended in a clinch.

Second round--Both were very cautious and were not taking any chances. Dixon tried with his left but missed. He got in a left on the neck and Flaherty countered on the ribs with his right. Dixon landed a left on the face and they got in close, Flaherty getting in a left on the chest. Dixon missed another left and they clinched. The colored boxer, however, landed some good swings with his left on the neck and body before the round closed.

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Third round--Dixon led with his left and fell short, and Flaherty then led but Dixon jumped back out of the way. Dixon got in a left uppercut on the body and landed again on the same place a few seconds later. Both landed on the face together with their lefts, and Dixon then sent his left on the wind, Flaherty countering on the face with his left. Dixon landed on the body and neck with his left, and Flaherty got in a left and right counter on the face and neck. They were clinched when the bell rang.

In the next three rounds Dixon kept up his leading, jumping in at Flaherty, landing his left on the body. Occasionally Dixon would try for the jaw but Flaherty covered that point very well. Clinch followed clinch, and Flaherty sent in several counters on the face when Dixon led.

The seventh round was a little livelier. Flaherty opened by leading, but he fell short. Dixon rushed and they clinched on the ropes. Flaherty then tried roughing it by wrestling, but the referee made him break away. Dixon then jumped in in his old style, and for a time it seemed as if Flaherty would become rattled. He saved himself by clinching and Dixon landed some good left and right swings on the neck and face before the bell rang.

The next round was somewhat lively too. After missing a few times Dixon got in his left on the wind. Soon after they got to close quarters, and both tried to land with right and left. They were too close to do any damage, and it only resulted in a hugging match. After breaking away Dixon rushed in again and Flaherty clinched just as the bell rang.

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The next three rounds were a repetition of the early ones, Dixon doing all the leading, Flaherty being content to guard, clinch or counter, all of which he did in good shape.

The 12th round was a little more lively than the preceding three. Both missed lefts for the face and then Flaherty landed with his left and they clinched. This was followed by a mix up on the ropes, both getting in a few right and left punches on the body and head. Dixon then rushed, Flaherty stepped aside and the colored boxer slipped down near the ropes. In a second Flaherty rushed and stood over him, but the referee ordered him away. Dixon was up in a second and he showed Flaherty's admirers it was only an accident by the way he sailed into his opponent. The bell cut short further proceedings.

From that until the last round each round was a repetition, Dixon leading, Flaherty countering each exchange and ending in a clinch.

Several times they roughed it on the ropes but could not get in any telling blows, being too close.

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In the last round, after Dixon missed a left swing, Flaherty set his admirers in high glee by rushing, landing a left on the jaw. Dixon then landed his left on the wind, and they landed on the face together with their lefts a moment after. Dixon tried a left for the jaw, but it was too far over, Flaherty countering on the jaw with his left.

Dixon landed on the wind with his left, Flaherty countering on the jaw with his left. They got in close and both exchanged several lefts and rights together on the neck and jaw with honors even. They shook hands and the referee called it a draw.

Two preliminary bouts preceded the main event. Joe Elms, the colored boxer of Chelsea, and Dave Sullivan of South Boston were to box 12 rounds at 112 pounds. They had a good contest, and Elms was having the better of it as it neared the finish, when a right-hand cross counter on the jaw in the 10th round cut short his aspirations to the winner's end of the purse. Mike Sears challenged the winner, and can get backing to meet him for $500.

The second bout was between "Spike" Sullivan, brother of the winner in the first bout, and Lewis Sullivan of East Boston. It only lasted two rounds, "Spike" landing some stiff body punches that sent Lewis down and he was unable to continue.


1896-06-17 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 12)

DRAW, 20 ROUNDS

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Dixon and Flaherty Come Out on Even Terms.

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Not Much of a Fight from a Fighting Standpoint.

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Flaherty on the Defensive Almost All the Time.

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The Weighing-In Gives Rise to a Disagreement.

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Sullivan Whips Sullivan, Sullivan Whips Elms.

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A draw was the decision of Referee Colville in the glove contest between Champion George Dixon and Martin Flaherty at the Suffolk Athletic Club last evening. This was after they had boxed 20 rounds, none of which could be designated as exciting or particularly interesting. They were altogether too scientific. Flaherty acted almost entirely upon the defensive, occasionally making a break. Neither achieved very much, and taken altogether it was a tame exhibition. Flaherty secures credit for making a draw, only Griffo and Cal McCarthy having been able to do it with Dixon for the distance. Neither was hurt, and they could have gone twice the limit of the journey.

A great kick occurred over the weighing in. Flaherty was overweight on the scales on which he stood with Dixon, but 50 minutes later he weighed under the stipulated 124 pounds on the scales at the club. It is claimed that the first scales were doctored. A lawsuit will result over the $500 forfeit put up by the men for weight.

There were about 2000 people present, and the show did not close until 11:30 P. M.

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The opening round was marked by frequent attempts to land by each, with no result. The blows were ducked, and they invariably came to a clinch. Dixon rushed continually in the third, but Flaherty met him about every time with a left glancing blow on the left ear. The next was marked by determined efforts on the part of Dixon to get in, but Flaherty was wary, and had a splendid guard.

The Lowell man rested easy in the fifth, but once tried a right chopper for a knock-out, but it missed. Dixon did all the work, and Flaherty was inclined to use his forearm. Once it was put into Dixon's throat so palpably that the spectators hissed.

In the sixth, Dixon got in his double left blow, stomach and face. Later he got in two lefts on the body. He did all the work, Flaherty being very much on the defensive.

Flaherty did some hot mixing when Dixon came into him in the seventh, and roughed the champion on the ropes. Once he landed a left on the ear, and twice he buried his right in the stomach. It was a pretty "go."

Flaherty slipped down in the 10th, and Dixon generously helped him to his feet. The champion did the forcing, as usual, but some of his blows landed cleanly. In the next, however, Dixon scored two fair left-facers, the first of the night. It was Dixon's round.

The 12th was the hottest up to date. Dixon cut the pace, and Flaherty met it. On a rush, Dixon slipped down, and was helped up by Flaherty. After that came the best punch of all. Flaherty crossed his right over hard, and the blow landed on Dixon's left ear solidly. It was a soaker.

The 15th was full of excitement, for the men fought hard and fast. Flaherty continually used his left forearm on Dixon's throat. Several times he planted right body blows. The little champion didn't seem to mind, but rushed all the time, landing when he could.

Flaherty showed a "mouse" under the left eye in the 16th, in which Dixon did the forcing.

The remainder of the rounds were repetitions of those preceding, and but for the reputation of the men the crowd would have walked out. The 20th and last round ended in a rattling mix on the ropes. A draw was declared, and this seemed to suit everybody.

Joe Elms of Chelsea and Dave Sullivan of South Boston, 112 pounds, 12 rounds.

This was an Indian "scrap," full of tough, rugged work. Elms had the better of it at the start off, but Sullivan got his temper up in the 5th, and fought like a young tiger, but without judgment. Both went down in this round, but Sullivan almost fought himself out.

In the sixth Elms dropped Sullivan to his knees with a right-hand cross. Sullivan got up and went looking for more, although weak. Elms, who was experienced, let the "kid" fight himself out as much as he wanted.

Elms started the ninth at a racing clip, and shook his man from top to bottom twice with right cross-counters. Sullivan withstood them, however, and in a mix-up and a wrestle both went down. The end seemed near for Sullivan, who was weak in his legs.

Elms looked like a sure winner, and in the 10th round he caught Sullivan with a right on the "point," which seemed almost to settle it. But Sullivan was tough and dead game. He closed in, and by one of the luckiest punches in the history of the ring, he got in a short right-arm jolt on the jaw, and Elms fell forward on his face on the floor. Time, 1m. 55s. That settled it.

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Lewis Sullivan of East Boston and "Spike" Sullivan of South Boston, 126 pounds, eight rounds.

This was short. Lewis Sullivan went to work at the sound of the gong, and placed a left on the jaw with the first lead. Later, he landed right upper-cuts and it looked as if he was going to have it all his own way.

But in the second round the scene shifted. "Spike" chased his opponent, and, getting him into a corner, flicked him cleverly with a light right upper-cut. Lewis Sullivan fell down, and was declared a loser. The round lasted 1m. 37s.

It was the softest knock-out of the year. The blow was so light that it seemed as if it could not have hurt, and yet it did the business.


1896-06-17 The Lowell Daily Sun (Lowell, MA) (page 1)

FOUGHT A DRAW

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Martin Flaherty the Equal of Champion Dixon.

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FAREWELL BOXING EXHIBITION A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

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Lowell Man Surprises Even His Admirers.

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Either George Dixon has been greatly overrated or Martin Flaherty has been underrated by the followers of the art of boxing in New England for of the 2500 people who visited the grand wind up of boxing in New England at the Suffolk club in Boston last evening a large majority were confident that at least Dixon would outclass Martin while many thought the dusky champion would have a cinch on his Lowell opponent.

Round 1--Flaherty reached the face lightly with the left. A clinch ensued and both roughed. The referee cautioned the men and they proceeded. Dixon's left was stopped and Flaherty made a hard drive on the ribs. Dixon laughed loudly when he landed in the wind and was scored upon with a light right-hand just as the gong rang.

Round 2--Flaherty met Dixon's rush with a sharp uppercut on the breast; Flaherty ducked cleverly from a left swing and shot his right in quickly on the chin. Once more Dixon essayed the left, but was stopped. Dixon rushed Flaherty, clinched and a lot of short arm work was done by both. Dixon's left swing for the body landed on Martin's arm.

Round 3--Flaherty forced Dixon back with a vicious rush and a moment later landed the left lightly on the face. Flaherty landed with a sharp left on the ear. Dixon had not yet landed a clean score. The champion's rushes were met with stiff rights on the ribs, and whatever honors there were perched on the Lowell man's banner.

Round 4--Dixon opened with a long, low swing for the body, but was stopped. Dixon, after some sparring, rushed and swung wide around the neck. Flaherty tried to land the right, but failed to connect. Martin avoided a hot rush by a splendid duck and a moment later they came to close quarters and clinched. Dixon drove hard for the wind with his left, scoring lightly.

Round 5--Both came together with a rush, Flaherty scoring a rib-roaster, Dixon's left reaching the face. Flaherty missed a right chop and a clinch followed. Dixon's right connected with the rib, Flaherty again reaching Dixon's "ten" ear. Toward the end of the round they came together in a clinch, and the Lowell man was censured for sending his forearm across Dixon's throat.

Round 6--Dixon swung for the stomach, pushed Flaherty away and landed his famous "one-two" and wind on face, the men clinching. Dixon scored with the left in the wind, tried to chop and then clinched. Flaherty seemed content to let Dixon do the bulk of the work, and depended on countering to offset the champion's rushes.

Round 7--Dixon jumped from his corner and led with the left, Flaherty working his right up to the chin. Martin rushed Dixon to the ropes, where a hot mix-up took place, but nothing serious occurred. Flaherty a moment later scored lightly twice with the left and received a hard swing in return. Honors even.

Round 8--Both seemed strong and refreshed by the minute's rest. Dixon, as usual, opened with a rush, but Flaherty avoided nicely. In a clinch both fought viciously at short range, and the crowd, not understanding that the men were boxing while one hand was free, shouted disapproval.

Round 9--Dixon tried with the left, Flaherty landing the right lightly in the wind. In a clinch the Lowell man scored with the left. Dixon's swing, just as the bell rang, went wide, and yet there was no winner in sight.

Round 10--Both led lefts and in avoiding Flaherty slipped, his opponent, man-fashion, lifting him up. Flaherty drove the right in the wind. The balance of the round was spent in sparring.

Round 11-Dixon's swing for the body was stopped. Flaherty led with the right, Dixon retreating to the ropes. Dixon scored clearly on the nose with the left a moment later. Flaherty played hard with the right, but neither seemed to do effective work.

Round 12--Flaherty began the round by rushing Dixon to the ropes. A minute followed in which each fired hot shot on the head of his adversary, but bringing no result. Flaherty chopped the champion hard with the right, and when the gong rang both were hard at it in ding-dong fashion.

Round 13--Flaherty met a rush with a light drive on the ribs, Dixon scoring with the left. A clinch and a rally in which honors were even ensued. Once more the gong found the men hard at it. No choice.

Round 14--Flaherty along about the middle of the round scored a double left lead and forced Dixon to the ropes. Beyond this there was nothing of moment done.

Round 15--The gong had hardly been rung when they got together. This round was one of the fastest so far. Dixon rushed, as was his custom, but the sturdy Lowellite met him blow for blow, and the winner was as far away as ever.

Round 16--Flaherty's right went solidly into the wind and Dixon clinched. Dixon landed a left uppercut and light sparring closed the round.

Round 17--Again nothing effective was done in the three minutes. Each worked in his own way to win, but their cleverness offset any damaging effect intended punches could do had they landed.

Round 18--Dixon placed the right in the stomach. Flaherty drove the right viciously for the ribs and forced Dixon back. Infighting followed and closed the round.

Round 19--The work throughout was very even, and there was not an effective blow delivered.

Round 20--Flaherty led the left for the chin and rushed Dixon to the ropes where give-and-take work was indulged in. Dixon slipped into a stiff uppercut and clinched. The bell sounded as the men were fighting terrifically.

Tom O'Rourke, manager of Joe Walcott

1922-12-10 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 8)

FIGHTERS I HAVE HANDLED

As told to George B. Underwood

By World famous Managers, Trainers and Seconds

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Joe Walcott, the Giant Killer, as Seen by Tom O'Rourke, Who Discovered and Campaigned Him--Big or Small, They All Looked the Same to the Barbadoes Demon--Settled Debt with Choynski for Dixon.

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(Copyrighted by G. B. Underwood.)

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This is the seventh article of the series on famous figures of the ring as related to America's leading writer of boxing by world's famous managers, trainers and handlers. In previous installments Tom O'Rourke told Mr. Underwood of George Dixon, Joe Humphries of Terry McGovern, Dan McKettrick of Willie Lewis, Jimmy Johnson of Jem Driscoll, Ike Dorgan of Frank Moran and Sam Wallach of Leach Cross. O'Rourke today gives Mr. Underwood his second contribution, telling of Joe Walcott, the Barbadoes Demon. Fistiana greatly is enriched by these personal and intimate glimpses of the ring's greatest heroes. These articles appear in this paper every Sunday.

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If you had asked any of the great fighters of the old Horton law days, from middleweight up to heavyweight, who was the last man in the world they would like to see in the corner opposite them, it is 100 to 1 that, if they answered truthfully, nine out of ten would reply, Joe Walcott.

Walcott, never more than a welterweight and generally fighting as a lightweight, was the most feared fighter of his time. Under rough and tumble conditions he could whip any man in the world, and under Marquis of Queensberry rules most of them.

I have seen all of the great heavyweights of the last fifty years. There is not one who I would be afraid to send Joe Walcott up against, or one who Joe himself wouldn't fall all over himself to get a crack at. I do not bar Jim Jeffries, either. In fact, Jeffries himself once came to me and said:--

"Tom, I see you are challenging all the heavyweights in behalf of Walcott. Don't include me in that list. It would take me at least ten rounds to size the fellow up rightly and know how to fight him. Even then I would have my troubles with him. He's built like a gorilla and can give and take almost as much punishment as one of them."

You must remember that little Walcott knocked out Joe Choynski in seven rounds shortly after Choynski had fought Jeffries a fierce twenty round draw.

Jeffries said that Choynski hit him the hardest blow he ever was struck, the punch driving the teeth on both jaws through his lips. Jim would have changed his opinion if he had fought Walcott. Joe could hit twice as hard and fast as Choynski.

Proof of the respect and fear with which Walcott was held by the heavyweights of his time was the way they avoided him. I posted a certified cheque for $5,000 with a New York newspaper as a forfeit for Walcott to fight Jim Corbett and Kid McCoy on the same night, allowing Walcott one-half hour's rest in between bouts, Corbett and McCoy to toss up to see which would first tackle the Barbadoes Demon.

Both ignored the offer, despite it would give each a chance to make a big wad of needed money. Corbett came to me later and tried to laugh it off, saying:--

"Why, of course, you didn't mean it, Tom. I understand what it was--great publicity. Why, I would make a monkey out of your gorilla man, and you know it!"

"I know it, eh?" I replied. "What I do know is that money talks and that I have a certified cheque for $5,000 posted with a reputable newspaper guaranteeing that Walcott will whip both you and McCoy on the same night, and I know that neither you nor McCoy can be pulled in the ring with Walcott with a team of horses!"

Rolls Maher in Mud.

They rightly called Joe Walcott the Barbadoes Demon. Joe was only five feet one inch in height, but he was about as broad as he was tall and his gorilla-like arms hung down almost to his knees. He had the reach of a towering six footer and could hit like no man I ever have seen before or since his time, not even excepting Fitzsimmons or Peter Maher.

Walcott, by the way, once rolled Peter Maher all over Coney Island Boulevard. This is how it happened:--

Soon after I brought Walcott to New York I sent him down to Coney Island to help train George Dixon for Little Chocolate's fight with Fred Johnson, the English featherweight champion. Maher came into Dixon's training quarters one day. Joe was curled up on the floor by the fire just like a dog. Maher looked in the door and seeing Joe with his queer bullet shaped head and great arms stretched out there, turned with a grin to me and said:--

"Bedad, Tom, I've a mind to poke him an' see if he's got a tail!"

"Keep away from him, Peter," I warned, "or he'll smear that Irish face of yours all over the map!"

Mind you Walcott was asleep and hadn't heard a word of it. A few days later Maher and his sparring partner encountered Dixon and Walcott on the road. Peter was in high glee and after joshing with Dixon told George he was going to find out whether or not Walcott had a tail hidden under the back of his shirt.

Peter grabbed Joe. Joe grabbed Peter. The next place Peter found himself was on his back in the middle of a puddle, with his own sparring partner on top of him.

Walcott had cross-buttocked Maher down and rolled him in the mud and then had grabbed his sparring partner and flopped him on top of Peter.

Right now, when old Peter tells of it he will exclaim:--

"Begorrah, that naygur Walcott wasn't a man at all--at all! Shure, he was a divil!"

The first time I ever heard of Walcott he was a cook on one of the coast line boats between Boston and the Barbadoes. I had Dixon on a theatrical tour and we were showing in Miner's Theatre on the Bowery. One night George said to me:--

"Tom, there's another little coon up Boston way who can whip his weight in wildcats. He's a cook on one of the coast liners. I saw him at one of the smokers down East and he knocked a fellow twice as big as himself clean over the ropes. My friends tell me he is going to enter next week's amateur boxing and wrestling tournament in Mechanics Building, Boston. You'd better run down and bring him back with you. It'll be worth your while."

I told Dixon I would run down to Boston and look the fellow over, anyway. So the next Thursday I went to Boston to see the final competitions in the amateur tournament.

Walcott Cleans Up.

Walcott was entered in both lightweight and middleweight boxing events and in the lightweight wrestling championship as well.

In the lightweight boxing championship, Walcott fought three men and knocked them all cold. He disposed of two of his middleweight opponents by the knockout route, and then fought a fellow named Kelly in the final to what the judges called a draw. In my mind Walcott was a clear winner.

In between his six boxing bouts he took part in three wrestling bouts and won them all. Joe came out of Mechanics Building that night amateur lightweight champion boxer and wrestler, and with a tie for the middleweight boxing championship as well.

Yes, you're right, I came with him. I knew a good fighter when I saw one, and you bet I was quick to take Walcott under my wing.

Well, I brought Walcott on to New York and made him a member of my Dixon show. He was green and unschooled in boxing, so while I was teaching him the fundamentals of boxing I kept him wrestling nightly with the show, meeting all comers. I boxed regularly with Walcott at the start, just as I had with Dixon, and what he knew of the manly art he learned from me.

While we were in New York the city was plastered with posters telling of a show Jack McAuliffe, the lightweight champion, was to take part in at Madison Square Garden. McAuliffe agreed to meet any three men the public would select and forfeit $500 to any or all whom he failed to stop inside of three rounds.

Walcott, in his strolls around the Bowery, noticed one of the posters. The day of the Garden bouts he came to me and asked if he could go on early at Miner's that night and get away. When I asked him what for, he replied:--

"There's a fellow named McAuliffe who is going to give $500 to any man that stays three rounds. I want to get that $500."

"Don't you want to stay with this show, Joe?" I asked.

He replied that he did.

"Well," I replied, "we want only winners at this show. Don't go fooling around McAuliffe or you'll lose to him and lose your job, too."

"Mister O'Rourke," he replied, "there ain't no man in the world who can knock me out in three rounds!"

That's how confident Walcott was when he first started in the game. I would have let him fight McAuliffe, only I was a mighty good friend of Jack's and didn't want to crab his game. We were making good with the show and there was plenty of money in sight without interfering with McAuliffe.

Later, Jack came down to Miner's to see our show, and after seeing Walcott in action acknowledged to me that Walcott could kill him. Jack said he himself could whip any man of his weight in the world, but that Walcott was more of a gorilla than he was a man.

A Stalking Horse.

To show you how cagey McAuliffe was, let me tell you how he sidetracked Austin Gibbons. Gibbons had fought McAuliffe in a short bout once and given Jack a tough go. Jack didn't want to meet Austin again. McAuliffe then was tied up with Judge Murphy, the power behind the throne at the Palace A. C., of Coney Island. The public wanted McAuliffe to take on Gibbons there. McAuliffe said he was willing, but that Gibbons first must meet Joe Walcott. The rather unsuspecting Gibbons agreed to a match with Walcott, and Joe knocked him out in three rounds.

Then when Gibbons' supporters again tried to arrange a McAuliffe-Gibbons bout McAuliffe sneeringly exclaimed:--

"What! Me, the lightweight champion, fight a man whom O'Rourke's green coon knocked out in three rounds? Nothing doing! Let Gibbons go out and make a reputation and earn the right to fight me!"

After the Gibbons-Walcott fight Joe accompanied us on the road with the Dixon show. We hit a town in Pennsylvania. Our posters advertised that Dixon agreed to stop any one or forfeit $50.

When the show opened that night a big, brawny 190 pound miner stepped on the stage to answer Dixon's challenge.

I told him Dixon was only a bantam and that our offer stood only for men of his weight.

The miner replied that our advertising poster did not stipulate any weight and called for us to make good our advertisement. He was a local favorite and the house was with him, loudly declaring Dixon must make good.

I stepped to the front of the stage and started in telling the crowd that it wasn't right to compel the bantamweight champion to risk injury at the hands of a heavyweight, but the crowd howled me down. I raised my hand for silence and then declared:--

"All right, Dixon will fight him! But first let your man go on with another little colored fellow here with our show. He only weighs 130 pounds, but he will fight your man. If you man beats this chap then your big fellow can fight Dixon."

"Don't go on with the dub!" yelled some of the crowd to their representative. "Fight the champion, Dixon, or no one!"

Finally, after a long confab and upon my firm insistence that the heavyweight fight Walcott first the heavyweight sneeringly consented to go on with Walcott.

"Those white folks think I'm a dub, eh?" muttered Walcott as we were putting on the gloves. "I'll show 'em!"

He certainly did "show 'em." Joe walked right out of his corner and buried the big fellow under a swirling shower of lefts and rights. One of Joe's rights thudded home to the jaw in the first minute's fighting and knocked the fellow out for a good half hour.

"Well, I'm glad I didn't fight Dixon," groaned the big miner, after we finally brought him around. "If I had fought the champion he probably would have killed me!"

The one big thing the public goes wrong in as regards professional boxing is that, like that Pennsylvania miner, they generally figure on the name rather than the man. That is why a champion almost invariably enters the ring a heavy favorite.

Great Fight with Lavigne.

Probably the most talked of fight in the history of American boxing was Walcott's famous go with Kid Lavigne at Maspeth, L. I. Lavigne, lightweight champion at the time, finally agreed to a match with Walcott provided the weights be 133 pounds at three P. M. The agreement was that Walcott should stop Lavigne inside fifteen rounds or forfeit the purse.

While Joe could shave down to the lightweight limit and still be strong at that time he could not reduce to 133 pounds without suffering from stomach cramps. Three times, when he was training for Lavigne, we had to go out and carry Joe home off the road because of his collapsing with the cramps.

Walcott and Lavigne weighed in for their fight in the Turkish baths at the corner of Broome street and the Bowery. Walcott weighed 131½ pounds and Lavigne 132½ pounds.

There is no need rehearsing that fight to you or your readers. Who hasn't heard of it--the fiercest, bloodiest, closest waged combat in the history of the roped square? Both Lavigne and Walcott fought like wildcats from the opening gong. They were both game as bulldogs and could hit like triphammers and withstand all kinds of punishment.

At the end of the sixth round little Dixon, who was assisting me in seconding Walcott, told Joe that he wasn't giving everything he had, but he better do it or he would lose our money. "If you don't knock him out quickly," warned George, "you're liable to get the cramps and he'll whip you!"

"I can lick him any time I want," boasted Walcott. "I'll cut loose and knock him out in a round or so."

But when Walcott came to his corner at the end of the seventh he was seized with the cramps. They attacked him so bad that he couldn't sit down, but stood up and grasped the ring ropes while we kneaded and massaged him.

During the last eight rounds of the Lavigne fight Walcott suffered continually with those cramps. Those who attended the mill thought his standing up between rounds was mere braggadocio. They little knew what agony Joe really was in.

That was the big reason why Lavigne was on his feet at the end of the fifteenth round. The white boy put up a wonderful battle, and I don't want to take any credit away from him. But if Walcott had not been seized with those cramps Joe would have stopped Lavigne inside the distance.

When I started talking of Walcott I told you how he knocked out Joe Choynski in seven rounds not very long after Choynski had gone twenty rounds to a draw with Jeffries. I was eight years arranging that match between Walcott and Choynski.

How It All Started.

It all started the night of the Dixon-Skelly match during the three day carnival attending the Sullivan-Corbett fight at New Orleans, in 1892.

Choynski then was managed by Parson Davies, a very close and intimate friend of mine. Skelly offered Joe $75 to second him against Dixon. Choynski induced Davies to come to me and asked if I would have any objections to Choynski going behind Skelly against my man Dixon. I replied that I had not, for Dixon would annihilate Skelly, no matter who was in Jack's corner, and I was glad that Choynski had the chance to pick up $75.

Well, when Dixon and Skelly came to ring centre for instructions from Mr. Duffy, the referee, that night, Choynski, in a voice that could plainly be heard throughout the hall, grabbed the referee by the arm and said:--

"Mr. Duffy, you'll have to watch this fellow, Dixon, closely, tonight, for he's a very foul fighter!"

Dixon almost turned white at that utterly unwarranted accusation. Stepping up to Choynski he asked:--

"Joe, did you ever see me fight?"

"No," Choynski grudgingly acknowledged.

"No, you never have seen me fight," responded Little Chocolate, "and you, nor no one else, ever has seen me foul. There is not a foul against me in all my record. Yet you step up before this hostile Southern audience, who already has protested against a negro like myself meeting a white man, and further inflame them against me by making me out as a foul fighter!

"Jack Skelly himself has seen me fight many times. He knows my record fully. I know Jack Skelly is man enough and honest enough for him to truthfully tell whether by act or reputation I am a foul fighter."

And to Skelly's credit Jack truthfully declared:--

"Mr. Duffy, my opponent is as clean a boxer as there is in the ring!"

I was boiling with rage at Choynski's accusation. Holding myself in as best I could, I told Choynski:--

"Choynski, you came crawling to me and asked if I had any objections to letting you second Skelly, so you could make $75. I told you, all right! and that I was glad to have you. Now in return for it you try to inflame this Southern crowd against this little negro boy.

"Let me tell you, Choynski, I'm going to make you pay for this! I've got another little coon named Walcott under my wing and he's going to fight you and give you the worst beating you ever had. Unless you deliberately lay down and quit he'll play with you as a cat would with a mouse before he knocks you out. You'll regret this baiting of Dixon to your dying day when Walcott gets through with you!"

It was eight long years before I could inveigle Choynski into the ring with Walcott, however. Parson Davies naturally steered him clear of the match. The Parson knew fighters well enough to know what Walcott would do to Choynski. Finally, however, Davies broke with Choynski and Joe lost the advice and instructions of that splendid handler of fighters. I had an interest in the Broadway A.C. here in New York and I offered Choynski a match with Walcott and he accepted it. That, mind you, was eight years after the episode at New Orleans.

Settling the Debt.

Choynski came on here from California to train for Walcott. The betting was 5 to 1, with Choynski favorite. The talent couldn't see what chance little Walcott had against the man who fought Jim Jeffries a fierce twenty round draw.

I took one bet from Al Smith, the well known sporting man of that time, of $1,000 to $200. Walcott weighed 135 pounds and Choynski 175 pounds, you must remember.

Well, in the first round Walcott knocked Choynski down seven times. Each time Referee Charlie White gave Choynski the benefit of the count. It was shortly after the McCoy-Choynski fight, in which Choynski's supporters claimed that White had given Choynski a fast count. Old Good Eye gave Choynski no chance to claim a quick count in the Walcott match. He dragged out the count each time.

Every time that Walcott would floor Choynski in the first round of that fight, John L. Sullivan, who was seconding the Californian, would tumble down off the ring platform, thinking the fight was over, and start for the dressing room. John L. had to jump down, turn around and jump back again almost a dozen times before Walcott finally knocked Choynski out in the seventh round.

Joe Walcott paid Joe Choynski back in full that night for the trick Choynski attempted to pull on poor little Dixon in New Orleans eight years before.

The only man approaching Walcott's weight who could give Joe a real fight when Joe was right was Mysterious Billy Smith, a real fighter and one of the great champions of the ring. Joe beat Billy frequently, but the battles always were close and fiercely fought.

Before one of their fights, Smith sent word to Joe that he was going to bite his ears off.

"Never mind, Joe," I joshed, when he told me of it, "if he bites your ears off he will be disqualified and lose the fight anyway."

"Huh!" snorted Joe. "Ah druver lose all the fights in the worl', Mister O'Rourke, than to lose mah ears!"

Under the greatest fighting physique any man ever boasted Walcott had the brain and feelings of a child. Physically and anatomically speaking, however, what a fighter, what a truly wonderful fighter he really was! There never was a man of his poundage his equal and I doubt if there ever will be.

1900-06-04 George Dixon ND6 Tim Callahan [Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1900-06-05 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 6)

DIXON OUTPOINTED BY TIM CALLAHAN
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Both at In and Out Work the Local Lad Had the Better of the Former Champion
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'TWAS RATTLING GOOD GO
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In the Semi-Wind-Up Harry Berger and Tom Cleary Had It Out Hammer and Tongs
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Tim Callahan outpointed George Dixon in the six-round bout at the Penn Art Club last night. It was a fast go from end to end, both boys fighting hard to secure the verdict. It was thought that they would box according to the modified Queensberry rules--breaking clean and no hitting in the breakaways--but they decided to have it out under a strict interpretation of the rules. From the very start Callahan demonstrated that he was more than Dixon's equal at any style of the game. It was supposed that in the mixes up Dixon would have the better of the exchanging because of his superior hitting ability, but this turned out all wrong for the reason that Callahan generally followed up a straight lead by rushing in, and keeping his head close to Dixon's body, kept up a merry tattoo of short rights on the former champion's body. These punches worried Dixon, who evidently did not look for that kind of milling. At outfighting there was nothing to it but Callahan. He landed one straight left after another on Dixon's face, but the requisite steam to effect a knock out or even a knock down was not there. Now and then, noticeably in the fourth round, Dixon did suggest the peerless champion of old, but it was only for a brief interval. He has not only lost his quickness, but his steam. Neither boy, outside of the inevitable "blowing" was much the worse for wear at the end of the bout. The rounds in detail.

FIRST ROUND.--After the usual fiddling Callahan landed lightly on neck with left and punched ribs with right. They clinched and both pounded body with lefts. Tim again landed lightly on neck, and George sent left to forehead. Tim sent left to mouth as the bell rang.

SECOND ROUND.--They clinched and pounded short ribs. Clinches were frequent, Callahan doing the better work. George sent left to neck and jaw. They were clinched at the bell.

THIRD ROUND.--Tim lead for head, but was short. George sent hard left to stomach and punched Tim's face with left and right in the clinch. Tim sent left to the body. George reached head with left, Tim replying with left on wind. George landed with left on jaw and swung, but missed. Tim landed lightly on neck.

FOURTH ROUND.--Tim landed lightly on jaw with left. Dixon sent left to chest. They both punched the body heavily in a clinch. Tim dug right on wind and George put left on jaw. Tim returned the same dose. George smashed hard left on wind and right to mouth.

Fifth--Tim landed left on wind, and George replied with right on wind. Tim put left to jaw, and George punched short ribs and sent light left to jaw, Tim replying with hard right on wind. George shook Tim with left on jaw, Tim replying with the same dose. They were fighting hard in clinch at the bell.

Sixth--George chased Tim around the ring swinging, but missed. George sent hard left to jaw. Tim landed right on neck and left to cheek, and they fought hard in the clinch. Tim jabbed left to jaw. George did the same. Tim sent left on jaw as the final bell rang.

The semi-wind-up was between Harry Berger and Tom Cleary. It was an old grudge they had to settle, and so far as punching went, they certainly had it out. The exchanges were about even up to the third round, when Berger put it all over Tom, and with a sequence of lefts and rights on the jaw Cleary looked a goner, but the bell came just in time. Cleary came up weak in the fourth, and was glad to clinch all through that round, but he could not get away from some hard jabs. The bell was Cleary's saviour again in the fifth, he was very rocky throughout the round. Tom tried hard to equal things in the last round, but it was too late. Berger was the winner.

There were three preliminaries, in which Sammy Smith outpointed Arthur Donahue. Joe Murphy and Fred Johnson fought such a miserable battle that the referee stopped the bout in the fourth round. Billy Madden put it all over Joe O'Hara for six rounds.

1889-06-03 George Dixon L-DQ2 George Wright [Parnell Athletic Club, Boston, MA, USA)

1889-06-04 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 2)

Opening Night of Parnell Athletic Club.
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The Parnell Athletic Club's inaugural meeting was held last evening at its gymnasium, 40 Kneeland street. Over 200 members were present. The gymnasium is one of the best in the city, is well ventilated and can comfortably seat over 400 persons. It is also well equipped, and the apparatus is admirably arranged. On the wall next to the ring is one of the new timekeeping clocks, such as is used at the California Athletic Club. When the minute rest allowed the sparrers is up a gong rings, and when the three minutes allowed for sparring is ended the gong again rings. This machine cost about $400, and does away with the usual timekeepers.

The programme of the evening included four boxing contests and a club swinging exhibition. The first of the boxing events was between young Isaacson of South Boston and young Ward of England. During the 10 rounds Ward had clearly the best of the contest, but the referee awarded the contest to Isaacson.

O'Connell and Herty of the North end then had a four-round set-to, that was very lively and interesting.

After Morris Cronin had shown how admirably he could swing clubs. George Bush and Jim Godfrey were introduced. They were to have sparred 15 rounds for a $300 trophy, but it lasted only five rounds. As soon as Bush had sparred a minute the members were satisfied that he had no show whatever with Godfrey. Bush failing to respond when the gong sounded for the fifth round, Godfrey was declared the winner.

The other event was to have been a 10-round set-to between George Dixon and Frank Maguire, but the latter failed to put in an appearance, and George Wright, the champion bantamweight of Canada, agreed to spar Dixon six rounds. Dixon had everything his own way from the start. In the second round he pounded Wright so hard that the Canadian appeared to be anxious to quit. As soon as the gong announced the end of the round, Dixon forgot himself and struck Wright two blows in the face. Wright pulled off the gloves and left the ring, while the members began to yell "foul." Wright was induced to again enter the ring, and the referee awarded him the contest on a foul.

In any other club the claim of foul would not have been allowed, and Wright "gave up" when he left the ring. At the next meeting of the club, Tommy McCarthy, the Woburn middleweight, will spar 15 rounds with George Smith of Boston.

1895-12-05 George Dixon D-PTS10 Frank Erne (New York, NY, USA)

1895-12-06 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 10)

DIXON COULD GET ONLY A DRAW.
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He Proved Himself the Better Man, Outfighting Erne in Every Round but Two.
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MAHER WILL MEET "FITZ."
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They Are Matched to Fight on February 14, Probably On Mexican Soil.
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PETER PLANS MATRIMONY.
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Through an extraordinary decision on the part of Charles Sagel, the referee, George Dixon, the feather weight champion of the world, was deprived of a well earned victory over Frank Erne, of Buffalo, at the New Manhattan Athletic Club last evening. Ten rounds were fought, and in all save two Dixon clearly demonstrated his superiority over his opponent. The little pugilistic marvel never fought fairer nor better in his life, but despite this the crowd cried "Foul!" "Kill the nigger!" and hissed him frequently.

It was disgraceful work. Such an exhibition of feeling would not have been tolerated in Harry Hill's in its palmiest days, and it is a pity that it was permitted in Madison avenue. Judging from the criticisms of those who led the attack on the little colored boy they have a very vague knowledge of the sport and should not be allowed to witness a fistic event. A more prejudiced lot of alleged sports never assembled in one place.

MEN UNFIT FOR SPECTATORS.

If Mr. Genslinger, the manager, is wise he will take plans to discover those who were responsible for the discourteous treatment of Dixon and bar them for life. He will not have much trouble in locating them.

"Tom" O'Rourke objected to Sagel as referee when the match was made. He would have held out for another man had it not been for the interference of Genslinger. The latter insisted on Sagel or no fight.

Erne acted almost entirely on the defensive. Three times only during the entire ten rounds did he make a lead. Dixon, who looked like a bantam alongside of the Buffalo man, was kept busy chasing the latter around the roped arena. He outpointed him at least 20 to 1, and proved that he is as superior to Erne as Corbett is to "One Eyed Connelly."

A QUEER DECISION.

Despite all this Sagel declared the contest a draw. One thing is certain, Erne's showing did not justify a draw.

It was a quarter of ten P. M. when the men appeared in the ring. Both seemed to be in excellent condition. Dixon weighed in at 122 pounds, while Erne tipped the scales at 126 pounds. Erne was seconded by "Charley" White and "Jack" McTiernan. Dixon's squires were "Tom" O'Rourke, "Joe" Gordon and J. Elms. "Jimmy" Frawley, of this city, held the watch for Erne, while "Jimmy" Colville, of Boston, performed a similar service for Dixon. Erne had a decided advantage in height.

Dixon missed many times in the first round, owing to Erne's good defence. The colored boy, however, got home several good body and face blows, and received two stiff left hand counters.

Dixon was very aggressive in the second round, and scored repeatedly on the face and body with both hands, while Erne only landed two good blows. A left hand swing caused Erne's right ear to swell and bleed.

The third round was in Erne's favor. He cut out the work, and outpointed Dixon two to one. The fourth round was also in Erne's favor, the Buffalo boy landing hard and often and getting away without returns.

DIXON HAS THE ADVANTAGE.

In the fifth round Dixon braced himself and fought nobly, smashing Erne right and left. The sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth rounds favored the champion. He chased Erne all around the ring, hitting him almost when and where he pleased. Once he sent Erne reeling toward the ropes, the result of a right hand smash on the jaw, and again he doubled him up with a left hand body blow.