1907-06-17 Jack Blackburn ND6 Terry Martin [Washington Sporting Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1907-06-18 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)

WERE YOU DOWN?
--------
By Great Effort Blackburn Permits Martin to Stay Six Rounds

Jack Blackburn had the time of his career at the Washington Sporting Club last night in his wind-up with Terry Martin. He had gone through many a tough mill in his brief, but meteoric experience, but never before has he been compelled to utilize all his resources. But he was game--game as a pebble, and though he was a footsore, tired and weary he won out. Martin was there at the sound of the bell at the end of the sixth round, and the sure thing players who wagered as high as 2 to 1 that Martin would stay had a shake fest.

In the semi wind-up Jack Roller, of Brooklyn, stopped Johnny Murray, of this city, in three rounds. In the preliminaries, Bobby O'Neil and Tony Haney boxed a fast six-round draw. Harry Brady, of Shamokin, and Harry Carton, of this city, also boxed a draw, and Kid Kelly, of Brooklyn, and Tommy Stone, of this city, went the limit with honors even.


1907-06-18 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 8)

BLACKBURN BEAT MARTIN
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Colored Boxer Could Not Stop the Tough Little Dane.

Jack Blackburn defeated Terry Martin at the Washington Sporting Club last night, but he could not stop the tough little Dane, who was there doing business at the end of the sixth round, although he was minus four of his front teeth which Blackburn had knocked out during the progress of the contest. After the speedy manner in which Blackburn had put away Fred Bradley it was expected that he would make short work of Martin. Although he hit Terry almost as he pleased during the contest, he was never able to land a blow on the right spot, although he had Martin holding in every round and had Terry's nose and mouth bleeding. Blackburn seemed to be too anxious to end the bout with one punch, and he missed a dozen swinging blows that he aimed at Terry's jaw. There were times when it looked as if the colored boxer was too easy with Martin, for when he would have a chance to land a blow he would draw it back without hitting him. Martin did very little boxing during the progress of the contest outside of the sixth round. He seemed contented to stay and take the punishment. When he was getting it hard he held on and kept his jaws and stomach covered. In the last round, however, Martin made a good rally and fought Blackburn blow for blow for about half the round, and then he went weak, or was satisfied with what he had done, for he started holding again and covering till the end of the round.

In the semi-wind-up Jack Roller stopped Johnny Murray in four rounds. Tony Haney and Bobby O'Neill boxed a hard draw, both being nearly all in in the last round. Tommy Stone and Harry Kelly boxed a draw, as did also Ed Carton and Young Grady.

1906-06-07 Jack Blackburn ND6 Kid Wilson [Broadway Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1906-06-08 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)

Not Easy for Blackburn.

PHILADELPHIA, June 8.--Jack Blackburn bested Kid Wilson in the wind-up at the Broadway A. C. last night. It was a hard fight all the way through and Wilson kept Blackburn on the go all the time, and in the fourth round landed a right swing which sent Jack to the floor. Jack used his left jab with telling effect and had things rather easy in the first two rounds, but in the third and fourth Wilson fought hard and had the advantage. From them on it was Blackburn's fight, but he did not win in any easy manner.


1906-06-08 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 11)

BLACKBURN DEFEATED WILSON
--------
Orange Lad Knocked Jack Down in the Fourth Round.

Jack Blackburn defeated Kid Wilson, of Orange, N. J., in a fast six round bout at the Broadway Athletic Club last night. But Blackburn did not have it all his own way, for Wilson proved a tough customer, and he made Blackburn hustle every inch of the way. Blackburn had the advantage in height and reach, but there was little difference in the weight, as Wilson is a stocky-built chap. The Philadelphia boxer had all the best of the first round. He jabbed Wilson repeatedly, and at the end of the round Wilson was bleeding from the nose. In the second and third rounds things were about the same. In the fourth round Wilson pulled himself together and, catching Blackburn on the point of the jaw, dropped him to the mat. Jack was up quickly and a few seconds later he put Wilson down. Wilson boxed hard in the fifth and made Blackburn use all his cleverness. In the sixth round they mixed it up fiercely and went at it hammer and tongs. Blackburn dropped Wilson twice, but the Kid would not stay down, and was up quick and soon was fighting back as hard as he could. They were at it hard when the bell rang.

After the bout Wilson claimed that six rounds was too short a distance for him against Blackburn owing to the latter's cleverness, but he believed he could beat Blackburn in a long contest.

In the semi-wind-up Buck Lincoln defeated Joe Kain in four rounds. Boxer Kelly defeated Young Lancey in three rounds. Kid Ross had the best of a six-round bout with Young Carter. Jack Kain defeated Kid Selb in three rounds. Peter Lowrie defeated Jimmy Wilson in four rounds.

1904-03-25 Joe Gans W-PTS15 Jack Blackburn [Eureka Athletic and Social Club, Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, MD, USA]

1904-03-26 Baltimore Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 1)

GANS GOT DECISION OVER JACK BLACKBURN
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Bout Went the Limit, But Local Man Had the Better of It on Points.

Joe Gans, the lightweight champion of the world, was given the decision over Jack Blackburn, of Philadelphia, last night at the end of their fifteen round bout before the Eureka Athletic and Social Club, at Germania Maennerchor Hall. The hall was crowded to the doors.

The contest was far from being a spirited one, and interest lagged many times throughout the fifteen rounds. It was evident after five rounds had elapsed that Blackburn's sole intention was to stay the limit with the champion, and this he succeeded in doing with no discredit to himself, although as a result of his tactics the contest proved rather uninteresting.

While the bout was a rather tame affair, each man landed blows which left their marks. Although Blackburn twice took the count, it was not necessary, and he could have been up before the referee counted one.

Several times Gans started to rough matters, but his opponent would go to a clinch and hold on. Gans clearly showed that he is Blackburn's master in both blocking and judging of distance.


1904-03-26 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 3)

JOE GANS GETS DECISION OVER BLACKBURN
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Latter Was Over Weight and Stalled Throughout Fight.
--------

BALTIMORE, March 26.--Joe Gans was given the decision on points in his 15 round bout with Jack Blackburn of Philadelphia last night before the Eureka Athletic and Social Club. The Philadelphian was apparently 10 or 15 pounds heavier than the lightweight champion, although the men were to have weighed in at 140 pounds each, it being understood that it was not to be a championship battle. Gans did most of the fighting while Blackburn was repeatedly warned by the referee for holding. Jimmy O'Hara was the referee and his decision was cheered by the 2500 members who saw the battle.


1904-03-26 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 10)

GANS GETS THE DECISION
--------
His Bout With Jack Blackburn A Tame Affair, However.

Before the Eureka Athletic Club at Germania Maennerchor Hall last night Joe Gans, champion lightweight of the world, got the decision over Jack Blackburn, of Philadelphia, after 15 rounds of very slow, tame boxing.

Blackburn should have been disqualified early in the fight for constantly holding Gans' glove. Gans did not show championship form. He was slow, had no dash and measured distance badly. The fight was a disappointment.

The attendance filled every inch of the hall and gallery.


1904-03-26 The Trenton Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 11)

GANS FOUGHT POORLY BUT BEAT BLACKBURN

Baltimore, March 26.--Joe Gans, the light-weight champion, last night received the decision over Jack Blackburn in a fifteen-round contest before the Eureka Athletic Club before 2,500 people. The bout was a tame one from start to finish. Gans did not display championship form, while Blackburn's only desire was to stay the limit. Gans was the aggressor throughout, but his blows lacked steam and his judgment of distance was poor.

1906-03-08 Jack Blackburn ND6 Jack Williams [Broadway Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1906-03-09 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)

Blackburn Bested Williams

Jack Blackburn bested Jack Williams last night in the wind-up of the greatest show held at the Broadway Athletic Club for some time. The men started with a rush, each trying for the stomach, and Williams succeeded in landing some hard blows, but Blackburn kept fighting all the time and the round finished about even. From then on Blackburn had the best of it, swinging a left jab to the face and a right swing to the stomach.

In the semi wind-up Fred Welsh had the best of Tommy Love after six hard rounds. Johnny Murray, who was substituted for Kid Gleason, beat Gus Feldman. Jack Harley quit to George Womelsdorf in the fifth round and Hugh McCann and Jimmy Livingston went a six-round draw.


1906-03-09 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)

BLACKBURN DEFEATED WILLIAMS

Downtown Middle-Weight Made the Colored Boxer Hustle.

Jack Blackburn defeated Jack Williams in a six-round bout in the wind-up at the Broadway Athletic Club last night. There was a big crowd present. While Williams was beaten it took all that the colored fellow could do to keep his lead, for Williams put up a great contest. In fact, he boxed better than he has for several months, and he seemed to get better as the bout progressed. The first round was even, neither man doing much and each trying to feel the other out. Blackburn landed several punches in the stomach and Williams got in a couple of light blows on Blackburn's head. From the second round on the bout was in favor of the colored boxer. In this round Blackburn got in a number of hard stomach punches, and one hard punch in the face started the blood flowing from Williams' nose.

The third round was a repetition of the second. Blackburn forced the boxing all the way and he punished Williams pretty hard. Williams' nose was bleeding freely when he came back to his corner. In the fourth round Blackburn knocked Williams down, and it looked as if it was all day with the downtown middle-weight; but he got up and came back strong and finished out the round in good shape. The fifth round was all in favor of Blackburn and he had Williams pretty weak. Williams lost considerable blood in this round. Williams made a great rally in the last round. He started right at Blackburn and fought every second of the round. But Blackburn did his share of the work, and before the end of the round the big fellow was pretty tired.

In the semi-wind-up Fred Welch outpointed Tommy Love. Welch was too heavy for Love, but Tommy put up a great battle while his strength lasted, and in the early part of the bout he had all the best of the exchanges. But in the last two rounds Love grew weak and Welch forced him and had Tommy tired and bleeding when the bout ended. Johnny Murray and Gus Feldman, of Palmyra, put up a fast draw. George Womelsdorf defeated Jack Harley in five rounds, and Hugh McCann and Jimmy Livingstone boxed a good draw.


1906-03-09 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)

Williams Outclassed.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., March 9.--Jack Blackburn outclassed Jack Williams in a six-round bout at the Broadway A. C. last night. Blackburn was too heavy for Williams and was very effective with his body blows.

1908-06-10 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien ND6 Jack Blackburn (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

1908-06-11 Fairbanks Daily News (Fairbanks, AK) (page 1)

JACK O'BRIEN WINS FIGHT
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Shifty Jack Shows That He Is Still a Whirlwind a Game.
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BEATS JACK BLACKBURN
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Was the Fastest Go Ever Seen in the City of Philadelphia.
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(United Press Service.)

PHILADELPHIA, June 11. -- Jack O'Brien was given the decision over Jack Blackburn at the end of a six round boxing contest held at O'Brien's club rooms here last night, the bout being limited to six rounds by municipal laws on the subject,

O'Brien clearly demonstrated that he had lost none of his old time speed, and he was up against a worthy opponent in Blackburn. The bout was a whirlwind affair from start to finish, with O'Brien holding the edge over his opponent by a narrow margin all the way through.

He got the decision on a knock down blow delivered in the sixth, though Blackburn was far from being out.


1908-06-11 Rockford Daily Republic (Rockford, IL) (page 3)

JACK O'BRIEN GETS DRAW
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Former Champion Went Six Rounds With Jack Blackburn at Philadelphia Last Night.
------

Philadelphia, June 11.--Jack Blackburn gave away fourteen and a half pounds last night in his fight with Jack O'Brien, who was also taller and had a longer reach than the colored man, and with all this handicap, after one of the fastest six-round bouts ever seen in this city, the best that O'Brien got was a draw in the opinion of the spectators.

O'Brien had the best of the first round, and after that he held the negro safe for the next two. In the fourth Blackburn took a brace and he began to jab and feint O'Brien out of his cautiousness and he landed many telling blows on the white fellow. In the fifth round O'Brien was tired out and he had to clinch and stall to save himself from the punishment that the mulatto was raining on him with both hands.


1908-06-11 The Evening Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (page 6)

O'BRIEN BESTS NEGRO
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Philadelphia Jack Had Slight Advantage Over Blackburn.

Philadelphia, June 11.--In a six round bout that was marked by fast and vicious fighting Jack O'Brien bested Jack Blackburn last night.

In the first round O'Brien knocked Blackburn down with a straight left. In the fourth and fifth rounds O'Brien seemed to tire, but came back strong in the sixth and had Blackburn clinching to avoid stomach punches. O'Brien had more steam than Blackburn, but the latter put up a game fight against odds in weight and made a splendid showing.


1908-06-11 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)

JACK O'BRIEN TOO BIG FOR BLACKBURN
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PHILADELPHIA, June 11.--"Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien, once claimant of the heavyweight championship, outpointed Jack Blackburn in their six-round fight at the National A. C. here last night. O'Brien was too big and strong for his clever opponent. He dropped Blackburn in the first round with a right hook to the chin but after that there were no knockdowns. Blackburn fought a game and clever battle and in the fourth and fifth rounds he held his own with the one-time "champion."


1908-06-11 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 12)

SOCIETY LEADER SECONDS O'BRIEN AGAINST NEGRO
--------

(Special to The Evening World.)

PHILADELPHIA, June 11.--After six hard and fast rounds between Jack O'Brien and Jack Blackburn, the colored boxer, a draw would have been about the right decision. However, so close was the battle fought by the men, there were many who thought that O'Brien had earned the decision, and an equal number favored Blackburn.

O'Brien started off at a rapid clip. In the first round a straight left sent Blackburn to the floor. After that the colored man fought back gamely. In the third and fourth rounds he hit suspiciously low, but was forgiven, as the blows did no damage.

In the first three rounds O'Brien waded in with rights and lefts, but in the fourth and fifth he tired perceptibly and his blows lacked steam. It was in these rounds that Blackburn got busy and, assuming the aggressive, carried the fight to O'Brien. The sixth was a rapid affair, O'Brien, waking up, sailed into Blackburn, but the negro was right there and put up a game fight. In this round O'Brien's speed only lasted for the first minute, when he was forced on the defensive by Blackburn, who whipped in a number of clean blows, and in the grand mixup at the conclusion showed himself to be stronger than was O'Brien.

A sidelight feature of the bout was the fact that in O'Brien's corner Anthony Drexel Biddle, the society man, who is a devotee of the manly art. Mr. Biddle was in working garb, with sleeves rolled up. Society was well represented at the bout, and Mr. Biddle was declared quite a drawing card.


1908-06-11 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 11)

BLACKBURN EARNS DRAW WITH O'BRIEN
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Latter Has the Better of the First Two Rounds, But Weakens After the Third
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Blackburn, Fourteen and One-Half Pounds Lighter, Makes Sensational Finish in Sixth
--------

Jack Blackburn by great work in the fifth and sixth rounds evened up the advantage Jack O'Brien had secured in the earlier rounds of the six-round bout before the National Athletic Club last night, and was entitled to a draw of it when the bell ended the bout for the night. The negro's sensational rally in the last part of the bout was as surprising to O'Brien as it was to the spectators. During the fore part of the bout O'Brien's big advantage in height and weight had enabled him to get to Blackburn often, and with telling effect, but he seemed to let up considerably in the last two rounds, and the negro by coming on the aggressive got to Jack frequently with telling lefts to the face and many a hard wallop to the body. O'Brien also showed signs of wildness, and his overanxiety to get to Blackburn during those last six minutes gave the cool and collective negro just the opportunity he was seeking. He managed to get to O'Brien time after time with his left and right, and Jack was forced on the defensive during the majority of the last six minutes.

Everything favored O'Brien before the bout. At the weighing in O'Brien tipped the scales at 162 pounds, while Blackburn pulled down the scale to 147? pounds. He also towered over the negro in height and his advantage in reach looked to be entirely too long for the negro to get away from. And during the first three rounds of the bout O'Brien used his weight to big advantage. He repeatedly rushed Blackburn off his feet and while the negro went to the floor a few times the knockdowns were the direct results of O'Brien's rushes and not his punches. Jack, however, missed many blows in his eagerness to settle the bout quickly, and as the go progressed Blackburn had little trouble in getting out of the way of many of Jack's intended sleep producers. O'Brien also lost considerably of his speed in the remaining three rounds, while his judgment of distance went wrong repeatedly. This was due in a way to the clever guarding of Blackburn, who managed to block many of Jack's swings and side-step his jabs frequently during the time the tide was starting to turn.


1908-06-11 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 1)

A. J. DREXEL-BIDDLE A SECOND
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Millionaire Uses Sponge On Jack O'Brien, Who Outboxes Blackburn.

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.]

Philadelphia, June 10--With his shirt sleeves rolled up and minus a collar and tie, Anthony J. Drexel-Biddle, a young Philadelphia millionaire and society man, acted as Jack O'Brien's second in the pugilistic six round bout with Jack Blackburn at the National Athletic Club tonight.

The young millionaire between each of the rounds sponged off the dripping back of O'Brien and appeared to be as much at home in the part he was playing as he is at an afternoon tea in Philadelphia's exclusive set. The young millionaire seemed to enjoy the role, and received quite a reception when he clambered over the ropes. In the audience were a number of society people, and Biddle nodded right and left to his friends.

O'Brien knocked Blackburn down in the opening round, and in the final round had the negro hanging on to avoid punishment. The bout was one of the fastest ever seen in this city.


1908-06-11 Trenton Evening Times (Trenton, NJ) (page 11)

JACK O'BRIEN WON FROM BLACKBURN
--------

PHILADELPHIA, June 11.--Philadelphia Jack O'Brien outpointed Jack Blackburn, the negro middleweight, in a six-round contest at the National Athletic Club last night. The men put up a fast fight, but both lacked the steam behind their blows to be real damage. O'Brien's blows were the cleaner, and for that reason he was entitled to the decision.

Each landed often enough to settle half a dozen battles. Their judgment of distance was superb, for they seldom missed. There was but one knockdown, O'Brien sending the negro to the mat in the first round. There was a long wrangle over a pair of kid gloves that O'Brien intended to wear beneath his fighting mitts. O'Brien finally agreed to take them off.

O'Brien started right in and landed hard with his left. The negro shot out rights and lefts and O'Brien slipped to the floor, but immediately jumped up. Jack danced around for a moment and then sent Blackburn to the floor with a terrific left swing. The negro arose and clinched. O'Brien continued to jab the left for the face and to swing the right to the body. At the bell O'Brien got in an uppercut.

The second round was lightning fast. O'Brien opened with a lot of jabs. They finally came to close quarters and exchanged heavy wallops to both body and head. A hard uppercut near the end of the round made Blackburn wince. O'Brien hurt the negro with body punches.

Philadelphia Jack had the better of the third round, which was also fast. He continually sent in hard blows to the stomach. Blackburn hit low once and apologized. A lot of vicious swings for the head were missed by both.

The fourth began with clinching. Blackburn frequently aimed for the stomach, but landed on the chest. O'Brien scored more uppercuts and Blackburn again fouled him with a low blow. It was an even round.

The negro was the aggressor in the fifth, although O'Brien landed often. Once Blackburn slipped to the floor after an exchange of blows on the head. He was up like a flash and held his own to the end.

The last round was exceedingly fast and both landed nearly every blow sent forth. Blackburn opened by landing three in a row on the head, but Jack came right back on the wind and nose. The exchanges were rapid to the gong, and both were dead tired when they went to their corners.


1908-06-21 The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR) (page D7)

BLACKBURN CLEVER FIGHTER
------
Mulatto's Battle With O'Brien Brings Him Before Public.

From time to time the name of Jack Blackburn has attracted the attention of the fight fans. Blackburn's last fight was with Jack O'Brien and the Philadelphia Record has the following review of the fight, which will interest the fight fans, for there is a chance that this same negro will be heard from:

That six-round drawn fight with Jack O'Brien was a virtual victory for Jack Blackburn when the weight and reputation of the two men are taken into consideration. Very few thought the tall, thin mulatto had any chance with the clever O'Brien, and predicted that the men who twice boxed twenty rounds with Tommy Burns would win handily. This crowd felt doubly confident at the end of the first round in which O'Brien put it all over Blackburn, so to speak, but the farther the fight went the better the colored man seemed to grow, while the white boxed plainly showed signs of tiring. The final bell that ended the fight was much more welcome to O'Brien than it was to Blackburn, and all good critics agree that, had the fight gone to a finish that night, Philadelphia Jack would very likely have been defeated. At the beginning of the fight O'Brien seemed at his very best, but as the fight progressed it became evident that he was not as fast as he used to be, and also that he was not keyed up to the point of holding the fast gait set for any great length of time. Then, too, the jolts Blackburn gave O'Brien probably slowed him down some, whereas the punishment received by Blackburn only seemed to make him fight the faster. Should the men ever come together in a longer battle the negro will have backing, notwithstanding the 14 1/2 pounds difference in weight.

To the followers of boxing who have witnessed so many of O'Brien's frame-ups last Wednesday's contest was particularly interesting, for at last they were able to see what Jack could do in a genuine fight. To be sure the conditions were all in O'Brien's favor, for he was heavier and stronger, and more experienced than his opponent, and if he had been the man he has tried to make the public believe he is--good enough to hold the title of champion of the world--he should have proved an easy winner. But what was the result? Starting out with so great a lead in the first round as to make the fight seem all in his favor, O'Brien allowed Blackburn to so far outbox him in the closing rounds as to lead some to think that the negro deserved credit of a victory. For a fact, however, the contest was too even for a decision, particularly since neither man was able to do any particular damage to the other, so cleverly was every attack met by the defense. It was a rare sight, however, to see Jack O'Brien holding to save himself against the attack of an opponent weight 14? pounds less than himself. And this was the same Jack O'Brien who is credited with a victory over Bob Fitzsimmons, the best man of his weight with gloves who ever lived, but now known to be a faker. It was also the same O'Brien who fought Tommy Ryan, of unsavory reputation; Joe Walcott, the negro giant-killer, who is known to be susceptible to money inducements; Joe Berger, John Willie, Jack (Twin) Sullivan and Tommy Burns, who, after going through with one frame-up with Jack, exposed O'Brien's faking ways and practically ruined him. The last fight with Burns, which went 20 rounds, with the decision in favor of Burns, and last Wednesday's bout with Blackburn are two O'Brien's fights that were on the level, and in neither did Jack gain any glory. He is now considering Stanley Ketchell, the husky young Western middle-weight. If O'Brien fights Ketchell it should help his reputation for honesty, no matter what the outcome may be.

1904-12-01 Jack Blackburn ND6 Joe Grim (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

1904-12-02 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)

JO-A DE GRIM IS-A ALL TO DE GOOD-A; VER-A FINE-A BOY
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Jack Blackburn Make-a de Much Punch on Italo Champo's Face But Grim-a Never Get-a de Cold Foot
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Great Sphagetti! Jo-a Hammer de Africa Man for Two-a Round and de Crowd-a Have-a de Short Spasm of Excitement.
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Joe-a Then Get-a Short of-a de Wind and Spit-a de Gore, But Keep-a de Blackaburn-a on de Hi-yi Till de Sweet-a Bell Tinkle
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By the Count of Little Italy

Jack Blackburn last night made another attempt to stop the human punching bag, Joe Grim, in six rounds, but, like his former effort and that of other fighters, he failed to accomplish his purpose. The bout was the wind up at the Broadway Athletic Club. Joe was just as much on deck when the bell rang for the end of the sixth round as when he stepped forward to shake hands for the beginning of the hostilities. There was, however, quite a change in his appearance after the scrap, but as he had stayed the limit the Italian citizens around the ring yelled themselves hoarse with bravo for "Joe-de Grime."

Grim took enough lacing and punishment to have stopped half a dozen ordinary boxers, but instead of quitting or being knocked out he fought back as savagely in the last three minutes as he did in the first round. Blackburn was relentless in his efforts, but he could not land the punch. He landed any number of wicked straight rights and uppercuts, with a countless number of left jabs, but besides badly damaging Joe's dial and causing the red fluid to flow, the blows did not get to the spot which leads to sleep. Both of Joe's eyes were nearly closed when the bout ended and his lips badly swollen.

Joe surprised the big crowd present by going right at Jack when the first round opened. He never let the colored man have a second, and chased him around the ring with all kinds of punches known only to the redoubtable Italian. Blackburn stopped most of the punches by clever blocking, varying his defensive tactics with ugly short left jabs to Joe's face, which soon had his left eye in trouble. The second round found Joe just as gallus, but he lost some of his steam before the bell rang from the repeated jabs Blackburn landed and several ugly uppercuts which found lodgment on Joe's face.

Grim was the recipient of severe punishment in the third round and he was very much as wildered when the bell rang. Blackburn tried his hardest to stop the hero of Little Italy in this round. Joe made a wonderful brace in the fourth and had the crowd in an uproar by forcing all the milling. Like the first round, he kept after Jack persistently, despite the punishing left jabs which Blackburn continually shoved in his face as he came boring in. Joe was tired, however, when the bell rang. He started the fifth with his characteristic shout of defiance, but before the round ended he was a sorry-looking spectacle. Blackburn nearly closed the right eye with an ugly uppercut early in the round, and had the gore flowing freely from his lips and nose when the round ended. Things looked rather hazy for Joe when he took his corner.

The sixth only witnessed additional punishment for Grim. He accidentally hit Blackburn low and the negro renewed his efforts to stop his opponent before the bout terminated. Grim was so tired and weak he could hardly protect himself, but by gamely facing the punishment he stayed until the bell ended the one sided go.

In the semi wind up Fred Blackburn, brother of Jack, bested Rozy Kernell. Kernell was down three times in the last round.

1904-11-03 Jack Blackburn ND6 Joe Grim (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

1904-11-04 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)

GRIM TAKES A PUNCHING
----
Blackburn Has the Italian Champion Looking Bad in Fifth Round.

Joe Grim took a pounding from the hands of Jack Blackburn last night in the wind-up at the Broadway Athletic Club that he will remember for a long time. The Italian marvel was severely punished in the last two rounds and there were not many spectators in the big crowd who thought Joe would respond for the bell in the sixth. Just after the fifth round opened Blackburn sent Joe to his knees with a short right hand hook, the blow splitting open an ugly cut under the left eye. Grim stayed down for the limit and when he arose the blood was streaming from the cut. He was wobbly on his pins and Blackburn, anxious to accomplish what all other boxers have failed to do, namely a knockout, went after the Italian with a vicious aggressiveness. He punched Joe unmercifully and the pride of Little Italy was a sorry spectacle as he wobbled around the ring covered with his own gore and practically defenseless. It looked as if Joe's time in the ring had come at last and even the police made an attempt to stop the bout.

Before they could get to the ring Joe's old time bravo had appeared and he was jumping around the ring in a tired sort of manner. Blackburn tried hard to stop the human punching bag, but the bell was a timely interferer for Joe and he took his corner looking like an Indian. The minute's rest worked wonders, for when he shook hands his stamina asserted itself. To show that he was as gallus as ever he danced around Blackburn for a few seconds after the round had started. Jack took things rather easy and Joe to the surprise of the crowd cut out the gait. It did not last long, as tired nature asserted itself and Joe fell back to defensive fighting. Jack seemed to let up on his opponent, as he only went after Joe at a slow clip. Joe's punishment was severe but to show that he was as spry he was the first out of the ring when the bell rang.