1922-05-06 Mike O'Dowd W-PTS12 Mike Gibbons [Queensboro Athletic Club, Long Island City, NY, USA]

1922-05-07 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 19)

O'Dowd Gains Decision Over Mike Gibbons

Mike O'Dowd was awarded the judges' decision over Mike Gibbons last night in the twelve-round feature bout at the open air show held in the Queensboro A. C. arena. Gibbons weighed 157 pounds and O'Dowd 156.

Sammy Cohen and Terry Miller went to an eight-round draw in the semi-final, and Jim Henry scored a knockout over Al Reduit in the second round.


1922-05-07 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 2D)

O'Dowd Given Decision Over Mike Gibbons
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"Raspberry" Given to Boxers For Uninteresting Bout At Queensboro A. C.

Mike O'Dowd, former middleweight champion of the world, was awarded the judges' decision over Mike Gibbons in the star 12-round bout last night at the first open air show of the season at the Queensboro A. C. Gibbons did not but pull and maul and showed signs of not being the best of condition.

The encounter was a listless affair and the boxers were given "raspberry" a number of times by the small assemblage.

O'Dowd was the aggressor throughout and got in some nice lefts to the face and rights to the body while Gibbons was on the ropes. Gibbons opened a cut over one of O'Dowd's eyes in the second round and Mike retaliated by cutting Gibbons' nose in the fifth round.

Terry Miller and Sammy Cohen boxed eight slashing rounds to a draw in the semi-final. In another eight-round affair, Jimmy Henry knocked out Albert Rebuit in the third round. Bill Howard stopped Dutch Ketter in the second round of a scheduled six-round bout. George Campbell was given the decision over Young Luciano in the opening four-round bout.


1922-05-07 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 13)

GIBBONS BEATEN BY MIKE O'DOWD
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"Fighting Harp" Hands St. Paul Phantom Pasting in Twelve Dull Rounds.
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By Frank O'Connell.

Open air boxing was ushered in for the season last night at the Queensboro Athletic Club, with Mike Gibbons and Mike O'Dowd, the headliners, in a twelve round bout. It went the limit, and most of the customers at the finish thought it was the limit. In fact, they expressed that opinion early in the conflict. O'Dowd was given the decision, which was an eminently correct piece of judging. He did all the forcing and handed out quite a nifty pasting to the St. Paul "shadow," who is now but a shadow of the old time Mike. It was a rather chilly evening in more ways than one. The atmosphere was quite frigid and as far as the attendance was concerned the house might have been called somewhat frosty.

The last time this writer saw Gibbons fight was years ago, when he and Packey McFarland fought the "fight of the century" down at Brighton Beach. Those whose memories go back long enough can recall that it was that all right--probably the worst fight in a century. The one last night was not much more thrilling. Gibbons still shows some of his old-time flashiness, but there is little sting to his punches. His pistonlike left was working very accurately and he managed to cut a gash over O'Dowd's right eye in the second round, but the "Fighting Harp" was never in any distress. For the first half of the bout Gibbons looked as if he might be able to roll up enough points to get a decision.

O'Dowd improved as the rounds passed by and when the final bell rang he was as fresh as when he started. Gibbons was pretty tired when the end came. The one time spectre of the ring was apparently fighting more on his innate skill than anything else. He showed that the old time stamina was not present. He did a lot of good dance steps, and that kept him of danger.

O'Dowd did most of the damage by pounding away at the body. He could not land a clean one to the jaw as Gibbons still maintains the faculty of ducking gracefully. Right from the start the crowd began to hoot. It did look as if it was going to be a nice little tea party and predictions were freely made that not only would the bout go the limit but that it would be so evenly worked out that nothing but a draw decision could be made. Gibbons flashed a lot of nifty mitt work in the early stages and O'Dowd could not catch him in the chase around the ring except on infrequent occasions.

O'Dowd managed to get Gibbons up against the ropes after the sixth round, when the Phantom began to fade out, and it was then that he dished out the most effective punishment. In the sixth round a hard right, flush to the nose, caused the blood to trickle down Gibbons' map, and a solid smash to the mouth had him spurting red till the end. Apparently they were fighting hard enough and could do no better, but they gave the impression that as contenders for the middleweight championship they do not belong, even if Johnny Wilson may be considered a terrible title holder.

1916-04-25 Mike O'Dowd W-TKO9 Joe Eagan [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1916-04-26 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 9)

O'DOWD MAKES JOE EAGAN QUIT
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St Paul Boxer Wins in the Ninth Round
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Staggering Rights to the Jaw Decide the Contest Here
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Westerner Goes After His Man Hard From Start
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Mike O'Dowd, the St. Paul welterweight, lived up to his reputation last night at the Armory A. A., making Joe Eagan stop in the ninth round.

O'Dowd came into the ring wearing his harp-covered green robe. He was serious all the time and he kept after Eagan so hard that the latter did not have much of a chance to display much cleverness, except in using his feet to keep out of danger. He clinched repeatedly, but O'Dowd managed to get in some stiff wallops with both hands. He landed some stiff rights and lefts on Eagan's stomach and ribs and then shot both hands to Eagan's jaw and face.

It was plain to the fans that the bout would not go the limit. Only once did Eagan try his right, getting it over to O'Dowd's jaw, but it did not bother the St Paul boxer.

Twice O'Dowd staggered Eagan with rights to the jaw. In the ninth round, which lasted only 35 seconds, O'Dowd went after Eagan from the tap of the gong. As Eagan started to back away O'Dowd caught him on the jaw with the right and Eagan went to the mat. He got up after Referee Flaherty counted 10 and O'Dowd again went after him, but the referee stepped between the pair and Eagan again went to the mat. O'Dowd was declared the winner.

O'Dowd made a good impression on the fans by his aggressive style of boxing and he will be seen here again in a few weeks. He left for his home after the bout to fill an engagement in that city.

In the semifinal Dave Powers was given the decision over Chick West. Young Cosmos of New Bedford won the award over Johnny O'Brien in the preliminary.

Willie Beecher and Johnny Harvey will appear in the feature bout at the club next Tuesday. In the semifinal Billy Nixon will meet Johnny Noonan. Frank Simmons and J. Morris and Willie Shea and J. O'Brien will box in the preliminaries.


1916-04-26 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 11)

DROPS EGAN IN THE 9TH
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Mike O'Dowd of St. Paul All That His Press Agent Predicted.
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By Jack Malaney

The story-book climax, which generally has a man crashed under the chin, lifted off his feet and knocked out, was what the crowd saw at the Armory A. A. show last night at the Arena. It isn't often done, but it surely was in the ninth round of the feature bout between Joe Eagan of Dorchester and Mike O'Dowd of St. Paul.

It was O'Dowd who swung the mighty punch, and Eagan performed the "elevator" stunt. Joe didn't stay down for the allotted 10 seconds; he tried to get back on his feet and continue, but he was so wobbly that Referee Flaherty stopped the bout.

It was not an unexpected finish, sensational as it was. Eagan was not in his usual form, but this was due to the work of the newcomer. It looked early in the battle as if O'Dowd would get him before the half-way mark was reached, but for various reasons he couldn't do so. Then, again, O'Dowd had let up a bit a couple of rounds before perhaps to catch Eagan napping when he was ready to swing the big punch; so the finish came very suddenly. It was shortly after the ninth got under way that it happened.

Critics Will Notice Him Now

It can be said after seeing O'Dowd perform that the critics have neglected him to date. In some mysterious manner he has escaped notice, but he is bound to be heard of much more in the very near future. It was general opinion among the fans, the Eagan rooters included, that he is a "bear."

If there is anything in the boxing line that this "Fighting Harp," as he is called, cannot do, the fact didn't develop last night. He is positively the busiest battling machine that has been seen here in many a month. Never for a second does he stop to rest, to stall or for anything else. He's busy from bell to bell. His two hands are equally good. He hooks with triphammer precision; he uppercuts with a vengeance; a little short chop from his right battery can do a pile of damage. Not often is a man possessed of this kick also a boxer of the fancy style, but O'Dowd showed Eagan more than once before the finale that he, also, has a left-hand jab that is both fast and stiff.

It took about one minute for O'Dowd to get in solid with the crowd. His businesslike methods were promptly accepted, and by the time the second started, the rooting was mostly for the visitor.

Eagan Holds on as Usual

Had O'Dowd been able to go along in his rushing, go-get-him style without being handicapped by his opponent hanging onto him continually, and by the referee interfering in clinches where O'Dowd had a right to punch, but was prevented from doing so, Eagan might have been stopped earlier than he was. Joe always does hold in a bout, but last night that was about all that he did, especially in comparison with the work of his opponent. But that holding kept him on his feet longer than he would have normally stayed.

O'Dowd's work in the first four rounds was of an order not often seen here. He was like a cyclone, letting blows go for both body and head. And Eagan didn't like the style, either. Joe couldn't jab, as he usually does, for he couldn't find O'Dowd. He couldn't sidestep or duck because Mike wouldn't let him get away with it.

At no time during the tilt was there anything to it but Mike from St. Paul. When the eighth finished, Eagan walked back to his corner and looked longingly at the round sign. He hopped out for the ninth, and then--bingo--it was all over. They met in the center and exchanged a couple of punches. Eagan had just delivered a punch, and was getting away when the mighty right crashed under his chin. Up he went and then down he went. Nine counts were tolled off, and he struggled to his feet. He was all done, however, and the referee had turned around to motion O'Dowd to his corner as the winner when Eagan staggered and fell flat. Whether he was as weak as his act showed is only known by Joe.

Powers Earns It Over West

Dave Powers of Malden beat Chick West in the semi-final bout, but the fans didn't like the decision. Dave earned his right to the award in the early part of the bout, when he, incessantly jabbed West, and also scored a clean knock down. There was only one preliminary, and in that Young Cosmos, the New Bedford hitter, beat Jeff Gallant of Roxbury. Gallant rallied in the last round, but only because the other boy had punched until he was too tired to do so any more.

Johnny Donovan of South Boston didn't box because the mysterious Johnny Marns didn't show up. Although there were quite a few boxers of Donovan's weight about the building, none would take him on.

1917-04-17 Mike O'Dowd W-PTS12 Frank Carbone [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1917-04-18 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 6)

MIKE O'DOWD GIVES CARBONE A WHALING
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St Paul Boxer Hits as He Pleases at the A. A. A.
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Mike O'Dowd of St. Paul was given the decision last night over Frank Carbone of New York in 12 rounds at the Armory A. A.

Carbone is a strong rugged boxer, but displayed no science and did his hitting with the open glove.

O'Dowd hit him often with both hands and got few blows back. Several times O'Dowd had Carbone wobbly, but he managed to stick it out.

The semifinal between Tony Vatlin and Mickey Brown was a good bout and the club rematched the pair for another 10-round meeting next Tuesday. Once Brown landed a right to the jaw that made Vatlin groggy, but the latter, by holding and stalling, weathered the round out.

After that Vatlin landed his left frequently on Brown's ribs, occasionally stabbing him in the face with his right. Vatlin got the decision at the end of 10 rounds.

Young Chodo of the North End, substituting for Eddie Ford, went against Young Giani of Lawrence, who must have weighed fully 25 pounds more than his opponent. Chodo gave Giani a hard battle but the latter won the award at the end of six rounds.

The curtain-raiser between Young Buckley of South Boston and Young Geary of Revere, was a lively bout, Buckley getting the decision.

The club will hold its meeting next Tuesday night in the Grand Opera House. Young Britt and Joe Morgan will meet in the feature bout.


1917-04-18 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 8)

O'DOWD WINS FROM FRANK CARBONE
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Victor Looked Like Boxer in Comparison to Vanquished.
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By Jack Malaney

Mike O'Dowd of St. Paul defeated Frank Carbone of New York in the final bout of the opening at the Arena last night. It was a tough contest, a very tough one--a tough one to have had for an opening show. Its poorness didn't disappoint many people, though, for not many more than 800 or so turned out, many of whom were "guests."

Carbone has little as a boxer. He was reputed as being a rough and tough mixer. Against him O'Dowd looked a champion, which is saying sufficient to show how good Carbone was not. It has been shown on at least two occasions here what O'Dowd amounts to.

The semi-final 10-rounder in which Tony Vatlin beat Mickey Brown was the life-saver for the show. This pair of 122-pounders went at it hot and heavy all the way. In the fifth, Mickey had Tony out on his feet but was too cautious to continue the job. Tony came back and was fast to the finish.

Young Gianni of Lawrence, outweighing his man by 20 pounds, got a win over Young Chodo of the North End in one of the sixes. The final bell saved Chodo from being stopped. Young Buckley won from Young Geary in the opening six-rounder.


1917-04-18 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 6)

O'DOWD BATTERS POOR CARBONE FOR 12 FULL ROUNDS
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BOSTON, April 18.--Frank Carbone, the New York middleweight, last night proved as a fighter that he was a good punching bag for Mike O'Dowd of St. Paul. For 12 rounds O'Dowd, who beat Carbone in similar fashion at Marieville, R. I., some time ago, plastered the New Yorker from one side of the ring to the other, winning the decision by a wide margin. The victim substituted for Bob McAllister.

Outside of his wonderful physique, Carbone had little else to recommend him. He was willing and game enough, but what he doesn't know about fighting would fill a library. The contest was of the tiresome sort, sluggish and rough.

Brown Loses to Vatlan.

Mickey Brown and Tony Vatlan fought one of the best 10-round contests seen between featherweights. The long lay-off did Brown no good, and it was some time before he got warmed up. When he did he made the going good, but Vatlan won the decision. They were rematched right over again for another 10-round bout for next Tuesday night, when the club will hold a show at the Grand Opera House quarters.

Young Chodo of the North End was sent in against Young Gianni of Lawrence, and the latter won in a six-round bout. Gianni looked too heavy and the handicap was too much for the local man. The latter was on the floor taking the count in the sixth round when the bell announced the finish of the contest.

Young Buckley defeated Young Geary in a fast six-round bout.

The feature contest next week will be a 12-round bout between Frankie Britt and Joe Morgan for the featherweight championship of New England. Alec MacLean has a chance to annex two titles within two weeks, as one week from Monday night, at Taunton, Freddie Yelle, the Taunton lightweight, will meet Young Blades in a 12-round bout for the lightweight championship of New England.