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Showing posts with label Owen Moran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Owen Moran. Show all posts

Sunday, June 24, 2012

1910-06-24 Abe Attell ND10 Owen Moran [Pacific Athletic Club, Naud Junction, Los Angeles, CA, USA]

1910-06-25 Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, CA) (page 10)
ATTELL DEFEATS MORAN FOR ONCE
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Clearly Outboxes English Rival in Their Ten-Round Bout at Naud Junction
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SCRAP WAS FAST AND FURIOUS
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Britisher Loses No Prestige with Fans by His Great, Though Losing, Showing
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BY JAY DAVIDSON

Longer routes may bring about further dispute regarding the relative merits of Abe Attell and Owen Moran as boxers, but the featherweight champion last night clearly proved that he is the master of the Briton over the ten-round route, as he outboxed his English rival at every round, though not by any great margin, and wound up at the final gong with a margin so distinct and indisputable that there scarcely was any difference in opinion among those who sat at ringside and watched them in their marvelous exhibition of boxing skill. It was the prettiest and fastest boxing bout ever staged in a local ring and kept the fans in a state of excited interest throughout.

Both entered the ring perfectly trained for this fourth test Of their knowledge of the Queensberry art and neither lost any valuable time in fiddling around before getting down to real hard pan. They were at it right from the first jump and kept it up, like stake horses contesting for a derby prize, every minute they were in the ring. The old feud that probably never will be settled by them, growing out of their other tough battles at longer distances, bobbed up in every round, when they would intersperse blows with vindictives and occasionally make faces at each other. When the gong sounded for the end of the final round, Moran turned about and made a sassy face at Abe and twitted him in confidence that at last he had whipped the featherweight champion.

Straight lefts were used with lightning like rapidity throughout the bout, with Attell counting about three to one with these light taps. He started the first round with one and ended with another. Moran toed the scratch and never backed up an inch throughout the bout, but he also found Attell always within reach, even if he could not quite connect at all times.

They steamed up considerably in the second round and began to do some effective slugging, although mostly confining their efforts to jabs in the face and hooks to the head, of which there were an innumerable amount. The old feud showed up for the first time in the second when Abe began to talk to Owen and the latter to heel Abe with his glove in clinches.

The third round started off like real business with both boys swinging rights to body. Moran hooked his left to the head in the breakaway and Abe poked a right to the body and made Moran miss a stiff swing for the head. Abe blocked several leads for the jaw and was caught with a wild right to the ribs, as Moran missed the lead and swung clear around, but Attell offset it with a right and left to the head with jarring force.

The fourth round was faster than the preceding one and both boys did some effective clouting with lefts to the face and head, while Attell used a right uppercut with good effect two or three times as Moran rushed in with right swings. When the gong ended the round the boys were still quarreling and were inclined to overlook the bell.

Abe got onto his stride with a vengeance in the fifth and put over several wallops to head and ribs without return, often making Moran swing wildly and miss. A few left jabs to the face soon had the first claret of the bout flowing from Moran's nose, and this seemed to further anger him, as he charged Abe like a mad bull and put a stiff left to the face and a hard right to the ribs. Abe hooked a hard right to the jaw, the most effective blow of the bout, and followed it up with a right uppercut and a left hook to the jaw, showing at top speed and with his best punch in this round.

Moran opened the sixth with a hard right to the ribs and another stiff left to the face, Abe missing a right swing, but put a left hook to the jaw. Lefts to the face and rights to the ribs flew so fast throughout this round that a moving picture machine would have put on the bum trying to keep tab on them.

Moran rushed at Attell at the start of the seventh and swung his left to the wind, clinching at once. Abe hooked his left to the jaw rather lightly three times and stopped Moran's rush with a right uppercut that landed squarely in the mush and straightened up Moran. Then they began their swinging tactics once more, both showing some pretty hooks and well-timed swings that landed with good effect. Abe uppercut Moran with his right as the gong rang and again they were slow to cut it out.

The eighth round was the slowest of the bout, and neither boxer did much in the line of damaging punches. The ninth started with a renewal of rushing tactics by Moran, and Abe uppercut with his left as he sidestepped a vicious right swing for the head. Moran came close and poked a straight left to the face and switched to the head in quick succession, Abe swinging to the wind and swapping  rights to the head. The final round opened with Attell meeting Moran with a hard right cross to the jaw and a left to the wind. Both landed hard lefts to the jaw and began swinging again, most of the leads being prettily blocked by each. Abe caught Owen backing out of a clinch, and swung right and left to the jaw, but while these blows carried steam behind them, the little Britisher was not seemingly affected by them and rushed in with a hard left to the head as the gong ended the bout. Moran turned and jeered at Abe like a school boy, and both dashed for newspaper row to find out who had won, without result.

CHICO OUTPOINTS AUSTIN

The first preliminary bout was scheduled as a six-round affair between Paul Sikora and Jeff O'Connell, but Sikora failed to pass the required physical examination by the club physicians and was not allowed to go on with the bout. Frankie Sullivan passed the examination and was substituted at the last moment, but the number was moved down the line and Jimmy Austin and Battling Chico were sent in for the curtain raiser at the same distance.

The first round of the Austin-Chico bout went to the credit of Austin, both boys sparring cautiously during the opening session, but in the second Chico began to force the issue and took a good lead with several stiff body punches, one of which, a lead for the wind, staggered Austin and almost put him down. The third round also was in favor of Chico, who continued his aggressive tactics and outboxed and outpointed Austin. Chico used a pretty right cross that he got home a couple of times with good effect and outjabbed Austin in the use of a straight left to the face. Austin improved in the fourth and took a good lead by straightening his left to the face several times, finally drawing the claret, and crossing frequently with his right to the jaw with good effect. The fifth round was the best of the bout up to that time. Both hoys grew confident and indulged in considerable slugging, but in every such instance Chico made Austin back up and stop swapping punches. Chico had a good lead at the gong. The final round was very even, neither doing much in a damaging way. Chico was going at his usual stiff pace, and whenever his blows landed they were of greater effect. Austin was up against a game and clever little slugger and found it impossible to overcome the good lead of his opponent, Chico earning the decision.

McGOVERN STOPS HATTON

Second on the card was Young McGovern, once regarded as a bantam championship possibility, and Berryl Hatton, lately graduated from the amateur ranks. This was McGovern's first appearance in several months. McGovern began using his painful right hook and swing with good effect right off the reel, and showed some of his old-time form, but Hatton was cool headed and clever and boxed cautiously, avoiding any damaging effect of the terrible right. In the second round McGovern finally landed his right, owing to carelessness of Hatton in not keeping a guard against the principal stock in trade of McGovern, and put Berryl down for nine. Following up his advantage, McGovern rushed Hatton to his corner, and after several vain attempts to finish Hatton, put over the same old right to the point of the jaw, and Sergeant Danny Long ordered the bout stopped before Referee Reynolds had counted four.

The semi-windup was the rearranged Paul Sikora-Jeff O'Connell bout, in which Frankie Sullivan was substituted for Sikora because of the failure of Sikora to pass the required physical examination. Sullivan opened the bout with his usual right hooks and swings to the jaw and worked it with good effect during the opening round. He played it so regularly that it looked as if he intended making a short argument of it, and had a good lead at the gong. Sullivan used both hands during the second round and showered straight lefts to the face and right crosses to the head and jaw. O'Connell warmed up to his job too, and got in some stiff punches, but Sullivan proved the cooler of the two in the exciting mixups and materially increased his lead. Frankie began to tire in the third, showing lack of condition, but kept up his aggressive tactics and landed some stiff wallops to the jaw, using an occasional uppercut to good effect. Both were glad the bell rang. Sullivan had O'Connell practically out in the fourth from the effects of continual hooks to the jaw and weariness, but was so tired himself that he could not finish the job. At the gong both were so weary that they could not do any damage at all. O'Connell's exhibition of gameness drew forth great applause. Both boys were slightly less weary in the fifth and did very little damage, although O'Connell woke up for a few seconds and opened up a gash under Sullivan's left eye with a right uppercut. Sullivan finished stronger, however, and had a fair lead at the gong. Sullivan was somewhat refreshed at the start of the sixth and put up a winning finish by adding to his already good lead. He whipped his right over for staggering blows two or three times and clearly had all the better of the milling. He won the decision.

With the preliminary bouts out of the way and everybody in a good humor by reason of the highly interesting bouts, the ringsiders were a bit impatient for the start of the main event. Attell was first in the ring, entering after a delay of about ten minutes, accompanied by Kid Dalton, Battling Swanson and Jockey Mountain, who served as his seconds. Moran followed a few minutes later, with Bad Bill Aldridge, Jeff Perry, Hobo Dougherty and Sam Keller as his seconds.


1910-06-25 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)
ATTELL HAS SLIGHT LEAD OVER MORAN
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LOS ANGELES, Cal., June 25.--With District-Attorney Fredericks, Chief of Detectives Browne and half a dozen other officers at the ringside, at the direction of Governor Gillett, enjoying themselves hugely, Abe Attell, featherweight champion, and Owen Moran, the English champion, gave the fastest exhibition of sparring last night that has been seen at Naud Junction this year. A telegram from Capt. Fredericks to Governor Gillett last night stated that there was no fight, but a boxing contest.

Attell won the newspaper decision on points, but it was a very close contest throughout. There was no heavy hitting, but for clean foot work, rapid punching and heady battling, the contest was a great success. It would be only fair to class last night's meeting a draw, although a majority of the fans thought the American had the better of it.


1910-06-25 The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA) (page I6)
ATTELL AHEAD BY LONG LEAD.
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SO FIGHTER IS SAVED FROM A DRAW WITH MORAN.
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Straight Boxing and Clean Hitting at Naud Junction Last Night and the Fans Seemed to Like It--Trace of Bad Blood Between Englishman and Hebrew.
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Abe Attell beat Owen Moran, ten rounds, close decision.
Frankie Sullivan beat Jeff O'Connell, six rounds, snappy battle.
Young McGovern stopped Berryl Hatton, second round.
Battling Chico beat Jimmy Austin, six rounds, boxing only.

It was straight boxing, and clean hitting at Naud Junction last night, and the fans seemed to like it. At any event it was a far better exhibition than has been put up by Uncle Tom's bean eaters for some time.

There is no doubt of one thing. The District Attorney can have little to say in regard to the class of contests staged last night.

As for the men themselves, and their performances, Abe Attell is still the cleverest man in the ring today. With Moran he has a foeman worthy of his glove, and, but for the long lead that he obtained in the early rounds of the fight, would have been forced to content himself with, at least, a draw.

There has been a trace--of course, just a trace--of bad blood between the men for some time. An Englishman and a Hebrew, somehow, get on each others nerves, and stay there.

In the battle last night trouble started in the fourth round, and Eyton was talking to the men as the gong sounded. In the eighth Moran slipped to the floor, and Attell started to help him up. Moran pushed away the gloves and swung for Attell's jaw as he came to his feet, but the shifty champion was not in that immediate neighborhood when the blow arrived.

With the exception of the little family trouble between the two boys the bout was one of the fastest and cleverest ever seen in the Naud Junction ring, and, on Attell's part, comes close to the performance on that Fourth of July afternoon long ago, when Abe and Frankie Neil met in the same ring.

In the first round Attell showed his cleverness and at the tap of the gong retired to his corner without having his hair mussed. The second and third rounds were about even, with little damage done on either side, but with Attell's whips touching up the Irish in Moran's name.

The fourth round was Attell's, and it was here that Moran began to show his temper. Attell's blows were full of steam and ginger, and in the fifth period he showed no let up to the stinging blows that continually peppered the Englishman's nose and cheekbone.

In the sixth, Moran took the honors and whipped one over to Attell's jaw that worried Abe more than he cared to show. The Englishman grinned until Attell walked into him, and the gong sounded with the men waiting at the ropes and Eyton cautioning Moran against letting his temper get away with him.

The seventh and eighth were Attell's periods, but with little damage done.

In the ninth and tenth Moran began to pick up speed. He butted a bit and otherwise misbehaved himself, and was roundly booed at the end of the period. Throughout the round he let Abe have fully as much as he took himself. His blows were mostly swings, and Abe covered well.

In the tenth, Moran found an opening or two and made good use of them.

There was no damage done to either lad during the mixup and Attell's decision was earned wholly on points. The boys should go to Nevada and be given a complete workout over the long route.

The Sullivan-O'Connell go was the best bout on the card, from the standpoint of the fans, and Sullivan earned his decision by clean straight hitting. Be it said for O'Connell, however, that no gamer man has ever shied his castor through the ropes in McCarey's ring.

From the first Sullivan was the aggressor. He is the proud possessor of a good right hand and knows how to use it. His covering was the best part of his work, and O'Connell had a mighty hard time to find an opening in his crossed arms, for every one of Sullivan's blows left him completely protected.

In the second round O'Connell took some of the worst punishment that has been administered in a local ring, and, what is more, took it smiling. At one time he was back on the ropes apparently out, for he had been eating punishment, but he came back grinning, as if nothing had happened.

In the third round he put up a strong battle, but in the fourth was thrown back onto the ropes again. He simply stayed the round on nerve and the ability to stand up under sledge-hammer blows.

The fifth and sixth were fast, with both boys working nicely. Sullivan won by his clean hitting, even outside the two rounds in which O'Connell was almost out.

Young McGovern stopped Berryl Hatton just a Hatton thought he was ready to start.

The first bout, between Jimmy Austin and Battling Chico, went to Chico on points.


1910-06-25 The San Diego Union and Daily Bee (San Diego, CA) (page 10)
ATTELL IS WINNER; LAW NOT VIOLATED
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Hebrew Boxer Gets Newspaper Decision Over Moran; Is Hair-Line Verdict.
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By the Associated Press

Los Angeles, Cal., June 24.--If the specter of Governor Gillett sat at the ringside of the Pacific Athletic club at Naud tonight it witnessed some of the prettiest timed rounds of milling seen on a Los Angeles arena in weeks.

In the main event--a ten round contest between Abe Attell and Owen Moran--the newspaper decision went to Attell. It was a hair line verdict. With two such clever men in the ring the bout could well have come under the designation of a "sparring contest," but there were periods when it approached dangerously near to prize fighting.

Both were strong on their feet at the finish, however, and neither displayed any serious marks of the combat.

The only blood that was shed began flowing from Moran's nose in one of the earlier rounds.

There was much display of ill-temper, too, and twice Moran was hooted for forgetting to stop when the gong sounded the end of a round. At the finish of the tenth the Englishman followed the feather weight champion out of the ring with outstretched hand, but Attell refused to grasp it.

It was in the preliminaries that the crowd saw real damage done. After Jimmie Austin had outpointed Battling Chico in six rounds, Young McGovern stopped Beryl Hatton in two. Frank Sullivan won a decision over Jeff O'Connell at the end of six rounds.

District Attorney Fredericks was present at the ringside. In a statement afterward he declared that there had been no violation of the law and he saw no reason to interfere.

"The provisions of the city ordinance governing limited round contests in this city were fully observed," said the district attorney. "Tonight's events were sparring bouts for points, which are sanctioned by the city authorities, and police officers were present to see that they did not go beyond that."


1910-06-25 The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA) (page 9)
LOS ANGELES FIGHT IS NOT MOLESTED
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Abe Attell and Owen Moran Go Ten Fast Rounds With Abe Having Shade
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[Special Dispatch to The Call]
LOS ANGELES, June 24.--With District Attorney Fredericks at the ringside to see that a prize fight was not held, Abe Attell and Owen Moran boxed 10 of the fastest rounds ever seen at Naud Junction tonight.

If a decision was rendered it should go to Attell, whose marvelous work, both offensive and defensive, proved conclusively that he has not gone back. Moran was the stronger and apparently had several pounds the best of it in weight. But the Britisher's superior strength and constant attack was more than offset by Attell's clever boxing and lightning blows.

Neither man had a scratch on him, although several stiff punches were exchanged. Moran was inclined to rough it and frequently was hooted by the crowd for what appeared to be fouls. After being warned by the referee Moran did not offend again.

Both finished strong, Attell seeming to have a shade in the final round.

One of the preliminary events was stopped by the police when it appeared that one of the boys would be knocked out.

No attempt was made by the district attorney, acting under orders from Governor Gillett, to interfere, either with the main event or the preliminaries.

Friday, April 1, 2011

1910-04-01 Abe Attell ND10 Owen Moran [Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, NY, USA]

1910-04-02 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 8)
MORAN IS OUTPOINTED BY CLEVER ABE ATTELL
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Featherweight Champion Is the Class in Excellent Exhibition of Scientific Boxing.
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Abe Attell earned a clean cut decision over Owen Moran at the Fairmont Athletic Club last night in one of the prettiest exhibitions of scientific boxing that local sports have had the pleasure of watching in a long time. There was nothing of the sensational about the bout, as the boys were too well schooled to each other's style to admit of the slightest possibility of either inflicting damage. Both were in fine physical condition, Attell, especially, looking better than at any time he has appeared in New York before, and seemingly keyed up to the last notch of perfection.

Moran had the advantage of the weights by seven pounds, his weight being announced as 129, while that of Attell was only 122 pounds. This seeming handicap, however, counted for little once the boys started to work. Abe showed at once that he was the class. He stepped in with a stiff left to Owen's face and easily escaped the swing with which Moran tried to counter. That was about what the bout amounted to throughout. A stiff left lead to the face, with an occasional left to the body and right swing to the head made up the category of Abe's attempts.

His footwork was the best part of his performance. He was in and out like an eel and had Moran swinging like a gate. On several occasions the little English fighter almost fell on his face from the force of his own blows. A right to the body hurt Moran more than any other blow Attell used. When he found the opening he wanted Abe sent the best he had into this punch, and Moran was clearly distressed on more than one occasion.

Moran was clever, but he did not seem to have the confidence of the champion. He used his left well and repeatedly reached Abe's face with good jabs. Twice he rocked Attell with right hand swings to the head, but the blows did not land with the force he put into them because Attell was going away when they were sent. There was not a knockdown in the bout, although on two occasions each hit the floor, but on Abe's part it resulted through a wrestle, while Owen slipped when he missed.

Neither boy was badly marked. In the last round Moran succeeded in opening an old cut over Abe's left eye, and earlier in the bout Attell drew the claret from Owen's nose with his stiff jabs. The largest crowd that ever attended the bouts at the Bronx club filled every nook and corner of the big building, and long before the main attraction was put on the doors had to be shut on several hundred unfortunates who clamored for admission.

After the contest Moran almost begged Attell to give him a chance over the Marathon distance at 124 pounds. Attell would not give him a decided answer. He was willing to clinch a match at the featherweight limit, but Moran would not come within two pounds of the weight.


1910-04-02 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 8)
ATTELL SHADES MORAN ON POINTS, BUT IS BATTERED OVER RING IN LAST ROUND
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Champion Has Only Slight Margin in His Favor in Bout at Fairmont A. C.
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Briton Fights Fiercely at Finish--Result May Have Been Different if Go Longer.
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"Abe" Attell, on points, won the decision over Owen Moran in a ten round bout last night at the Fairmont Athletic Club. It was, however, not a decisive, clean cut victory by any means. The chances are that if a vote of the 3,700 fight fans, who filled every inch of space in the auditorium, were taken, Moran would be declared the victor. That was because of the aggressiveness of the little Englishman and his whirlwind finish.

In the tenth and final round he rushed the shifty Attell all around the ring, both arms flaying his opponent, opening up an ugly gash over his left eye and giving him a general gruelling. Furthermore, the sympathy of the crowd was with Moran. It was conceded by all that had the fight gone twenty or even fifteen rounds the chunky little Englishman would have been the victor.

With the exception of the last round it was not a fight to arouse enthusiasm. More than once the expectant crowd jeered the fighters for their failure to mix it. From a real scrappy standpoint the bout was a disappointment. Both men repeatedly stalled and failed to take advantage of openings which a novice would have seized with the avidity of a miser clutching a coin. Each was fresh at the finish, and the chief anxiety of both seemed to be a sporting writer's decision which was to settle a small side bet they had wagered on the result.

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Moran Loses by Wildness.

Moran lost by his wildness. Blow after blow failed to touch the nimble Attell, who also surprised many of his long time followers by his frequent inability to make connections. The Englishman had an unhappy faculty of running into "Abe's" swings that caused his backers to groan with anguish.

The tameness of the fight can be understood when it is realized that neither boxer was marked before the fifth round. Then Attell, following a rousing three seconds of hard infighting, landed several vicious jabs on "Owney's" nose. Attell escaped marked damage until the final round, when Moran, with a terrific right swing, cut a gash over "Abe's" left eye. It opened the wound made by "Johnnie" Marto last week.

In weight Moran had seven pounds advantage, according to "Billy" Gibson, who stated that at the ringside Attell tipped the beam at 122, while the scale gave Moran 129 pounds. Moran alleged that he was a pound lighter. But the Englishman's advantage in weight was more than discounted by Attell's height and reach. Both men were fit as a fiddle. There was no question about that. The betting--there was little of it, as Moran's supporters wanted slight odds--was even.

An Unsatisfactory Bout.

Last night's bout gave no satisfaction to the followers of either man. The question of superiority can only be demonstrated in a finish fight and rumor has it that both have visions of a golden purse on the Pacific Coast with this end in view. Moran can't best Attell in a ten-round bout. "Abe's: generalship in the ring, his keen knowledge of rings tactics and his trickiness enables him to outpoint almost any man of his weight in a bout of last night's limit.

But Moran's followers will dispute this. They will tell you that had he started to mix it with the champion earlier in the game that he would have won out. That is a question. Surprise was exhibited by "Abe's" friends because of the absence of his famous vicious jabs. They were not overmuch in evidence last night. He tried the infighting methods of Moran about as frequently as did the latter, and seemed to be partial to a left swing and hook.

The storied animosity between the fighters was not noticed during the scrap. The contrary seemed to be true, and when one scored a smashing point the other nodded in smiling acknowledgement. At the end they shook hands and displayed an Alphonse and Gaston attitude.

It was half-past ten o'clock when the fighters made their appearance. Attell, with a gray sweater over his trunks, his lean physique being in marked contrast to the rounded, muscular limbs of the compactly built Moran, who followed at his feels. Both were loudly cheered. In the champion's corner were "Johnny" Marto, "Kid" Griffo and "Joe" Ferguson. Moran's interests were looked after by "Jim" Plunket, "Jimmy" Johnson and "Charley" Harvey, his manager.

There was little time lost in the preliminaries. "Billy" Joh, the referee, called both to the centre of the ring and gave them brief instructions. A second later the gong sounded and the big crowd settled back for what was acknowledged to be the premier contest of the present season in little old New York.

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Briton Lands First Blow.

After feeling each other out for a moment, Attell swung two lefts for the face, in the first round, each falling short. Moran sent a hard right to the wind and Attell responded with two jolts to the face. Attell outpointed his man in the remainder of the round, which was clearly his. The second was a mild affair and the honors were even.

Moran became the aggressor in the third and put over some hard blows, winning the round by a fair margin. The little Englishman kept up his pace and with vicious head blows carried off the honors in the next, too. "Abe," however, picked up in the fifth and scored first blood with hard left to the nose.

Moran's wildness lost him the sixth, Attell scoring frequently with right and left swings. Honors were more even in the eighth, but Attell had a shade the better of it. There was good action in the ninth round. Moran rushed things from the start and landed at will on Attell, who clinched often to avoid punishment. It was Moran's round.

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Attell Battered in Tenth.

In the tenth the crowd was brought to its feet with enthusiasm. Moran seemed at last to have got his eye on distance and after some rough in-fighting sent left and right to Attell's face and in the mix-up both fell to the floor, Attell underneath.

Moran extended a helping hand. "Thank you," said "Abe" with a bow. "Don't mention it, 'Abe,'" said Moran, with a vicious swing which opened "Abe's" right eye, following it with a cracking left on the nose. "Abe's" face was now a bright crimson. He fought back, but missed a bad left, and Moran peppered him with three rights to head and stomach. It was a whirlwind finish.

In the preliminaries "Sailor" Condon bested Howard Smith in six rounds. "Tommy" Ginty knocked out "Mike" Eagan in the second round of what was to have been a six round "go." Neal Regan, "Charley" Harvey's latest find, was outclassed by Nathan Erlich. The latter is a comer. Peter Powers was so outclassed by "Tommy" Hinch in a special four round bout that Referee Joh stopped the "go" in the second round.


1910-04-02 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 9)
ATTELL OUTPOINTS MORAN SLIGHTLY
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English Boxer Makes a Strong Showing Toward End of Bout at Fairmont A. C.
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There was nothing to alarm the most timid in the ten-round bout between Abe Attell, featherweight champion, and Owen Moran, the English boxer, held last night at the Fairmont Athletic Club. As a sparring competition pure and simple it was remarkably good. But as a fight it was distinctly not a success, and each man fought so cautiously and feared so very palpably to take a chance that the 3,000 members present voted that they had had a poor run for their money.

What advantage there was lay slightly in Attell's favor at the close of the final session, but it was solely a point advantage. Neither did damage enough to have harmed an infant, and, except for Attell's eye--which was damaged in his recent bout with Johnny Marto and from which Moran knocked the plaster in the ninth round--there was no sign of blood or injury.

Both were in the pink of condition when they entered the ring, Attell being the first to appear. It was announced that the featherweight champion had weighed in at 122 pounds an hour before, and that Moran tipped the scales at 129, although the Englishman said that 128 was the true figure. There was a long wrangle between the two men when they weighed in, and for a time it was doubtful whether the bout would go on. They did not, so far as hard hitting was concerned, carry their animosity into the ring with them.

ROUND 1--Each missed a left swing, and Moran followed up his failure to land with two more, turning himself completely around from the force of his blows, while Attell laughed at him from across the ring. They kept to long-range tactics.

ROUND 2--After much sparring Attell tried several right swings and missed with them all. Moran put a light left to the jaw. They clinched, and on the break Attell shot a left hook to the head. Thereupon they rushed into frequent clinches.

ROUND 3--Careful fiddling marked this round. Attell missed a left swing for the head, but landed a hard left to the neck. Moran jabbed Attell twice to the jaw, which made the smaller man a trifle wild in his attempted return. Attell missed twice with left and right swings, and then sent over a left hook that knocked Moran against the ropes.

ROUND 4--Following a period of long-range boxing, they rushed into a clinch. Attell sent a right hook to the body, and Moran put a short left on the jaw. Attell responded with a left swing to the stomach, and Moran jabbed in return. The Englishman ran right into a hard left hook to the stomach, but he kept on boring in and finally sent a left to the head and two rights to the neck.

ROUND 5--Attell started things with a left to the body, and then they stayed away from each other for a while. Moran landed a left jab on Attell's nose. He caught a hard left to the jaw in return. Moran's lip was scratched open by a light left jab, and Attell put two more to the mouth without return. Moran rushed and got a hard left to the face which made him clinch.

The crowd showed its disapproval of the encounter during the next four rounds, but managed to get some little satisfaction in the tenth, which went along about as follows:

Neither cut loose much at the bell. Attell got a left jab on the jaw and landed a similar blow on Moran's face. Attell let Moran rush past him wildly into the ropes, and then hit him lightly in the back of the head. As Moran turned around and rushed Attell, the latter slipped to the floor, and Moran went down with him. They exchanged light lefts when they arose, and then clinches. They were in a tight embrace at the bell.

Neil Regan, a clever Irish fighter who arrived but a fortnight ago, fought Nathan Erlich of Philadelphia in the eight-round semi-final, and lost the decision, although he was by far the more popular of the two. Elrich did considerable roughing and hitting when holding with one hand, and proved himself a rather unclean fighter.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

1909-03-23 Owen Moran W-PTS12 Harlem Tommy Murphy [Armory Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1909-03-24 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 9)
OWEN MORAN WINS THE DECISION OVER MURPHY AT ARMORY
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Loser Cries Robbery, But the Verdict Was Honestly Earned by the Briton.
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Owen Moran was given the decision over Tommy Murphy at the Armory A. A. last night at the end of twelve rounds, and the Briton earned the decision handed out by Maffit Flaherty, although there was a minority of the members who disagreed with an award which seemed honest to those who followed the bout closely.

It was one of those contests which will cause discussion and may be a "rehash" of the two contests in New York between these two boys, where no decision was awarded on account of the law. But Moran was entitled to the decision awarded last night, as he did practically all of the forcing, and while Murphy landed many telling blows that caused his sympathizers to cheer lustily, the Briton had a lead which entitled him to the award.

Murphy was far from outclassed, but Moran forced the battle, and what brilliant work was done by Tommy was when he was on the retreat or forced to defend himself in rushes. Murphy showed flashes in several rounds but had a lead in but four rounds and might be credited with an even break in two others.

Murphy Cries Robbery.

After the contest Tommy claimed that he had been robbed, while Owen claimed that he won by a mile and said that the contest was easy. So there you are.

Murphy was the cleverer boxer, but Moran was the fighter and the puncher. Owen was cool and collected, while Tommy was nervous and "fidgety." Moran did the forcing and rushing, while Murphy resorted to clever footwork and made his best showing when the Englishman was looking for an opening.

There was ill feeling between the boxers throughout the contest and each availed himself of every opportunity to do damage and take advantage of every opening. It was a case of a determined, rugged fighter on the part of Moran and a marvelous boxer on behalf of Murphy. The fighter won against the boxer, although at times the scientific, clever Murphy clearly outpointed his more determined opponent, who was always willing to do the initiative in every round.

Clean, Scientific Contest.

It was a clean contest as far as the rules of boxing were concerned, and absolutely free from that which borders on brutality. There was not a knockdown through the entire contest, and beyond slight nose bleeds upon the part of Murphy, whose nasal organ has always been sensitive, there has seldom been a more scientific exhibition in this city.

Owen Moran is more than a fighter and is a clever boxer. While he did not outpoint Murphy from a scientific standpoint last night he won the award at the end of the twelve rounds, and Maffitt Flaherty, who refereed the bout, because Tommy Murphy objected to Jack Sheehan as referee, could not have decided otherwise in justice to himself, the members of the Armory A. A., and the contestants.

Bob Lee a Rank Quitter.

In the opening preliminary between Danny Murray of Roxbury and Max Baker, who substituted for Young Duffy, who was injured in training, Baker was given the decision at the end of six rounds. It was a hard, rugged bout, but Baker justly earned the award.

In the second preliminary Jim Flynn of the West End, who objects to being called "Porky," made Bob Lee quit in half a round. Lee started to rush matters and made Flynn cover up for a few seconds, but when Jim landed two punches Lee, who comes from New Zealand, quit cold and Flynn is credited with a knockout in "jig time."

The semi-final between Tim Sullivan of Newburyport and Henry Hall, the colored A. A. U. champion of last year, was a wizard. Sullivan had all the best of the first four rounds and that gave him the decision, but Hall came back strongly in the two closing rounds. Sullivan's ear was in bad shape and caused him bother during the last two rounds, but he deserved the award.

The preliminaries to the Packey McFarland-Dave Deshler bout next Tuesday night will be as follows: Jim Reardon of Cambridge v Tom Foley of South Boston; Young Dyson of Providence v Max Baker of Boston; Young Nixon of Cambridge v Tommy Rawson of East Boston.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

1911-03-14 Packey McFarland ND10 Owen Moran (Bronx, NY, USA)

1911-03-15 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 10)
M'FARLAND ALL THE WAY
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AMERICAN FIGHTER EASILY OUTPOINTS OWEN MORAN.
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Remarkable Science of Chicagoan Bewilders British Boxer--Rushing and Slugging by Moran Easily Checkmated--Big Crowd at Fairmont A. C.

A great exhibition of scientific boxing enabled Packy McFarland of Chicago to score a signal victory over Owen Moran of England in a ten round bout at the Fairmont A. C. last night. A crowd that packed the building expected this result, but nobody looked for such a brilliant performance as that shown by the American.

McFarland's wonderful speed was chiefly responsible for his success. He was lightning in attack and defence. With an unerring left he jabbed Moran incessantly and scored the points so rapidly that Moran was at times bewildered. Dancing in and out with remarkable footwork the Chicago lightweight was so fast in landing blows and avoiding them that he was easily the master.

Moran had natural strength and a hard wallop in either hand, but McFarland's defence was so invincible that very few effective blows were driven home. When Moran found that he was outclassed in scientific boxing he tried rushing and slugging, but McFarland knew how to checkmate him at this style with beautiful skill.

McFarland had the better of every round but the first, which was even up. He kept cool under fire and boxed cleanly and fairly. He did not lose his temper and was the sportsman always. Moran was extremely good natured, laughing repeatedly when hit and made no excuses for his defeat.

The bout was purely one in which real science was displayed by both men and as the veteran Charlie White described it, "one of the classiest seen in New York in many years."

When the bout began McFarland, straight as a ramrod, sparred beautifully for a moment. He feinted with puzzling rapidity and then began shooting in light lefts to feel the Britisher out.

As the battle progressed and McFarland's confidence in himself increased he began to speed up to the top notch. Then it was that Moran discovered that he was opposed by one of the greatest boxers the ring has ever produced. McFarland was as quick as a flash. His hands shot in with great precision. If he didn't lead he was blocking or ducking away from heavy swings.

Up to the third round the men were extremely cautious and very few hard blows reached their destination. But in the third round McFarland put in so many clean cut punches that it was then evident that he had taken Moran's measure. Moran rallied in the fourth round and tried to mix it at close quarters. McFarland was equal to this emergency and showed that he knew as much about this kind of fighting as at long range. The fifth round bristled with fast boxing, but there was such a lack of heavy hitting that the crowd showed some displeasure.

In the sixth round McFarland's speed was greater than ever. He forced the issue so persistently that Moran was driven into the ropes, where he fell from the force of a push, not a punch. McFarland had the Englishman beating a retreat under rapid fire tactics in the seventh round, and for a moment it looked as if something serious might happen.

After that great boxing by McFarland carried him further to the front and he won in a blaze of glory. "McFarland was too heavy for me," said Moran after he had dressed. "He was also too quick; I didn't have my usual speed, though I felt good. Packy isn't a hard hitter but I'll admit he is a very clever boxer. I will box him again at 133 pounds at 8 P. M. and I'll bet $5,000 of my own money against $1,000 of his that I can beat him. I want a longer battle, however."

"I had no trouble at all," said McFarland, who was all smiles. "He didn't hit me more than half a dozen times in the whole affair. I was satisfied to outpoint him, for I simply wanted to show my superiority as a boxer. I ate three square meals to-day and yet I only weighed 134 at scaling time. I don't believe I was more than seven pounds heavier than Moran, who is a clever fellow and a dangerous puncher if he can land. But as he couldn't land, why, he lost."

It was estimated that the reservations paid by members reached the $15,000 mark. The boxers received separate sums for their services but the figures were not made public. It was a satisfactory contest in every particular and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

McFarland and Moran went to a Russian bath in 125th street at 5 o'clock to weigh in at 135 pounds. McFarland stripped to the buff and did not move the beam when he hopped on the scales. He said he actually weighed 134 pounds. As Moran prepared to weigh Packy smilingly pushed him from the machine.

"You needn't weigh, Owen," said the Chicago boxer, "I know you are well under the limit."

"All right, my boy," responded the little Englishman, putting on his clothes, "I'm much obliged." Moran declared that he didn't carry an ounce more than 129 pounds. The men had dinner at different restaurants and then went to nearby hotels to take naps. McFarland told his friends that he had sprained a tendon in his right ankle several days ago, but that the hurt was not serious and would not interfere with his work. It was closely figured that when the boxers climbed into the ring McFarland would have about eight pounds on Moran, considered a pronounced advantage. Packy was a strong favorite.

The clubhouse in East 137th street neat Third avenue was the gathering place for a big crowd even before the doors were opened. Hundreds of these boxing fans had no idea of trying to get into the building, but they wanted to see the fun. Taxis, autos, carriages and hansoms brought the members to the doors in bunches. The club officials had gray coated policemen on guard and nobody was admitted without a membership ticket.

Inside the building the seats were soon occupied until more than 2,500 members were ready for the fun. Among them were many well known men, including William Travers Jerome, James Mahoney, William S. Devery, Eugene McGuire, Bob Vernon, P. J. Dwyer, J. G. Follansbee, George Considine, Fred Houseman, Tom Sharkey, Dave Johnson, John A. Drake, A. B. Hudson, Anthony Drexel Biddle, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Kid McCoy, Tom O'Rourke, Patsey Haley, Jesse McMahon, Ed. McMahon, James Rowe, Willie Shaw, Alderman Brown, Arthur McLean, Alderman C. Smith, Deputy Superintendent of Buildings Halberstand, James Clancy, William Brennan, James Kenny, James Meehan, Jr., James Meehan, Sr., Frederick Humphries, Commissioner Henry Brittner, Assemblyman J. Silverman, former Sheriff Tom Foley, Eddie Curry, Alderman Johnny White, Markie Mayer, William Smith, Honest John Kelly, Max Blumenthal, Bob Rose, Henry Tobin, Sim Walton, Algernon Daingerfield, Joe Vendig, Harlem Tommy Murphy, Tom Costigan, John Walters, Frank Moore, Dick Lee, John J. Murphy, Willie Shea, Edward Barrow, Harry Shafer, One Round Hogan, Dan Tone, Pal Moore, James DeForest, Emil Thiery, TOm Messenger, Joe Norton, Paul Armstrong, Wilson Mizner, Sam Brenner, Abe Attell, Joseph Hughes, Harry Pollok, Lester Doctor, Harry Von Tilzer, Nat Goodwin, George F. Johnson, Ed. Downey, Robert Davis, Sam Lewis, Roach Lewis, Jack Cooper, Dan O'Rourke, W. J. Connor, Gus Rogers, John H. O'Brien, Frank O'Brien, Edgar Murphy, Warren Barbour, Charley White, Ben Coffey, Eddie Foy, Dan O'Reilly, Jakey Josephs, Morris Rose, Michael C. Padden and George Rauchell.

Just before McFarland and Moran appeared One Round Hogan, Frank Klaus, Tommy Maloney, Johnny Marto, Joe Coster and other fistic celebrities were introduced. Then came the star lightweights and the crowd received them with enthusiasm.

McFarland's seconds were his brother Johnny, Young Corbett, Bob Cannon and Emil Thiery. Moran was handled by C. J. Harvey, Jeff Berry, Jimmy Johnston and Fred Sears. The referee was William Joh.

When they stripped for action it was seen that McFarland was a bit taller, with a longer reach. He seemed to be trained very fine. Moran was sturdier in build and, although lighter, he appeared to have plenty of raggedness. They shook hands at 10:30 o'clock.

First Round--They sparred a moment until McFarland moved in with a light left, Moran smothered it. McFarland led again with the same result. As Packy continued to force it, Moran countered on the ribs. McFarland put a slight left on the throat and in a quick mix Moran hooked the right to the ear. They came to close quarters, each punching the body. Then McFarland tried left leads until he found an opening for an uppercut. Moran mixed it to a clinch and on the break they stood off and sparred to the bell, with honors even and no harm done.

Second Round--McFarland quickly put in lefts to the nose and mouth, dancing away from a hard counter. He cut out the pace with more jabs until Moran clinched. Then Moran rushed with a double swing, Packy backing to the ropes. They exchanged swings on the head and McFarland put hot shot into the stomach. Moran clinched and McFarland used a free hand. Packy was so fast in his attack that the Briton received several swift jabs in the face. Then Moran began to cut loose, but he found that McFarland had a superb defence. It was pretty work with the round in McFarland's favor.

Third Round--McFarland put a sharp left on the ear and bored in to a clinch. Moran rushed, but the Chicago man ducked and clinched with great skill. At short range they both used body blows and then at long range Moran missed a right uppercut for the jaw. McFarland cut out an even faster pace, jabbing with the left and hooking the right into the body. Moran stood up and countered stiffly, but McFarland continued to do the leading. Moran missed more short jolts and getting into a clinch they roughed it a trifle. They were sparring at the gong, the round being just a shade in Packey's favor on work and blows landed.

Fourth Round--Moran put a solid left on the eye as McFarland came in with the usual jabbing tactics. McFarland paid some attention to the ribs and Moran countered hotly on the mouth. Moran stood close then and swung left and right to the body and jaw, but the blows were glancing and did no harm. McFarland forced the scrap until Moran dashed in with a left in the ribs. They exchanged swings and also landed hard wallops in the body. McFarland put the right over to the jaw a moment before time was up, but the Briton only laughed. The round was McFarland's by a shade.

Fifth Round--Moran rushed in with a left in the stomach. Packy backed away to the ropes. Moran stood close for a mix, McFarland jolting him on the jaw with a quick left. McFarland put in swift bodyblows, Moran countering heavily on the neck and wrestling in a clinch that followed. McFarland landed a left over the eye and rushed Moran to a corner, where the Briton cut loose with a heavy swing on the ear. They mixed it to a clinch, after which McFarland met a wild rush with a belt on the neck. Moran mixed it again, but McFarland outpointed him. So far the blows of both men lacked steam and some of the members hissed. The round was McFarland's.

Sixth Round--Moran jumped in with a hard left on the mouth. McFarland responded with a quick volley of jabs until the men were locked. Packy put a stiff left on the chin and when he rushed in to follow it up Moran ducked and sprinted away. McFarland kept after him, however, and never let up in his jabbing tactics until Moran suddenly jarred him with a right on the neck. Then Packy blocked a moment, after which they mixed it and both landed solid blows on the head. Moran was driven to the ropes, where he fell, but he jumped back into the ring and ran into a hard mix just as the bell rang. McFarland's round on points.

Seventh Round--Moran ran full tilt across the ring and put a left on the neck. McFarland mixed it and with a right hook on the chin he made Moran clinched. McFarland was chain lightning in his attack and Moran was forced to counter for a moment. Then Moran rushed wildly and both landed long swings on the neck. Moran's mouth was bleeding, but he wore a smile and met another advance with a solid right hand punch on the jaw. Packy came right in, however, with the inevitable left, also driving in the right to the jaw with such force that Moran went into the ropes. McFarland's round and the crowd in an uproar.

Eighth Round--Moran rushed, as usual, but he received a sharp left in the mouth. Packy stood up and outboxed his man for a moment until Moran bored in desperately. McFarland then put in three quick lefts that rocked Moran's head and made the crowd laugh. Packy's left was a beauty and Moran could not block it. McFarland also used a right hook with some effect until Moran rushed like a bulldog into a clinch. McFarland received a hard punch on the ribs but he paid no attention to it and proceeded to outpoint the Britisher to the gong. McFarland's round.

Ninth Round--McFarland walked into a clinch and on the break Moran landed a hook on the neck. Moran also swung left and right but did no harm because of Packy's great blocking. McFarland then stood up and shot lefts into the Briton's face. Moran finally countered in the stomach. In a half clinch Moran tried a jumping hook, but it was smothered and McFarland then feinted his man into knots. Packy's left went squarely to the mouth and Moran mixing it drove him to the ropes. Moran tried a left shift and missed the head by a foot just as the round ended. McFarland's round on points.

Tenth Round--Moran blocked a couple of lefts and then began to swing for all he was worth. His blows did not land, as Packey slipped away, but McFarland quickly came back with left and right on the head. Packey also cut loose with another volley of punches, all of which reached Moran's head. In a hot mix Moran pounded the ribs, but McFarland started another attack that made Moran duck and clinch. McFarland met a rush with a great right in the stomach and before the round ended he caught Moran on the jaw with a right swing. It was McFarland's round and he won easily on points.

A partial knockout ended the first preliminary in the second round. The principals were Artie Edwards and Mickey Finnegan, featherweights, who came on for four rounds. Finnegan had received some hard punches when he suddenly let fly a long hard righthander that landed flush on the jaw and put Edwards out of it.

Walter McGirr and Jimmy Smith, welterweights, came next in a heavy hitting bout scheduled to go four rounds. Referee Jon stopped proceedings at the end of the third round after McGirr had been floored.

Another bout of four rounds brought together Kid Fisher and Jimmy Dempsey, lightweights. The latter was overmatched and in the second round, when he was receiving hot shot from Fisher, the referee interfered.

Light heavyweights, Bobby Handy and Billy Howard, followed in a mix arranged to go six rounds. A sledgehammer left squarely on the nose made Handy sit down, blinking and gasping, in the first round, and as he had no further chance the referee waved him out of the ring amid roars of laughter.

Willie Green and Kid Alberts then clashed for six rounds at light weights. These men possessed some real cleverness, and they boxed so evenly for three rounds that the crowd enjoyed it immensely. In the fourth round they slowed down, both tiring, but Green doing the more effective work with blows in the body. Alberts tried to force matters in the fifth, but his blows had little steam and Green had the better of it. The pace was so slow that some of the members whistled waltz music, while others cried "Take 'em off!" They fought fast and furiously in the last round. Alberts landed several jarring blows on the neck and jaw, while Green kept on driving in wallops to the breadbasket. On the whole the bout looked like a draw and the fickle crowd applauded as the men went away.

Babe Davis and Young Roach were introduced for a four round exhibition. They were strong looking feathers and proceeded to mix it strenuously. Both were staggered by smashes on the jaw before the first round was a minute old. They slugged without a breathing spell in the second round until Davis began to cover up on the defensive. Davis rallied in the third and soon had Roach's nose bleeding. Davis poured in all kinds of blows then and finally knocked Roach down with a hook on the jaw. The latter wanted to continue, but the referee said "Enough!"