1910-05-02 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien ND10 Mike Schreck [Navarre Athletic Club, Lexington Opera House, Lexington, KY, USA]

1910-05-03 The Lexington Herald (Lexington, KY) (page 5)

O'BRIEN OUTPOINTS SCHRECK IN FAST GO
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Cincinnati Man Appears In Poor Condition for His Skillful Opponent
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NO DECISION IS GIVEN
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Tony Ross and Al Kaufman Send Challenges By Wire to Winner
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Weighing 167 pounds to 195 for his opponent, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien clearly out-pointed Mike Schreck Monday night in a ten round exhibition before the Navarre Athletic Club at the Lexington Opera House. O'Brien was in the pink of condition, while Schreck was clearly overweight, although in a speech after the contest he declared that he had taken off fifteen pounds since learning of the fight a few weeks ago.

O'Brien gave Schreck credit for a hard, game effort, but winked as he said he was not hurt. Schreck left the house with a bad eye and a somewhat cut face, but was not seriously the worse for wear. O'Brien was not scratched, apparently, as he was much the cleverer of the two and with the advantage in reach was usually away when Schreck's fierce uppercuts got under way.

No Decision Given.

Referee E. R. Sweetland gave no decision, but there was not at any time after the second round any doubt about the superiority of O'Brien. Schreck was attended in his corner by Harry Wuest, Charlie Muller, Toney West and Charlie Wobst. O'Brien had Jack Hagan, Barney Furey and Boxer Sullivan in his corner.

The main exhibition of the evening was a "break clean" affair and there was little playing for time. Challenges were read for the winner from Tony Ross and Al Kaufman.

First Preliminary a Joke.

The first preliminary was a four-round joke between two colored boys, Henry Smith of Richmond, Ind., and Whitney Johnson of Lexington. The men walked around the ring and occasionally slapped each other. Only the wild swings that missed and the taps on the black backs were exciting enough to be interesting.

The second event, between Andy Bezenah of Cincinnati and Charlie Wobst of Covington, was as good as the main show. The men were permitted to hit with one arm free and they were doing business all the time. When the men weighed in at 3 o'clock Bezenah tipped 133 pounds, three pounds heavier than Wobst, and he looked much the stronger.

Wobst Game Throughout.

But the boy from Covington was game to the core and came back hard in every round. He had more ability and the go was a popular draw. Bezenah continued to use his right hand and let openings for his left go by. After the go it was announced that in the first round he had broken his left arm just above the wrist and it was immediately set by two physicians. He never winced during the contest.

William Stanford of Lexington and Jack Hagan of Philadelphia sent in challenges before the go and appeared for introduction, as did the two men who will appear before the Stag Athletic Club Wednesday night.

The Schreck-O'Brien contest by rounds was as follows:

The Fight By Rounds

Round one.--After two clinches O'Brien straightened left to the jaw and sent right to stomach. O'Brien swung left and right to face. Schreck exchanged wallops with O'Brien to face, and jabbed right to face. O'Brien whipped left to stomach. Both swung rights to face. O'Brien sent left to face and immediately followed with right. O'Brien swung left to stomach. O'Brien had best of round.

Round two.--After an exchange of lefts to face O'Brien jammed right to mouth. Exchange of rights to jaw. Exchange of lefts to stomach. O'Brien landed with right on jaw and Schreck countered to chin, following with left to jaw. O'Brien swung right twice to jaw and followed with two left jabs to eye. Schreck swung uppercut to stomach and missed two swings for face. Schreck missed right swing for face and landed left on jaw. O'Brien jabbed left to mouth and exchanged blows to stomach. O'Brien sent left to mouth. Schreck missed left and right swings for face. Schreck left uppercut to kidneys. Round even.

Round three.--Schreck whipped right to stomach and exchanged jabs to stomach. O'Brien hammered jaw with left and sent right and left to mouth. O'Brien sent left to eye and right to mouth. Schreck swung on jaw. Schreck missed left swing to jaw. O'Brien jammed right to stomach following with right to chin and right to jaw. Schreck jabbed left to jaw. O'Brien missed two rights for face. O'Brien slammed right to jaw. O'Brien missed two swings and landed left on face as gong sounded. O'Brien's round.

Round four.--Schreck missed right uppercut and whipped left to face. Schreck landed right and left on jaw. O'Brien missed right swing to face but followed with right to jaw and right on heart. After exchange to stomach Schreck landed right on eye. Schreck whipped uppercut to jaw and right uppercut to stomach. Fast infighting gave Schreck the best of it. O'Brien sent right hard to heart and Schreck countered with left to jaw, lightly. Round was even.

Round five.--O'Brien sent right to jaw and both missed hard swings with left and right for face. Schreck swung left to jaw and was countered with right to heart. O'Brien sent right to jaw and Schreck missed two right uppercuts. O'Brien swung four times with left and right to face. O'Brien jabbed left to face. Schreck sent left to face and after an exchange to jaw received right in eye. Both swung wildly. Round was O'Brien's.

Round six.--Schreck sent right to heart and left to face, then two rights to heart. O'Brien whipped right to eye and right to heart. Schreck's left eye nearly shut. O'Brien sent three left jabs to eye. Schreck swung left to face. O'Brien brought blood with right to nose. O'Brien crashed right to eye and received jab on stomach. O'Brien jabbed right into eye and missed left swing. O'Brien sent right and left to eye continually as gong sounded. O'Brien's round.

Round seven.--O'Brien uppercuts to chin. Schreck led left and right to face and exchanged jabs to jaw. Schreck whipped left to side and got hard left on eye. O'Brien landed on heart and chest and face with rights and lefts, then hammered side with left. Schreck sent stiff left to stomach. O'Brien's round.

Round eight.--O'Brien uppercut right to chin. Schreck countered to heart. O'Brien sent right to stomach and eye. Schreck hit to stomach with left and missed hard swing for face. O'Brien swung right on ear. Schreck whipped left and right and left to kidneys. O'Brien missed right swing and sent right to eye twice. Schreck jabbed left to stomach and was staggered with right on ear. O'Brien's round.

Round nine.--Schreck missed two swings for kidneys and received left on chin. Schreck gave right on kidneys for two on eye. O'Brien slammed right to mouth and left to nose, getting right on stomach. O'Brien staggered Schreck with wallop to chest that made the Dutchman grunt. Schreck exchanged right uppercut to stomach for right jab to eye. O'Brien sent right and left and right to eye. O'Brien kept hammering on eye and received right on back. O'Brien whipped left to eye and got right on face. O'Brien's round.

Round ten.--Both men fast. Schreck right to jaw. O'Brien left to face. Schreck left to jaw and O'Brien cautious. O'Brien right to chin. O'Brien left to eye. Schreck missed two swings. O'Brien missed swing and sent right to jaw. O'Brien exchanged right to mouth for right uppercut to stomach. Schreck missed with wild swing and clinched, working for time. O'Brien sent three rights and a left to jaw, then whipped right to eye. Schreck held to keep from staggering. O'Brien tired but forced the fighting. O'Brien two rights to jaw. Gong. O'Brien's round.

1903-04-20 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien D-PTS10 Joe Walcott [Health and Physical Culture Athletic Club, Grand Dime Theatre, Boston, MA, USA]

1903-04-21 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 13)

BOXERS HISSED.
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O'Brien-Walcott Bout Angers Spectators.
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Club Members Throw Their Cards Into the Ring.
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Choice of Officials Also Unsatisfactory.
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Joe Walcott and Philadelphia Jack O'Brien went 10 rounds to a draw at the Health and Physical Culture club last night.

There were about 2000 spectators present, and they were evidently of the opinion that the bout had a queer look. So disgruntled were some of the members that while the bout was in progress they hissed and threw their membership cards into the ring. The members were not only disgruntled over the contest, but they were also sore that the club officials engaged a Philadelphia man, pitcher Rube Waddell, for referee, and had a Philadelphia man as ticket taker.

From the outset the spectators were of the mind that Walcott was not out to win, and he verified that suspicion after the contest when he declared that he would not get anything if he had defeated O'Brien.

The latter was shifty on his feet and jabbed Walcott repeatedly. The colored boxer did let loose once or twice and sent some rights on O'Brien's body and jaw, but they were so weak that they made no impression on the Philadelphia boxer.

In the opening preliminary contest John Butler of Lynn got the award over W. Johnson in 8 rounds. Johnny Sheehan and W. O'Brien went six fast rounds and Sheehan was given the award. Harry Snelling of Quebec scored a decisive victory over Tim Harrington in two rounds.


1903-04-21 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 9)

Joe Walcott and Jack O'Brien Boxed Ten Tame Rounds Without a Decision
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Big Crowd at Culture Club Cried "Fake" at Negro and Philadelphian--Walcott Said He Could Have Knocked Out O'Brien Had He Desired, But There Was An Agreement.
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"Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien and Joe Walcott boxed ten rounds at the meeting of the Health and Physical Culture Club at the old Grand Dime Theatre last evening. "Rube" Waddell, the Athletics' pitcher, was referee. Before the bout started he announced that if both men were on their feet at the end of the tenth round there would be no decision. They both went the limit, with cries of "fake" heard as it progressed.

After the bout Walcott, in his dressing room, said that he could have knocked out O'Brien any time he desired, but that by agreement entered into he could not do it. O'Brien made no pretence about contesting with the colored demon, but was content with staying through the exhibition. He showed leads for the nose with a left, coming in on the lead clinching. The referee called "Break" as soon as one man hugged or clinched, even though the other man was free. As O'Brien persisted in hugging, holding or clinching at every opportunity, Walcott had no chance to do any effective punching at short range, had he desired.

O'Brien gave a beautiful exhibition of foot work and ran around the ring as fast as a champion sprinter could. Several times he deliberately turned his back to the colored boy and fled from his attacks. There was a large crowd present, and in the eighth round more than a dozen membership cards were hurled deliberately into the ring while the men were boxing. A cry went up from the gallery and pit calling on everyone to leave the building.

Many were disgusted with the exhibition and left before the tenth round.

O'Brien jabbed Walcott on the nose, using his left in the attack, but did not injure the negro, although he made him snuffle a bit. His jabs were delivered without steam or viciousness. After the men shaped up, O'Brien assumed the aggressive, shooting out the left for the head.

Between several of these leads Walcott essayed to reach the Philadelphian, but Jack went to a clinch and stalled him.

In the second round the negro was on the offensive, but outside of a few punches he was cautious not to have his hand clenched. O'Brien beat a retreat whenever he could without appearing too ridiculous.

Preceding the main bout there were three rattling good preliminaries. John E. Butler of Lynn defeated John Johnson in the eighth round. Frend Snelling, the Canadian champion, defeated Tim Harrington of South Boston and Johnny Sheehan of South Boston won from Billy O'Brien, also of South Boston.


1903-04-21 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)

RUBE WADDELL REFEREES O'BRIEN-WALCOTT FIGHT
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Boston, April 21.--Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, the scrapper of high aspirations, lost his prestige in Boston last evening, when he boxed 10 rounds with Joe Walcott to a draw, according to previous agreement. The playful way in which the two men boxed was roundly hissed by 2,000 spectators at the Health and Physical Culture Club last evening.

Not once during the 10 rounds did either man hit the other hard enough to have moved a hair or whisked away a fly. There was much swinging of arms and dancing, but little else. At the very outset it was plain to see that neither man was in earnest. When the pair clinched they killed time by waiting for the referee to go between them. That official was "Rube" Waddell, of the Philadelphia American League ball team, who grew a little rough, or was perhaps too hasty, in his breaking, which aroused Walcott's anger.

The result was Waddell did not attempt to break the pair after the fifth round. Every time they clinched, on the order to break, Walcott dropped his arms and backed away. O'Brien was taking no chances of a cross, however, and carefully kept his hands on Walcott's arms until the latter backed out of reach. So it was through the 10 rounds. The renowned left on the alleged clever O'Brien was not on view last evening.

Several times during the mill O'Brien left himself open. Once when he was completely uncovered Walcott started a vicious right swing for the jaw, but cleverly stopped it. O'Brien hit with wide open hands, but the greater part of his work consisted of pushing and hugging. The spectators showed their disgust by throwing their membership tickets into the ring. Many of them left before the bout was half over.

Yesterday afternoon O'Brien's manager was at the club and had the ring enlarged a foot and a half. Then, too, there was fussing about gloves. At the end of the bout Walcott was as fresh as when he entered the ring, and on the way out remarked that he could have put O'Brien out any time he wanted to. O'Brien was tired on account of his dancing about the ring, and plainly showed that he had done little or no training.

Three good preliminaries took place. Jack Johnson of Cambridge was put away by John E. Butler of Lynn after eight rounds of hard, fast work. Harry Snelling of Canada did the same thing to Tim Harrington of South Boston in the second round of their contest. Harrington had a hard bout in the afternoon and was too tired to withstand Snelling's hard rights. In the final preliminary Johnnie Sheehan of South Boston won in six rounds from Tommy O'Brien.


1903-04-21 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 10)

BOSTON CROWD HOOTED BOXERS.
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O'Brien and Walcott Fought Ten Rounds--Decision a Draw, in Keeping with an Agreement Made Before the Contest.
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(Special to The Evening World.)

BOSTON, April 21.--"Philadelphia Jack" O'Brien and Joe Walcott fought ten rounds to a draw before the Health and Physical Culture Club last night. The decision was in keeping with an agreement that if both men were on their feet at the finish such a verdict would be made. The crowd was much displeased and shouted its derision when leaving the building.

The bout, as originally arranged, was to have been fifteen rounds, but just before the men entered the ring it was decided to cut it to ten rounds, and O'Brien would not fight unless the decision would be a draw if both men were on their feet at the end.

"Rube" Waddell, the Athletics' pitcher, was referee, but his task was comparatively easy because of the agreement between the men. O'Brien had a slight advantage throughout. The negro was handicapped in height and reach, and when pressed hard by O'Brien resorted to clinching.

In the preliminary bouts John Butler knocked out John Johnson in the eighth round, and Harry Snelling beat Tim Harrington in two rounds.

1903-03-30 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien ND6 Joe Choynski [Washington Sporting Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1903-03-31 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 5)

O'BRIEN WINS ON POINTS.
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His Blows Lack Force, and He Fails to Knock Out Choynski in a Six-Round Bout.

PHILADELPHIA, March 30.--"Jack" O'Brien of this city tonight outpointed Joe Choynski in a six-round bout at the Washington sporting club. Choynski was not match for O'Brien, whose failure to score a knockout was due to the lack of force behind his blows.

Choynski started well, but appeared to lose heart under O'Brien's unceasing rain of left-hand jabs. From the second until the last round Choynski's only object seemed to be to stay the limit.

The third and fourth rounds were particularly tame and the referee warned the men. In the sixth O'Brien was more aggressive and subjected his opponent to a severe drubbing, but his jabs and punches lacked the power to put Choynski to sleep.


1903-03-31 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 10)

JACK O'BRIEN'S JABS BEWILDERED CHOYNSKI
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Majority of Spectators at Bout in Philadelphia Thought Quaker Had Better of It.
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(Special to the Evening World.)

PHILADELPHIA, March 31.--Jack O'Brien added another leaf to his laurels last night when he defeated Joe Choynski in six rounds. The bout was far from satisfactory to the majority of the spectators because the men resorted to clever boxing. The referee warned the men in the fifth to box harder. The warning was not thrown away, as the men let out a few wraps and showed what was possible.

In the first two rounds there was little to be desired. The two men were on their best behavior. Choynski eased up in the third and took matters easily, either from self-inclination or inability to land on the elusive Philadelphian. O'Brien followed suit, but it was less noticeable than in his opponent. The fourth was a repetition of the third and the crowd began to hiss.

In the fifth round the men were cautioned and soon made the fur fly again. The sixth and last round was a hummer. Many of those present thought the men were faking because they were not covered with blood.

O'Brien and Choynski are boxers, part excellence, and not fighters of the stamp of Maher, Marvin Hart and "Kid" Carter. The Philadelphian is one of the quickest and cleverest two-handed fighters in the business, and ordinarily clever men appear slow beside him. Choynski is clever also, but the continual passage of O'Brien's gloved hands in front of his face somewhat nonplussed him.

Whether O'Brien's fast work made him appear slow, or whether despairing of reaching O'Brien's vital spot he eased up, is best known to himself, but it is a long time since Joe made such a poor exhibition. He seemed afraid to lead and his nimble opponent was on top of him all the time. Once or twice he made O'Brien wince with the effect of blows on the face and over the heart, but at no time did a knockout appear imminent. O'Brien from the start resorted to his mode of attack, jabbing with his left and trying to cross with his right. Time and again he got home on Choynski's brow and face, but the blows lacked steam. He did most of the leading and seldom failed to land.

Joe was some time sizing his man up, and just before the end of the first round caught O'Brien a vicious jolt under the eye which raised a "mouse." The second was a repetition of the first. O'Brien worked his left repeatedly in Choynski's face without a return. He varied this with an occasional swing. Choynski opened the third round with a stiff punch over the heart, but Jack got back on Joe's nose six times in succession. He had Choynski on the ropes at the end of the round.

There was no boxing in the last round. Choynski showed to better advantage than in any of the previous rounds. He caught Jack a stinging blow in the face which straightened up the Quaker. He then visited Jack's ribs two or three times. O'Brien got home several stiff heart blows when Joe set the blood flowing again from the cut over O'Brien's optic. O'Brien wound up the bout by several nasty jabs in Choynski's face. The bout was all O'Brien's.

Willie Mack, the clever light-weight boxer of Brooklyn, easily bested Otto Knapp, the Cleveland welter-weight, in the semi-wind up. The men engaged in a six-round bout, and, although Knapp had every advantage over Mack, the latter outpointed him throughout the contest. Mack used a straight left continually into Knapp's face and raised a lump over his eye. He also dazed the Clevelander several times.

Mack came near finishing Knapp with a few left hooks on the jaw, but the bell sounded in time to prevent such a proceeding. Mack's showing was so good that he has been promised a match with one of the best men in the Quaker City.


1903-03-31 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 10)

CHOYNSKI DID NOT TRY WITH O'BRIEN
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Failing to Take Advantage of Opportunities Offered, He Is Jeered by Crowd
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Referee Warns Him Towards End of Fifth Round and He Extends Himself in First Part of Sixth
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There is every reason to believe that another barney was foisted upon the public at the Washington Sporting Club last night, and there is not the slightest reason for believing that either the club or Jack O'Brien stood in the play. The plain, bald fact is that Joe Choynski did not try a yard except when it was really necessary to lend to the farce the glamor of realism.

An explanation from Mr. Choynski is in order.

There was some pretty work in the first two rounds--pretty work, but not convincing, although at that a large-sized mouse was started over O'Brien's eye.

In the second round O'Brien's jabbing was beautiful to look upon, but none of the jabs seemed to have the slightest effect upon Joseph. There was some clever ducking. Vicious swings wasted themselves upon the thin air, and many hard punches landed on the hard--the very hard--part of Jack's anatomy, but there was not a minute when he was in any serious danger.

At the start of the fifth round there was a series of mixes, jabs, ducking, feinting and holding. Then the house started up a chorus "Fake, fake, fake." Referee Rocap toward the close of the round put a temporary stop to the proceedings, and gave Choynski to understand that he must spiel, or there would be nothing doing at the box office after the bout. A lively exchange followed and the bell sounded.

In the third round Choynski started to rush things, and some of the more enthusiastic spectators began yelling "Save a piece for Fitzsimmons, Joe." This was entirely superfluous. Choynski himself was evidently willing to leave everything for Fitzsimmons. Opening after opening was permitted to escape, and finally in the middle of the fourth round, when it became so flagrantly apparent that there was nothing doing so far as Joseph was concerned, the spectators began yelling "Take them off." And yet in this round Joe landed the hardest punch in the bout--a right on the side of the face that seemed to jar O'Brien.

Choynski was evidently stirred up by the referee's admonition, for he started in like the really good fighter that he is in the sixth, and there was plenty of action for a while; but it was only for a while. He soon let down, and there was a repetition of the rounds that preceded the last.


1903-03-31 The Washington Times (Washington, DC) (page 5)

THE O'BRIEN-CHOYNSKI BOUT SAVORED OF A FAKE
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Audience Hissed the Forbearance Displayed.
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PHILADELPHIA, March 31.--From a spectator's point of view the bout last night between Jack O'Brien and Joe Choynski had a very bad look. The men were engaged to fight six rounds, at the Washington Sporting Club, and a big crowd turned out despite the storm. There's no question as to the sincerity of the principals until the beginning of the fourth round, when Choynski let slip by many chances that, had he tried, he could have done considerable damage to Jack. But on the contrary, he invariably drew his arm back when the blows was already on its way.

The crowd was quick to see that something was wrong, and hissed Choynski time and again for not following up his leads. The fifth round was worse than the preceding round. Choynski did not even try to land on Jack. On the other hand, O'Brien jabbed, uppercut, and hooked as he pleased, but his blows were rather weak. The referee at this stage of the proceedings stopped the men long enough to caution them. O'Brien said that he was doing his best. Evidently he was, as he hit Choynski three to one and clearly outpointed him at every stage, and he could have no reason to enter into an agreement with the Chicago man, having bested Choynski in Chicago some time ago.

After the referee cautioned the men Choynski let out a few links and went after O'Brien right and left, but Jack danced nimbly out of harm's way, and hooked his left to the face when the bell rang. They came out of their corners for the sixth and cut out a terrific pace. O'Brien, as in the previous rounds, was much the quicker and landed oftener than Choynski, but his blows lacked the necessary steam to do much damage. Again in this round Choynski, after his spurt, let up, and it looked as though he was not trying to fight. The crowd again started hissing and yelling to stop the bout, and kept up this sort of thing until the gong for the end of the sixth round sounded. Choynski paid no attention to the hissing, and only smiled. After the bout was over the spectators seemed to be glad of it, and gave vent to their feelings in very strong language.


1903-03-31 The World (New York, NY) (page 9)

O'BRIEN VICTORY TOO EASY FOR SPECTATORS.
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They "Roared" When He Tamely Defeated Choynski.

(Special to The World.)

PHILADELPHIA, March 30.--What was expected to be an interesting hard-fought ring battle at the Washington Sporting Club to-night between Jack O'Brien and Joe Choynski developed into a one-sided farce in which the former had all the better of the boxing.

O'Brien landed scores of times, but apparently was not anxious to put much steam behind his blows, while Choynski was contented to act as a punching-bag and seldom attempted a lead. From start to finish the bout had a very queer look, and at its conclusion a roar of disapproval went up from the big crowd present.

1902-03-10 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien ND6 Charles McKeever [Washington Athletic Club, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1902-03-11 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 6)

M'KEEVER NEARLY DROPS O'BRIEN
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Lands His Right Across in the First Round, Compelling Jack to Take the Count--Some Say More
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Philadelphia Jack O'Brien was given a surprise party at the Washington Sporting Club last night in his bout with Charley McKeever. The boys had hardly put up their hands when McKeever sent his right across and landed squarely on O'Brien's jaw. O'Brien fell backward, landing heavily on his head. He stayed down the limit. McKeever was so anxious to get at his man that it required all Referee Rocap's strength to keep him away. When O'Brien regained his pins he was visibly groggy, but he managed to avoid McKeever's rushes by going into a clinch. O'Brien was hanging on and McKeever was using both hands, but to little advantage. The boys were finally separated, but O'Brien's legs were unable to support his body and he again went to the floor. He gathered himself together after a few seconds had elapsed, and again managed to duck away from McKeever's swings, which were too wild to do any material damage. In fact, McKeever lost a good opportunity to win out by his anxiety. Instead of standing off and trying to place a punch that would have settled the bout decisively, he rushed in wildly and O'Brien had just enough sense left to go to a clinch. These clinches proved the salvation of O'Brien.

* * *

At the end of the round the house was in an uproar. McKeever's admirers claimed that their favorite had won; that O'Brien had stayed down the limit, and that but for the referee's efforts to separate the two combatants O'Brien would have been unable to keep his feet. That O'Brien was on the very edge of Queer street was manifest to his warmest supporter. He kept his head clear, but his pins refused to obey instructions. It was the very other way round with McKeever. Physically he was all right, but he did not have the mental balance to follow up the advantage which he had gained so unexpectedly. Both men disregarded the conditions under which they were supposed to be boxing in this round.

* * *

Taking the work of the two men from the second round on, and O'Brien had the better of it, but the difference was not so marked as to indicate that he would have a cinch with any good boxer with a better headpiece than that possessed by McKeever. When he came up for the second round he was visibly freshened by the minute's rest, and fought clever. He used a straight left to advantage on Mac's face, and every now and then shifted to a right on the wind. The jabs soon opened McKeever's eye, and the punches on the body soon made him lose his speed. Mac fought back as game as a pebble, and although he landed a telling punch now and then, he never got the opportunity which he had lost in the first round. McKeever's performance was a surprise all around. He never showed to better advantage and as said before had he retained his head after scoring his knock down in the first round he might have secured the verdict then and there.


1902-03-11 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 13)

O'BRIEN ALMOST OUT
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But Pulled Himself Together and Bested McKeever.
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SIX VERY FAST ROUNDS BOXED
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Packed House Cheered to the Echo One of the Best Contests Seen in This City of Late.
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Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, who is just home from abroad, bringing the middle and heavy-weight championships of England with him, came near losing all his titles to Charley McKeever, another clever Philadelphia boxer, at the Washington Sporting Club last evening. McKeever floored O'Brien with a right on the point of the jaw before the fight was 15 seconds old, and Jack barely pulled himself together in time to avoid being counted out. He was in a dazed condition when he did regain his feet, and staggered to the ropes, where he fell again, and by so doing avoided Charley's wild rush to finish the job that had been begun so well. O'Brien came to his feet again with McKeever right on top of him, with the glare of a madman in his eye. O'Brien clinched and hung on for dear life, and would not be forced off, even when Referee Rocap tried to break the men apart.

The three struggling athletes came to the ropes, and there strained and tugged, McKeever all the time doing his best to get in a telling blow. O'Brien went down again, as much from unsteadiness as the effect of blows, and then for the first time Referee Rocap had a chance to enforce the rules under which the men had agreed to fight--break clean at command and not hit in the breakaway.

O'Brien was coming around all right and the crowd, which packed the arena to its utmost capacity, shrieked in approval. But McKeever was hot after him and kept Jack hugging to avoid going the voyage. Again and again O'Brien eluded the well-intended punch and clasped Charley to his heart, holding tighter than he ever dared hold his best girl. McKeever tried to get in short-arm jolts and did land a lot of them, but none were in the right place, and soon O'Brien began to fight back. Then the house went wild with joy. It was a fight such as many had expected to see, but the wrong man was doing the hugging.

When the bell sounded ending the first round, McKeever was badly blown from his exertions, and O'Brien, while still weak and wobbly on his pins from the knock-down, was safe from such an ignominious defeat.

The one minute's rest brought both men out strong and determined--O'Brien to make up for his temporary setback, and McKeever to follow up the advantage he had obtained. McKeever was very aggressive, but O'Brien was fast and elusive. He cut Charley's eye with a glancing blow, and from that on the spectators saw plenty of blood. McKeever repeatedly bored in and tried to whip his right to O'Brien's jaw again, but he could never connect just right and the round ended even.

McKeever ran his mouth plump into one of O'Brien's straight left-hand jabs at the opening of the third round, and another blood fountain was tapped that kept flowing to the end. McKeever twice more missed O'Brien's jaw by only a hair, with steam enough behind the punch to have caused a knockout. Both men landed repeatedly, but the extreme cleverness of each made the blows go for nothing. In the fourth McKeever landed a couple of straight lefts in the face without return that made the people shout, but the round on the whole was even, like the third.

O'Brien began to come to the front with the fifth and fairly outpointed McKeever, and in the sixth O'Brien did still better with his opponent. But McKeever, although covered with blood, fought gamely--better than ever before in this city, and was doing his share of the work at the end.

O'Brien had the advantage of height, weight and reach, and just before the fight started responded to a bouquet of flowers, presented him by his admirers, by promising to "represent Philadelphia in the future as he had in the past."

It was the popular impression that O'Brien's overconfidence and desire to do a little fancy work at the outset came near costing him his reputation. Jack led once with his left, was short and then tried to repeat it, when he was crossed on the jaw. Ed. Denfass challenged the winner.

In the preliminary "Kid" Williams had rather the best of Charley Mulhall in six rounds of fast fighting. It was a very interesting bout. Mulhall's nose was made to bleed. "Kid" Love stopped Eddie Wallance in one round. Jack Lansing bested Charley Abromwitch, and Joe Kelly bested Cal McCarthy.

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
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(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
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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
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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
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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.

1904-05-14 Charles (Kid) McCoy ND6 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (Philadelphia, PA, USA)

1904-05-15 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 14)

M'COY AND O'BRIEN PUT UP A FAKE
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TWO PAST MASTERS OF THE FIGHTING GAME HAND OUT REAL COLD THING---FOR SIX ROUNDS THEY TRY TO ENTERTAIN A CROWD WITH THEIR CUTE STUNTS
----------

Kid McCoy and Jack O'Brien handed the public a raw fake at the Second Regiment Armory last night. In the afternoon the principals had a squabble over the referee. O'Brien said that he would have H. C. Crowhurst or no one would.

Mr. McCoy said nay, nay; that if there was to be anything doing, a New York man would have to referee. Mr. O'Brien got back just as stoutly that unless one of three gentlemen refereed--Wm. H. Rocap, Ernest H. Crowhurst or H. C. Crowhurst--he would not permit the doors of the armory to be opened, and that the purchasers of the tickets would be refunded their money.

That ought to hold you awhile, shouldn't it--particularly if you weren't on to the merry boxing game. Now, as a matter of fact, this was that much guff, given out for chump consumption.

That part of the spectacular demonstration being over, there was nothing to do but to await the arrival of the suckers at the armory. After the preliminaries had been disposed of a number of distinguished fistic lights introduced, and a thousand dollar bank roll appertaining to Hereford had been flashed, everything was in readiness for the barney. But the principals came not.

In order to carry out the fake which began at the Scott House in the afternoon, some one caused it to be bruited about that they were still clashing over the referee proposition.

Did anyone ever hear of a championship fight being pulled off without the referee being named until the very hour set for the contestants to appear in the ring?

The names of Billy Rocap and Lew Bailey were mentioned--that was done to carry out the idea that there was a real clash between the principals. Finally, however, Mr. Bert Crowhurst entered the ring, and the stars began the work of adjusting their gloves. Even here the farce was not stopped. O'Brien yelled over to Billy McCarney, "Watch him, Billy." Whether Jack thought Norman would surreptitiously slide a few horse shoes in his gloves was not revealed. Anyhow, it sounded well, and might have fooled a few farmers.

Then the referee announced the conditions under which the gents were to go through their stunts, coupled with the statement that he had been requested to take no notice of sponges or towels, or any other foreign article of commerce that might be injected into the ring.

The name of the gentleman who suggested this was not revealed, but there are good and substantial reasons for believing that his initials are "K. McC."

Then they were off to the rawest barney ever perpetrated in this town, barring the affair in which Peter Maher and Tom Sharkey were mixed up in at Industrial Hall. But as Peter and Thomas had a chance to go to jail had they resorted to strenuous tactics, they cane be let out personally.

There was a lively exhibition of footwork and there was a lovely exhibition of not trying to hit. There were clinches galore, and there was hugging galore. The punches that never landed would have worn out a cash register had there been any attempt to count them. There were lovely little conversations in the middle of the ring; there was, in fact, a little bit of everything except simon-pure, honest, on-the-level boxing. The spectators took things good-naturedly until the middle of the third round. Then they commenced a little good-natured peering. They knew what they were getting, but they did not want to really admit that they were kicking over it, although they couldn't honestly confess that they liked it.

Beginning with the fourth, however, they had to admit that their stomachs were rebelling, and from that on to the finish there was a continuous but dignified round of disapproval. As soon as the sixth round started, and there being no signs of improvement on the part of the stars, many of the spectators started for the door.

And another boxing barney had passed into history.

Under the conditions of the agreement made between Messrs. Le Cato and McCoy, the latter was to receive a guarantee of $2000, with the privilege of thirty-five per cent. of the receipts. Outside of the fact that he agreed to weigh not more than 158 pounds at three o'clock on the afternoon of the contest there were no other stipulations.

Just Before the Fight

In the preliminary bouts Kid Gilbert and Joe Smith opened the milling with a fairly fast go. Gilbert was too big for his opponent, and had all the better of the milling. In the other bout Fred McFadden and Fred Nanauch went the limit in six rather tame rounds.

There were the inevitable presentations. Jimmy Britt, who obtained a decision over Young Corbett, was the first to the effect that he had defeated Corbett on the level, and that if given the opportunity he would win so decisively that there would be no chance for two opinions. To make good what he said he declared that he would meet no one until after he had settled his difference with Corbett.

Then Eddie Hanlon was introduced as a young gentleman who was anxious to meet Corbett, McGovern or Britt. Then Mr. Schlichter, on behalf of Al Hereford, projected himself into prominence, swinging $1000 in real money to bind a match with Britt for the lightweight championship at 133 pounds, weigh in at the ringside. This brought forth the answer from Britt that he was a featherweight, not a lightweight. Al Hereford, who was in bad voice, observed that Britt had been perfectly willing to meet Gans in California under the same conditions.

Marvin Hart was introduced as a heavy weight willing to meet any one in his class. Genial Sam Harris, introduced by the equally genial Lew Bailey as "Sammy Harris," did not have much to say, but it was to the point. He was prepared to match Terry against Britt, Hanlon or Corbett under any conditions that either of those gents might suggest, and as an inducement to anyone of them who thought he had a cinch he (Harris) would bet anyone or all of them to a standstill on the result.