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

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

DIXON AND ROSEBUD

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Have a Hot Go at Philadelphia.

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER.

Philadelphia, June 21.--George Dixon and Walter Edgerton, better known as the "Kentucky Rosebud," boxed six rounds at the Arena to-night with honors fairly even. It was the first meeting between these two boxers since March 22, 1894, when "The Bud" knocked Dixon out in the second round of a contest held for the benefit of the bread fund at Industrial Hall. That was Dixon's first and only knockout, and repeated but unavailing efforts were made to bring the two men together again until this evening. Dixon forced the contest, but found "The Bud" a very hard man to get at. Again and again he seemed to have the little black fellow cornered, but he always got out.

Dixon used a straight left for the face with good effect, and also got in some good body blows with his right when at close quarters, for which he was unjustly hissed by the spectators.

Edgerton countered Dixon in the face several times with his left, and also led frequently with right-hand swing, the latter usually taking effect on the back of Dixon's neck or on his shoulder. In the last round, however. "The Bud" caught Dixon coming toward him and swung his right inside the champion's guard, missing the vital joint of his jaw by only the fraction of an inch.


1897-06-22 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 4)

THE BUD'S GOOD SHOWING

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Puts Up a First-Class Go With George Dixon at the Arena.

The Arena, at Broad and Cherry streets, was well crowded last night by a lot of enthusiasts who were eager to witness the six-round boxing contest between George Dixon, the little international feather-weight champion, and the "Kentucky Rosebud," of local note, who is credited with having knocked out Dixon at Industrial Hall in this city, several years ago. It was a case of "yellow jack" against "chocolate," and the sweets mixed to the spectators' satisfaction.

The boys devoted the first round to drawing each other out. The "Bud" cleverly ducked most of Dixon's leads, but made no attempt to counter. In the second the "Bud" landed the left twice on Dixon's neck, but they devoted most of the three minutes to harmless sparring and clinching. Dixon ran into the "Bud's" elbow several times during the third round, and found the latter a difficult mark to hit. They exchanged lefts on the neck and clinched and Dixon followed it with a left on the eye just as the round ended.

Dixon started to rush in the fourth and sent the left twice to the "Bud's" face and swung the same member on his stomach, bringing out a grunt. Then the "Bud" landed a right swing on Dixon's head, staggering George. The latter sent in a good straight left on the face, but both were shy. With round five the spectators wanted more action for their money, and Dixon pleased them by sending the "Bud's" head back twice, but he received a hard right on the ear for his pains. Several times Dixon hit in a clinch, for which he was hissed. He punched the "Bud" a hard left just as the gong sounded.

Dixon planted his left on the jaw at the opening of the sixth, but the "Bud's" evasive tactics were too much for him and the boxing was tame. After a good exchange of rights they resumed their circus act and the contest ended without applause.


1897-06-22 The Times (Philadelphia, PA) (page 4)

BOXING AT THE ARENA

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Dixon and the Rosebud Put Up Six Fairly Good Rounds.

George Dixon, the champion feather-weight pugilist of the world, did not annihilate Walter Egerton, better known as the Kentucky Rosebud, at the Arena last night. The champion did not even best the local man, who showed all his old-time cunning in getting away from the rushes of Little Chocolate. The bout was rather tame, judged from a Philadelphia standpoint, and the blows given and received during the six rounds could be easily counted. Dixon tried his best to land effectively on the Bud, but the latter was particularly slippery and got out of some very tight places. The bout was as fair a draw as could be boxed.

Dixon was the first to appear and skipped through the ropes in lively fashion. The Bud came on a few minutes later. Both looked to be in fairly good condition.

There was quite a lot of fiddling after the bell rang for the first round, when both led lefts, which were parried after the come away. Dixon rushed in, planting left on body and right on the Bud's ear. This he repeated a few seconds later. Dixon then essayed a stiff left for the Bud's head, but went clean wild and the local man skipped away out of harm. Both came together and landed hard lefts. The Bud ripped over his left manly and it landed square on Dixon's neck, resulting in a clinch, in which the champion worked his right on the ribs. The crowd hissed this.

Dixon started the second round by landing a light left on Bud's chest. After some sparring the Bud landed a light left on Dixon's chest. Several exchanges then followed. Bud finally landed a good stiff left on the champion's mouth. In the close which followed the Bud slipped and went on his knees. Both were wary of each other and neither took any liberties.

Very little work was done in the next two rounds. The third round was taken up by sparring at long range. Dixon landed a hard left chop blow on the Bud's neck, and the latter neatly parried a left for his head as the bell rang.

The next round was uneventful, but for a few sharp rallies in the first minutes. Both landed straight lefts. The Bud's was the hardest. He then landed a left swing on the back of Dixon's neck. Dixon retaliated with left and right on body; bell tap.

Dixon started the fifth with a straight left on the Philadelphian's chest, the latter countering hard on chest. The Bud feinted with left and tried to bring right over, but was parried. Dixon then landed two light lefts on body. In the clinch which followed Dixon worked on the local man's ribs with him right. They were standing off as the bell rang.

After the bell rang for the last round, Dixon started across the stage with a rush. The Bud stepped back, catching Dixon's straight left but lightly on the jaw. This was repeated in the next rush. The champion came again, but the Rosebud jumped clear across the stage to get away from a left swing. The Bud came back, and landed a right swing on the champion's neck. Dixon then tried to get to the local man's stomach, but was stopped neatly. Just as the bell rang the Rosebud came within an ace of landing a right swing on the point of the jaw.

The first preliminary was between Adam Ryan and Young Mahony. This was a red hot go from start to finish, and Mahony had the best of it.

Pat Maguire's stay with Charlie Wood was short and sweet. A half a round was enough for his Patlet's. When Elwood McCloskey and John Henry Johnson were brought on for five rounds the going was fast and furious, but in the last round Johnson tired perceptibly. On the whole honors were generally even.

The semi-windup was between Frank Farley and Tom Cleary. A good, clever bout, in which Farley showed up slightly better than his opponent.

1897-11-06 Joe Gans ND6 Wilmington Jack Daly [Arena, Philadelphia, PA, USA]

1897-11-07 The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) (page 9)

DALY A DISAPPOINTMENT.
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Instead of Punching Gans, He Makes an Exhibition of Himself.

The wind-up at the Arena last night was a disappointment to the majority of the spectators, who thought that Daly would punch Joe Gans full of holes. Instead of punching the Baltimore colored lad full of air vents Daly made an exhibition of himself. It is true that Gans did not hurt Daly to any extent, but if a decision had been given on points an impartial referee would have been compelled to accord the verdict to Gans, who outpointed and outboxed Daly from start to finish.

After the bout Daly was vigorously hissed, and to some of his tormentors in the upper galleries he responded in language more forcible than polite. There was never a stage in the six rounds when he had Gans in trouble. Some of his leads were ludicrous, the majority of them falling short, and the others falling harmlessly on the back of the colored lad. Gans, on the other hand, showed surprising cleverness by the evasive tactics, and every now and then landed in good style on Daly's wind.

In only one round--the fourth--did Daly land with any telling effect, and then he got in a right-handed swing that counted for keeps, but the round was too far gone for him to take advantage of it.

In the preliminaries Dan Dougherty and Harry Crawford made a rattling good go. Tom Sweeny, of New York, quit in the second round of his bout with Joe Dougherty, of this city, and "De Kentucky Rosebud" and John Henry Johnson made an even break of it. Pepper Griffin, of this city, managed to stay the six rounds with Jim Janey, of Baltimore, but the latter had all the better of it.


1897-11-07 The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, PA) (page 8)

VERY TAME BOXING BOUT
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Jack Daly and Joe Gans Give a Poor Display.
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PEPPER GRIFFIN KNOCKED OUT
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Jim Janey Puts Him to Sleep With a Punch on the Jaw--Jack Bennett Defeats Tommy Ryan.
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The opening programme of the weekly boxing contests usually given on Monday evenings at the Arena, Broad and Cherry streets, but which will hereafter be given Saturdays, took place last night. The house was well filled when the first bout was put on. The principal go of the evening, the wind-up, was between Jack Daly, of Wilmington, and Joe Gans, colored, of Baltimore.

On the whole, the contest was disappointing, and did not satisfy the sanguinary expectations of those in attendance. Throughout the entire bout both men put up a scientific set-to and at its conclusion neither had much the better of it. Most of the leading was done by Daly, but his leads were generally evaded by Gans, who delivered a good stiff punch in return. At no stage of the bout did either man show a disposition to mix it up, and their merits were undecided when the six rounds were finished.

Pepper Griffin in his bout with Jim Janey, also colored, of Baltimore, gave one of the worst exhibitions ever witnessed at the Arena. From the start of the "go" he ran around the ring, followed by Janey, whose attempts to make him stand and fight were amusing. Griffin, when he saw he couldn't get out of the road of a punch, dropped to the floor and remained there until time was almost up. The shouts of the spectators of "Fake!" "Take him out," etc., were unheeded by Referee Crowdhurst. Griffin kept up these tactics, and some moments, when cornered by Janey, would make a fierce return. The hope that he would continue to box in his old-time form entertained by some of the audience was not realized. Finally Janey, by a couple of well-directed punches on the jaw in the sixth round, compelled him to drop to the stage. Then the audience saw, that it was not Griffin's usual "bluff," but that he was really out.

Walter Edgerton (the "Kentucky Rosebud") and John Henry Johnson put up six red-hot rounds. They were always willing to go at each other, and received rounds of applause for the "go." Johnson found Edgerton a slippery customer to deal with, his hardest efforts being easily dodged by the Rosebud. Toward the end of the final round Edgerton got in several hard blows that had a telling effect on Johnson.

Joe Dougherty found Tom Sweeney very easy. They were to box six rounds, but after Dougherty had made two terrific rushes at Sweeney, which he dodged very cleverly, Dougherty landed a hard one in the stomach that made Sweeney go to the floor. He did not arise and showed no inclination to continue, so the contest was stopped. Sweeney has not been having the best of care lately and was in no condition to fight.

Dan Dougherty and Harry Crawford put up a pretty bout, with honors about even. It was announced that the wind-up on Saturday night next would probably be between Jack Bonner and Joe Butler. The former has already signed a contract, and the latter is expected to agree, as he is known to be anxious for another trial to show his mettle.


1897-11-07 The Times (Philadelphia, PA) (page 11)

DALY AND GANS BOX A DRAW
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The Going Throughout the Six Rounds Was Very Light Work.

There was a fair crowd at the Arena last night and the show was quite up to expectations. The principal feature was the bout between Jack Daly, of Wilmington, and Joe Gans, the clever colored boy, of Baltimore. The men shaped up nearly one size, Daly having a slight advantage in height and reach.

Both men were cautious in the first round. Daly landed two of his famous chop blows without much damage. The round was clever and scientific, but very light and neither men showed any marks.

Very little work was done in the second. Gans worked for the stomach and landed twice lightly. Daly landed a chop and two swings on the head near the end of the round. In the third, Gans again landed two light ones on the body, and Daly evened matters up with two good ones on the head and one in the wind. There were few blows landed in the fourth round, both doing light work on the body. Daly landed a left on the head as the round closed. In the fifth Gans landed three very light taps on the body, and Jack landed a hard left on the head. Both exchanged swings on the head without any damage as the bell rang. There was no material advantage when the men shook hands for the last round. Both men exchanged light swings, and although Gans did a little forcing neither seemed over-anxious to mix it up, and the bout closed with honors even.

The first preliminary brought out two clever bantams in Danny Dougherty and Harry Crawford. The latter had all the best of the weight, but Danny kept away from him and jabbed his opponent with straight lefts. Crawford made a rally in the sixth, but it was all Dougherty's bout.

A party who was introduced as Tom Sweeny, of Brooklyn, next came on for a "go" with Joe Dougherty, the hard hitting local. The bout just lasted about one half minute. Dougherty missed two right swings and then landed a right over the heart and the New Yorker went down on one knee. Dougherty attempted to help him up, but Sweeny refused to come and after sitting there for about ten seconds Referee Crowhurst waved his arms and then helped the Brooklyn boy to his seat. It looked about as near to a rank quit as anything ever seen here.

For a cycloramic display of wall-eyed swings and a conglomeration of all sorts of punches and odd capers, the bout between Walter Edgerton and John Henry Johnson was all right. There were not many blows struck, but there were enough tried to knock out a half-dozen men. Johnson had a slight lead in the first part, but his exertions and four or five hard lefts in the last two rounds had him very tired, and the honors were slightly with the Bud.

Pepper Griffin put up one of the worst exhibitions of boxing, if it could be called such, that has ever been seen at this club. He had Jim Janey for an opponent, and from the first punch looked as if he was scared to death. Janey knocked him down in the first round, and he was long enough down to have been counted out. Griffen was a regular punching bag for Janey, and he was knocked down at least a dozen times. After Janey had hit Pepper so often that it became tiresome to look at, Griffen was finally knocked out by a right-hand punch on the jaw. Janey made himself popular and was nearly as much disgusted at Griffen as were the spectators. One feature about Griffen was that he took all the punishment, but he lost this credit by his awful exhibition of running, back-turning and dropping to avoid blows.