1894-03-07 Kid Lavigne D-PTS8 Solly Smith [Arbeiter Hall, Saginaw, MI, USA]

1894-03-08 The Saginaw Evening News (Saginaw, MI) (page 4)

THE KID WINS.
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George Lavigne Proved Too Much for Solly Smith.

Admirers of the fistic art gathered in force at Arbeiter hall last evening to witness the eight round go between Solly Smith, the champion featherweight of the United States, and George Lavigne, of this city, otherwise known as the Kid, whose recent contest with Griffo at Chicago gives him a high place among aspirants for pugilistic honors. Bay City, Flint, Detroit and other places throughout the state were represented, while Chicago also sent a goodly contingent. President Buckhout, of the police board, Chief of Police Kain, Captain Baskins, and a body guard of the finest were on hand to see that nothing in the shape of a knock out occurred while many of Saginaw's capitalists and lumber barons were scattered throughout the audience.

A succession of two and three-minute rounds between such local devotees of the fistic art as Richard Boyle, Wesley Brown, George Johnson, John Tracy, Ollie Freeman, Jack Beadly, Billy Lavigne, Peter Major, Billy Bushy, Billy Skimmons, besides Dick Elliott of Buffalo and Jim Weeden of Pittsburg opened the exhibition. In the bout between Billy Lavigne, the popular welter-weight, Lavigne accidentally gave Major a pivot blow on the jaw which dazed him so that he fell helpless to the floor and was assisted by his opponent to his corner, where he shortly afterwards recovered and went at it again, the claret flowing freely from the effect of the blow. Some phenomenal bag punching was done by William St. Mary, who struck the bag 100 times in a minute. Frank Mostellar also gave a fine exhibition of club swinging and juggling.

When the event of the evening was announced by William E. Gardiner, who acted as master of ceremonies, the applause was uproarious, almost approaching an ovation, and after the "Kid" and Solly Smith went to their corners the former was presented with a handsome training stick, manufactured for him by his friend, E. Grigware, jr. The duties of referee were performed most acceptably by Walter Grimmon, of this city. Smith was seconded by Al Daugherty, of Chicago, Frank Vanderbilt, of Bay City, and Peter Major, of this city. Behind the "Kid" were his brother, Billy Lavigne, William St. Mary and Pat Hogan, of this city. Clin J. Van Scoter, of Bay City, and George Groves, of this city, were time keepers.

Both men were in splendid form, Lavigne stripping at 127 and Smith at 123, the corded muscles of each standing out like ribs of steel.

Lavigne opened the ball in the first round by getting in two blows in rapid succession upon Smith's bugle. After considerable feinting and dodging blows were rapidly exchanged at short range, honors being easy at the close of the round.

The second round opened lively from the start, the men clinching each other continually, giving and exchanging some wicked blows in which each displayed considerable slugging power. When time was called both retired to their corners breathing heavily.

Lavigne got in a stinger on Smith's jaw in the third round which threw his head back with a jerk. Both men confined their attention to the face, but few body blows being delivered. The round closed slightly in favor of Lavigne.

In the fourth round Smith got in some hot ones on the Kid's neck and acted more on the aggressive, and both men displayed wonderful agility and striking power.

Lavigne did some artistic work on Smith's jaw in the fifth round, the latter responding with some good blows on the chest and face, but got one in the neck that made him wince.

In the sixth round Lavigne chased Smith all around the ring, occasionally getting in a blow.

There were some close exchanges made in the seventh round, Smith being apparently on his mettle. The Kid, however, got his work in toward the close and knocked Smith over on the ropes, following him up with several stingers.

Throughout the fight Smith acted more on the defensive and kept up his dodging and feinting throughout. His tactics were the same in the eighth round and amid cries of "knock him out kid," the last round ended, Lavigne having by far the best of it from beginning to finish, showing himself thoroughly scientific and strong on his pins and agile as a panther. The receipts were about $1,000, a goodly portion of which will be divided by the champions. The audience was orderly throughout and the exhibition as a whole was highly creditable.

1884-03-06 Jack Dempsey W-RTD9 Billy Dacey [Campbell's Hotel, Coney Island, NY, USA]

1884-03-07 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 9)

DEMPSEY DEFEATS DACEY.
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Determined Glove Fight at Coney Island.
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NINE ROUNDS DECIDED.
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Dacey Pulls Off His Gloves and Quits when in Good Condition.
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Within sound of the billows of the Atlantic as they dashed on the sea girt shore of Long Island a company of three or four hundred men assembled at an early hour yesterday morning for the purpose of witnessing the glove fight between Jack Dempsey, of Williamsburg, and Billy Dacey, of Greenpoint, who were, according to articles of agreement, to fight for the sum of $300 under the Queensberry rules. It was a cold day for the short haired fraternity, the snow storm of Wednesday having covered the ground to the depth of several inches. Coach hire was expensive and walking was almost out of the question, except to those who will defy the elementals as well as the law in search of illegal sport. The experience of the "swells" at the recent Henry and Murray fight, with the accompaniments of subpoenas as witnesses, kept this class of patrons away, and when the Herald reporter reached the scene of action at midnight he looked for a long time in vain for a sight at the face of a ringside frequenter. The barroom of the hotel was tolerably well filled, but those present were so far local residents. About some there was a flavor of the stable, both in appearance and aroma, suggestive of Brighton Beach, but the majority had that far away look and hands-in-the-pocket slouch habitual with those who frequent the country grocery. Two or three females made themselves very much at home in the barroom, but did not add anything to the respectability of the place.

It was a dull, melancholy gathering. The stable gang canvassed the probabilities on forthcoming races at New Orleans, while the locals maintained a stolid silence, and but for the oaths the assemblage was orderly enough for a prayer meeting. A Mr. Sullivan raised his doleful voice and informed the company, in response to a call for a song, that

France has the lily, England the rose,
Everybody knows where the shamrock grows,
Scotland the thistle that grows on the 'ill,
But America's emblem 's the violet still.

It was not until a gentleman unfolded a piece of painted oilcloth, produced a dice box and pair of dice, that the feeling of depression in the crowd was removed. In response to the invitation to bet on the chances of "under seven or even seven, a hundred can play as well as one," the racing gang first responded, then one or two of the New York sports chipped in, and the game received a fair amount of patronage, till a move was made for the ball room, on which a ring had already been roped out of about eighteen feet square. By half-past two o'clock the last quarter had been squeezed out of the local division, and all who could muster that amount were in the room, the company numbering little short of four hundred. Two lamps hung over the centre of the ring, fairly well lighting up the room. Everything was ready but the men, and of these the first to appear was Dacey, attended by George Fulljames and Jim Driscoll. Dacey entered the ring at a quarter to three o'clock, and it was well that he had all his clothes on, for Dempsey did not appear until half an hour later.

TWENTY DOLLARS FOR THE ROOM.

While the audience was finding vent for its displeasure at the non-appearance of Dempsey, the shrill voice of the landlady of the premises was heard in tones of expostulation, and forcing her way through a portion of the crowd, she shouted:--

"I want my money; I want $20 for the room!"

One of Dempsey's patrons made an elaborate speech to prove that the room had been tendered for what might be taken over the bar, and the landlady had to take the speech in lieu of the $20 she demanded.

At a quarter past three o'clock Dempsey, attended by Frank White and Dan Dougherty, stepped inside the ring, and disrobing at once commenced. Dempsey is twenty-one years of age, stands five feet eight inches, and weighed 138 pounds. Dacey was two pounds lighter, two inches shorter and one year older than the Williamsburg man. Both looked remarkably fit to fight, especially Dacey, whose face was the picture of health, and it looked odds on him as the men sat in their chairs. Betting was, however, at odds on Dempsey--first offers of even money, then $100 to $75 and $50 to $30, but Fulljames shouted in reply:--

"We want two to one or we won't back Dacey," and this put a stop to speculation.

A sportsman well known in cocking circles, and who answered for the occasion to the name of Mr. Gidden, having been selected as referee, he called the men to the scratch at twenty-five minutes past three o'clock. Both men stripped to the waist, Dempsey wearing blue trunks and Dacey white trunks, and on their hands they had fencing gloves, while another set was at hand in case of police interference, but there was no occasion to use these.

THE FIGHT.

FIRST ROUND.--Dacey, when he put up his hands, reminded one very much of Jem Murray, having the same vicious look and determined appearance. Dempsey, on the contrary, was easy in his movements. After sparring for some time Dacey led at the body, but was short. Dempsey then tried at the head, and they got to infighting and clutching at once. On breaking away, Dacey next got his right on the cheek, and Dempsey got home a good one on the throat. This nettled Dacey, who dashed in and landed a smashing blow on Dempsey's forehead, but the latter twisted Dacey off and he fell in Dempsey's corner. There was a good deal of grabbing and holding at the close of this round, and when time was called there was little to choose between the men.

SECOND ROUND.--Dempsey's forehead was flushed and swollen when he stood up for the second round. Dempsey led off with the left at the body without a return. Dacey then ran in and a succession of hugging matches took place. They then sparred for wind, and Dacey again began operations by a stinging right hander on the side of Dempsey's face. Dempsey was the next to do any business--a flush hit with the left on Dacey's cheek spinning the latter around. A number of sharp rallies followed, in one of which Dacey fell, jumping to his feet, at once resumed hostilities, and they were fighting fast when time was called.

THIRD ROUND.--Both came up blowing from the effects of the fast fighting. Dempsey, after a good deal of sparring, led with the left, getting home on the chest. Dacey ran in, but was met full on the nose with a warm left hander, which steadied him. Dempsey then missed a vicious right hand blow, and in a prolonged rally in one corner Dacey was very busy with both hands at the body. On breaking away they sparred for wind to the end of the round. An even bet of $25 was here made, and the offer of the backer of Dacey to lay another $50 failed to meet with a response.

FOURTH ROUND.--Dempsey was slow in responding to the timekeeper's call, and Dacey, after a few passes, went in to fight his man. Dempsey's replies were weak and his blows lacked force, so that the Greenpointer's friends were jubilant at the prospect of speedy victory and offered odds of $50 to $30 on Dacey.

FIFTH ROUND.--Dempsey kept away from his man as well as possible, as he was still weak, and Dacey was unable to get in any hard blows. In a rally in Dempsey's corner Dacey fell heavily, with Dempsey on top. This shook Dacey very much and the tide of battle at once took a turn. Dempsey forced the fighting and dashed in left and right, the latter drawing first blood from Dacey's mouth. Dacey clinched and held Dempsey at every opportunity and Dempsey had a lot the best of the fighting.

SIXTH ROUND.--Dempsey showed a slight cut on the cheekbone, under the left eye, and blood was also trickling from a wound on the side of Dacey's nose as they stepped forward. Dempsey did all the leading off in this round, and after he had visited Dacey's neck, ribs and mouth with his right, he got in a righthander on the ear which sounded above the shouts of the excited spectators. Dacey's ear was split and began to bleed freely. Dempsey was again favorite at the close of the round.

SEVENTH ROUND.--Both wanted more time and began with a long sparring bout. Dacey at last commenced by trying with the right at the stomach, but was short, and immediately dashed in to a clinch. After breaking away Dempsey delivered his left on the ribs and the men got to close quarters. Dempsey now fell off weak, and Dacey tried his best to wind him up fighting him for all he was worth till they were stopped. Dempsey was taken to his corner decidedly weak.

EIGHTH ROUND.--Dacey ran up to the scratch as if to dispose of his opponent at once, but then began sparring. A long shot with the left by Dempsey landed lightly on Dacey's chin, and the former, boring in, was well met by Dacey with both hands. Dacey then landed a stinging left-hander on the stomach, and Dempsey, rushing to close quarters, fought Dacey down in the corner. Dacey from this on did the better work, and when time was called he was fighting Dempsey in the latter's corner.

NINTH ROUND.--Dempsey was again slow in coming up to the scratch, but he was the first to make play with his left on the chin. He then jumped in, delivering a sounder on Dacey's jaw with his left and got back without a return. After a couple of rallies Dacey tried with his left, but was hotly countered on the mouth, the blow completely staggering him. From that time to the end of the round Dempsey landed blow after blow on Dacey's bleeding mouth, following him all over the ring and doing as he pleased with his man, whose replies were most feeble. At the call of time Dacey was taken to his corner, and then pulling off his gloves told his seconds he had had enough and would fight no more. Fulljames went across and told Dempsey, who at once came over and shook hands with Dacey. The men had then been in the ring 35m. 45s. from the first call of time.

THE POLICE BEHIND TIME.

A move was at once made for Brooklyn, and six coaches, containing seventeen men, were stopped by the police of the Bergen street station, Brooklyn, near the main entrance of Prospect Park. The occupants, together with the drivers, were arrested on the charge of misdemeanor. The accused, for the most part, gave fictitious names at the station house, and when taken before Justice Walsh later in the day some were unable to remember their adopted names. As there was no evidence against them they were all discharged.

1896-03-05 George Godfrey D-PTS15 Nick Burley [City Point Athletic Club, Music Hall, Boston, MA, USA]

1896-03-06 Boston Morning Journal (Boston, MA) (page 3)

POOR BOXING.
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Burley and Godfrey Took Things Easy.
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It Looked as if They Fixed Things.
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Referee Did Not Understand the Rules.
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Flaherty-Sullivan Drew.
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Neither George Godfrey (colored) nor Nick Burley added one leaf to their laurel wreaths by their wretched exhibition of boxing at the City Point Athletic Club boxing show, held last evening in Music Hall.

They sparred 15 rounds, which were of the tamest description and disgusted the spectators and the club officials. Burley was cautious, and in the sixth round was disabled. Godfrey picked him up bodily and deliberately threw him over his head, a clear infringement of the rules. But as Referee Sheehan did not want to award a decision on such a technicality and as Burley, who though limping and in pain, was willing to continue, he called for the next round, after a couple of minutes' rest. After that it was a game of tag, as the gallery gods declared.

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The show outside of this was good, and was attended by about 2700 people. There were three other bouts, in which Capt. Wm. Daly, Jr., was referee. Twenty sturdy blows were not delivered in the big contest. Some claimed that the boxers had arrived at an understanding, and declared that it was another fake.

The first bout was between Peter Corrigan of Jamaica Plain, and Mott Leary of East Boston, at 145 pounds, for eight rounds. This was a bout in which the strong physique of Corrigan carried him to victory. Leary pounded Corrigan time and time again, but Corrigan stood the blows, and then when Leary tired himself by his exertions, Corrigan sailed in just at the close of the sixth round and knocked his man out.

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Joe Mullins, with his dance, went against his fellow townsman from South Boston, Jack Foley. The latter was a tyro, but did well. Mullins is a coward and resorted to most foul tactics. He won, but such boxers as he hurt the sport. "He should never be billed again in this city," said a well-known sport.

The third bout had as principals Martin Flaherty of Lowell, weighing 126 pounds, and Billy (Spike) Sullivan of South Boston, weighing 118½ pounds. This was a rattling good contest with the men interlocked in each others' embrace fully two minutes of the three in each round. Both stayed the 12 rounds and it was declared a draw, with Flaherty having a decided advantage on points, but none on condition at the end of the bout.



1896-03-06 The Boston Daily Globe (Boston, MA) (page 3)

LOOKED "QUEER."
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Godfrey-Burley Bout Was Very Tame.
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Men Acted as if There Had Been an Understanding.
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Flaherty and Sullivan Gave a Good Exhibition.
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Latter Did Much Better Than Was Expected.
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The bout in Music hall last evening between George Godfrey and Nick Burley was one of the poorest exhibitions seen in Boston for a long time, and was on a par with the Hall-Maher "fake."

The exhibition was under the auspices of the City Point athletic club. Godfrey and Burley were scheduled for 15 rounds, and during the whole contest there was not as much boxing as in one round of the other bouts.

Before the men had boxed three rounds it was plain to the 2500 spectators that they had come to some understanding.

In the sixth round Burley should have been awarded the contest on a foul, as Godfrey deliberately threw him to the floor, injuring his left hip.

Referee Sheehan declared the bout a draw, but he would have been justified in declaring it no contest.

The 12-round contest between Martin Flaherty of Lowell and "Spike" Sullivan of Boston was the best bout of the evening. Flaherty completely outclassed Sullivan, and scored fully 10 blows to Sullivan one. The bout was called a draw, as the contestants had agreed that such a decision should be given if both were on their feet at the end of the bout. Flaherty has had much more experience than Sullivan yet the latter made a better showing than was expected.

The next bout was between Peter Corrigan and Mat Leary, two local boxers. Leary started off like a winner, and had it all his own way in the first round. Corrigan made a better showing in the second, and it was more even, both boxers landing often with left and right. The third round was of hurricane order, each one disregarding all the rules of defense, and simply swinging right and left alternately, landing together time and again on each other's face and jaw. Corrigan had a shade the better of it. The next two rounds were even, both men sparring for wind. The sixth round proved the last. Leary did most of the leading and landed often for two minutes. Then Corrigan got in some stiff blows that had their effect on Leary, who went down in his own corner just as the bell rang. His seconds decided it was better not to let him go on again, and Corrigan was given the decision.

Joe Mullen and Jack Foley, two South Boston featherweights, were the next pair. All that can be said of Foley is that he is game and willing. During the contest he seldom reached Mullen, while the latter landed some hard punches with both hands on the face and body. They were to box 12 rounds, but in the eighth Mullen landed a couple of right swings and a left jab on the jaw that dazed Foley, and the referee sent them to their corners, and gave Mullen the decision.

1919-03-04 Pete Herman ND10 Jack Wolfe [Grays Armory, Cleveland, OH, USA]

1919-03-05 Cleveland Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) (page 16)

Record Crowd Packs Grays Armory When Star Bantamweights Meet in Ring
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KID WOLFE OUTPOINTS PETE HERMAN IN GREAT BATTLE OF TEN ROUNDS
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Young Ertle Shades Jap Sheridan in Curtain Raiser of Carnival; Patsy Wallace Has Edge in Ten-Round Encounter With Chalky Wimbler; Johnny Downs Gained the Popular Decision Over Harry Pierce in Semi-Final.
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BULLETIN.
RINGSIDE, Grays Armory, March 4.--Jack Wolfe outpointed Pete Herman, bantam champion, tonight in ten fast rounds.
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BY HENRY P. EDWARDS.

GRAYS ARMORY, March 4.--As predicted, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fistic fans who wished to witness the ten-round bout between Pete Herman of New Orleans, the bantamweight champion, and Jack Wolfe of Cleveland, one of the leading runners-up for the title, were turned away tonight when they sought to buy tickets to the big boxing show.

When the doors opened at 7, hundreds were in line. Except a few at the head of the line, all were disappointed, as the only tickets then on sale were a few that had been reserved and unclaimed. From that time until 8:30 the management was compelled to keep announcing the seating capacity of the armory was entirely sold as the fire wardens early ordered the sale of the standing room to cease.

It is estimated that the gross receipts will run close to $8,000, the largest sale in the history of boxing matches at the Grays armory. If it reaches that amount Pete Herman will receive $2,400 for his thirty minutes in the ring, or $80 a minute. Jack Wolfe's share of the gross receipts will be close to $2,000, which Jack says is better than selling papers even at 2 cents a copy. When Jack was a newsie the papers sold for a cent.

A crowd of 100 assembled at the Central A. C., 724 Hamilton avenue, yesterday to witness the weighing in, and for the first time this year every boy scheduled to box was able to make the weight and then some.

Herman signed to make 121 at 3, treated the spectators to a surprise when the scales balanced at 118 1-2 pounds. Wolfe, scheduled to weigh in at the ringside, was not present.

Chalky Wimler, of Pittsburg, who is to meet Patsy Wallace of Philadelphia, in the semi-final, had six or seven pounds on his adversary. He weighed 120 pounds in his union suit, while Wallace stepped on the scales with all his clothes except his coat and weighed 119 pounds. Johnny Downs and Harry Pierce each made the 136 pounds without trouble. Each was a pound underweight.

Jap Sheridan and Young Ertle, the two curtain raisers, displayed some disparity in weight, Ertle showing up at 126 3-4 while Sheridan weighed but 122 1-2 pounds.

With no more tickets available at the box office the speculators made their appearance and asked and received $7 and $10 for $1 tickets soon after the doors were closed.

But the scalpers did not do a heavy business. They had control of comparatively few tickets and their supply was far less than the demand. They were cleaned out in a few minutes.

In the six round engagement that opened the show, Jap Sheridan made a gallant rally in the final round and practically won the house but the battle went to his opponent, Young Ertle, who had piled up a big margin of points in the five preceding rounds.

The second bout brought on Patsy Wallace of Philadelphia, and Chalky Wimler, of Pittsburg. It was a whirlwind clash of ten rounds, seven of which went to Wallace. In fact, there was no question as to Wallace being the victor. His work was rather spectacular and he made one of the biggest hits ever made here on a boxer's first appearance in Cleveland.

Johnny Downs was a trifle too clever for Harry Pierce, the New Yorker, who was his opponent in the ten-round semi-final. Downs practically outboxed Pierce from start to finish and was a comparatively easy winner.

In the tenth round, Pierce displayed a flash of form that probably gave him a slight edge in that round but the edge was not nearly enough to offset the consistent work of Downs throughout.

1899-03-03 Frank Erne W-KO7 Dal Hawkins [Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, CA, USA]

1899-03-04 The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA) (page 12)

FRANK ERNE ASTOUNDED LOCAL SPORTS
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Lowered the Colors of Dal Hawkins.
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FINISH WAS A KNOCKOUT
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THE END CAME QUICKLY IN THE SEVENTH ROUND.
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Marvelous Cleverness of the Easterner Prevented Dal From Landing His Famous Left Swing.
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The patrons of fistic entertainment witnessed a contest last evening at Woodward's Pavilion which years will not efface from the memory.

Dal Hawkins, the flower of the lightweight champions representative of this coast, met Frank Erne, the clever two-handed pugilist of Buffalo, N. Y., in what was to have been a twenty-round pugilistic contest. The local sports pinned their faith on Hawkins, who has a record of winning many hard battles against the crackerjacks of the class of fighters of which he is a representative.

The betting favored Hawkins from start to finish, or, in other words, Hawkins was the favorite from the time the pools opened until they closed. The betting was 10 to 8, with Hawkins on the long end, and before the contestants entered the ring Erne's stock took a tumble, as odds of $10 to $7 went without takers. When Hawkins landed a swift left-hander on Erne's eye in the first round, the effect of which brought the receiver to the carpet, the news of Hawkins' success swept like wildfire about town, and when it reached the poolrooms the supporters of the local man were jubilant, and the Erne money fell from $10 to $7 to $10 to $4, and even at these latter figures Eastern money was hard to get.

The sudden defeat of Hawkins was a great surprise to the local talent, and it is safe to say that many a "hard-earned pocket" feels to-day the result of last evening's entertainment at Woodword's Pavilion.

The contest was a particularly brilliant one--that is, from a scientific point of view. In the first round Hawkins came within a few inches of bringing the sport to a very sudden conclusion. After the usual fiddling and sparring for openings Hawkins swung his dangerous left and his glove landed hard on the right eye of Erne. The force of the blow sent the Eastern lad to the carpet, where he remained for eight seconds. But, cautious and cool as Erne is, he took the limit of time to collect his senses, and was up and at it again before Referee Choynski had time to call him out.

Erne saw that another such punch as he received if landed on the right spot would quickly end the disturbance and cunningly he remained on the defensive, handsomely blocking all left swings that were afterward intended for the jaw point. Hawkins was rapidly scoring points on his adversary and the admirers of Erne freely confessed that unless the Buffalo man had "something up his sleeve" for future use Hawkins would win on points if he failed to score a knockout. In the seventh round Erne, advised by Barney Feeney, changed his tactics, and instead of making a long range fight, which was favorable to Hawkins, he got under the local man's guard and forced a mixup at short range. Dal, who is only what is called a one-hand fighter, attempted to ward off the attack of his opponent, but Erne, who is a lightning-quick striker, had Dal at sea immediately, and in the mixup he landed a hard left jolt on Dal's jaw, which was followed by a sharp right-hand crook, also on the jaw point, the force of which ended all dispute as to the fighting abilities of the men. Hawkins fell on his back and remained dead to the world for some seconds after being counted out.

The police management of the fight, under the command of Captain James W. Gillen of the Seventeenth street station, was as perfect as it was possible to have it. All the passageways were kept clear and the utmost good order was maintained throughout the entire building. No crowding was permitted at the entrance and those who had tickets found no difficulty in gaining admission.

Following is the result of the fight by rounds:

In the opening round Hawkins was the first to lead, and it ended in a clinch. Erne came back at him a few seconds later quick as a lightning with three hard lefts in the face. The blows jarred Hawkins, but he soon returned the compliment, landing his celebrated left swing, which has laid many a fighter low, hard on Erne's cheek, knocking the Buffalo lad down. Erne took the full nine seconds to rise, but did not appear dazed, and after that successfully blocked every left that Hawkins led for his head. Erne ended the round by planting a hard one on Dal's nose.

Erne was kept busy blocking Hawkins' delivery in the second round, but did it so well that most of the blows landed harmlessly on his arms. He retaliated with one good swift punch on Dal's wishbone. Hawkins rushed him to the ropes, but Erne clinched and no harm was done.

Hawkins kept up the leading in the third round, with Erne warding off all the blows and suffering no punishment, save one which Hawkins swung into his side, leaving a large red blotch to denote the spot where it landed.

Hawkins tried his left swing several times unsuccessfully in the fourth. Erne showed great cleverness in warding them off. Hawkins then tried his right, landing lightly on the body. Erne returned with a swift right in Dal's side. In a rush both exchanged lefts and rights on the head and shoulders as the round ended, and went to their corners winded.

Hawkins increased the size of the red spot on Erne's side in the fifth round by landing several hard left swings, which Erne did not guard. Erne did not try a return, contenting himself with avoiding punishment and gauging his man.

Erne showed more confidence in the sixth, opening with a rush and forcing Dal to clinch. Hawkins landed a light left on the forehead and again in the side, and Erne came back at him with hot rights and lefts on the head that dazed the Californian. It was the hottest exchange of the fight thus far.

Hawkins began hostilities in the seventh and what proved to be the last round by rushing his man to the ropes, swinging his left into Erne's side again. Erne retaliated with a hard right swing which landed on the back of Hawkins' neck. Erne rushed Hawkins to the ropes, landing his left and right hard on the head. Hawkins clinched and backed away, and Erne, following him up, swung his left and right across Dal's jaw so quickly that Hawkins probably never knew they were coming. The blows settled Hawkins, probably, but just to show that there was no frost Erne soaked him a straight left in the jaw and a right swing on the side of the head, and Dal went down like a log, falling straight backwards and hitting his head a resounding thump on the floor. He lay stretched there without moving a muscle after the referee counted him out, and his seconds had to carry him bodily from the ring.

Erne was the favorite with the Eastern contingent, and they crowded around him after the battle and showered their congratulations, which he received modestly. Erne comes far from giving any one the impression that he is a prize-fighter, though when stripped he is a perfectly built athlete. Among those who know him he is a quiet, good-looking, curly haired youth, who might easily be mistaken for a college man. He has little to say, and nothing when it comes to speaking of his own achievements. When he wins a battle the money gained is not spent in drink or on the races. He has no use for these vices and says that if he can find some suitable employment he will retire from the prize-ring and devote his time to something more elevating. He was born in Zurich, Switzerland, twenty-four year ago, but was raised in Buffalo, N. Y., which place he calls his home.

The preliminary event of the evening was to have been a ten-round go between Charles Johnson and Eugene Mulligan, both of this city, in the lightweight class. Both were wild and showed little science. After six rounds Mulligan had enough, and made a weak pretense at being unable to arise after slipping to the floor from a light body blows. He destroyed the illusion, however, by jumping up quickly after the referee had counted him out and walking briskly to his corner. For this little exhibition of cowardice he was loudly hissed as he left the ring, and the crowd showed its further deprecation by yelling "fake," which statement was probably well grounded. Ned Hogan refereed the unsatisfactory bout.

What Erne Said.

A jubilant crowd gathered in Erne's dressing room at the conclusion of the fight and poured congratulations into the ears of the victor. The only mark of battle on his countenance was a red tinge below his right optic, where Hawkins had landed a vicious left in the initial round of the contest. While donning his street attire he said that the Californian was a good ring general and had a punch of a middle-weight.

"After the first round," he added, "I knew I had him. He would never have landed the left that knocked me down had I not been careless. Every one told me about the dangerous left, but I got momentarily careless and he got over my guard. It is a peculiar blow, but I got on to it in the first round and blocked it every time he tried it. The blows on my ribs did not hurt me, as I drew in every time he landed. I was confident that I would catch him before the tenth round, and when the chance came I accepted it and put him out. It was a right on the jaw that did the business. I felt so confident before the 'go' of winning that I told 'Kid' McCoy to place a bet on me to win in ten rounds. It is my intention to stay in California for some time, but I have not made up my mind whether I will take any one on."

It is probable that a match will be made between Erne and Lavigne after the latter's fight with Smith. Manager Groom of the National Club has the match in view and will try to secure it for his club.

Hawkins Was Confident.

Hawkins was depressed over his defeat. On reaching his dressing room he was assisted into his clothes by his seconds and immediately left for a downtown hotel, where he met his wife and received her sympathy. His face bore evidence of his having been in a fight. His nose was swollen, a dark spot wreathed his right eye and his lips were puffed by the rapid lefts of his clever opponent. Dal was loth to talk about the outcome of the battle. He did say, however, that Erne was a top notcher and won on his merits. Hawkins said he was confident that he would win and stated he intended fighting faster after the tenth round. I thought I had him in the first round," he said, "but I caught him too high. I think I had a little the better of him up to the seventh, but in that round he caught me and it was all over.

1896-03-02 Charles Kid McCoy W-KO15 Tommy Ryan [Empire Athletic Club, Maspeth, NY, USA]

1896-03-03 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 10)

MC COY'S CLEVER VICTORY.
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HE LOOKED LIKE A BEATEN MAN EARLY IN THE FIGHT.
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Ryan Was Unmercifully Pounded Toward the Close, but Was Game to the Last--A Knockout in the Fifteenth Round at Maspeth.
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Tommy Ryan was defeated at Maspeth in 15 rounds last night by Kid McCoy and the battle will go down in fistic history as one of the most remarkable ever witnessed. To begin with, McCoy, although half a head taller than Ryan, and big in proportion, was uneasy and uncertain of himself from the moment that he clambered through the ropes, while Ryan threw off his wraps with an air of jaunty confidence that provoked an enthusiastic devotee of the sport in the gallery to shout: "What a beautiful cinch he's got."

Ryan's magnificent record made him easily the favorite. Lots of his friends' money went begging at rates varying from 10 to 7 to 2 to 1. And it looked at the start as if the knowing ones had fathomed the whole thing. He simply played with McCoy and when the round ended many of the spectators began to pick up their snow shoes and their overcoats in order to escape the rush of the battle to get out of the building. Then came the sensational point of the encounter.

McCoy began to find his man and he assumed some confidence. A few minutes later he opened Ryan's nose. Then he persisted in jabbing Tommy on the jaw with his long left and every tap that he gave brought the blood, until Ryan was bleeding like a stuck pig and had more trouble in getting rid of the blood that choked him and blinded him that he had in warding McCoy's blows. Ryan was knocked down three times in the fatal fifteenth round and he showed once and for all that he was game to the backbone. It took him fifteen minutes to recover and when he tottered from the ring he would have dropped if the arms of his seconds had not been around him.

All the sports for miles around were at the ringside, including Tom O'Rourke, Sam Fitzpatrick, Arthur Lumley, M. Giubal, Macon McCormick, Maxey More, P. T. Powers, Fred Peffer, Billy Crowley, Martin Dowling and hundreds of others.

Jack Downey of Brooklyn and Larry Burns of Cohoes warmed up the 3,000 spectators in an eight round bout at 125 pounds. Everybody knew Downey and picked him out as a winner, while Burns was an unknown quantity. He had a big, hearty contingent of friends with him though and they rooted while he fought till the building rang again. They began to fight at 9 o'clock sharp. Downey was handled by Tommy Butler, Pete Farrell and Joe Martin, while Burns was looked after by John McTiernan, Tommy Hunt and George Davis. Tim Hurst in his familiar navy blue sweater was the referee, as usual.

In the opening rounds Burns was slow and appeared to be somewhat afraid of Downey. Jack forced the fighting and when the third round opened there were repeated offers of 50 to 40 on his chances. It was in the fifth round that the stranger, smiling and confident, began to assert himself. At close quarters he had all the advantage. Toward the close of the sixth round he might have disposed of the popular Brooklynite, but he was slow and content to wait. Burns forced the fighting after that and the backers of Downey began to quake when he held the gloves over his face to protect himself and made no effort at attack. There were some hot exchanges in the last round. Here again Burns had a beautiful chance for a knockout but he was slow and cautious. When he did attempt to finish the job Downey's clever head averted a catastrophe. The bout ended with hot in fighting in which Downey figured to advantage. He cut open his opponent's left eye. The referee called the bout a draw and everybody applauded the verdict.

The clock pointed to 10 o'clock as Tom Ryan pushed his way into the ring, smiling and confident. He was pioneered by Charley White, Tom Cawley, Kid Lavigne and Sam Fitzpatrick. The cheers that greeted the young fellow, who had claimed the middleweight championship of the world, had scarcely died away when Kid McCoy was seen struggling through the enthusiastic crowd, surrounded by Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagstrom and Brooklyn Jimmy Carroll.

Presently the memorable battle began. McCoy appeared to be feverishly anxious to find out what there was in Ryan that had given him his reputation and he tried to hit him on the face. Several of his leads went harmlessly over his head. Once, in ducking, though, the big kid caught Ryan a clip on the jaw and his friends cheered enthusiastically. Then Ryan let himself loose. He smashed McCoy on the face and body with right and left, cleverly kept his head out of the kid's attempted returns and there were frequent clinches, and when the round ended the betting was 100 to 50 on Ryan. There was a slightly different color given to the affair in the next round. McCoy was a trifle more confident and Ryan began to sprint. The kid smashed Tommy viciously over the heart. Then they clinched and McCoy emerged smilingly with the honors of the encounter. Ryan began to fight in the third round. He landed cleverly a couple of times on McCoy's jaw and then he ran round the ring. The kid followed him, and as Tommy tried to duck he gave him a left hand punch on the jaw. Ryan turned upon his man after that. He was nettled at having been caught so easily and in some fierce infighting he had all the better of it. Ryan planted two heavy body blows in the fourth round but had to take two vicious right hand hooks on the jaw in return. Ryan swung his right heavily on the big kid's jaw and McCoy tottered. If the round had lasted half a minute longer Tommy Ryan would to-day be the middle weight champion of the world. McCoy was very weak about the legs. He pushed his gloves weakly in Ryan's face, and, obeying the instructions of his seconds, clung round Ryan's neck as long as he dared. Ryan forced the fighting in the fifth round again and his vicious pokes on the body and his swings on the jaw soon had McCoy staggering and dazed. The kid, however, continued to slip in a pretty left hand upper cut. Ryan sprinted again, but was caught with another clip behind the ear from the force of which he went down. No damage was done, however, and it was still Ryan's fight. The battle was fast and furious in the seventh, with the honors fairly even. McCoy poked his left four times savagely into Ryan's ribs. Ryan looked a bit worried. He feinted and then he flung out his right. It caught the Kid squarely over the heart and twisted him round as if he had been working on a pivot. It seemed again as if another punch would dismiss McCoy, but he was in rare fettle and kept himself as cool as a cucumber. He jabbed Ryan repeatedly on the face with his left, brought the blood freely and finally gave Tommy a punch that knocked him down. The fight was now a guessing match. McCoy surprised every man in the building by his coolness, his cleverness, his swiftness and his terrific hitting powers. It was in the ninth round that Ryan's star began to wane. He sprinted. McCoy ran after him and, catching up on his man, smashed him from behind with his right and left. Ryan then mixed it up hotly and got in several heavy body blows. McCoy flung out his long left repeatedly, jabbed Ryan on the nose, cut it open and closed up an eye. McCoy continued to jab in the next round, the tenth. Ryan was bleeding, profusely cut, lips swollen, eyes swelled, and was a beaten man but he was as game still as a fighting cock. He was a perfect glutton for punishment and he got it. McCoy, just as the round ended, got his man against the ropes. He held Tommy out with his long left arm and brought his right viciously over his helpless opponent's jaw.

The fight still went on, although Ryan was a badly beaten man. McCoy was as quick and as strong as he had been at the beginning. He punched Ryan at will, jabbed him at will on the face and body and again opened up the damaged nose and the abnormally swollen lips. Ryan stood up to his punishment like a man till he was knocked squarely off his feet with a savage right hand uppercut. This was in the twelfth round. Ryan tried to get a few minutes' breathing space in the thirteenth round, but McCoy kept at him and floored him twice. In the next Ryan stepped up to the kid stronger and fresher than in the preceding half dozen rounds and his clever and effective work began to impress his friends with the idea that he still had a fighting chance. But McCoy's pitiless jabs were thrown without cessation into his face.

The end came in the fifteenth round. Ryan was very weak, but still able to run. He did try to sprint out of the way of McCoy's wicked jabs, but the kid followed him up closer and gave him a left hand punch on the jaw, flooring Tommy. The latter struggled to his feet before he had been counted out with the blood streaming from his face. McCoy was waiting for him, and gave him a thump with his right on the jaw that knocked Tommy down again. All this was against the ropes. Ryan staggered to his feet again as Tim Hurst stood over him and, willing as ever, held his hands out blindly as he stumbled to the middle of the ring. There again McCoy was waiting for him with his pitiless right ready. Everybody was glad when he shot it out and brought Ryan down for the third time with a clip in the ear. Ryan had been hopelessly beaten long before and the spectators simply waited to see a satisfactory finish. They got it. When Ryan fell on his back he was senseless and a quarter of an hour passed before he was able to leave the ring with the arms of his seconds around him.


1896-03-03 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 10)

ANOTHER CHAMPION KNOCKED OUT.
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This Time "Kid" McCoy Puts "Tommy" Ryan to Sleep in Fifteen Rounds.
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FIERCE AND BRUTAL FIGHT.
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The Syracuse Welter Weight Was Game, but the Astoria Pugilist Cut His Face to Pieces.
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A BIG CROWD AT MASPETH
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Tommy Ryan, of Syracuse, N. Y., the welter weight champion of the world, met his Waterloo last evening at the hands of "Kid" McCoy, of Astoria, L. I., in the arena of the Empire Athletic Club, at Maspeth, L. I., after fifteen rounds of terrific fighting. McCoy's cleverness was a revelation to the spectators, and to none more than Ryan, who in the early part of the fight seemed to think he would win easily.

McCoy gave Ryan a terrific thumping, cutting the champion's face and closing his eye. Ryan fought back pluckily, but the "Kid" had the better of the contest from the start. After being knocked down about a dozen times in the course of the fight Ryan was finally put to sleep, after one minute and fifty-four seconds of fighting, in the fifteenth round.

McCoy had scarcely a mark on him. Ryan's corner was bathed in blood. Before the battle the betting was 2 to 1 on Ryan, with few takers. The house was crowded and until the men began fighting was cold enough to freeze the most hardened sport.

Both Ryan and McCoy looked to be trained to the hour, and each weighed under 154 rounds. Ryan was seconded by "Charley" White, "Kid" Lavigne and "Sam" Fitzpatrick. McCoy's advisers were "Steve" O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstrom and Jimmy Carroll. McCoy is the taller and has a much longer reach. They were scheduled to battle twenty rounds.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.--Ryan led off with a left lead for the body, but fell short, and McCoy countered hard on the jaw with the left. After several harmless exchanges, McCoy succeeded in again planting his left hard on Ryan's jaw. The blow excited Ryan's anger, and he made a vicious swing at the Long Islander, but failed to score, and received a stiff right hander upper cut. McCoy showed to very good advantage his cleverness, causing considerable surprise.

Round 2.--McCoy was on the offensive, and chased Ryan around the ring, finally succeeding in landing a left on the shoulder. When they squared off again Ryan rushed, but failed to land, and McCoy promptly smashed him on the jaw with the right. Both then landed left on the body. Ryan followed with a left on the face. The round ended with Ryan on the run.

Round 3.--Both men swung. Then Ryan landed twice with the left on the body, and got a smart left in return. Ryan then rushed McCoy to the ropes, and got home several hot body blows with the right. When the referee separated them McCoy smashed the Syracuse man with the left on the chest and with the right on the neck. He quickly followed this with three left handers on the jaw. As the bell rang McCoy was chasing Ryan around the ring.

HONORS EVEN.

Round 4.--Ryan appeared anxious and willing. He rushed viciously at the Astoria man, trying hard to land a knockout blow, and missed. McCoy said to Ryan, "You wasted that, Tommy," and smiled. The Long Islander was as cool as the ice in Newtown Creek. Ryan tried again to land the right on the jaw, but missed, and got a hard left on the jaw in return. The Syracuse boxer was more successful on his next essay, knocking McCoy to the ropes with a right on the jaw. Honors even.

Round 5.--Ryan appeared slightly distressed. The Syracuse man was nevertheless very aggressive and he immediately forced McCoy in the ropes, but only succeeded in landing his left mildly on the body. In a rally at close quarters McCoy uppercut Ryan hard, and Ryan said. "That was a good one." Mac replied, "Here's a better one," and he smashed Ryan hard on the face with left. In trying to deliver another left McCoy slipped, but was on his feet in an instant. Ryan caught the "Kid" off his guard, and promptly smashed him with the left under the right promptly smashed him with the left under the right eye, raising a big black lump. He repeated this twice and also scored heavily on the jaw with the right. McCoy was very tired when the bell rang.

Round 6.--In a mix up both landed on the jaw. They fiddled about, and then McCoy landed on the jaw twice with the right. Ryan then planted his left on the "Kid's" chest and sprinted away. The "Kid" followed him and landed a hard left on the mouth. McCoy was doing all the fighting. Both were distressed at the end.

FOUGHT TO THE FLOOR.

Round 7.--Ryan was the aggressor and led off with the left for the body and scored lightly. McCoy tried to counter but fell short and received a hard right hander over the heart. Both landed with left on the jaw. Ryan then rushed McCoy to the ropes and the latter slipped. The "Kid" remained down eight seconds. Ryan's body blows appeared to have hurt Mac, for he clinched repeatedly.

Round 8.--McCoy came out of his corner on the run, and scored with the left mildly on the mouth. Ryan countered with the right on the jaw. McCoy then landed four blows on the body, escaping on each occasion without a return. Ryan followed with a vicious rush, landing hard with the right over the heart. The "Kid" retaliated with a right on the jaw, flooring Ryan. The latter, who was very groggy, arose before the ten seconds expired, and immediately clinched. The call of time saved the champion from a knockout.

Round 9.--Ryan was very groggy, while McCoy was fresh and strong. McCoy rushed right at his opponent, hitting him right and left. Ryan tried to land, but could not, and was finally floored with a right on the jaw. The Syracuse man was down nine seconds. When he arose the "Kid" smashed him hard on the jaw. Ryan only scored twice with the right on the body. Ryan was bleeding and groggy when the bell rang.

Round 10.--Ryan's seconds did heroic work for him during the minute's rest, and he toed the mark considerably refreshed. McCoy went right at him and landed his left hard on the jaw. Ryan scored several times on the body, but his blows lacked steam. The "kid" finally cornered the champion and smashed him right and left. The fighting was terrific, McCoy having all the better of it. Ryan's face was bruised and bleeding when the round closed. As they walked to their corners McCoy laughed at Ryan.

RYAN VERY TIRED, BUT GAME.

Round 11.--Ryan was still very weary and tired, while McCoy appeared to be quite fresh. The "Kid" was again the aggressor. He led off with a hard right hand swing on the jaw, and quickly followed it with a terrific left swing on the mouth, again making the blood flow. Ryan made a desperate attempt to land his left, but missed and landed his right on the "Kid's" right eye, closing that member. Ryan was bleeding badly. He took an awful punching in this round.

Round 12.--Ryan came out of his corner weak and bloody. McCoy was chipper and fresh. Ryan led off, landing the left lightly on the body, and receiving a left swing on the jaw for his pains. For a time McCoy knocked his man all around the ring, pounding Ryan unmercifully. The latter got in two blows but they were mild. A moment before the bell rang McCoy again measured Ryan's length on the floor.

Round 13.--Ryan was still in distress, but as plucky as ever. McCoy forced the issue and landed on the jaw with the right and received a left counter on the mouth. McCoy gradually backed Ryan to the ropes, where he up cut him twice with fearful force. Ryan fell twice from weakness. The Syracuse boxer's face presented a revolting appearance. It was covered with blood, and looked like raw beef.

NEAR THE END.

Round 14.--Despite his poor condition, Ryan took the initiative in this round and landed his left on the mouth mildly, receiving a hard right swing in return. Ryan again scored, landing the right over the heart. Just as the bell sounded Ryan landed heavily over the kidneys, with the right and got two hard left swings in the mouth in return.

Round 15.--Ryan made quite a spurt for a moment, but it was a dying man's effort. McCoy feinted Ryan into a terrific left on the jaw. The blow sent Ryan to the floor. He arose after an effort, which must have caused him great pain, only to be knocked down and out. Time of round, 1m. 15s.

FOUGHT TO A DRAW.

The Ryan-McCoy fight was preceded by an encounter between "Jack" Downey, of Brooklyn, and "Larry" Burns, of Cohoes. The bout was announced for eight rounds. On points Downey had the better of it up to the third round. In the fourth round Burns held the other safe, while in the fifth round the Cohoes man knocked the Brooklynite down and almost put him to sleep. Honors were even in the sixth round. Burns was clearly the better in the seventh round, landing four blows to Downey's one. The eighth and last round was comparatively mild, with honors even. The referee declared the contest a draw.


1896-03-03 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 6)

RYAN KNOCKED OUT.
------
"Kid" McCoy Did It in Fifteen Rounds at Maspeth.

The boxing bout between "Tommy" Ryan and "Kid" McCoy attracted a big crowd to the Empire Athletic Club at Maspeth last evening. When the boxers entered the ring there were fully 2,000 persons in the building. "Tim" Hurst was referee, and Frank Freeman timekeeper.

The contestants received quite an ovation when they entered the ring. "Charley" White, "Tommy" Cawley, "Kid" Lavigne, and "Sam" Fitzpatrick looked after Ryan, and "Steve" O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstron, and "Jimmy" Carroll were in McCoy's corner. Ryan weighed 148 pounds and McCoy 155 pounds.

The contest began at 10 o'clock. Ryan started in well and landed several times on McCoy in the first two rounds. McCoy, however, showed remarkable cleverness, and in the third round landed twice on Ryan. From that round McCoy gradually got the best of the contest. In the fifth and sixth rounds he punished Ryan severely.

Ryan did better in the seventh round, playing for his opponent's "wind," and his body blows told. In the eighth round, McCoy knocked Ryan down, and again in the ninth round Ryan went down. McCoy kept on punishing Ryan, and in the fifteenth round knocked him out.

"Jack" Downey of Brooklyn and "Larry" Burns of Cohoes, boxed eight rounds, and the contest was declared a draw.




1896-03-03 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 4)

CLEVER WIN FOR M'COY.
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THE WESTERN BOXER KNOCKS OUT TOMMY RYAN AT MASPETH.
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Layers of Odds Lose Their Money--The Syracuse Man Holds His Own at First, but Succumbs to Heavy Punishment--Burns and Downey Fight to a Draw.

MASPETH, March 2.--Charles, better known as "Kid" McCoy, the Western middle weight, knocked out Tommy Ryan, who has held the welter-weight championship for some years, in the fifteenth round, at the Empire A. C. to-night. It was one of the biggest surprises in prize ring history, as Ryan was looked upon as a sure winner, and carried the money at odds of 4 to 1.

McCoy was wonderfully clever and a great hitter, and escaped without a mark. Ryan was fearfully punished, and from the eighth round he was staggering around the ring, trying to save himself. McCoy's fighting powers were offset by Ryan's gameness, and the victim didn't lose many friends by his exhibition. When he had been knocked down twice in the fifteenth round he was so weak that when he got to his feet he was unable to stand, and a hard push was sufficient to make him tumble down a third time to be counted out.

McCoy was elated over his victory and was pronounced a wonder by the talent.

It was evident by the jam on the first train leaving Long Island City at 8:50 o'clock that there would be a big crowd at the ring side. The cars were packed, and those sports that came late were forced to endure the icy blasts while hanging on to the railings of the platforms. The second train was also overloaded so that long before the sport was ready to begin all of the choice seats had been snapped up and the bleachers which sloped toward the roof were filled.

The event of the night was a twenty-round contest between Tommy Ryan of Syracuse and Charles "Kid" McCoy. Ryan was well known to the short-haired fraternity, as he has taken part in a number of battles in local clubs. His science and hitting powers were not disputed, and with the "Fancy" he was a general favorite. McCoy, however, was not without supporters. His reputation had made him famous, and his friends expected him to win. It was conceded that while a hard hitter, he was not so skilful with his hands as Ryan, and that his chief strength lay in his ability to land a heavy chance blow. When the sports began to take their rolls out, it was found that the prevailing odds were 4 to 1 on the Syracuse man, with considerable coin placed on the short end.

The preliminary "go" was an eight-round affair, at 126 pounds, between Jack Downey, a local boxer, and Larry Burns of Cohoes. Downey has always been a pretty tough customer, but in Burns it was predicted that he would meet his master, and Larry's adherents claimed that the bout wouldn't last over five rounds. Delegations of enthusiasts from Syracuse and Cohoes were on hand to root for Ryan and Burns, respectively, and they backed their favorites freely.

The little fellows were ready to go on at 9 o'clock. Tim Hurst, as usual, was the referee, Frank Freeman the timer, and Charley Harvey the master of ceremonies. There were about 3,000 spectators present when the men shook hands.

FIRST ROUND.--Downey led, but fell short. He swung a right that was wild and got a left in the mouth. Burns shot his left to the ear and a clinch followed. Downey then landed a left on the head and got a right counter on the neck. They exchanged lefts and Downey landed a good right on the body. Burns ran into a clinch and on the break he swung a right onto the ear, evening up the score.

SECOND ROUND.--Burns led with a left on the breast, which was followed by a rapid exchange of swings at close quarters. Burns got in a heavy left straight on the mouth, and drove his right to the ribs. Jack then came up with two straight lefts in the face and ran away from a heavy right. He also ducked away from a hard swing and laughed.

THIRD ROUND.--Downey landed a left on the face. He rushed, but Burns got away nicely. Jack came on again and received a hot jab in the mouth. Again he rushed, and this time landed his right on the heart. Downey tried a right swing, but it was very wild, and Burns cracked him in the eye with a hot left. This was Downey's round.

FOURTH ROUND.--Downey's lead was well stopped. So was a fierce rush. Downey landed a hard right on the head and got a good left in the mouth. Burns rushed and a fierce exchange of swings followed. Downey got in a corking left on the throat and Burns's left went too high. Burns had Downey on the ropes when the bell rang.

FIFTH ROUND.--Downey's left found the neck. It also landed on the mouth, and Burns sent his right to the heart. They got to close quarters, and Burns had the better of the mix up. Burns cut loose, and with a heavy right on the neck he knocked Downey to the floor. Jack got up and by clinching and hugging stayed out the round.

SIXTH ROUND.--Burns put a right over the heart. They indulged in give-and-take slugging until Downey clinched. Downey swung a right on the neck and got a terrific punch in the ribs that made him grunt. Jack was still in it, however, for he fought back with all the strength in his body. Burns gave him a warm argument and had the round well in hand.

SEVENTH ROUND.--Downey led and landed his left. Burns cut loose, and with some great blows on the head he drove Downey to the ropes. Jack came back in good style and landed his left heavily on the neck. Burns then got into a mix-up, and with a hard right staggered his opponent, who quickly clinched. They got closer, and Burns hammered his man for keeps until the bell rang.

EIGHTH ROUND.--They shook hands in a friendly way. Downey led, and they began slugging right and left. Downey piled his left on the face until a right-hander on the neck made him clinch. Burns's rushes were for the most part stopped by clever ducking. Burns finally landed a heavy right on the neck, and Downey staggered. He recovered in a second and went at it hammer-and-tongs. They were clinched at the bell.

The referee decided the bout a draw, which was satisfactory to the crowd.

Everybody was on tiptoe now for the big battle. The building was so cold that black bottles were at a premium while the sports waited.

Both fighters were well cared for. Ryan was in the hands of Charley White, Tom Cawley, Kid Lavigne, and Sam Fitzpatrick. McCoy's esquires were Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstrom, and Brooklyn Jimmy Carroll. Ryan said he weighed 148 pounds, and McCoy tipped the beam at 155. Ryan was the first to enter the ring, followed closely by his opponent. They were ready to begin at 10 o'clock.

FIRST ROUND.--Ryan led with a left on the breast, and McCoy put both hands on the head. Ryan rushed, landing his right well on the neck, but McCoy got away cleverly from the blows that followed. McCoy tried for the wind and fell short. They exchanged lefts, and Ryan got in a right on the body. Ryan rushed, and McCoy nailed him on the ear with a great right, forcing him to clinch. It was a beautiful bit of sparring.

SECOND ROUND.--Ryan's left fell short. Tommy avoided a rush in superb style, and the crowd roared with delight. Light sparring was followed by a great right, that landed on Ryan's body. McCoy then landed a straight left on the jaw and swung his right to the ear with great force. Ryan rushed into a left that sent his head back, and then clinched. McCoy's cleverness was a surprise, and he was loudly applauded as he sat down. It was his round.

THIRD ROUND.--Ryan got in a light left on the mouth and ran half way around the ring to avoid the Kid's rush. Tommy came closer then and sent in left and right to the face and neck until the referee had to break the boxers. McCoy drove his right cleanly to the face, and Ryan then mixed it up with honors about even. Ryan avoided two hot rushes most cleverly, and then drove a hard right to the ribs. McCoy sent in a rib-roaster just as the bell rang.

FOURTH ROUND.--Ryan rushed in to a clinch. Then McCoy did the same. Ryan put his right over the heart, and the Kid smashed his man on the ear. Ryan put in both hands on the face and McCoy swung hard for the jaw, but missed. Ryan rushed his man to the ropes and crossed McCoy on the jaw with his right. McCoy's left sent Ryan's head back and drew blood from the lips.

FIFTH ROUND.--Ryan rushed fiercely and McCoy clinched at once. McCoy sent in a right upper cut on the jaw and Tommy's teeth chattered. Ryan put his right over the heart and got a heavy counter on the nose. McCoy then landed a great right on the neck and sent in two terrific swings on the jaw that almost knocked Ryan down. Ryan made up for this with a punch on the jaw that made McCoy see stars. It was a hot fight.

SIXTH ROUND.--Ryan fell down while avoiding a rush. When he got up he sent his left flush into the mouth and received two heavy swings on the head. McCoy jabbed his left into the face, and Ryan came to close quarters. McCoy's blows were so hot, however, that Ryan ran away and was chased around the ring. Ryan tried the wind, but McCoy showed a clever defence and was smiling when he took his corner.

SEVENTH ROUND.--Ryan got in a great body punch and made McCoy wince. Ryan then rushed his man to the ropes and landed left and right on the body. McCoy did not like this and clinched. hard. Ryan rushed with both gloves, landing on the neck, but McCoy sent back his left hard on the mouth. Ryan shot in a left on the jaw and McCoy slipped down. He took a couple of seconds to get up and then clinched. He was not groggy, but far from strong. The body blows were telling.

EIGHTH ROUND.--McCoy's rush was neatly stopped. Then Ryan got in a terrific right on the cheek an inch above the jaw. McCoy sent in his right to the stomach and then rushed, but Ryan ran away. Ryan staggered McCoy with a left on the jaw, but the Kid came back with a heavy one on the mouth which made Tommy see stars. McCoy then caught Ryan on the jaw with a right and knocked him flat. He got up within the limit and the bell saved him.

NINTH ROUND.--McCoy sailed in and landed a tremendous left on the jaw. Ryan came back and got a right in the body, his own left finding the neck. McCoy rushed again and with two fearful rights on the jaw he knocked Ryan down. Tommy got up in eight seconds and fought like a madman. But he got some terrible blows and was groggy when the bell rang.

TENTH ROUND.--Ryan rushed his man to the ropes. McCoy, however, got in a left uppercut on the throat, and banged Ryan all around the ring. Tommy rushed, but McCoy gave him a left under the ear and sent his right across until Ryan was so dazed that he didn't know where he was. McCoy came again, and slugged his opponent until Tommy's face was covered with blood, but Ryan was as game as a pebble.

ELEVENTH ROUND.--McCoy's rush was blocked, but after the break he drove his left straight to the mouth and drew a fresh supply of blood. Ryan worked at the body well and hit McCoy on the head, but the Kid only laughed. Ryan rushed in to two swings, and his face was a sight. McCoy didn't have a mark. Ryan was still strong on his legs and game to the core. He was taking an awful punishing.

TWELFTH ROUND.--McCoy landed a hot right on the ear, cutting it open. Then he drove his left to the neck and stopped Ryan's left. Ryan was desperate, but he was evidently up against it. McCoy slugged him again on the jaw, and the Syracuse man was all but out. McCoy rushed him to the ropes and sent him down with a left hook on the point of the jaw, but Ryan got up and was ready to continue when the bell rang.

THIRTEENTH ROUND.--Ryan ran away when McCoy rushed. Then he landed a good right on the head. He tried it again, and got a right on the head from McCoy that made him real. McCoy also sent in a heavy right over the heart, and Tommy ran away. Ryan stopped a moment and McCoy caught him on the jaw with a right, but still Ryan was on his feet. McCoy rushed once more, and Ryan ran until he slipped to the floor. He was trying to stay the twenty rounds.

FOURTEENTH ROUND.--Ryan's left eye was closed and his mouth was twice its natural size. McCoy opened with a right on the ribs, and then banged the jaw with a left. McCoy drove his left into the stomach at least a half a dozen times, and Ryan could not return the compliment. McCoy came to close quarters, and they exchanged short arm punches on the head. McCoy knocked Ryan against the ropes just as the time was up.

FIFTEENTH ROUND.--McCoy's left found the stomach. Ryan's left fell short. Then he landed it on the neck, but too low. McCoy drove a heavy left to the jaw and right to the eye, and Ryan fell down, almost out. He got up inside of the limit, and McCoy caught him with a right on the jaw and knocked him down again. Ryan got up once more, but was so weak that when he came in contact with McCoy's gloves he fell down for the last time and was counted out.

The referee gave the fight to McCoy amid great cheering.


1896-03-03 The World (New York, NY) (page 10)

M'COY WAS A SURPRISE.
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He Knocked Out Ryan in Fifteen Rounds in the Empire Arena.
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BEATEN MAN THE BETTOR'S CHOICE.
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From the Start the Memphis Boxer Took the Lead, and Several Times the Gong Saved the Syracuse Man.
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DOWNEY AND BURNS FOUGHT A DRAW.
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The Attendance Not Large, but the Crowd Was Furnished with Some Very Lively Work.
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To the profound surprise of all the gentlemen who go down into the wilds of Long Island to see men fight at the Empire Athletic Club, Mr. "Kid" McCoy knocked out Mr. Thomas Ryan last night with great thoroughness, after fifteen fierce rounds.

It was generally believed that Mr. McCoy, who comes from Memphis, Tenn., would prove an interesting mark for Mr. Ryan, and the little betting that went on was 2 to 1 in Ryan's favor.

The Tennessean was a revelation, however, and during the fifteen rounds set a swift pace for his adversary. In the tenth round Ryan was only saved by the gong. He was finally finished by a right and left punch in the jaw.

Ryan was the first to show up. He jumped into the ring at 9.55, accompanied by Charley White, "Kid" Lavigne, Sam Fitzpatrick and Tom Cawley, of Syracuse. McCoy followed thirty seconds afterwards, accompanied by Steve O'Donnell, Maurice Hagerstrom and "Brooklyn" Jimmy Carroll.

The betting was pretty brisk and all in Ryan's favor. Several bets were made at odds of $200 to $100 and $75 to $100. There was plenty of money on both sides, and each seemed to be confident. The men weighed 154 pounds each. They shook hands at 10.05 o'clock.

Round One--Ryan led off with a left tap on the face. After sparring for half a minute, McCoy landed left on face. In a rally McCoy put his right on the face. Ryan rushed McCoy in the latter's corner, and McCoy again got his right to the face.

Round Two--Ryan led off with left very light on body. McCoy sent in a very hot right on body after a lot of fiddling and then landed right and left on face. McCoy followed up with his right on neck and left on face. Ryan sent his right to the body, and McCoy was chasing him round the ring when the gong stopped the race.

Round Three--Ryan put his left on body. In a hot rally Ryan got in right and left on McCoy's face, putting him to the ropes. McCoy put his right on the body and left on the face. Infighting followed, but no damage was done. McCoy chased Ryan twice around the ring and landed three times with right on back of Ryan's head. He then put a stiff one on the body, and at the end of round Ryan got his right in on wind.

Round Four--Ryan led right on body. McCoy countered with right on face. Ryan landed right on body and McCoy crossed right on side of head. McCoy landed right on body; both countered on body and face. Ryan led left for body and McCoy countered left on neck.

Round Five--At the opening both rushed matters, landing rights and lefts on body and face. Ryan sent his left to the wind and McCoy sent his right back on body. McCoy landed left on face and right on body. Ryan swung right for head but McCoy ducked cleverly. Ryan landed right on body. Ryan ran around the ring, with McCoy hitting him with right and left until Ryan fell. They were in a hot rally when time was called.

Round Six--Ryan began by running around, and fell down. McCoy fell on top of him. Ryan led left for body, and fell short. McCoy put left on neck; then he landed right and left on face, and the crowd cheered. Ryan rushed at McCoy, who met him with a left-hand jab in the neck. Ryan then ran into a straight left, on the face, and the bell ended the round.

Round Seven--In a rally, both landed rights and lefts on body. Ryan once more pushed his face into McCoy's left-hand jabs. McCoy hit him twice more on the face with the left. Ryan landed right and left on body. McCoy slipped to one knee and took his time in getting up. The men were clinched when the gong sounded.

Round Eight--Ryan led left on face, and McCoy sent a good left back on the same place. McCoy put in four straight lefts on Ryan's body. Ryan got his right on the wind. McCoy got his right and left to the neck in a mix up and then sent his left on the jaw. McCoy sent his left hard to the chin and Ryan went to his knees. He took his full time in getting up and gong sounded after he got up. The crowd cheered loudly for McCoy.

Round Nine--Ryan rushed and McCoy hit him flush on the face twice. McCoy landed right and left on face and fought Ryan all over the ring. Ryan fell from the effects of a right hand blow on the head. McCoy rushed and tried to land a knock-out. McCoy punched Ryan right and left on face and body and had him bleeding from the mouth and ear at the end of the round.

Round Ten--McCoy began by jabbing his left twice in the face and then punched Ryan right and left on face and neck. Ryan then received some fearful blows right and left on the face and jaw. It looked as if McCoy would put Ryan out with a right and left hand smash, but the gong still found Ryan on his feet.

Round Eleven--McCoy kept up his right and left hand jabs. Ryan's face was puffed up and his mouth was bleeding profusely. McCoy was as clean as when he began, and there was not a mark on his face or body. Ryan managed to get in a right on the neck, but McCoy had it all his own way.

Round Twelve--McCoy led off with right and left on head and then sent his left twice very quickly on the neck and his right on face. Right and left hand swings from McCoy on Ryan's face made the Syracuse man groggy. McCoy knocked him down with a right-hand upper-cut. Ryan stayed down nine seconds. He hugged McCoy until the end of the round.

Round Thirteen--McCoy landed a right-hand upper-cut on neck and put his left on side of head. McCoy kept chasing Ryan around the ring and hit him on the head and neck repeatedly. McCoy was still without a scratch.

Round Fourteen--Ryan landed left on body and McCoy did the same. McCoy jabbed his left twice on body and right on jaw. Ryan ran away once more, but McCoy cornered him. McCoy sent his left twice to the wind and right and left on neck twice over.

Round Fifteen--McCoy jabbed his left three times on the wind and swung his right on head, and after this it was all over. He landed a left on the jaw, and Ryan went down at the ropes. He got up as the referee counted ten, but it was his last attempt, as McCoy sent right and left on face and jaw, putting him down and out. He tried to get up, but he was done for, and the referee counted him out.

Ryan was carried back to his corner in a badly battered condition and had to be helped out of the ring.

Referee Hurst declared McCoy the winner. Time of last round, 1 minute 54 seconds. McCoy, when he returned to his dressing-room, did not show a mark on any part of his body.

Sporting men as a rule will brave all sorts of discomforts and dangers to see a good fight. There was almost a blizzard on Long Island last night, but even this circumstance did not seriously interfere with the attendance. The Syracuse men were Ryan badges, while the Troy delegation had on strips of blue ribbon, upon which the words "True Blue is Larry Burns" were printed.

Larry Burns's opponent in the first bout, Jack Downey, of Brooklyn, appeared to have few admirers. The boxers were very polite to each other. Burns by accident drove his elbow into the other fellow's eye during the first round. It was not until the third round that the young men warmed up. This was most natural, since it was exceedingly cold in the arena. Downey had an advantage up to the beginning of the fifth round, when Burns was instructed to cut loose. Politeness gave way to slugging, and Referee Tim Hurst had a hard job keeping the boxers apart. Burns scored one clean knockdown and was otherwise rude. Downey was full of fight in the sixth round, and he made a good impression. Burns did some effective work with his right hand in the seventh round. He might have left the other one at home for all the damage it did.

There was plenty of excitement during the concluding round, the eighth, and the contest was declared a draw. The up-the-State celebrity was rather fortunate, everything considered, for Downey did nearly all of the leading and certainly had a shade the better of the affair.

1906-03-01 Sam Langford W-KO15 Larry Temple [Lincoln Athletic Club, Chelsea, MA, USA]

1906-03-02 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 2)
1906-03-02 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 9) (same report)

LANGFORD PUTS TEMPLE AWAY IN 15TH ROUND
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Sam Langford knocked out his bitter rival, Larry Temple, in the 15th and last round of their contest at the Lincoln Club, Chelsea, last night, defeat staring Temple out of countenance with 40 seconds to go. This was their third battle, the other two having been fought at Marlboro last year, one resulting in a draw and the other in a victory for Temple.

This time Langford more than turned the tables, for he gave Larry a very decisive drubbing. Temple was in bad shape before the contest, suffering from a heavy and severe cold. His manager, Reddy Jimmy Mason, wanted him to stall and not fight hard, but Larry insisted that he would do his best.

It was Langford all the way and all the time after the second round. Sam never fought better. His left hand lead was very strong, accurate and powerful, and his right smash to the jaw worked disastrously on Larry's face. But his most effective punch was a bang to the kidneys when they came to close quarters.

It was a fine exhibition of short range fighting. Langford was all to the good and the merry at this style and had it on Larry on every occasion. The loop-the-loop punch was worked, but, of course, it did little or no damage, but there was sharp, quick uppercuts and half-arm jolts which made Larry wince. Langford drove home many a good left hand smash to the pit of the abdomen.

The fight was more or less of a dreamy affair through the 14th round. Both principals were active enough, but while Langford had a good lead, yet there was no real great advantage. In the last round Temple went out and took a chance at slugging, but got more than he bargained for. He was hammered down three times and finally again, to go over on his back while Maffett Flaherty declared Laughing Ho! Ho! Sam the winner much to his delight and to the joy of his chief second, and the discomfiture of Jerry Callahan who had another loser.

There was a very small crowd present, proving that two colored boxers as a main card will not draw in Chelsea. Temple got a good beating and was in a state of collapse for some minutes after the contest. Langford got the decision, but that's about all, as it is whispered that he will not indulge in more than a dozen champagne suppers right off the reel.

Two bouts in the 115-pound competition were held. In the first Bobby Burne defeated J. Cunningham in one round. An extra round was needed in the second and John Shea won from Mike Wall.

The preliminary between Gus Ross and Dick McDonald went to McDonald, but how the decision was ever reached is beyond comprehension. Ross was the aggressor and in four of the six rounds punched McDonald from post to post and back again and around and about. McDonald made a good rally in the last round, but not nearly big enough to even obtain a draw. The decision was handed out as a joke, but it was a poor joke to give Ross, who has good points, such discouraging treatment.


1906-03-02 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 14)

LANGFORD STOPS LARRY TEMPLE
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BOSTON, March 2.--Sam Langford knocked out Larry Temple in the fifteenth and last round of their fight at the Lincoln A. C. last night. It was Langford's fight in nearly every round, and the wonder was the amount of pummeling Temple stood up under. Temple showed good in the sixth and seventh rounds, but that was the limit of his aggressiveness.

After the tenth Temple was in a bad way, but he was game to the core. Langford went after a knockout when the fifteenth opened and rained a perfect volley of right and left punches, with an occasional swing, until he hit the right spot, just forty seconds before the end of the last round.


1906-03-02 The Pittsburg Press (Pittsburgh, PA) (page 22)

LARRY TEMPLE KNOCKED OUT
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Sam Langford Won a Fierce Fight in the Fifteenth Round
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Boston, March 2. -- Larry Temple, of Pittsburg, had all the worst of his 15-round bout with Sam Langford at the Lincoln A. C. last night, and was knocked out in the last round. He started with an evident determination to make good, but was no match for Langford, and the only rounds in which he showed up well were the sixth and seventh, in which he went at Langford with a series of lively rushes. Langford was inside them all through, and his jabs and crosses were too much for the Pittsburg man. In the eleventh Langford went down with a snappy right cross to the jaw by Temple.

In the fifteenth Temple went in for a rally and started to mix things up. He get in a few on Langford, but the latter quickly evened up by sending him to the floor. Temple again went down, but come up with a rush, only to get a right to the jaw that sent him down again for the full count. He got up and started to go at it again, but Referee Flaherty sent him to his corner, announcing it was a knockout.



1906-03-17 The National Police Gazette (New York, NY) (page 7)

TEMPLE KNOCKED OUT.
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Driving his opponent to the mat five times in a fifteen-round bout, and sending him into dreamland in the last minute of the final round, Sam Langford disposed of Larry Temple at Chelsea, Mass., on March 1.

Temple was a 10 to 8 favorite, but after the first round it was apparent to the crowd that Langford had improved wonderfully in his guarding, sidestepping and walloping, and barring accidents, he looked a certain winner.

Temple received a bad beating throughout the bout, but the whirlwind tactics and heavy hitting of both fighters served to keep the crowd on edge. In the fifteenth round, though badly tired, Temple started to mix things up with the Bostonian, and the result was that Langford handed him a swift wallop on the jaw forty seconds before the call of time. Temple took the count and many seconds besides before arising from the mat.