1906-10-30 Abe Attell W-PTS20 Harry Baker [Naud Junction Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA, USA]

1906-10-31 Los Angeles Daily Times (Los Angeles, CA) (page 6)

ABE ATTELL RECEIVES DECISION OVER BAKER.
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Referee Robinson's Ruling Unpopular and Draw Would Have Suited the Crowd Better But Baker Was Not Robbed--Great Defense Fight.
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If Attell had fought as Baker did, there would have been no fight, for both would have been busy covering up and defending themselves. Baker would jab and jump away and cover up. Attell was willing at all times to fight or box, and did the best he could to make Baker fight. There were no fouls that I could see. At times when Attell led for the stomach, Baker would jump up, presumedly to receive the blow foul. It would have been easy for me to have given a popular decision by calling it a draw and so have saved myself from the enmity of a part of the crowd, but I was there to do my duty, and I did it as I saw it, regardless of what others had to say or thought.--Referee Eddie Robinson.

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Abe Attell is still featherweight champion of the world. He retained the title by receiving the decision over Harry Baker at the end of twenty rounds of the fastest fighting ever seen here, before the Pacific Athletic Club, last night.

The decision was unpopular to many persons in the large crowd present. Referee Eddie Robinson would have pleased the spectators as a whole much better had he declared the fight a draw.

Harry Baker collapsed when he heard the decision and fell crying into the arms of his two brothers. The decision did more to damage him than all the blows Attell rained on him. After the fight he was roundly cheered and given the commiseration of many friends.

To many, Robinson was the most unpopular man in the house, and cries of "Lynch him!" resounded from all over the house, and many vile epithets were hurled at him.

BAKER'S GAME BATTLE.

Baker put up a game fight and his defeat is no disgrace. He was beaten by the champion largely because he was champion.

Attell never went against such a hard man to hit as Baker. The latter appeared all arms and hands, and wherever Attell swung, hooked or jabbed there was a glove or elbow to meet it. And from that cycle of defense often darted a gloved hand, hooking Attell in the nose or jaw.

But with his defense and left jab, Baker's chief virtues are told. His right cut little figure in the contest, while the jabs did not hurt Attell. At no time in the fight did Baker have a chance to put Attell out, while on two or three occasions, had Baker's defense been vulnerable at any point, Attell might have turned the trick.

The decision went to the champion, and if a decision needs must have been made, it was the only way it could have gone. A draw would have pleased better, but there are none who can say, all things considered, that Baker was robbed. The shade was with Attell.

WASP AND A HORNET.

It was a battle between a wasp and a hornet and both stung and stung, yet missed many attacks. The defense was so good that it became monotonous, the crowd wanted heavier battle. Jabs, upper-cuts, swings, hooks--all largely went astray or impacted against glove, arm or shoulders. The story of the rounds is worthless, for it was a repetition of leads and counters with blocks and ducks--and yet no damage done. It was not a popular fight to those who sighed for gore, but it was a marvelous exhibition of self-defense. At the latter game Baker was the best. Even in footwork he was not far behind the shifty Attell. But at the infighting and the rough going Abe had the better of it.

In every rally Attell was the aggressor, but Baker usually led with his left. Attell always looked for an opening, but it never came. Even when he drove Baker furiously to the ropes, the marvelous defense of the latter did not allow an opening of serious consequence and Harry fought back furiously.

There were four terrific rallies that brought the crowd to its feet. In each of them Abe backed Baker into a corner and the milling was something furious. Twice Referee Robinson and the seconds had to pull the men apart because they had not heard the bell and continued fighting. In the last round a final rally was made and the men stood on pretty even terms although Baker was slowly retreating.

ATTELL KNOCKED DOWN.

Baker scored the only knockdown, and it was a doubtful one at that. He caught Attell on the left shoulder as the latter was going away, and Abe went back on the floor, partly slipping. Once Attell staggered Baker with a right swing to the jaw, but Harry covered up and avoided further punishment at the time.

Too much praise cannot be given Baker for the wonderful defense he put up. He met the greatest boxer in the profession, and at times he made him look cheap. The styles of the two men are decidedly different. Baker flings his arms about like a flail and dances in a manner disconcerting to his opponent. He covers up splendidly, and it was impossible for Attell to hit him a fair blow in that condition. Attell, on the other hand, stands out with his guard down, depending on footwork, ducking, and blocking when in close for a defense.

In the early rounds baker actually made Attell appear amateurish by poking out a series of long left leads into his face, and then covering perfectly on Abe's return. But his aggressiveness soon wore away to a large extent, while Attell forced the fighting. Baker was backing away most of the time, but shot out that left jab until Abe's nose was very sore and his mouth bleeding. Many times Attell's head went back from a long jab, and he was unable to reach the elusive Baker.

Attell's generalship was decidedly the better. He was confident and at times appeared almost careless, but there was method in it. He kidded Baker at times, and in the ninth, after Baker had claimed a foul, he called Harry a "cry baby." He even turned to those at the ringside and asked them, "Did you ever see a cry baby?" but Baker was prepared for such tactics and came back with a "kid" when the round closed.

ATTELL MISJUDGED.

Attell got in bad at the start, because the crowd did not know what was going on in the ring while the principals were being weighed. Attell failed to tip the beam, but Baker raised it, with his ring paraphernalia on. Attell at once protested, and Baker weighed with his shoes off, just tipping the beam. Attell demanded that Baker weigh 122 pounds with his fighting clothes on, but Manager McCarey declared that it was his decision that Baker could weigh in stripped, if necessary, so that he was under the notch that way.

Attell argued that he had the right to insist that Baker weigh even with his gloves on, but finally gave in, provided that both men give their true weight, so that the figures could be known. Attell weighed just 120½, while Baker weighed 122½, each with his ring costume on. This fact was not announced to the crowd, for Manager McCarey, fearing a possible disturbance, instructed Cook to say that both men were under weight.

As the battle progressed the crowd repeatedly demanded that Baker he given the decision on a foul. Attell did hit a few taps below the belt, but on practically every occasion Baker jumped up, thus diverting the blow; or the glove glanced downward from Baker's elbows. Baker kicked strenuously, and looked to be distressed by the blows, but Robinson would not allow the claim, much to the disgust of partisans of Baker. None of the blows did any damage. Once Baker was guilty of holding Attell's gloved hand, and was warned, but did not repeat the offense.

STORY OF THE FIGHT.

There is little to say in telling the story of the fight. Baker would jab and cover; then Attell would get in close and try for an opening at the infighting. Baker scored first. He jabbed Attell twice before the latter had time to think of what was coming. Then he feinted for an opening, at the same time keeping well covered. Attell got a left to the face, but Baker came back with his jabs, and then Abe sent his right across lightly.

In the second round Baker started again with a left to the nose, and kept up his jabbing. Both landed heavily in an exchange, but the main force of the blows was blocked. Then Baker sent Attell to the floor in a neutral corner by a left to the shoulder, but Abe was up like a flash and laughed.

The fierce mix-ups began in the third round and both tried hard to land, but could do little damage. baker began jabbing again, but Attell protected his jaws and his hands, allowed Baker to jab him repeatedly, and when close waded in with fierce rights and lefts, some of which got past Baker's guard. In the fifth Attell began a slam-bang process of lefts in the ribs and right uppercuts to the face in the clinches. It was here that the first claim of foul occurred.

During the next few rounds Baker made a better showing, if anything, than Attell, but the veteran was not distressed and calmly bided his time.

FIRST ADVANTAGE.

The eleventh round showed the first decided advantage, when Attell landed the hardest blow of the fight to Baker's jaw and followed it with a second. Baker came back with a hard right to the side of the head. Attell bored in hard, and tried to rattle Baker by nodding his head in a way to make it appear as though Baker were hardly hurt.

The next round also was Attell's and Baker showed signs of being tired and did not come so strong with his left jabs. Attell landed a left to the eye and staggered Baker with a right to the jaw. The first big rally occurred in this round and the crowd went wild. Attell forced the fighting but Baker came back hard.

In the fifteenth round there was more heavy fighting and Attell drove Baker about the ring and into the latter's corner. Robinson had to separate them at the bell. In the sixteenth Attell started another rally, but the bell cut it short. Baker appeared much stronger, though he was not as fresh as Attell. In the eighteenth and nineteenth rounds there were more rallies, the one in the nineteenth being the fiercest of the fight. It was a terrible mix-up and the blows fell so fast that there was absolutely no chance to record them. Again Robinson had to separate the men, many blows being landed after the bell tapped.

The twentieth saw both men attempting a great finish, but for half the round the defense was so grand that it was impossible to get in close. Finally Attell started it going again in a neutral corner and they exchanged the hardest series of blows of the battle. Baker landed two to the face and one to the body that counted, while Attell landed many to the body with telling effect, and one or two to the head.

Robinson lifted Attell's hand, and pandemonium broke loose.

Kid Solomon wants to fight the winner and was given a good reception when he appeared in the ring with his challenge.

DALTON BEATS SHEEK.

After a terrific battle, during which the crowd was kept on its feet cheering the contestants every minute of the time, Kid Dalton landed a right swing under Frank Sheek's heart in the fifth round of what was to have been a ten-round semi-wind-up, and then literally battered the game easterner to the mat. It was youth and strength against age and a cool, calculating head; and the former won.

For four rounds Sheek seemed to play with Dalton and it looked as though he was a sure winner, but it proved to be a flash out of the pan and stamina won. Dalton took all the roughing Sheek could hand out, while the latter gradually wore down. The body blow caught him in a weakened condition and he could fight no more. Fearing a trick, Dalton's seconds instructed the latter to rush in and finish the job, thus meting out needless punishment to Sheek. Never has such terrible infighting been indulged in and Sheek always came out best, but he finally collapsed.

This is Sheek's first battle in two years and a half, and the veteran made an excellent showing. After the fight Dalton's two brothers rushed into the ring and kissed him effusively on the cheek. Caesar Dalton and Billy Conroy challenged the winner.

HANEY COUNTED OUT.

Jack Brown had no difficulty in beating Mike Haney in the first round of what was to have been a six-round go, as the first preliminary. Toward the end of the round Brown handed Haney a right swing on the jaw as the latter came on in a rush, and Mike went down on his face and rolled over on his back. As Robinson told off the seconds Haney rose to one knee, but Mike's head refused to clear and the count of ten found him unable to get to his feet. It was a good fight while it lasted, but Haney was rather slow in carrying the punch and Brown usually beat him to it. Both landed some good blows, but Brown got there first. Kid McClelland challenged the winner.


1906-10-31 Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, CA) (pages 5, 8)

DECISION GOES TO ATTELL AT END OF TWENTIETH ROUND
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BAKER SHOWS REMARKABLE FORM
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Judgment of Referee Robinson Creates Some Dissatisfaction Although Abe Had Good Shade on Opponent--Both End with Knockout
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BY ED MORIARTY

Amid a wild outburst of protest Abe Attell left the ring at Naud Junction pavilion last night, declared a winner over Harry Baker, after one of the cleanest decisions ever rendered at the local arena. Baker fought a wonderfully clever battle, but Attell's readiness to mix at all times and the runaway tactics of Baker were somewhat overlooked in sympathy for the short end boy, who surprised his most ardent friends by the clever exhibition which he gave last night.

That Baker puzzled his crafty opponent is beyond question, but a close study of the battle reveals that Attell's class showed strongly in the closing rounds when he outgeneraled the lightning youngster before him. Attell met a dangerous ringster last night and one that called for every trick and turn which the wonderful ability of Attell entails.

Many thought that a draw decision should have been rendered and harshly criticized Robinson for his judgment. The latter probably realized that a decision in favor of Attell would raise an outcry, and was in a position to make himself strong with no small number of those who witnessed the tie. That he rendered the decision which he did in the face of certain opposition should stamp him at least with the mark of courageous convictions.

Baker with his wonderful left reached Attell's face with clever persistency, and in the second round sent Abe to the floor with a stiff right, which landed flush on the chin. That knockdown blow sent Baker adherents wild with delight and predictions of a victory, for Harry followed close thereon.

What age Baker might have gained in the opening rounds was more than bridged by Attell after the tenth, when Harry covered constantly as Attell went after him.

That Baker is the cleverest blocker ever seen in a local ring goes without a question after last night's battle, but the fact that Attell landed the most blows by a good shade and was willing and anxious at all times to mix while Harry showed a strong inclination to block during a major portion of practically every one of the closing rounds appeared to warrant a strong shade decision in favor of Attell.

As a whirlwind battle the exhibition cannot be classed with either the Attell-Neil contest or the Baker-Neil battle. Both men were superlatively clever and they left the ring without a scratch.

Baker's poise last night was one of the prettiest spectacles witnessed hereabouts in many a day. In and out like a flash blocking with marvelous surety the rising youngster proved that he must be strongly reckoned with in the days to come.

Probably a lack or confidence lost for Baker last night, as after staying with Attell for ten fast rounds he slowed perceptibly and evidenced a disposition to let Abe do the forcing. Had he opened in slashing fashion there is no telling what might have happened as the Attell boy did not appear to weaken him to a perceptible extent.

There is a strong suspicion that Attell was not the same Attell who fought Frankie Neil on the memorable Fourth of July afternoon. Abe entered the ring appearing drawn and although he proved equally as strong as Baker did not exhibit the strength which marked his former battle.

Attell went viciously for Baker just before the gong sounded on several rounds and Referee Robinson was assisted by Baker's seconds in pulling the men apart as they lashed viciously at one another heedless of the bell.

Both preliminaries ended before the limit. Jack Browne required less than three minutes to knock out young Haney, as shortly before the gong sounded on the first round he caught the latter a rousing wallop in the kidneys and followed it with a right to the jaw, which dropped Haney for the count.

Kid Dalton climbed another rung on the ladder when he sent Frank Sheek down and out in the fifth round of their scheduled ten period match. Dalton again proved that he possesses a powerful punch, and nailed Sheek after that worthy had threatened to prove an obstacle. Sheek appeared a husky boxer, with a gorilla length of arm.

Several times Sheek staggered Dalton with stiff punches to the face, and had secured a good lead as the gong sounded for the fifth. At the opening Dalton put Sheek down with a left to the face, though the latter was on his feet in an instant. Sheek put two lefts to the face, but his steam was gone, and Dalton went after him in a hurry. The Italian landed a terrific right to the kidneys and Sheek doubled in pain. Dalton followed his advantage and a moment later had Sheek down for the count.

Following the preliminary affairs the crowd waited impatiently for the coming of Attell and Baker. Abe was first in the ring and Baker came shortly after.

Some trouble resulted at the weighing in, as Baker, minus his shoes, was half a pound over the limit. Attell weighed but one hundred and twenty pounds and a half and entered some objection.

As the men were not held to scale with their fighting togs on both were declared under weight.

The opening round proved that a fast exhibition was in order. Both men were clever and Baker showed exceptionally speedy with gloves and feet. In the second Baker's right caught Attell on the chin, sending him to the floor.

Furious fighting occurred in the tenth when Baker put a hard left to Attell's stomach, Abe coming back with a rush, and in the mixup both men went through the ropes as the gong sounded.

From the tenth on Attell appeared to open and went after Baker at all stages of the game. Spectators were treated to something extra when after several rounds both men tore at each other, not realizing that the gong had sounded.

Baker displayed keen judgment in avoiding Attell's leads, though Abe landed more often than did Harry. Robinson was constantly obliged to be on the watch for blows appearing dangerously foul. Attell sent in more than one low lead, though Baker was in the main responsible, as he contracted a jumping back trick of meeting Attell's blows.

Each round from the tenth on was practically a repetition, Attell forcing the battle and landing a greater number of leads, while Baker pecked away and was content to cover during a major portion of the time.

FIGHT BY ROUNDS
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BY ED JORGENSON

Round One

Attell leads with a left to the face and men come to a clinch, both using their lefts to the body. Baker dances away and comes in with a hard left to Attell's stomach. As they clinch Attell fights, using right and left and lands with a right uppercut in the break away. Attell misses a left swing and goes to a clinch, Baker uppercutting at the gong.

Round Two

They rushed to a clinch, Baker blocking a right swing to the head. An exchange of lefts to the face occurs and Baker blocks prettily, getting away from Attell. Baker sends in a left and closes, Attell fighting in the clinch. Baker lands a left to the face and follows it with two lefts to the face. Baker staggers Attell with right to the jaw. Attell misses a left swing and slips to the floor. Baker shoots in a left to the face.

Round Three

Baker lands a hard right to the jaw and shoots a left to the stomach. Baker slips to the canvas. Attell lands two lefts to the jaw. Baker puts in a left and they go to a clinch. Attell fights furiously, using right and left.

Round Four

The men meet In the middle of the ring and fiddle for an opening. Baker lands a light left on Attell's face, but Abe comes back with a left to the stomach and face. Attell goes in, rushing Baker, and they clinch. Attell gets in a right uppercut to the stomach, and they break and clinch again. Baker shoots in a left to the stomach, but Attell lands a left to the head. Baker dances around, but lands his right on Attell's head and body. Baker puts in left to the face and gets away. Baker shoots right and left to the body and Attell closes in, fighting furiously at the tap of the gong.

Round Five

Attell opens with a left to the face and goes to a clinch, swinging his left to the stomach. Attell jabs two light lefts to the face and swings a low left to the stomach. Baker goes back and Attell gets in another left to the stomach. The men break, clinch, break and clinch again and in the clinch Attell lands right hook on to the jaw. Baker puts in a left to the face and dances away. As they come to a clinch Baker misses a left uppercut.

Round Six

Attell lands a left to the stomach and gets away. Attell puts in two hard lefts to the stomach and Baker lands a hard right swing to the jaw. Baker puts a left to the face and goes into a clinch. As they mix Referee Robinson warns Baker about hitting low. Attell lands a right to the face after a clinch.

Round Seven

Attell misses a left swing to the face and Baker puts a left jab to the face. Baker blocks a right and left swing and they go to a clinch, Attell putting a left to the stomach. They exchange lefts to the face as they come into a clinch. Baker puts in a left to the face and Attell lands a left to the face in the break. Attell lands a light left to the face.

Round Eight

Baker puts in a left as they go into a clinch. Attell lands a left to the side of the head and goes into another clinch. Attell uppercuts furiously. After a break and as they come to close quarters, Baker gets in a left to the face and Attell a right to the stomach. As the clinch is broken Baker gets in a right uppercut. An exchange of lefts to the face occurs and they go into a clinch in a neutral corner, staying so until the gong taps.

Round Nine

The men clinch, break and feint to a clinch again. Baker dances away and Attell misses a right uppercut as they come back to close quarters. Attell puts a right uppercut to the head and Baker blocks cleverly. Baker misses a right uppercut and they exchange lefts to the face. Attell puts a hard, low right to the stomach and they fight close as the gong sounds.

Round Ten

Attell lands a left to the body and face and switches his arm down, getting a left to the stomach. Baker blocks well, but Attell gets in a left as they come together. As they break Attell lands a left to the face and stomach and Baker shoots a left and right to the face. As they come to a clinch Baker again lands a left and right to the face. Attell fights furiously in the clinch, rushing Baker through the ropes and they mix.

Round Eleven

Baker blocks a left to the face but Attell lands right on stomach. Attell lands two terrific rights in succession on the side of Baker's head, but Baker comes back with a hard right to the face. Baker blocks left uppercut, but Attell gets a right on the stomach. Attell lands a left to the face, but receives a right from Baker. After the gong sounds an exchange of lefts is made to the face.

Round Twelve

Attell lands a hard right to the head and on the kidneys. Baker gets away, but Attell follows him and again lands a right to the head. Baker puts in a left hook to the jaw and Attell lands a hard left to the stomach. Attell puts a right to the head at a break and Baker a left to the face and they come into a clinch. Attell shoots a left to the stomach and they are clinched at the gong.

Round Thirteen

Attell lands a left and they clinch. Baker rushes to a clinch and Attell lands a left Jab to the jaw. Baker puts in a light left and they come to a clinch. Baker gets in two left jabs to the face and Attell rushes, landing a left. Baker shoots in a left jab at the gong.

Round Fourteen

The men spar in the center of the ring and go to a clinch, Attell getting in a right to the face. Both miss left jabs and Attell lands a low left to the stomach. Attell puts a left hook to Baker's jaw. Attell lands a right to the jaw. As they come to a clinch Attell punishes Baker with short range blows to the stomach.

Round Fifteen

Attell opens with a left jab to the face which is returned by Baker. Attell lands a hard left to the stomach and enters into a dispute with Robinson. Attell gets in a light left to the nose and Baker shoots a hard left to the head. Attell lands a terrific left to the head and left in a clinch. They exchange lefts and both fight furiously after the gong sounds.

Round Sixteen

The men spar for a few seconds and Attell lands two lefts to the head and goes into a clinch. At the breakaway Attell lands a hard left to the jaw and one to the stomach. Attell misses a right hook and gets in a left to the face. Baker shoots in two hard lefts and the men stand glaring at each other as the bell sounds.

Round Seventeen

Baker puts a left to the face and clinches. Attell gets in a hard right swing to the back of Baker's head and a left to the stomach. Baker lands a left to the stomach and Attell uses his right and left in the clinch. Attell hits Baker with a right swing after the gong.

Round Eighteen

Attell got in a right hook to the jaw as they come to a clinch. They spar for a second and Attell sends in a left to the stomach. Baker lands a hard left to the face and covers well as Attell rushes. They break and go to another clinch, both fighting hard with rights and lefts. Attell lands two hard rights to the face, forcing Baker to the ropes.

Round Nineteen

Attell puts a left to the face and one to the body as they come to a clinch. At the break he misses a hard right swing to the head. Attell lands two lefts to the stomach and they clinch. Baker puts in a light left to the face in the break and blocks as they come to another clinch. An exchange of lefts is made to the face in the break. Neither man hears the gong, and they fight furiously in Baker's corner.

Round Twenty

They advance to the center of the ring and shake hands. Baker misses a left jab and they rush together, both fighting hard. Attell lands a left to the stomach and Baker does the same. Attell lands two lefts to the jaw and another one as they come to a clinch. They break and clinch again. Attell misses a hard left hook. Baker puts in a light left to the face and Attell rushes in, fighting furiously as the gong sounds.

WOMAN SEES PRIZE FIGHT
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Manager of "Maid and Mummy" Does Not Like Decision of Referee Robinson.

Mrs. Anna Boyer, manager of "The Main and the Mummy," which is playing at the Mason this week, was an interested spectator of the Baker-Attell fight last night.

She didn't like the decision a little bit.

"I think that referee was just too mean," she said last night. "That boy with the curly hair should have won the fight. It made me feel bad when he cried there in the ring.

"I don't see why women are not allowed to attend prize fights. I think they are real nice, nothing brutal about them. Why, I've seen football games in which there was a whole lot more blood shed than last night."

Stanley Ketchel

1910-11-21 The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (page 9)

EXHUME THE BODY
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Brothers of Stanley Ketchel Open the Grave.
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MYSTERY ABOUT IT
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Family Not Satisfied About Death from Gunshot Wounds.
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Relatives Say They Found Evidence of Beating--Young Girls Witness Disinterment.
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In strange contrast to the pompous ceremony of the black robed priests and the morbid interest of thousands of curious visitors who gathered in the little Polish cemetery about a month ago to witness the burial of Stanley Ketchel, prizefighter, was another scene enacted at the same grave yesterday morning.

There was no crowd this time, but a few who had been informed of the plans stood by and watched the sexton throw the dirt covering from the casket which sheltered the body of Ketchel and crowded closer as the sealed coffin was raised carefully and deposited beside the excavation. The brothers and the undertaker pried off the lid and disclosed the shrunken form and then deliberately the corpse was examined, the burial shroud being removed to make the task easier.

Air of Mystery Is Thick.

An air of mystery surrounds the disinterment and among the few who know of the incident speculation is rife as to the exact reasons which actuated the three brothers in demanding to look once more upon the face of the dead.

The intention to take the corpse of the famous fighter from the resting place into which it had been lowered with so much ceremony a month ago was kept very quiet. The three brothers, John, Alexander and Leon Ketchel, came here from their farm near Belmont and made the necessary arrangements with I, Karasinski, the undertaker who had charge of the funeral. The little party repaired to the Polish cemetery about 9 o'clock and stood about while the earth was being removed.

Then ropes were placed under the casket and it was raised to the surface. It was opened immediately and the brothers made a careful examination of the body. Five of the little girls who had acted as flower bearers at the funeral were present when the casket was opened and were allowed to gaze upon the grewsome contents of the coffin. They were accompanied by two young women and besides these the only witnesses were three men and another woman.

Karasinski Is Elusive.

Mr. Karasinski maintained a most mysterious air this morning when questioned. "There was nothing out of the ordinary," he repeated time and again and when it was pointed out that the opening of a grave and the examination of the body always is out of the ordinary he replied, "The boys found out what they wanted to and for anything else you better see R. P. Dickerson."

R. P. Dickerson is the man with whom Ketchel went into the west on his fatal trip and who has figured prominently in the affairs of the fighter following his death.

Leon Ketchel was reached by telephone at the Ketchel farm and said to The Press, "We were not satisfied that Stanley came to his death by the gunshot wounds alone. Therefore we wanted to see the body. We found a deep abrasion over one eye which looks as if he had been clubbed. Of course we do not know if this was done before or after the shooting."

The young man did not say whether any further action in the matter is contemplated, but added exhuming had nothing to do with insurance.

No Officials Present.

One of the strange things about the examination at this time was the fact that the undertaker, Karasinski, made a thorough examination prior to the burial. Further than that there was no physician or official present yesterday when the grave was opened. Since Ketchel's tragic death there have been all sorts of stories afloat and it is declared there may be a legal fight over the possession of the property which he left.

According to friends of the family Dickerson declared his intention of paying the entire funeral expenses, but the bills all have been sent to the Ketchel brothers and these are said to amount to considerably more than $600. Whether anything will come of the disinterment to throw new light upon Ketchel's death is unlikely, but the brothers express themselves satisfied with the knowledge secured through their strange procedure.

1917-09-12 Benny Leonard ND6 Jimmy Paul; Johnny Dundee ND6 Jack Russell [Fairmont Athletic Club, Bronx, NY, USA]

1917-09-13 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 13)

Leonard and Dundee Box for Army Fund

Benny Leonard and Johnny Dundee "played" with their opponents in the boxing show at the Fairmont Athletic Club last night, in aid of the Army Athletic Fund. These lightweights featured the principal bouts of a big card of exhibitions which pleased the crowd.

Leonard proved a phantom to Jimmy Paul in six rounds. The champion jabbed his opponent at will, and in the third round crossed over a hard right, sending Paul down for a count of five. The bout between Dundee and Joe Russell, who substituted for Joe Egan, proved even more interesting.


1917-09-13 The Evening World (New York, NY) (page 12)

Fairmont A. C.'s Show Adds Hundreds to Fund For Soldiers' Sport Outfit
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Benny Leonard and Johnny Dundee Furnish Plenty of Real Action in Bouts.
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Never before have such rattling contests been seen at a show in which the principals volunteered their services as took place last night at the Fairmont A. C., where Billy Gibson and Tom McArdle staged their big Army Athletic Fund fistic entertainment. The club was crowded. As the fans filed out many of them expressed their surprise at having seen such earnest fights for bouts in which most of the boxers contributed their services free.

The regular Fairmont Saturday night prices prevailed. The gross receipts were $1,019.50, but only $677.71 was turned over to the Army Athletic Fund with which to buy sport supplies for the New York soldiers, as the State tax, amounting to $75.79, and other expenses had to be deducted.

Champion Benny Leonard and his great lightweight rival, Johnny Dundee, the speedy Italian, were the magnets. Leonard had the gloves on with Jimmy Paul. The battle was just as hard fought as any the new titleholder has been in lately. He had his knockout punch on exhibition, as he floored the promising Harlemite in both the first and third rounds, but Paul managed to weather the storm.

In the sixth and final round of the contest Paul was staggered again, but he was on his feet at the final bell. Many thought that Leonard could have put Paul away had he not relented because of his admiration for Paul's gameness. At any rate it showed that Benny was trying to score a knockout when he floored Paul twice.

As soon as Leonard finished boxing he dressed hurriedly as he had to catch a train for Pittsburgh, where he boxed Phil Bloom to-morrow night. Billy Gibson, his manager, was anxious to get Benny into a taxi so they would not miss their train, but Benny told him that he had to go home first.

"Did you forget to take everything with you?" said Gibson.

"No," replied Benny, "but I want to kiss my mother goodby."

The bout in which Dundee figured was the best of the evening. He faced Jack Russo, a crack Italian boxer from New Orleans, who arrived here this week. It was nip and tuck every second of the six rounds in which they exchanged punches. At the end Dundee had a slight shade on his aggressive opponent.

Sammy Diamond and Young Zulu Kid, two fast bantams, fought a fast draw.

The only knockout of the night was that which Paul Edwards, the east side lightweight, scored over Cliff Morris, a colored fighter, who outweighed him ten pounds. The finish came in the second round.

Barney Williams, champion of the army and navy, was to have fought Edwards, but telephoned that he had hurt his arm in training.

Joe Bonds, the big heavyweight who boxes Jim Coffey to-night, was on hand to meet Tex McCarty, but the latter sent word that he was too ill to box. As there was no available heavyweight in the club, the notification from McCarty coming too late to permit Matchmaker McArdle rounding up a substitute, Bonds was compelled to spend the evening watching the bouts from a box.

The first bout brought together Sandy Taylor, colored, and Young Sheldon, the later winning easily after four rounds of fast fighting. Frankie Jerome and Young Sandy, two 105-pound lads, went at it hammer and tongs, with the former winning.


1917-09-13 The New York Times (New York, NY)

LEONARD GIVES EXHIBITION.
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Champion Toys with Jimmy Paul--Dundee Beats Russell.

Benny Leonard, world's lightweight champion, last night gave Jimmy Paul, the Harlem lightweight, a thorough boxing lesson and, incidentally, a sound thrashing in their six-round exhibition which featured the program staged at the Fairmont A. C. in aid of the World's Army Athletic Fund. Leonard, making his superiority over his rival manifest to the large crowd from the start, seemingly eased up in his work when opportunities presented themselves for him to finish his rival, or the bout would have ended in a knockout victory for the champion long before the sixth round.

Another six-round exhibition brought together Johnny Dundee, the Italian lightweight, and Jack Russell of New Orleans. Both boxers worked hard and furnished an interesting setto, with Dundee outclassing and outgeneralling his opponent.


1917-09-13 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 13)

LEONARD AND DUNDEE WIN.
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"World's" Army Athletic Fund Gains $687.

The boxing entertainment at the Fairmont A. C. last night for the benefit of the Evening World Army Athletic Fund was a gratifying success. The amount turned over to the fund was $687.

The boxing was spirited and the fact of two such noted lightweights as Benny Leonard, the lightweight champion, and Johnny Dundee appearing in bouts on their merits drew a large crowd.

Leonard met Jimmy Paul, a clever New York lightweight, who, while outpointed by the champion, gave a good account of himself. Dundee had as an opponent Jack Rosso, and this bout was full of pepper. The Italian won handily.

In the other six round bouts Frankie Jerome beat Jimmy Sandy, Sandy Taylor beat Young Shelton and Young Zulu Kid and Sammy Diamond boxed a draw.

The receipts will be devoted to the purchase of boxing gloves and other athletic apparatus for the American soldiers in France and in American camps.

1916-09-05 Memphis Pal Moore W-PTS12 Frankie Britt [Armory Athletic Association, Arena, Boston, MA, USA]

1916-09-06 The Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 8)

YOUNG BRITT SHOWS THE TRIPLE A FANS
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Some Real Class, Though on Short End in Bout With Moore.
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By Jack Malaney.

Boston fans are now pretty sure that a real promising boxing prospect is in our midst, in the person of Frankie ('Young') Britt, that rugged little battler of New Bedford. The feature mill of the Triple A's double-windup show at the Arena last night brought the matter closer to the fans' attention, even though Britt did have to take the short end of the decision in his 12-round contest with Pal Moore, the classy bantam of Memphis.

So strong did the crowd get for Frankie of the Whaling City that even though it must have been realized that he had been outpointed and outpunched by a great margin, there was a strong pulling for a draw verdict because of the manner in which Britt finished up, and also stood up before the more experienced performer.

A Classy Perfomer

Bantamweights are not made much better today than this same Pal from the southern section of the country. A fine classy little rooster he is, with a complete knowledge of the boxing game and the necessary ability as a boxer and a mixer. That Britt was able to make even a fair showing against him alone proved that the local youth bears watching. That Frankie did more than fairly well speaks volumes.

At the start of the mill, in the first two or three rounds, it began to look as if Moore both knew too much and was too clever for Ray Cass' lad. He tried himself out both at boxing and mixing with Britt and evidently decided after showing Britt up a bit in these early rounds to stick to mixing. This fact failed to disconcert Britt, though.

Moore Sailed In

Moore sailed in at Britt continually with both mitts flying and scores of times did he land both on the face and body with resounding thuds. But no matter how many times he hit or how hard he landed, Britt never hesitated at coming back at him. In the later rounds Frankie started shooting a straight left out which did a lot of bothering.

When the 10th was reached, Britt was the fresher boy of the two, but he had been too far outpointed to go into the lead. But he gave Moore quite a scare in the three final rounds. At the conclusion of the mill, Britt was unmarked while Moore bore several marks of the encounter, including a badly damaged right eye.

Proved a Flivver

The other end of the double wind up proved a flivver, for Terry Brooks matched against Walter Butler was a poor arrangement. Terry can only perform in one manner, and his style of loop the loop punching never is good against the work of a battler who can punch straight. Both boys may have been trying hard enough, but their results were not at all satisfying to the crowd. Brooks was on the short end up to the tenth, but by his heavy walloping in the last three rounds pulled the verdict out of the fire and got a draw.

Both six-round preliminaries were hot little sessions. In the opener, Al Gerard passed out an awful pasting to Joe Magee, despite the fact that he had a bad hand which he got in the bout with Tony Vatlin last week. Referee Conley got in bad with the crowd on this verdict, but he was very correct. In the other bout, Tony Vatlin got a win over Kid Thomas of Lawrence, in six hot sessions.


1916-09-06 The Evening Times (Pawtucket, RI) (page 6)

MEMPHIS PAL MOORE JUST SHADES BRITT IN BOSTON BOUT
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BOSTON, Sept. 6.--Frankie (Young) Britt, the New Bedford featherweight, had his championship aspirations punctured by Memphis Pal Moore in a 12-round bout at the Armory A. A. last night. Punctured is about all that happened, but the Whale City fighter can mend the damage easily enough in time. Moore won the decision by Referee Larry Conley, a hair line verdict at the best. A draw would have satisfied the rank and file, but Conley drew the line tight and awarded the verdict to Moore on the strength of a rally made by the southerner in the last four frames.

Britt started out like a sure enough winner, winding stiff rights and lefts to the visitor's face and body that left their impression every time they landed. The boxing was fast with the final round just as speedy as the first, when Britt did his best work. Moore's rally made near the finish of the bout, was of the sensational kind, but his blows lacked the force of those that Britt shot home. However, points are the main features in boxing matches these days and it was the greater number of blows landed by Moore that eventually won him the verdict.

Terry Brooks and Walter Butler opened the double all-star programme in the first 12-round bout. Their match resulted in a lackadaisical sort of an encounter for the most until Brooks got his swings working near the finish of the contest. Butler appeared afraid to get anywhere near Brooks at the start and the way they missed each other brought jeers from a number of the fans.

For a match that pointed toward a real fight fest the battle was a sorry disappointment. Butler plainly showed that he had not recovered from his setback by Joe Welling. Toward the finish of his bout last night Butler was subjected to some harsh treatment, a number of Brooks' swings landing hard enough to have the Reachmont boxer on the verge of distress.

Their bout was anything but what was expected. Brooks, making an earlier start, might have secured better than the draw verdict he was given.

Al Girard of the North End won a six-round decision over Joe Magee of New Bedford, and Tony Vatlan of Brighton added Kid Thomas of Lawrence to his unbroken string of victories, defeating the Machine City bantamweight in a spirited six-round bout.

1919-09-01 Ted (Kid) Lewis ND10 Mike O'Dowd [Syracuse Athletic Club, Arena, Syracuse, NY, USA]

1919-09-02 Syracuse Journal (Syracuse, NY) (page 12)

MIKE O'DOWD REGISTERS DECISIVE VICTORY OVER FORMER WELTER CHAMP
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Middleweight King Outfights Lewis in Ten Round Bout at Arena -- Ross Defeats Corona Kid -- George Schad Stops Leach Cross.
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Mike O'Dowd, middleweight champion of the world, scored a decisive victory over Ted "Kid" Lewis, former welterweight title holder, in the main bout of 10 rounds before the members of the Syracuse A. C. Monday night at the Arena. It was estimated that 3,000 persons witnessed the bout.

After the first round Lewis hung during most of the bout and Referee Jack Lewis did nearly as much work as the two fighters in trying to separate them. It was by clinching in closing rounds, that enabled the former welter king to stay the limit.

In the first round the champion became angered when Lewis struck him coming out of a clinch and O'Dowd tore after his opponent and never let up until the final gong sounded. The title holder did all of the leading and was forced to chase his opponent around the ring.

Lewis managed to earn the advantage in the seventh round which was the only one he had to his credit, while the champion had a wide margin in the remainder of the bout. O'Dowd tried hard to land a knockout, but was unable because of the fact that Lewis would always run into a clinch.

There was plenty of action in the final round and both boxers stood toe to toe and exchanged blows, with O'Dowd having the advantage. Lewis was rushed to the ropes and the title holder rained blow after blow on Lewis's face in this round.

One of the big surprises of the evening was the victory of "Young" Ross, the local bantamweight who scored a decisive victory over Corona Kid of New York in the semi-final bout of eight rounds. Corona Kid had the advantage in one round, while two were even and Ross carried the fight in the other five.

Sam Wilbert of Rome who has been winning all of his fights of late with ease, was given a artistic lacing by Pete Scott, of Hamilton, Ont., who was substituted for Jimmy McFarland, of Oswego who was not allowed to box upon the advice of the club physician.

George Schad, of California, substituted for Leo Kane of Canandaigua, administered a severe trouncing to "Young" Leach Cross of this city in a six round encounter. Referee Lewis stopped the battle in the fourth round to save the local battler from further punishment.

"Kid" Suspicious, colored, of this city, was given an artistic lacing by Barney Summers in a six-round go. Summers battered the colored battler at will and was ready to take the count when the bell sounded in the final round.

In the curtain raiser "Young" Ritchie easily outpointed "Young" Barry in a four round battle, which was full of action.


1919-09-02 The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) (page 19)

MIKE O'DOWD WINS HARD FOUGHT DUEL AGAINST TED LEWIS
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Middleweight Champion Outfights Former Welter Title Holder in Furious Battle.
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ROSS CONQUERS "CORONO KID"
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Syracuse Athlete Springs Big Surprise in Eight Round Contest--Schade Scored Technical Knockout Over Cross--Barney Summers Outpoints "Kid" Suspicious.
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Mike O'Dowd of St. Paul, middleweight champion of the world, outfought Ted "Kid" Lewis, former welterweight title holder, in ten sensational rounds at the Arena last night. O'Dowd was the aggressor throughout and several times had his lighter opponent visibly distressed from the volleys of leaden punches he directed at his jaw and body.

O'Dowd waxed angry in the opening period when Lewis struck him as he emerged from a clinch and from that point to the finish he pursued Lewis like a panther landing deadly blows to the Lewis head and midsection. In the final round, just before the gong rang for the finish, O'Dowd rushed Lewis to the ropes and belabored him with both hands until the latter appeared on the verge of a knockout.

Lewis Elects to Clinch.

Lewis made the battle a slow affair by his continual holding. He elected to hold in the clinches and to run away when O'Dowd pursued. Referee Lewis worked almost as hard as the principals in his desperate efforts to pry the battlers apart when they fell into a clinch. The champion became incensed at Lewis for his apparent unwillingness to exchange blows and frequently braced his head against the Lewis chin in his efforts to get away from those long clinging arms.

Analysis of the bout shows O'Dowd had a comfortable margin in every round except the seventh, when Lewis uncorked a left jab which he varied with a right cross to rock the title holder's head. O'Dowd was plainly nettled in this session and wore a determined look as he went to his corner at the close of the round.

Whirlwind Denoument.

Right and left hook to the jaw in the fourth had Lewis daunting distress signals. Again in the sixth he was borne back by the impact of O'Dowd's fierce attack and seemed near a knockout. The ninth was bitterly contested, with O'Dowd again rocking Lewis with hard right and left hooks.

The final round was one of the most sensational ever wagered in a Syracuse ring. Both men fought desperately, landing telling blows to the head and face with a reckless abandon that made a knockout seem inevitable. O'Dowd finally rushed Lewis to the ropes and when the gong rang was raining left and right hooks and uppercuts to Lewis's face.

O'Dowd possessed an advantage of nine pounds in weight. He scaled 154 pounds while Lewis tilted the beam at 145 pounds.

Ross Whips "Corona Kid."

"Young" Ross, the hard hitting Syracuse bantamweight, spring a great surprise in the eight round semi-final by trouncing the famous "Corona Kid" of New York. Ross carried the battle to the Gotham lad in five of the eight rounds and piled up a big lead on points. Ross weighed 120, while the "Corona Kid" weighed 117 pounds.

Pete Scott of Hamilton, Ontario, gave Sam Wilbert of Rome a lacing in a six period duel. The Canadian got away to a poor start but in the fourth session landed a heavy right to the Wilbert body and from that point to the finish the Rome battler gave signs of distress.

George Schade, a California middleweight, handed "Young" Leach Cross an artistic lacing in another six rounder. The battle was stopped in the fourth by Referee Lewis after Schade had battered Cross until the latter was incapable of retaliation. Schade knocked Cross down in the fourth round.

Summers Gets Verdict.

Barney Summers made a target of "Kid" Suspicious in a six session fracas. Summers danced about the Negro middleweight and landed left and right hook swings, uppercuts and jabs until the latter almost dropped from exhaustion.

"Young" Ritchie of Auburn outpointed "Young" Barry of Syracuse in a four round curtain raiser.

A crowd conservatively estimated at 3,000 persons witnessed the program of boxing contests which were the best staged in this city in months.

Sports Through Edgren's Eyes (Robert Edgren, August 2, 1924)

1924-08-03 The Seattle Daily Times (Seattle, WA) (page S2)

Sports Through Edgren's Eyes
By ROBERT EDGREN.

Pasadena, Cal., Saturday, Aug. 2.--Are modern boxers in a class with the old timers?

Every week I get a box full of letters from old-time boxers or fight fans who claim that the up-to-date champion is a counterfeit when compared to the strong boys back in the eighties and nineties, and before that. Hardly a day goes by without an eight-page protest from some veteran who used to go out into the woods to see John L. Sullivan fight, or who followed Jack McAuliffe or Jack Dempsey, the Nonpareil, or who watched when Kid Lavigne battled Joe Walcott to a stand still, or saw Terry McGovern go through Pedlar Palmer of England like a cyclone. The old-timers are loyal to old-time fighters. They think that modern ringsters ought to be behind ribbon counters. According to old-timers the champions whom we have today don't know how to put their hands up and don't know what real fighting is.

Dempsey an Exception.

So far as I have seen, there's little physical difference between old-time champions and champions up to date. There are as good men now as there ever were in the ring. The chief difference is that old-time fighters weren't influenced so much by the thought that winning meant a fortune and defeat was a form of bankruptcy.

The fight was the great thing in the old days.

The money is the big thing today.

Old-time fighters fought desperately and recklessly.

Modern fighters are extremely cautious. They take no risk that can be dodged. A championship is something to be grabbed if possible, and then to be held as long as possible by outwitting the other fellows who are after it. Dangerous matches are avoided, and the modern champion is very fond of no-decision matches, in which he can run or stall and hold his title if he finds he can't win.

Jack Dempsey is the only champion today who fights with the reckless abandon of the old-timers. Dempsey doesn't know how to stall, and wouldn't if he could. He is the biggest money maker the ring ever knew, and he takes good care of the money he earns, but in the ring he always goes out to win in the first round if he can. He'll dive in and trade punches with any man living. Dempsey likes money, but he isn't crazy over it. Manager Jack Kearns handles all the business and Dempsey concentrates his mind on the training and the fighting.

But there were some desperate birds in the old days. Bob Fitzsimmons would have delighted in taking on Jack Dempsey, confident of outmatching him in the battle of wits and slipping in the winning punch. Fitzsimmons feared nothing on earth and was most dangerous when he reeled around the ring, apparently helpless. Many times Fitzsimmons was nearly knocked out and won with a punch. Peter Maher had him on the floor, cold, for eight seconds. He got up, staggered into Peter with his hands down, and knocked Peter out with one terrific blow as soon as he could lift them again.

Knocks Carter Down.

I saw Kid McCoy knocked down and nearly out by the great yellow-haired fighter, Kid Carter, saved by the bell, walk out in the next round and totter across the ring to meet Carter in his own corner. McCoy couldn't lift a hand from his sides. His gloves dangled as he closed with Carter and ducked to break the force of punches that grazed his ears. It was fully a minute in that third round before McCoy could get his hands up, and when he did he hit Carter a hook that threw him half way across the ring and headlong into the ropes.

Desperate fighting followed, in which McCoy was knocked down six times, yet in the sixth round he was still on his feet, was forcing the fighting, and had Carter groggy and cut to pieces. McCoy was the cleverest boxer of his day, but desperate at all times. If he had come along now probably he would have been like most of the champions we see, a cautious business man.

Kid Lavigne at Maspeth, fighting the Barbadoes Demon, Joe Walcott, had both ears nearly torn off by blows, his eyes closed, nose broken, teeth splintered. Still he rushed and fought until Walcott broke under the fierce pace and backed away, beaten.

In his fighting prime Terrible Terry McGovern was knocked down just once--by Oscar Gardner. The blow dazed McGovern so that he was helpless. But the instinct to get up was so strong that when he couldn't shove himself from the floor he crawled to where Gardner stood waiting for him, and climbed up Gardner's legs to renew the fight. As soon as he was up, Terry began fighting again with a Berserk fury that soon had Gardner down--to stay. McGovern never practiced any defense; his whole defense was in the fury of his attack.

John L. Sullivan was desperate in all his fights. He was like Dempsey--always trying to win with a wild rush and in a flurry of furious fighting.

The fierceness of his attack made him such a reputation that most of the men who met him were half beaten before they came into the ring. If Sullivan had taken care of himself he never would have been beaten until old age took away his speed and strength. But he "drank like a fish" between fights, shirked training and degenerated into a fat and flabby caricature of the great John L. who used to knock men out with blows like the thud of a caulker's mallet.

One-Punch Winner.

And there was Peter Maher, who came from Ireland with a punch in either mitt such as has seldom been seen. An awful hitter, Peter was, and desperate enough to please anyone. I never took any stock in the tales that Peter had a yellow streak. Peter never feared any man but Fitzsimmons, and he had plenty of company in that. Many times I've seen Peter come up from a knockdown--for he had a glass jaw in later days--and put that sock over for a one-punch win.

Joe Gans was a master boxer and had a style that perfectly combined defense and attack--the greatest I've ever seen except that of Fitzsimmons. Gans learned much from old Fitz. His great strength was in counter-hitting, but when he wanted to he would walk in and beat his man to punches until something dropped. If Gans hadn't been forced to fight "to orders" by Manager Al Herford he would have been remembered now as the greatest knockout artist the lightweight class ever had.

Stanley Ketchel was the last desperate fighter among the middleweight champions. Since his time they've been a slapping, dancing, cautious lot, not to be compared with the oldtimers like Dempsey, Fitzsimmons, Ryan, McCoy and Ketchel.

Jim Corbett was the first super-careful heavyweight. He perfected a marvelous defense, but never had a trace of Jack Dempsey's recklessness in attack. A beautiful boxer Corbett was, but never a great fighter, as his record shows. His pride was in boxing. If he had been a fencer his weapon would have been the rapier, not the broadsword or claymore. Jeffries, a great champion, came later. Then Jack Johnson, who developed marvelous skill in defense and counter-hitting, but lacked boldness in attack. Willard was a fighter because of his bulk. He had little heart for it, although he was perfectly game.

Leonard's Comeback.

Of the modern champions, Benny Leonard combines real fighting aggressiveness with skill, when in the ring. But Benny is very careful in his match making. He has more business sense than recklessness in his composition. Benny is a gamester at that. He has been knocked down several times, and badly dazed in fights, yet he always comes back to win.

Benny was telling me a story about his fight with Ritchie Mitchell, whom he knocked out after a desperate battle.

"Ritchie hit me an awful clip and the next thing I knew I found myself on the floor," said Benny. "I didn't know how long I'd been there, and as my head cleared I rolled up to my knee to see the referee. As I looked I saw Billy Gibson's face under the ropes, and it was the tip-off that something awful was happening. Bill was white as a ghost and his mouth was open and his eyes bulging out like marbles. He looked so comical that I nearly laughed. I heard the count and saw I had a couple of seconds yet, so I turned and waved to Bill to ease his mind, and managed to get up. But I was nearly gone that time. It was my closest call in the ring. I stalled until my strength came back and was lucky enough to put Ritchie out."

Leonard describes it modestly. But his recovery on that occasion was no less remarkable than his recovery when Willie Ritchie nearly had him in San Francisco, or when Charlie White knocked him through the ropes and he came back to knock Charlie out.

Modern fighters, on an average, know as much about boxing as the oldtimers. They have developed a different style in short bouts. They are in better condition, for the fighter who dissipates in these days can't get anywhere against the strong competition. But they aren't desperate. They don't go headlong and put everything on a punch. You see that kind of thing, of course, but it's in the preliminaries.

The champions, except Dempsey, don't take such risks. It isn't business.

The One They Called Kayo (Boxing Illustrated, July 1963)

1963-07 Boxing Illustrated (pages 42-45)

By AL GOLDSTEIN and JOSEPH T. FRISCIA
The One They Called Kayo

Pound for pound, George Chaney was probably the hardest puncher of all time. He rolled up a remarkable number of knockouts and was that great rarity capable of flattening an opponent with a single blow.

THE CHANEYS WERE LUMBERJACKS: axe-swingers tearing forests apart for profit. The youngest Chaney was a boy named George—and he was the toughest chip off the old Chaney block. George became a fighter, a one-punch killer who knocked out 102 opponents. They called him the "Greatest Knockout Artist of all Time." And to understand his incredible story you must go back to Baltimore: 1910…

…There's a girl in the heart of Maryland with a heart that belongs to me…

Baltimore boys on the make sang that song. George Chaney sang it, too. He was 18. It was spring. The girl had long blonde hair—spitcurled just like Lillian Russell's. "She was the reason I became a boxer," recalled Chaney. "I'd promised to take her to a Fatty Arbuckle movie over at the Nickelodeon. But I was broke—just lost my job at the lumber camp. Then one of my friends told me about Henry Bletzer…"

Henry Bletzer made a modest fortune helping boys who needed money—he tied gloves on their fists. He was a fight promoter.

Chaney found Bletzer's cigar-smoky office above the old Albaugh Theater crowded with boys like himself. But when Bletzer mentioned the name Young Kid Williams the office emptied in a hurry. "I was real scared," admitted Chaney. "I'd never boxed before and Young Kid Williams was a brother to Kid Williams—the guy who became bantam champ of the world. But I wanted to take that girl out."

It was Saturday and the Albaugh Theater's patrons filed in film-eyed from an afternoon's beer swilling: They belched and cursed and clamored for the brutality Bletzer was so adept at supplying them with. It was Young Kid Williams' crowd.

"I weighed 112 pounds," remembered Chaney, "and the only trunks they could dig up belonged to a middleweight—so Bletzer fixed everything with a safety pin; and I looked like I was wearing a diaper."

Young Kid Williams had a self-assured sneer on his pug nosed face—a hit-me-and-I'll-get-my brother-after-you sneer. He danced toward Chaney, imitating his brother—but the imitation wasn't good enough. Chaney connected with a left; the punch started in the second digit of his foot and by the time it reached his fist it was a masterpiece of motorized mayhem: capable of cracking bone, crossing eyes, crumpling opponents. And the hapless Young Kid Williams cracked, crossed, and crumpled. The scheduled 4 rounder had ended in 37 seconds.

The crowd began to jeer. Bletzer rushed down to the ringside accompanied by two cops and whisked Chaney to safety. As he pressed $2.50 into the boy's hand he said: "I want to see more of you George; you've got the makings of a champ."

"It's funny," Chaney reminisced, "I can't remember what that girl looked like—but she started it all."

Chaney soon became the Albaugh Theater's main attraction. He walked the streets followed by hero-worshiping youngsters and the eyes of female admirers. He was handsome, with sleek brown hair and matinee idol features…

…No one wanted to smear those features more than Kid Williams—brother of Young Kid Williams. Smelling a big crowd, Bletzer arranged the match. And smelling the blood that trails revenge the fans packed the Albaugh Theater.

Kid Williams was hard-punching and fast-footed. But, as a Baltimore Sun sportswriter observed : "…Chaney's left was the undoing of Williams." They began calling him Chaney—the "Knock-Out Artist".

Commenting on the fight Chaney stated: "Kid Williams was tough; it took three jabs just to mess the part in his hair. He'd keep coming in at me, swinging and dodging. I knocked him down three times but he got up three times. In the sixth round I finally got him: I punched him so hard I could feel the force of the blow through my foot. It took seven minutes to revive him."

But it took a savage brawl with little Charlie Goldman to establish Chaney as a legitimate title contender:

Recalled Chaney: "Goldman was the toughest man I ever tangled with. He became Rocky Marciano's trainer—when I knew him he could've slammed Marciano's gut out.

"I fought him on February 2, 1912—ever since then February 2 has been Friday the 13th on my calendar. For eight rounds those Goldman punches kept coming thick and fast. I tried my best to fight back but he kept hammering me around the ring—I could've sworn he had a baseball bat.

"He knocked me down nine times, and each time—don't ask me how—I managed to get up before the referee counted ten. My face and chest were so swollen I felt like I'd gained 20 pounds.

"But in the 9th round I could tell he'd punched himself out—he was only smacking me halfway across the canvas. And I started to do some smacking of my own: I rammed away with both fists; but Goldman took it as good as he'd given it.

"Then in the 15th it happened—I shot a left to his chin; his loveable brown eyes read 'tilt' and he collapsed. But the bell beat the referee and Goldman was spared the K.O. The referee raised my arm in victory—and an hour later I lowered myself into a hot tub of Epsom salts; I never felt such fatigue in all my life."

George Chaney became big money—you could smell it on him. And Baltimore's biggest bloodhound soon picked up the scent…

…His name was Sam Harris; he was a manager. He collected pedigree bull dogs and promising boxers—the first for fun, the second for profit. Harris said the magic words and an Ali Baba's cave of golden bouts opened for George Chaney.

Chaney celebrated with friends at a Baltimore Beer Garden: He loved parties; loved the sound of popping corks and giggling girls. He loved good food: Chateaubriand steaks for all. He loved to laugh; at Fatty Arbuckle antics and well-told jokes, and even his own shortcomings. He loved being well-dressed: pin-stripped suits, lemon-yellow shirts, diamond studded cuff links in the shape of boxing gloves, cream-colored spats. And he loved music: mounting the bandstands he sang his favorite tune in a determined, if sour-noted, soprano voice…

…Oh Jim O'Shea was cast away upon an Indian Isle
The natives there they liked his hair
They liked his Irish smile…

…George Chaney loved life; and because fighting is part of life he loved to fight. But there were days of bitterness—like the 20th of April 1913, when he fought Abe Attell.

Attell, who'd lost his featherweight crown to Johnny Kilbane a year earlier, was, at 30, admittedly past his peak. And his part-time job as bodyguard to New York gambler Arnold Roth-stein hadn't endeared him to the Chaney fans who packed Baltimore's Empire Theater.

But the ex-champ compensated for age and a hostile audience with experience and craftiness: For five rounds he avoided Chaney's left with peerless footwork; and bloodied Georgie's nose with a lightning fast left-jab. "He never stopped jabbing," said Chaney. "The blood kept trickling down my throat and at the end of the fifth I puked up a bellyful."

"I knew I was losing, so in the sixth I made a desperate rush—and landed a left hook. It staggered Abe and must've scared him because he went into a shell.

"I shortened my punches and began infighting instead of roundhousing." By the 13th round Chaney was battering the ex-champ around like a beach ball. It is a tribute to Attell that he finished on his feet.

Yet referee Billy Joh, the fight's sole judge,. declared Attell the winner.

"If Joh had buried an axe in my head," confessed Chaney, "he couldn't have hurt me more. I tried to put up a good front but when I was alone in the shower … I cried."

Three days later the Maryland Boxing Commission barred Joh from further work. Baltimore's old-timers still talk about the long arms of Arnold Rothstein.

But happiness followed tragedy in the person of a young girl named Elizabeth Fleischer: She married Chaney after a whirlwind courtship.

Relates Elizabeth: "George was handsome and full of life—I fell for him at first sight. He was so manly; and yet, in many ways he was like a little boy: Above everything else he loved Christmas; he'd search for hours till he found the tallest tree and the brightest decorations. He dressed up like Santa Claus and visited the city orphanage with a bagful of toys. But he was careless with his money—knowing this he put financial matters in my hands. I saved every penny he gave me; I swore he wouldn't wind up broke like so many others in his profession."

Elizabeth Fleischer was the last happy thing that would happen to George Chaney.

He made his first title bid against featherweight king Johnny Kilbane on September 4, 1916. Kilbane, who was to wear the 125 lb crown for 12 years, dumped Chaney in three rounds:

"I was beaten before I entered the ring," claimed Chaney. "I had over-trained; I was nervous and lacked stamina. Even so I had Kilbane screaming for help in 50 different languages —including Chinese. But he stuck his thumb in my eye. I couldn't see a thing and he was able to hit me at will. I folded up in the third round and Kilbane kept his title—I should have won, it wasn't fair."

Observed one sportswriter: "George Chaney may be the greatest knock-out artist of all time— but his boxing skill and footwork are poor. It is his tremendous fighting heart alone which makes him a serious contender."

America had entered the First World War: Chaney toured his home state with comedian Charlie Chaplin on war bond drives. One day George asked about Chaplin's middle name and the impish funnyman replied: "It's Spencer—and yours must be Knock-Out, signed K.O." It stuck, and from then on he was referred to as George "K.O." Chaney.

Chaney again tried for a title in 1921, challenging Johnny Dundee for the junior lightweight championship at Madison Square Garden. For four rounds Dundee gave Chaney a cruel boxing lesson. And when Chaney sensed defeat he became desperate. Early in the fifth round he delivered one of his patented southpaw wallops to the midsection. Dundee dropped to the canvas, screaming, clutching his groin. The referee quickly stopped the fight and awarded the decision to Dundee on a foul.

"It wasn't a foul at all," roared Chaney. "The promoters wanted Dundee to win. If you foul an opponent in New York you don't get paid—the fact that I got my check proves I didn't foul Dundee."

But Chaney ran out of excuses when he made his third unsuccessful title bid in a lightweight elimination tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 23, 1925.

The 135 pound throne had been left vacant when Benny Leonard retired undefeated. Chaney was one of a number of pretenders to the title, including Jimmy Goodrich (the eventual winner), Stan Loayza, Joe Dundee, Charley O'Connell, Tommy O'Brien, and Eddie (Kid) Wagner.

Chaney, best known and most respected puncher of the lot, was the favorite. He was matched with O'Brien. It was even money he would win by a knockout; 4-1 that he'd win by decision if it went the distance.

"I was so sure I'd win," recalled Chaney. "I floored him in the first round and he just beat the count. Then I buried my left so deep in his belly I could almost feel his backbone.

"But the kid had a great pair of legs and he danced away from me for the next three frames. Then he clipped me with a right early in the fifth. I got up and somehow managed to last out the round.

"He was too fast for me, too young. In the sixth he connected with a right cross, a left uppercut, then another right. He knocked me cold. I lost all hope of ever becoming champ."

Ironically, that same blow also ended O'Brien's hopes. A post-fight examination revealed that he'd broken his right hand delivering the knockout punch.

"I felt sorry for that kid," confessed Chaney. "He beat me fair and square and he really deserved a shot at the title."

Commented one reporter: "The fight was a tragedy for O'Brien and a sad ending for the once great George (K.O.) Chaney."

The disillusioned Chaney fought only once more before hanging up his gloves. He faced a novice named Danny Kramer—and was knocked out in the first round. "I'd kayoed Kramer in 32 seconds a year earlier," said Chaney, "and when he kayoed me I knew I'd slipped far enough. It wasn't hard for my Elizabeth to get me to quit before too many punches made me permanently dizzy."

But he didn't quit soon enough: Things went well for a while; he lived comfortably on the ring proceeds his faithful wife had saved. He became active in local politics and rose to the presidency of the Georgetown Democratic Club.

And like all ex-fighters he criticized the modern generation of ring-men: "The kids fighting today," he claimed, "are just a bunch of punks. They're not properly developed before they begin their careers. And they don't fight for the sport of it—they're only interested in easy money."

But in 1947 George began to develop lingering headaches; he began to stutter and strain over the simplest words; he couldn't remember the names of his closest friends—the name of his wife—even his own name…

…For George (K.O.) Chaney punchdrunkenness, like cancer, proved to be progressive.

On the 11th of May, 1954, he was placed in a state institution. He died four years later on the 20th of December—five days before his favorite holiday, Christmas.

He'd kayoed 102 of his 183 opponents—only Young Stribling (with 126) and Archie Moore (with 135) surpassed him.

He was probably the greatest puncher, pound for pound, of them all.