Frank Menke on Gene Tunney

1921-12-31 Illinois State Register (Springfield, IL) (page 8)

Gene Tunney, Woman-Hater Avoids Bright Lights and Thinks Only of Fighting
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By FRANK G. MENKE.

(Copyright, 1921, by King Features Syndicate, Inc.)

Gene Tunney is a ring gladiator unique in the annals of the sport.

He's never had a "sweetie" in all of his 23 years; he never smokes, or drinks any of the stuff that might offend Volstead's sense of propriety; he never tells, nor will he listen to risqué stories; he jaunts into New York or the other big towns only when forced to do so by his warring schedule; he never deviates from a rigid diet, spends all his odd hours on a farm--and never, except on fight nights, is he up later than 9:30.

Tunney is a clean-cut, manly looking, handsome youngster, a trifle beyond 6 feet in height and bulking around 175--a true matinée idol type. Women admire him--but most of them from a distance. For the sex which is quite a bit deadlier than the male, has certain terrors for the youngster who is being pointed for Jack Dempsey's crown.

He avoids women whenever he can. But sometimes he is forced into contact with them. Whenever that happens, he checks the impulse to race along to some sylvan dell and hide away; because his rule book an etiquette tells him it isn't being done in these days of gallantry and such.

But Tunney knows no comfortable moments in the presence of womankind--even its most beautiful delegates. He fumbles his hat, shifts his feet, twirls his fingers nervously, remarks, "yes, mam" and "no, mam" and beads of perspiration break out on his forehead and his eyes search for the nearest exit. Tunney is one of those boys who never has grown up, as regards his school day panic in the presence of woman, oh, beautiful woman.

The Greenwich Village section of New York produced Tunney. His father was a foreman of some sort along the wharves of the mighty city. Gene used to spend parts of his Saturdays paling around with his head. His early love for athletics settled finally upon boxing. He had natural ability which was brought out in a kid gymnasium and developed when Gene wandered along toward his late teens by mixing it with some of the youngsters who made up part of his father's working crew.

Along in 1917 a fistic enthusiast in the village tipped off Frank ("Doc") Bagley, the demon impresario of Jersey, that there was quite a fighter running loose in the district of New York which is fabled in song and story. Bagley hunted up Tunney to see if what he had heard about him was true.

"And it was," relates Bagley, "Gene was only a welter at the time but it didn't take me long to decide that he would make good as a professional. So I grabbed him, ended his amateur days and sent him out after some pros. He bumped a goodly number of boys into sleep--and then along came the war which called Gene into service as one of the Marines.

"When the war ended and Gene came back as a light heavyweight, he resumed where he had left off--only with renewed vigor. He knocked out a dozen men in a row. His entire career, embracing about 34 fights, includes 30 knockouts. The four men who travelled the scheduled distance with him were mighty messy looking creatures at the finish.

"Tunney has everything that a champion needs--except tough hands. Therein is--or I might say was--his greatest handicap. When I first got hold of Gene his hands were white and soft and the bones were small. Despite that he kept knocking men out in a hurry. But in time the hands became a handicap. They weren't stout enough to stand up all the time under the impact which came about when his mighty shoulders propelled them against the bony jaw of an opponent. As a result Gene had to cancel a lot of matches and in some of his fights to protect his hands, he had to let men travel four, five and six rounds, who would have been hammered to sleep in a round if the hands had been all right.

"But it's different now. For several months I had Gene doing little else than woodchopping--the greatest form of exercise in the world for toughening the hands. Since then he's been spending hours a day on a farm in New Jersey building up the bones, structure and the muscles of his hands. They have developed wonderfully under this treatment and I feel that from now on Tunney isn't going to have any great trouble with his hands.

"Tunney is ready to mix it with any light heavyweight in the world. That goes for Tom Gibbons, Georges Carpentier, Harry Greb, Billy Shade, Martin Burke, Battling Levinsky or any other of the dozen conspicuous 175 pounders. If Gene had his way about it he'd fight every night in the week. If I had my way, I'd work him about twice a month.

"But the sad thing is that none of the light heavies seem anxious for any of his stuff. Gibbons looks the other way when a match is proposed; Greb figures he hasn't time to bother. I can't get a promoter interested just now in either a Shade or Burke match. So Gene must continue sitting a bit pretty just now and do some waiting--waiting for the day when he'll get heavy enough and experienced enough to coax Dempsey into the ring with him--and bump the champion cuckoo."

1898-08-26 Mysterious Billy Smith W-PTS25 Matty Matthews [Lenox Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]

1898-08-27 New York Evening Journal (New York, NY) (page 8)

SMITH WHIPS MATHEWS EASILY.
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Matty Had a Nice Little Plan for Winning, but It Was Spoiled by Referee White.
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When Billy Started to Fight He Had to Follow His Man in Every Round.
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The fight which took place at the Lenox Athletic Club last night between "Mysterious" Billy Smith and Matty Mathews was really an interesting performance. It was divided into four acts. In the first Mathews tried to win by fighting, in the second his handlers did their best to have it awarded to him by making loud claims of foul, in the third Matty played the part of the man who had been badly hurt by being hit after the bell rang, and in the final round he just stayed in the ring, doing his little sprint the while, and taking a long chance that a draw might be his portion for being on earth for the final handshake. The plot of the piece was Charley White, the referee, and he was one hard working plot.

Wanted a Foul.

Had the original programme been carried out as planned, it is barely possible that Mathews might have fared better. The plan was not to allow White to officiate as referee. The reasons given were funny, and the one not given was clever. Smith, it has been said, is a foul fighter. In fact he has lost fights on fouls. He is as fast as a runner (sp?), as confusing as a dray load of fire works in action, and few referees have been able to follow him. White demonstrated that he could make Bill fight fair, therefore he was not the man to referee the fight. Mathews is either out of his senses or he must understand that he has no business to attempt winning from Smith by fighting for it. His chance was to win on a foul or get a draw, in consideration of what he had undergone in the way of alleged fouls. The plan was clever. A draw with the best welter on earth would be considerable, and to win on a foul nothing short of ideal. But White refereed in spite of the agreement made by the manager of the club, and in consequence the crowd saw a good fight, and Mathews had no odds in his favor.

The men were to fight in clinches until ordered to break, and no blows were to be struck after the word. The conditions looked bad for Smith, whose long suit is at close work, and there was also the chance of his disregarding the order and losing the decision in consequence. White, however, seemed to have him under control, and only on a few occasions did he offend, and then not seriously. The crowd applauded him again and again for his obedience to the order to break.

Mathews Outclassed.

Mathews seemed to get on fairly well until Smith started to fight; then it was a procession. Smith held the lead all the way, and was obliged to go to Mathews or not fight. In the eighth round Mathews's head struck Smith in a clinch, and Bill had a cut eye in consequence. In the fourteenth they were at short-arm work as the bell rang, and just on the tap Mathews got his right on Smith's head. Bill, regardless of the bell, jolted with his right, and Matty-wise Matty--immediately doubled up and hobbled to his corner as if suffering with colic. His second ran to White, but Charley was "on," and waved him away. In the meantime Matty was being patted and a beautiful pale blue sash he wore was united to ease the injured (?) spot. The bell rang suddenly, and the sash trailed yards behind as he rose. White waved Smith back, took the sash off Mathews, and said: "Oh, go fight!" That round was the best Mathews fought.

They began to slow up about five rounds before the finish and the audience began kidding them. White said nothing for a couple of rounds, and then dropped the flag and mentioned the fact that it looked like a fake. Twenty seconds later Mathews was taking nine seconds on the floor, but the bell rang before Smith could finish him.

Mathews did some clever foot work, took what came to him gracefully, and jollied Bill into taking it easy many a time, but he belongs elsewhere, not in the same class with the Mysterious William.

  RIGHT CROSS.

1898-08-27 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 8)

MATTHEWS BEATEN BY SMITH.

"Matty" Matthews was beaten by "Mysterious Billy" Smith in twenty-five rounds at the Lenox Athletic Club last night. The men weighed in at 142 pounds. Smith was the favorite at 2 to 1 before the contest. The opening bout, between Joe Burk, of Brooklyn, and "Eddie" Morris, colored, of California, was to have been of ten rounds duration, but it was stopped at the end of the third round, Morris being disqualified for fouling.


1898-08-27 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 4)

SMITH BEATS MATTHEWS.

Mysterious Billy Smith made Matty Matthews look like an amateur in their twenty-five round bout at the Lenox Athletic Club last night, Smith receiving the decision. The preliminary, between Joe Burke of Brooklyn and Ed Morris of California, was awarded to Burke on a foul in the third round.


1898-08-27 The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (page 4)

"MYSTERIOUS" BILLY SMITH

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Outfought and Outgeneraled Matty Matthews Before the Lenox Club.

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New York, Aug. 26.--"Mysterious" Billy Smith met Matty Matthews before the Lenox A. C. to-night and outfought and outgeneraled his opponent 5 to 1. Both men were in good condition, although Matthews's left arm was bandaged from an injury which he received about six weeks ago. Smith was the aggressor throughout the fight and at the end of the fourteenth round Matthews seemed to have had enough.

Just as the gong sounded at the close of that round Matthews landed on Smith and the mysterious boxer sent his right hard on the wind in return. The referee gave Smith the benefit of the doubt, as he may not have heard the bell. Matthews wriggled in his seat as if he had been hit low, but the trick did not work.

From this time to the end of the contest Matthews adopted sprinting tactics in order to last the limit, which he succeeded in doing. At no time was the issue in doubt and, taken on the whole, the fight was pretty clean and free from foul work on either side.

The opening bout between Joe Burk, of Brooklyn, and Eddie Morris (colored), of California, was to have been of ten rounds' duration, but was stopped at the end of the third round. The men met at 142 pounds. In the first round each scored a knock-down. It was anybody's fight up to the end of the third round, when Morris hit his opponent a very hard blow very low on the body. Referee White stopped the fight and disqualified Morris for fouling. Burk was declared the winner and he was cheered as he left the ring.


1898-08-27 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 10)

"MYSTERIOUS" SMITH AN EASY WINNER.

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Hits "Matty" Mathews When and Where He Pleases in Their Bout at the Lenox A. C.

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Fast fighting marked the battle between "Mysterious Billy" Smith, of Boston, and "Matty" Mathews, of New York, in the arena of the Lenox Athletic Club last night. The men fought at the welter-weight limit, 142 pounds. They were scheduled to battle twenty-five rounds. For seven rounds Smith clearly showed his superiority, using both hands effectively. His right frequently found a resting place over Mathews's heart. Smith's blows evidently hurt the New Yorker, for the latter clinched repeatedly to avoid punishment.

The work of the Bostonian was open to criticism at times, and he was cautioned by the referee to be careful in regard to the tactics he employed. Mathews slipped to the boards several times in avoiding Smith's rushes.

Smith was the favorite, at odds of 2 to 1 on. Many bets were registered at that price, and several wagers were made at even money that the fight would or would not last the limit. Smith's attendants were "Johnny" Gorman, "Billy" Needham, Harry Tuttle and "Jimmy" Gorman. Smith was in splendid condition. He said he felt just as well as he looked and was confident of winning. Mathews also stripped well, but his left forearm was injured some time ago. Matthews' seconds were "Gus" Ruhlin, "Jack" Doherty, "Billy" Hamilton and "Jim" Burrows.

MATHEWS DRAWS BLOOD.

In the eighth round Mathews made a really good showing. A well directed right hander cut a deep gash over Smith's right eye, and the blood flowed freely, making his vision indistinct. Mathews took advantage of his opponent's condition and landed many telling blows. Honors in the eighth and ninth rounds were easy.

In the eleventh round Smith hit Mathews when and where he pleased. Mathews was very weary and appeared to want to stop. He was considerably bruised about the face and his mouth was bleeding. In the fourteenth round Smith struck Mathews lightly on the body. Mathews pretended he was hurt, and the crowd laughed. He decided his bluff did not work and answered the bell on the fifteenth round.

In the sixteenth round Smith scored a knockdown with a left and right hander on the jaw. The New Yorker arose just as nine seconds were counted. Smith continued on the aggressive to the end and scored almost when and where he pleased. Mathews clinched or sprinted out of range all the while. In the twenty-third round Smith again scored a knockdown. Mathews struggled to his feet just before the time limit expired.

"DON'T KNOCK ME OUT."

In the twenty-fourth round Smith pleaded with Mathews to stop, but the New Yorker refused. Mathews was so weak and severely bruised that he could scarcely defend himself. He said to Smith, "Don't knock me out." The twenty-fifth and last round was all in favor of Smith.

"Charley" White, the referee, declared the Boston man the winner.

The opening bout, between "Joe" Burke, of Brooklyn, and "Eddie" Morris (colored), of California, was to have been of ten rounds' duration, but it was stopped at the end of the third round. The men met at 142 pounds, and banged each other during the first two rounds like the unscientific sluggers that they are. Each scored a knockdown, but it was anybody's fight up to the end of the third round, when Morris hit his opponent a hard blow very low on the body just as the gong sounded. Referee White stopped the fight there and then and disqualified Morris for fouling. Burke was declared the winner, and he was cheered as he left the ring.


1898-08-27 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 3)

SMITH GETS THE DECISION.

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Matthews Is Defeated in a 25-Round Bout at Lenox Athletic Club.

"Mysterious" Billy Smith and Matty Matthews met in a twenty-five-round bout at the Lenox Athletic Club last night, and Smith was awarded the decision at the end of the fight. From beginning to end Smith had the better of Matthews, but could not put him out. The fighting at times was foul on the winner's part, and rough tactics were often adopted by both men.

Smith knocked Matthews down in the seventeenth round, but the latter got on his feet before Charles White, the referee, could count the prescribed ten seconds. Smith repeated the dose in the twenty-third round, and in the twenty-fourth tried his best to put Matthews out, but was unsuccessful.

The attendance was large and the decision was popular, although Smith's foul fighting at times brought forth hisses and groans.


1898-08-27 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 9)

SMITH WHIPS MATTHEWS.

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THE "MYSTERIOUS" PUGILIST OUTCLASSES THE LOCAL MAN.

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For Fifteen Rounds the Fighting Is Fast, and Then It Is One-Sided to the Finish--Smith Appeals to Matty and His Seconds to Stop--Burke Downs Morrison on a Foul.

It was rather an easy task for "Mysterious" Billy Smith of Boston to get a decision over Matty Matthews of New York in a twenty-five round battle at the Lenox A. C. last night. Smith forced the fighting from the start and so clearly outclassed his antagonist that the crowd found amusement solely in the local man's efforts to stay the limit. The contest was fast for fifteen rounds, but after that its one-sidedness was too apparent to hold the attention of the crowd. They were scheduled to meet at 142 pounds.

Joe Burke of Brooklyn faced Ed Morris, colored, of California, in the first bout of ten rounds at 142 pounds. In the second round Burke scored a clean knockdown with a right-hander on the jaw. Burke made the colored man's nose bleed in the third round and also had him in queer street. Morris continued to aim with wild swings at his opponent after the bell had been rung, whereupon the referee promptly awarded the bout to Burke on a foul.

In the principal bout the betting was 2 to 1 in favor of Smith. The latter's seconds were Johnny Gorman, Harry Tuthill and Billy Needham. Matthews was handled by "Doc" Dougherty, Billy Hamilton and Jim Burroughs. Referee White instructed the men that they could box with one hand free until ordered to break out of clinches. Smith was the aggressor from the first tap of the bell. He had the better of the mix-up, Matthews doing some roughing, for which the crowd hissed. Matthews slipped down in the second round, and the spectators believing that he had been back heeled, hissed. Smith did some more free-hand work on the body in the third round, and incidentally caught Matthews on the jaw with a hard right. After being ordered to break Smith continued fighting in a clinch, and as the round ended the referee warned him.

Matthews, although on the defensive in the fourth round, landed a couple of heavy left counters on the jaw that made Smith hanker for toothache drops. The "mysterious" boxer was still on the offensive in the fifth round and kept up his free-hand work with untiring persistency. Matthews took no chances and merely countered every time the Boston man rushed in. Smith had two to one the better of the sixth round, Matthews being slow in both attack and defence. Matthews was holding his man hard as the bell rang and the referee warned him. Smith was faster, more aggressive and the harder hitter in every round up to this point. Matthews landed one good left in the seventh round. The crowd hissed Smith, however, for supposed foul work, when in reality he adhered strictly to the rules.

As the eighth round started Matthews landed a heavy right swing on Smith's left eye and cut it open. Smith then bored in like wildfire, only to find his opponent strong and full of heavy smashes. Both fell in a clinch when the ninth round began. Then Matthews set the pace, with the result that the round belonged to him on points. Smith's best blow in the tenth round was a lefthand body punch that almost doubled Matthews up. The latter dropped twice in the eleventh round to avoid Smith's fierce onslaught, which was rapidly beating Matty into submission. In the twelfth round Matthews tried to land a heavy right on the jaw, as that appeared to be his only chance. Smith, however, blocked off his blows and also continued his assaults on the head and body. Matthews delivered less than half a dozen blows in the thirteenth round, as he was constantly taking good care to keep out of Smith's way.

Just as the bell clashed in the fourteenth round Smith landed a light body punch. Matthews doubled up as he sat down, and his seconds cried "foul." It looked like a bluff, or rather a case of quitting. When the next round began Matthews's seconds were still shouting, but the referee ordered the fight to proceed. Matthews's seconds then ripped off his blue silk sash and the battle went on. Smith immediately cut loose and fought his opponent all around the ring. Matthews was apparently unwilling to take a chance, although he was just as strong as the "Mysterious" pugilist. Smith tried hard to swing a knock-out blow in the sixteenth round, but Matthews guarded himself carefully and kept well out of harm's way. Smith opened the seventeenth round with a knock-down, the result of left and right on the jaw. Matthews took nine seconds before getting up. Then he stayed the round with leg work, and went to his corner tired.

The eighteenth round was all in Smith's favor, as he did all the work. Matthews continued his retreat around the edges of the ring. Smith mixed things up so earnestly in the nineteenth round that Matthews was busy guarding his jaw and breaking ground. It was quite apparent that he was trying to stay the limit. Matthews got out of a dangerous predicament in the twentieth round by good ducking. Smith had staggered him, and was bent upon finishing the job then and there. In the twenty-first round Matthews showed that he had no steam left to drive his punches in, while his rival kept on forcing matters with no let up. The twenty-second round was tame, for the reason that Matthews kept well out of the way. Smith redoubled his efforts in the twenty-third round, and with a right cleanly landed on the jaw he sent Matthews to the floor. The latter was groggy when he got up inside of the limit, but Smith could not finish him before the bell sounded. When Matthews came up for the twenty-fourth round Smith said to him:

"Why don't you quit? I don't want to hurt you." Then he turned to Matthews's seconds and remarked: "It's a shame to keep this man in the ring."

Then Smith made a punching bag of Matthews, the latter falling to the floor twice. Matthews asked Smith not to knock him out as the twenty-fifth round began. Smith scored another knock-down before time was up, and got the decision with ease.

1900-07-10 Joe Gans W-TKO8 Young Griffo [Seaside Athletic Club, Coney Island, NY, USA]

1900-07-11 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 5)

GANS WHIPS GRIFFO IN EIGHT ROUNDS.

"Joe" Gans, of Baltimore, received the decision over Albert Griffith, better known as "Young Griffo," of Australia, last night at the Seaside Sporting Club. The referee stopped the bout in the eighth round, when Griffo was near out.

The bout was to have been for twenty-five rounds at 135 pounds. For a time Griffo showed some of his former cleverness in blocking and landing neatly. Gans played a waiting game, and when Griffo grew tired he found no difficulty in settling the contest.

In the first round Griffo was knocked down, but he arose quickly. In the second round he landed often on his opponent, but it was evident that his blows had not much force behind them. He was floored again in the seventh round, and was in bad condition when the eighth round began. One of his eyes was closed. Gans got in some hard blows on his jaw and had him staggering about the ring and all but out, when "Johnny" White, the referee, stopped the bout.


1900-07-11 The Morning Telegraph (New York, NY) (page 10)

YOUNG GRIFFO LOST TO GANS

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Beaten to a Pulp in the Eighth Round.

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REFEREE STOPPED FIGHT

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Australian Showed Well for Awhile, but When Gans Had Him Sized Up It Was Soon Over.

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The attempt to resurrect Young Griffo was a dire failure.

The once great boxer came from Chicago with the reputation of having retained all his former stamina, and he was matched with Joe Gans, who has no superior and probably no equal in the lightweight class.

On the surface, Griffo appeared to be in good condition, but when he got into action it was seen that he was a Queensberry wreck.

The cleverness that once enabled him to baffle the greatest men of the lightweight division had departed, and he was a plaything in the hands of expert Gans.

It took Gans but a few rounds to correctly size up Griffo, and then he beat the Australian to a standstill.

In the eighth round Griffo was beaten to a helpless condition, and the referee stopped it. Mrs. Joe Gans was in the building, and saw her husband win.

There was some pretty sparring in the opening round, and Griffo performed nobly for a time. Toward the close of the round Gans landed a right hand uppercut on the chin, and the Australian went to the floor. It was a clean knock down, and Griffo was worried, but the bell came to his relief.

Little of interest occurred in the second, but in the third Griffo set a hot pace, and forced Gans all about the ring, sending several heavy lefts to the stomach.

The fourth was very exciting, and while Gans had the advantage, yet Griffo carried the war to his opponent's camp and mixed it up in merry style.

Gans got Griffo's measure in the seventh and floored him twice, the Australian scorning the referee's count each time.

Gans pounded Griffo's face to a pulp in the eighth, and had his man very groggy. Referee Johnny White rightly stopped the bout after one minute and thirty-eight seconds of fighting.

Eugene Garcia and George Monroe furnished the preliminary canter of twelve rounds. Monroe outpointed his man from the start, and, while no effective punishment was inflicted, yet Monroe won decisively.


1900-07-11 The New York Herald (New York, NY) (page 11)

GRIFFO WAS SAVED FROM A KNOCKOUT

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Gans Had Him Beaten to Helplessness When the Referee Stopped the Battle.

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To the list of good old "former fighters" must be added the name of "Young Griffo," once regarded as the cleverest fighter that ever put on a glove. In less than eight rounds he was beaten into a state of utter helplessness last night by "Joe" Gans, a colored lightweight of Baltimore, at the Seaside Sporting Club. For five rounds the Australian held his own with his more youthful opponent, but his strength left him after that. When the end came after one minute and thirty-eight seconds of fighting in the eighth round. Gans would have scored a knock out had not "Johnny" White, the referee, stopped the bout.

Two women witnessed the bout. Mrs. Gans viewed her husband's efforts from behind the mezzanine seats. Mrs. Herford, wife of Gans' manager, also saw the fight.

Gans led off in the eighth round with a left smash on the nose that made the blood flow, and followed with two terrific left handers on the jaw. He followed with a right hander on the jaw that made Griffo fall to his knees. The Australian was hopelessly beaten. He was bleeding, his right eye was closed and he was all but out. The referee stopped the bout and declared Gans the winner.

George Monroe outpointed Eugene Garcia in the preliminary bout, a twelve round affair. Monroe showed considerable cleverness, and outgeneralled his opponent all through the battle. He also gave Garcia a hard thumping.


1900-07-11 The New York Press (New York, NY) (page 4)

GANS OUTFOUGHT YOUNG GRIFFO

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Referee Stopped the Bout and Prevented Knockout.

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Australian Showed Old-Time Form Until the Eighth, When He Was Punished Badly.

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Joe Gans of Baltimore was awarded the decision over Albert Griffith, better known as "Young Griffo," of Australian, at the Seaside A. C., Coney Island, last night. Referee White stopped the bout after they had fought one minute and thirty-eight seconds of the eighth round, when Griffo was so far gone that another punch from Gans would have put him out.

The articles called for a twenty-five round bout at 135 pounds. For a time Griffo showed some of his old-time form, blocking and punching in clever style, but his dissipation has told on him, and although he had trained faithfully he had not the steam to stand the negro's punches.

Gans played a waiting game and when Griffo had fought himself out, he found no difficulty in putting the Australian in such condition that the referee's action was pleasing to the crowd and mournful to Griffo. Gans was a 2 to 1 favorite, but there was little betting.

The crowd in the house numbered about 3,500. Gans entered the ring accompanied by Al Herford, Harry Lyons and "Kid" Thomas. Griffo followed with Clarence Forbes, Paddy Gorman and Tommy Holden as seconds.

Griffo looked to be in excellent shape and Gans appeared in his usual good form.

The men shook hands at 10:05. Gans was the first to lead with his left for the head, but Griffo blocked and followed with left to the face.

Twice Griffo ran into a clinch and was cautioned for holding. Three times again he jabbed his left to the negro's face and swung a left to the head. Gans was cool and waited for him, and finally crossed his right to the ear and twice jolted it to the body.

Just before the bell rang Gans uppercut with his right to the chin and dropped Griffo to the floor, but he was right up and fighting at the gong.

In the second round Griffo showed much of his old science, but Gans showed superior blocking in the third, and Griffo's attempts for the head did not land as frequently as before.

Griffo finally cornered the colored lad and drove three hard lefts to the body, and reached the head with both hands. Gans finally escaped and hooked left and right to the head.

Gans opened the fourth with a right to the head, but Griffo stepped aside and jolted his right to the body. He slipped to the floor and Gans helped him to his feet. There was fast fighting on the part of both men. Gans tried to reach the head, but was blocked repeatedly, and took some good body blows in return, but the pace seemed to be telling.

Both steadied up a bit in the fifth, and toward the end of the round both landed some telling blows on the body, and Gans was clinching at the bell.

Griffo continued to do the offensive. Gans was waiting for a chance. Twice he thought he saw it, but was blocked each time in his attempt. In the seventh round Gans stepped in, and with a right-hand uppercut lifted Griffo's head and then sent over left and right, dropping him to the floor.

Johnny White began to count, but Griffo waved him away and jumped to his feet to take another cluster of blows that shook him up badly.

Gans's right hand punches to the heart showed their effect in the eighth, and Griffo was forced about the ring with left jabs to the mouth that brought the blood in a stream.

Gans saw he was gone, and, measuring his man admirably, swung his right to the jaw. Griffo staggered across the ring, and Gans followed and swung his right again to the mark. It only needed another punch to knock him out, but before Gans could deliver it Referee Johnny White stepped between them and sent them to their corners, stopping the fight and giving Gans the decision.

In the preliminary George Munroe got the decision from Young Garcia of Brooklyn at the end of ten rounds.


1900-07-11 The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY) (page 9)

GRIFFO TAKES A BEATING.

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Showed Much of His Old Cleverness, But Could Not Stand Gans' Hard Thumps.

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Fight Given to Colored Man in Eighth Round.

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Young Griffo, once the most shifty and dazzling boxer who ever stepped into a ring, was brought out again at Coney Island last night as an opponent to Joe Gans. Reports had come from Chicago that rigorous training had erased all effects of Griffo's long-continued dissipation, and it was announced that with strength restored and cleverness undimmed he might be expected to stand off the coffee-colored Baltimorean for twenty-five rounds. None of these expectations were realized to the full, for although he fought with savage gameness and with much show of his old-time skill, Griffo only lasted into the eighth round, when Referee John White stopped the bout to save the Australian from a knockout.

Griffo was noisily cheered on entering and received applause during the fight whenever there was the slightest excuse for it, while Gans was greeted coldly. Griffo looked in excellent condition. He is shorter and much more stocky than Gans and does not have the colored man's great reach. From the beginning everyone was interested to see if the resuscitated fighter remembered all of his cleverness. It was, indeed, pretty boxing that he put up. He took the aggressive at once and feinted close up to his opponent, his lightning-like motions protecting him from a lead. Then he shot a swift left to the side of Gans' face, setting the crowd wild. He repeated this several times, but Gans finally came to close quarters and the first blow he struck knocked Griffo down, doing no damage, however.

This round gave a pointer on the fight, and the Gans money, which had been going on at 100 to 35, now went begging at 4 to 1. Griffo's cleverness was apparent, and his gameness was soon to be demonstrated. But Gans never appeared worried by all the Australian's shifty feints, leads and blocks, nor did he seem to be hurt much by several good ones which Griffo landed on the body. Gans kept poking a hard left to Griffo's head and soon had his right eye closed. Later the Australian's face was cut and bleeding profusely.

Griffo's best round was the sixth, in which he rushed Gans savagely, pounded the body with right and left and then stood grinning ten feet away while Gans was slicing circles out of the air. But it was easily seen that the only blows which counted toward the result were those which Gans was putting in at intervals whenever he thought it time to do something.

The seventh round was a succession of game rushes by Griffo against the piston-rod rights and lefts which met him at each onslaught. Twice he went down before long, hard lefts; each time he was up, disdaining a count, but his finish was only a matter of time.

In the eighth the men stood up and slugged, and Griffo was soon so weak that he could not put up his hands. When White saw this he sent the men to their corners and declared Gans the winner.

Griffo's backers cannot complain that he did not do his best to save their money for them, for he plainly fought with all there was in him from the beginning to the end, but his weakened constitution could not keep him up under a moderately hard thumping.

The preliminary was twelve rounds between George Monroe and Eugene Garcia, the latter taking the place of Itsy Ryan, who was above the stipulated 117 pounds. The decision went to Monroe.


1900-07-11 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 4)

GANS DEFEATS GRIFFO.

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AUSTRALIAN HELPLESS IN THE EIGHTH ROUND AT CONEY ISLAND.

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Referee Mercifully Saves Him From a Knock-Out--Dashing Contest for Six Rounds With Honors Fairly Even--Two Knock-Downs in the Seventh Turns the Tide in Gans's Favor.

Young Griffo of Australia, once considered the greatest boxer of the world, was literally beaten to a standstill by Joe Gans of Baltimore at the Seaside Sporting Club in Coney Island last night. The end came in the eighth round when Griffo, blinded with blood and weak from the incessant hammering that Gans handed out to him, was on the verge of being put to sleep. But for interference on the part of Referee John White the Australian would have been knocked out.

In spite of a wild career Griffo showed that he had regained much of his old-time vigor. For six rounds he made things hum for Gans, but in the seventh round a couple of hard knock-downs took away the Australian's strength and prepared the way for his defeat. Griffo could not be said to possess his former remarkable science. He was quick, but not quick enough to stave off the clever Baltimorean, who took his time and then delivered the blows that won. Griffo's exhibition of gameness, however, was remarkable. He refused to take counts when floored, and, though badly beaten about the head, he never flinched. While his strength lasted he put up a fierce fight, but he was outclassed in nearly every respect. When about to leave the ring Griffo, after shaking hands with his old rival, Jack McAuliffe, took a long drink out of a black bottle. He had evidently had his fill of training and recuperation.

The principal interest centred in the physical and mental condition of Griffo. Though the erratic Australian, because of extreme dissipation, had been forced to spend several terms in a sanitarium, his friends asserted that he was once more in old time condition. To those who looked Griffo over as he got ready for the battle he appeared to be restored to his former good health. His complexion and eyes were clear and his body was well rid of hog fat. In fact, Griffo seemed to have been carefully trained, and in answer to questions he said that he had not forgotten his wonderful cleverness as a scientific boxer which made him famous as a drawing card several years ago. Griffo expressed confidence in his ability to stay the limit, though he recognized the skill and prowess of Gans. Speculators saw an opportunity to risk their coin on the proposition that Griffo would at least stay ten rounds, but the talent figured Gans a sure winner because of his superior condition, his cleverness and punching ability. Griffo's weakness in the hitting line was taken to mean that he would have no chance to stop the Baltimorean, no matter how hard he might try.

The crowd did not flock into the building at an early stage, but still when the preliminary was put on there was a good attendance which was increasing in size every moment. The appetizing bout was provided by George Monroe and Eugene Garcia, both of this city, who were matched for twelve rounds at 117 pounds. Garcia took the place of "Itsy" Ryan, who came to the clubhouse several pounds overweight. John White was the referee, and Joe Dunn kept time. Garcia was a mark for constant facers and body blows in every round, but he stood the gruelling with good grace. Monroe received the decision.

Bob Fitzsimmons and Sharkey were among the spectators, also Ruhlin and McCoy. Gans's wife was smuggled past the doorkeepers and had a seat unobserved within reach of the ring. Gans was a 5 to 2 favorite, but there was very little money up. The colored pugilist entered the ring first, there being no demonstration, while Griffo received a cheer. Gans's seconds were Al Herford, Harry Lyons and Kid Thomas. Griffo was looked after by Clarence Forbes, Paddy Gorman and Tommy Holden. The match called for twenty-five rounds at 135 pounds, Queensberry rules. As Griffo sat in his corner the crowd seized a chance to size him up. His arms and legs looked strong enough to stand a hard fight, and his chest and back were well hardened. Gans was in superb condition, as he always is. When they shook hands Gans had a slight advantage in height and also had the longer reach.

Griffo stood up coolly and sent a quick left to Gans's face. He went in again with a corking left swing that landed on the eye, and the crowd yelled. Gans then took the defensive and as Griffo kept on top of him with rapid lefts in the face, Joe was puzzled. Gans was finally forced into a mix-up and shot a left to the ear. In another mix Griffo fell, but he jumped up laughing and ran into a rally that was stopped by the bell.

Griffo opened the second round with a rush which brought a clinch. Gans met another advance with sharp counters on the head. "I'm goin' to do yer," said Griffo, with a grin. "All right," replied Gans, and the Australian then jumped in with swift lefts and a right on the head that drove Gans away. Gans came back with several heavy swings, which were blocked, but a straight punch on the nose brought blood. Gans then rushed and made Griffo retreat in some disorder.

When Griffo came up for the third round his right eye was closing rapidly. Gans quickly jabbed him in the face with a hot left and Griffo danced away after a short spell of boxing. Griffo tried lefts, but they had little force. Gans on the other hand had plenty of power in his smashes. Joe took his time, however, and Griffo, getting him cornered, whipped in three lefts to the stomach, two of which were well stopped. Griffo cut loose then and with more body blows he made Gans clinch. It was a fine rally on the part of the Australian and the crowd cheered him to the echo.

Griffo began the fourth with a rush which was stopped. As Gans rushed in return Griffo slipped to a knee, but was up and into a hot rally without delay. Griffo paid special attention to the body and every time he reached it Gans clinched. Griffo kept his man busy for several moments, but Gans soon cut loose and with rapid swings he made Griffo clinch. Then they got at it in fierce style, Griffo having his mouth and his eye further swollen, but the Australian kept on fighting like a demon to the bell and went to his corner with a skip.

Gans was in no hurry when the fifth began. He used his feet and blocked many swings, at the same time putting in counters to Griffo's sore face. Griffo was the aggressor until Gans landed a couple of swings on his eye, after which both were contented with light sparring. Griffo stood in close at all times, and in the mix-ups he whipped in heavy stomach blows that made Gans hang on for all he was worth, Griffo was doing all the fighting at the gong.

Gans opened the sixth with lefts delivered at long range. Griffo went in quickly for another mixup and hammered the ribs with left and right. Gans then tried more long swings which Griffo blocked with consummate ease. Gans did some clever blocking too, and then tried a right for the jaw. Griffo stepped away from it, and pounded the ribs with his left. Griffo then jumped in with a right over the heart and got away so quickly from the counters that came back that the crowd yelled in appreciation.

Griffo began the seventh with an ineffective rush. Gans responded with a hard right on the heart that almost turned the Australian around. Griffo was still coming in and Gans met him with sharp smashes in the face and stomach. Gans rushed, and with a storm of long swings on the head he sent Griffo down. As the referee started to count, Griffo pushed him aside and got up. Gans piled the blows in then until Griffo's face was battered and bathed in blood, but he stood up to be knocked down hard. Griffo would not take a count, but leaped up and was fighting like a tiger when the bell rang.

Gans was confident of victory as he faced the plucky Australian for the eighth. He began the round with several cutting facers, but they did not deter Griffo from standing in for a series of mix-ups. Gans simply laid the blows all over his man after that and with a heavy right on the jaw he made Griffo totter blindly toward the ropes. Another smash would have knocked the Australian out, but the referee interfered and declared Gans the winner. It was a merciful action on the part of White as Griffo was helpless. The time of the round was 1 minute 38 seconds.


1900-07-11 The World (New York, NY) (page 5)

GANS BEAT GRIFFO IN THE EIGHTH ROUND.

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Australian Displayed but Little of His Former Cleverness.

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Joe Gans made a poor showing for a would-be champion at the Seaside A. C. last night. To be sure, he whipped Young Griffo in eight rounds, but, then, Griffo has been dead pugilistically for years. He has been in an asylum, and there is not the least doubt but that Terry McGovern can put him out in three rounds. Griffo was clever, but only with a ghostlike cleverness of the old days. While he was fresh he outpointed Gans, but he did not stay fresh long, for nature, in him, had been outraged beyond belief for years. The crowd was pleased with the bout because it made Gans look so like a third-rater.

The men entered the ring at 9.55. Griffo was cheered when he climbed through the ropes, while Gans entered without recognition. Griffo looked well, but Gans looked better, and the betting showed what the crowd thought about the fight. The odds were 100 to 35 that Griffo would not win, and 100 to 80 that he would not stay ten rounds. The Australian looked a little wild and seemed nervous. When the men were introduced all the cheering was for Griffo.

Griffo caught the crowd by walking right into Gans. He surprised the negro by putting two left-hand swings on the jaw. Gans was puzzled and made ground, while Griffo, who was in excellent shape, fought close to his man. Just before the gong sounded Gans landed two hard ones and Griffo went to the floor, but jumped up laughing, and the crowd, remembering how Gans quit with Erne, yelled its joy at his quick recovery.

The second round found the crowd yelling with delight, for they expected to see the whole thing ended in six rounds. Griffo went at his man again and landed several good ones, but got a few in return. His right eye was almost closed, but he still pressed Gans, who made ground and waited for the Australian to lead.

In the third round Griffo fought fast and furiously. He fought close to Gans, swinging for the belly and landing often. Gans was kept so busy guarding that he did not have time to lead. He was smiling, and in that smile many saw the finish of Griffo, even though he was fighting well. The gong sounded as they came to a clinch.

The fourth round was one of the fastest fought in the club in months. Griffo kept after his man. He mixed it with him he roughed it with him and he had Gans breathing hard. They hit and blocked and ducked and side-stepped and now and then landed. It was too fast for the eye to follow, yet Griffo seemed to have a shade the better of it.

In the first part of the fifth they sparred, but soon Griffo went at his man again. He was getting tired, but he kept Gans guessing. He had the negro in the corner as the bell sounded and was putting them in the belly. Gans, who does not like them there, winced, and the crowd yelled in appreciation. Griffo got away from some desperate rights and lefts in the early part of the sixth round by extreme cleverness. He landed a good one over the heart and kept Gans busy again ducking and guarding. His showing was surprising even to his friends.

The seventh was Gans's round. Twice he put Griffo down, but each time he came up like a rubber ball, refusing to take the count, and the crowd cheered. He rushed Gans as soon as he got to his feet and landed several good ones. He came up comparatively fresh for the eighth round. Gans then started in and soon had Griffo groggy. He landed often, and Griffo was too weak to help himself. At this point Referee White very properly stopped the bout after one minute and thirty-eight seconds of fighting and gave the fight to Gans.

The preliminary battle between George Monroe and Eugene Garcia was one of the best fights seen at the club for some time. Monroe gave an exhibition of cleverness that puts him high among the feathers, while Garcia gave an exhibition of gameness and ability to stand punishment that has seldom been seen.

Referee John White gave the fight at the end of the twelfth round to Monroe.

Best black fighters in 1916

1916-08-04 The Winnipeg Evening Tribune (Winnipeg, MB, Canada) (page 13)

Blacks Menace Only Heavyweight Crown
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Contrary to popular opinion the lifting of the ban on "mixed bouts" jeopardizes the position and prestige of white boxers, in only one class. In every division except the heavyweight ranks the white men far outclass the colored warriors.

Amy Mack, who runs the Vanderbilt and Military clubs in Brooklyn, N.Y., and who has made a specialty of staging "colored boxing shows," declares that the rescission of the rule benefits the ebony-skinned ringmen in only one way--it gives them a wider field of action and a better chance to develop their ability.

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"At the present time," says Mack, "I don't know of one colored boxer in any of the various divisions outside of the heavyweight class who would stand the slightest chance against the best white boxers. There are some mighty clever colored boxers, but they don't class with our boys. I am well qualified to judge their chances, as I have seen every one of them in action."

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There are about 30 prominent colored boxers around Brooklyn at the present time. In the bantamweight division Harry Gardner is considered the champion. He has for classmates Buddy Faulkes, Mark Spencer, Battling Chuck, Terry Martin and Frankie Williams.

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There are only four real good men in the colored featherweight class. Darky Griffin is generally conceded to be the best man. The others are Wade Johnson, Kid Brooks and Sailor Burton.

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In the lightweight ranks Eddie (Kid) Dorsey stands out. He has been compared with Joe Gans, but the comparison flatters him. While he is a very clever boxer he doesn't figure with men like Johnny Dundee, Freddie Welsh, Benny Leonard, Charlie White, Joe Welling, and numerous good men among the white lightweights. Dorsey has a pipin of a left hand, and is as fast as a streak on his feet, but he can't punch.

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Other good colored lightweights are Leo Johnson, Wee Wee Barton, Kid Kines, Jack White and Young Joe Gans. Dorsey has defeated most of these.

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The classiest colored welterweight is Young Hicks, who claims the championship of the division. He is a hard hitter, but slow and is a mark for a good left hand. His rivals are Battling Gans, Joe De Nite, Frenchy Robibson, Young Peter Jackson and Tommy Coleman, the Philadelphia veteran.

The star colored middleweights are Willie Langford, rated the best of them all; "Jersey Ben" Douglas, Nero Chink, Kid White, Knockout Johnson, Young Jack Johnson, Battling Holmes, Dixie Kid and George Gunther.

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In the colored heavyweight class John Lester Johnson is the only man of recent development. There are probably half a dozen second-rate white heavies who could defeat him, but in Sam Langford, Sam McVey, Harry Wills, and even Joe Jeanette and ponderous Battling Jim Johnson he has classmates who would raise havoc among the Caucasians.

1915-06-22 Jack Britton W-PTS12 Mike Glover [Atlas Athletic Association, Boston, MA, USA]

1915-06-23 Boston Journal (Boston, MA) (page 10)

Jack Britton Gets Decision Over Mike Glover on Points But Lacks His Old Steam
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SOUTH BOSTON BOY LOSES TO BRITTON
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Mike Glover Not so Good a Boxer as Jack and Loses Decision After Fast Battle.
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By Jack Malaney

Jack Britton proved himself a better boxer than Mike Glover in the third meeting between the pair, held last night at the Atlas A. A., and accordingly received the decision. It was a tough and fast battle. Throughout the 12 rounds there was action, and plenty of it, and the contest was satisfactory in every way. The work of the boxers was very fine, as was also the decision and refereeing of Patsy Haley. One of the biggest crowds of the season packed the Arena.

Britton did not show his former hard-hitting ability, but he made it clear to about everybody that was fair enough to realize it that he is a clever boxer and that he can beat South Boston Mike about any time he tries it. There was not a knockdown during the affair, neither was either man in bad shape or clanger at all; it was too swift a battle to allow of setting for hard-hitting.

Bout as if a Regular Thing

Calm and cool as Charley White ever thought of being, only about three times as active, Britton went through the bout as if it was a regular thing with him to meet and beat Glover. In the rounds in which Britton had the edge, and there were about five of them, Jack appeared to be very far ahead because of the undignified manner in which he outboxed Mike.

The greater number of Britton's punches were swiftly delivered taps and light hooks. From the fifth to the 10th sessions he put these kinds onto Mike's face with about the same ease that he would if he was putting stamps on instead of his gloves. All the while Glover was dodging and ducking trying to get away from, but he couldn't.

Blows Fail to Disturb Mike

Several times Britton cut loose with his blows, or it appeared that he did, and, though they landed on the right spots, they failed to even disturb Mike outwardly. On one occasion, in the eleventh, Jack hooked both hands hard, and almost at the same time, and, though they landed flush on Mike's jaws, they didn't have the necessary steam to do any damage.

Glover fought a much better battle than he did against Wells. He was not able to uppercut as he did in the tilt with the Englishman, for Britton moved around too quickly for him, but he made up for this with long, circling swings. He connected with Britton good and proper plenty of times, but the wallops rolled off as would water off a duck's back.

Jack Shows the One, Two, Three

Early in the bout, Britton showed what a fast left he had, for by the end of the opening round Mike's face was brilliantly lighted with unnatural color. Later the visitor gave a demonstration of his one, two, three punch, which was a left to the body, a right to the body and then a right to the head. His blocking and dodging was also a big part of the night's work.

The first four rounds were pretty nearly even, but in the fifth, Britton went ahead. All told there were about five rounds in which he was unquestionably the leader and in those he got far enough ahead to allow him to take it easy. In the last three innings Glover worked desperately to get a look in, but it would have taken a couple of knockdowns to put him on even footing with Dan Morgan's performer.

Although the weight was announced as 140 pounds, the men weighed in at 141 pounds at 4 o'clock and both were under weight.

Preliminaries Poor

The preliminaries did not turn out to be as good as they appeared on paper. The semi-final was a surprise, for Belgium Brown soundly thrashed Young Jasper. The North Ender was battered when and wherever the Belgium wanted and by the sixth round the bout was one-sided. Jasper was slower in thinking and acting than he has ever appeared before.

Frankie Hanlon of South Boston appeared in place of Johnny Murphy of the same district in the second six-rounder against Johnny Noonan, and Frankie got so much handed to him that his seconds acknowledged defeat in the third. Jack Mansfield of Lawrence won from John Emery in the opening contest.

Next week's program is as follows: Sam Langford v. Sam McVea, 12 rounds; Dave Powers v. George Alger, eight rounds; Howard McRae v. Young Stone of Providence, six rounds; Young Clancy v. Young Brusso of Attleboro, six rounds.

Besides the Gilbert Gallant-Jose Rivers bout booked for July 6, the club has arranged a contest between Charley White and Milburn Saylor of Indianapolis for July 13.


1915-06-23 The Boston Herald (Boston, MA) (page 8)

JACK BRITTON BEATS GLOVER
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Chicago Boxer Earns Award Over South Boston Boy in 12 Rounds at Arena.
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Jack Britton of Chicago defeated Mike Glover of South Boston in a 12-round bout at the Atlas A. A. last night. The decision rendered by Patsey Haley of New York was well received by the gathering, which was a Glover crowd from the start. Had Glover fought as well in the final round as he did in the two periods preceding, the South Boston fighter would have probably earned a draw. But Mike appeared tired and lost his chance.

For science and hard hitting the bout was one of the best furnished by welterweights in a Boston ring in a good many months.

In the third round Britton began to force the pace. Glover held him nip and tuck in the early part of each round and there were some sessions when the South Boston boxer showed a decided advantage. Britton, however, managed to pile up the points in a majority of the rounds.

Twice Glover came near dropping the visitor with right-hand smashes to the jaw. Each time Britton rocked on his heels, but always rallied.

The bout was remarkably clever. The fighters displayed a knowledge of the cleanest kind of boxing, neither showing a disposition to infringe on the rules.

At the half way distance both fighters plainly showed traces of the fast pace. Britton had already taken a slight lead having earned the points in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth. The third belonged to Glover and the opening round ended with honors close enough to be called even.

It was in the third round that Glover showed some masterly fighting. A series of straight jabs to Britton's nose and a right to the head shook the Chicago man to his pins. Glover played a nice tattoo throughout the round on Britton's face and body, the session closing with Britton apparently tired and eager to reach his corner.

Glover started the fourth round by landing a clean left that came close to rocking the Windy City battler and Britton appeared greatly refreshed and forced the pace for the greater part of the round. He could do little damage on account of the clever blocking by Glover. But Britton was entitled to the round for his fighting.

In the next round Britton got up in full swing and had the best of almost every exchange. Glover blocked well but the visitor managed to score best and piled up the points.

Glover's next best round was the eighth, when he caught Britton with a wild right swing that forced the latter to hold until the mist lifted. It was then that Britton showed his skill by evading the greater part of Glover's attacks. The round belonged to Glover and the crowd was in high spirits.

Both were tired and a trifle weak coming up for the ninth round. The pace was hard and the good condition of the men alone kept them going. In this round science was tossed to winds and one tried to outslug the other. In the fast exchange that ensued Britton clinched and both men rolled to the floor. They got up and squared away and banged out the round, which was another that could be called even.

Glover came back amazingly strong for the 10th and, to the surprise of everybody, outslugged and outgeneraled the Chicago man. The round belonged to Glover by a wide margin. The effort left him an almost open target for Britton in the final two rounds. Britton closed in one Glover in the 11th scored repeatedly with a stiff left that made the South Boston man miss many blows.

The final session was practically a repetition of the 11th, although Glover did better by a great deal than he did in the round previous.

The program throughout was a pleasing one, starting with Jack Mansfield defeating Johnny Emery in a well boxed six-round bout. Johnny Noonan defeated Frankie Hanlon in the second round of a bout scheduled for six rounds. Hanlon substituted for Johnny Murphy of South Boston.

Belgian Eddie Brown and Young Jasper fought one of the best eight-round semi-final bouts seen at the local club in a long time. Brown won, and won all the way, taking the lead in the opening round and holding his advantage right out to the closing session, which he finished by clouting Jasper as no other welterweight has ever been seen to before.

The program for next week was announced as bringing together in the feature bout Sam Langford and Sam McVea, the colored heavyweight fighters. Dave Powers and George Alger will meet in an eight-round bout. Young Stone of Providence will meet Howard McRae of Cambridge and Young Clancy will meet Young Brusso of Revere in six-round contests.

Fairness in boxing

1920-03-09 The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH) (page 7)

BOXER REFUSES DECISION.

Buenos Aires, March 7.--The unusual claims of a boxer declared the winner of the bout, protesting against the decision in his favor, was witnessed last night at the close of the ten-round session between Young Cohen, of Boston, billed as featherweight champion of the American-Asiatic fleet, and Julio Perez, featherweight champion of Argentina. The referee at first gave the decision to Young Cohen, but upon the latter's protest that he was not entitled to a victory, the official declared that the bout was a draw amid cheers from the Argentinian audience.

Old vs. New

1918-10-26 The Rockford Republic (Rockford, IL) (page 7)

HIGH PRAISE FOR NEW FIGHTERS BY FORMER SCRAPPER
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Jimmy Barry, Former Bantamweight Champion, Says Boxers in Training Camps Are a Revelation to Him.
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BY ED. W. SMITH.

Score one for the modern boxer! Make it a big one!

Jimmy Barry, former bantamweight champion of the world and one of the greatest fighting men among the midgets that the world ever saw, believes that the modern boxing star has it on the old timers of his day at least. Further, Jimmy is ablize with enthusiasm about the boxing man of today and says that the scribes, who are arguing that the fighter of today is nowhere near as good as the ones of a decade back, don't know what they are talking about.

There is some weight to Jimmy's words since he retired from the game practically unbeaten after whipping everything in his class as well as everything within ten pounds of his heft. Further Jim in his day was closely allied with some of the greatest fighting men of that time and knew them well. Hence, his opinion is well worth considering. Barry told me all about it the other day when he returned from Camp Gordon, Ga., where he had been with the army boxing instructors for a couple of weeks.

"Got It On Old Boys."

"What I saw at Camp Gordon was the biggest sort of a revelation to me," the ex-champ said. "I've got to admit it now though I never did before. They've got it on us, these boys who do the boxing today. They're so good that the old timers like myself must admit that we never at any time approached them in form or style or anything else excepting perhaps the hitting power. Of course that will ever remain the same for a punch is a punch the world over, today or fifty years back or fifty years hence.

"I shadow-boxed with Benny Leonard down there and what a wonder he is, to be sure! He had a broken hand, received in the second round of his recent fight with Ted Lewis, and couldn't put the gloves on. But he showed me enough to make me think, and think deeply. He boxes exactly the style we all used to use twenty years ago. He never takes a punch in order to land one. He gets away from all of them if he can, relying on his own speed and skill to get home his own blows. And he has the science of punching down better than any of the old timers I can remember--straight to the point, never wasting any in wild swings.

"It is of such past masters of boxing as Johnny Kilbane, Mike Gibbons and Packey McFarland I would speak particularly. Say, my boys, they've got a lot of stuff that I never heard of when I was fighting. Their stuff was never in any book. It is all their own.

Hit from All Angles.

"Here's the angle: We used to go straight, always in position with left leg and arm advanced, always hitting out straight and as true as possible. Now, these fellows not only do that, but suddenly they start hitting out from angles that we would have considered impossible. Gibbons can hit you no matter in what position his feet or hands are. So can Kilbane and so can Packey.

"I was simply amazed when I saw them going and couldn't believe it. Mike is a real master but Packey is different. He has a style all his own, like nobody's I ever saw, and it is effective. I saw him box, once with Willie Ritchie and once with Harry Brewer of Kansas City. It was the biggest treat I have had in years. Stuff? Why, it's unbelievable. You've seen fellows with stuff, haven't you, who couldn't use it? Well, these birds use it, believe me.

"Jack Twin Sullivan was there and dozens of other old timers. Jack is going great despite his years. He is a wonderful fellow to have around because he is such a great entertainer. The tests are tremendous and it takes a strong man to get by. I failed, but blame that on my poor health. I simply was not big or strong enough."