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Sunday, April 20, 2014

1897-04-03 Joe Gans W-KO9 Howard Wilson [Polo Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]

1897-04-04 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 8)
JOE GANS KNOCKS OUT WILSON.

Joe Gans, the colored lightweight champion of Baltimore, knocked out Howard Wilson in the ninth round before the Polo A. C., in New York, last night. A large crowd witnessed the contests, which were spirited.

In the first contest, James Dever and Bobby Wilson fought a lively ten round draw. The second bout, between Tom Carey and Tom O'Brien, was one sided, the latter being out of training. In the second round Carey floored his man four times, and with a couple of swings, ended the battle.

The bout between Gans and Wilson was of the give and take order for eight rounds, Wilson appearing aggressive throughout. In the ninth Wilson opened with a rush, but Gans met him with a left upper cut, continuing with right jabs on face and a right swing on the jaw, Wilson going down and out. The announcer gave the time as 2 minutes, 11 seconds.

Spike Sullivan immediately entered the ring and challenged the winner. Gans accepted, stipulating only that the winner take all of the purse.


1897-04-04 The New York Press (New York, NY) (page 5)
HOWARD WILSON QUIT.
------
Lay Down in the Ninth Round of His Bout with Gans.

Howard Wilson of Washington chose the easiest way of escaping a knockout at the hands of Joe Gans of Baltimore in the Polo A. C. last night. He lay down two minutes and eleven seconds after the opening of the ninth round, but not before Gans had punished him severely. The latter held his man safe from the start.

As usual, the clubhouse was crowded and outside of Wilson's exhibition of faint-heartedness, the spectators were pleased with the sport. In the first bout Jimmie Dever and Bob Wilson, two 125 pounders, put up a rattling bout. At the end of the tenth round there was so little to choose from between them that the referee decided the contest a draw.

Tom Carey and Con O'Brien, a pair of East Side heavyweights who had a grievance to settle, appeared in the second bout. O'Brien was knocked out in 33 seconds, before the close of the second round.


1897-04-04 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 9)
GANS WHIPS WILSON.
--------
The Washington Fighter Is Counted Out at the Polo A. C.

Joe Gans, colored, of Baltimore, scored an easy victory over Howard Wilson, also colored, of Washington, at the Polo A. C. last night, the latter being counted out in the ninth round. The bout was a rather one-sided one. Gans put up a clever fight, while Wilson simply defended himself. A large crowd was present. Frank Abrahall was referee, while Luke R. Ford kept tally on the time.

Bob Wilson of Jersey City and Jimmy Dever of this city figured in the opening bout of ten rounds at 118 pounds. Wilson had the advantage of a long reach and height, while Dever was built on stalky lines. Wilson poked his left provokingly into Dever's face in the first and second rounds and held him off. The latter came back with some hard smashes in the stomach which made Wilson retreat a few paces. In the third and fourth rounds Dever began to swing, but no damage was done, as Wilson would invariably duck, and the blows went around his neck. In the fifth round the fighting was rather fierce, each punching with considerable force. Dever received unlimited punishment, but did not seem in the least unnerved, for he always came back for more. Wilson tried his best to finish his man in the next two rounds, but outside of shaking Dever up no damage was done. The eighth and ninth rounds were very rapid, both fighters keeping together most of the time. Dever's face was the resting place for many vicious blows, but he never flinched. Wilson was clearly tired in the tenth round. He scored an occasional jab and stopped several swings. Dever, on the other hand, was fresh, and nearly knocked Wilson down with a right hand hook on the chin. The decision was a draw.

The next contest between two heavy weights, Con O'Brien and Tom Carey, was rather short. O'Brien, who had earned some reputation on the west side of the city, was out of condition and moved about as slow as a cart horse. He made the first attempt to lead, but was so awkward that he ran into Carey's left, which landed plump in the stomach. The blow did not seem to hurt O'Brien, for he gave a sudden start and swung for Carey's jaw, but only hit him on the back of the head. Then the two indulged in sharp fighting at close quarters. O'Brien was winded when the gong sounded for the second round.

Carey sailed in and punched him with both hands, finally sending him down with an easy blow on the right cheek. When O'Brien arose Carey thumped him hard. O'Brien was floored three times more, and Carey eventually put his man to sleep with a left-hand clip on the jaw.

The principals in the stellar attraction of the night were ready for hostilities after a wait of ten minutes. They were Joe Gans and Howard Wilson. Both men were well trained. The limit of their performance was twenty rounds at 133 pounds.

Wilson was the first to lead, but Gans jumped nimbly away. The next moment Wilson tried to reach for the stomach, but Joe side-stepped, thus compelling Wilson to fall against the ropes. When they reached the centre of the ring Gans jabbed with the right and caught Wilson plump on the nose.

He scored again in the same spot, and Wilson was forced to clinch. Wilson then tried to mix it up, but Gans landed a short arm blow on Wilson's left eye with the right glove, and the Washington boxer went down.

Gans kept Wilson on the defensive in the second round, and endeavored to use a left hook for the vital spot, but Wilson cleverly blocked him. Gans then lashed his right twice into the ribs and face, but Wilson clinched in time to save himself from further harm. The latter rushed in the third round, but Gans stopped him adroitly.

Joe led for Wilson's stomach again, but failed to land. Near the close Wilson drove his right very hard over Gans's heart, which made the latter blink for a moment. In the fourth round Gans delivered a left in the stomach which staggered Wilson. The latter claimed it was too low, and looked appealingly at the referee. The next moment he stepped in and hit Gans on the mouth.

Wilson was erratic in the fifth round, and fell all over himself in an effort to reach Gans's jaw. The Baltimore boxer just stood his ground, and met Wilson with a series of straight lefts and right counters. He put Wilson down with a right cross just as the latter tried to swing. The latter kept rushing throughout the sixth round, but did not do any damage except to land a few glancing blows with his left over Joe's right eye. Gans showed good hitting qualities, and sent Wilson half way across the stage. Gans was as cool as an iceberg in the seventh round, and pummeled his opponent at will.

Wilson assumed a crouching attitude in the eighth round, and Gans found it quite difficult to find his man. However, when he got an opening he gave it to Wilson good and hard. The latter was aggressive in the ninth round and worried Joe with two hummers on the mouth. Gans ripped a fierce uppercut which grazed Wilson's nose, and followed it up with a stiff right on the ear.

Wilson reeled back and Gans smashed him again. Wilson fell on his stomach and the referee counted him out. It was generally claimed to be a deliberate quit and so ungracefully done that the crowd yelled "Fake." Wilson was carried to his corner and revived very quickly.

At this time "Spike" Sullivan, who was in Wilson's corner, challenged Gans. There was a tilt between Gans and Sullivan, and it looked as they would come to blows. However, Al Herford, Gans's manager, interfered and took his man aside. Finally Gans accepted Sullivan's defy and agreed to fight in four weeks' time, the winner take all. After things had quieted down the referee gave the decision to Gans.


1897-04-05 The Standard Union (Brooklyn, NY) (page 8)
Joe Gans defeated Howard Wilson in the ninth round of a twenty-round contest at the Polo Athletic Club on Saturday night. Gans is taller, and his reach longer. He struck his opponent at will, and escaped with hardly a mark. The best bout of the evening was between Bobby Wilson and James Dever for ten rounds at catchweights. The fight was declared a draw. In the second preliminary bout Tom Carey gained the decision over Con O'Brien. In the second round the referee stopped the bout. The boys were to have fought eight rounds. Frank Aberhall, of the Bohemian Sporting Club, officiated as referee.

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