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Friday, June 3, 2011

1894-06-02 Jimmy Barry W-TKO11 Jimmy Gorman [Olympic Club, New Orleans, LA, USA]

1894-06-03 The Daily Item (New Orleans, LA) (page 4)
GORMAN DEFEATED.
Barry, the Chicago Boy, Puts Him Out in Eleven Rounds.

James Gorman, the champion bantam weight of Patterson, N. J., was defeated at the Olympic Club last night by James Barry, Chicago's champion of that class.

The fight lasted nearly eleven rounds and was one of the most scientific bouts ever seen in this city.

The winner is a clever and square fighter, and certainly deserves to be at the head of his class. Gorman, the vanquished, proved himself to be game and an accomplished boxer.

The match was a repetition of the Fitzsimmons-Dempsey one. Barry's height and reach won him the battle.

A few minutes after 9 o'clock the men entered the ring. Gorman appeared to be nervous. He was seconded by Jack Everhardt, Seymour Sullivan, Harry Block and Jimmie Scanlan, his backer. J. McGowen was Gorman's timekeeper. Barry was attended by Harry Gilmore, M. J. McGurn, P. H. Fitzgerald and William Stafford. Frank Carambat was his timekeeper. Mr. Ed. Curtis acted as timekeeper for the club and Prof. Gearhardt officiated as referee.

Throughout the first four rounds Barry was very much on the aggressive, and he punished Gorman badly. The little fellow was unable to land at all on the Windy City boy, except at in-fighting, and even then he got the worst of it. From the start off it could be easily seen that Gorman had met a superior.

Despite severe punishment he received Gorman did not show signs of weakening until the eighth round. In the seventh round he had things a bit his way. But upon toeing the scratch for the eighth a few blows on his stomach from Barry made him groggy. In the tenth round Gorman was knocked down four times. In the eleventh he was too weak to deliver a blow and after going down several times the sponge was thrown up by one of his seconds.

The little fellow had not been counted out, however, and he did not like the idea of tossing up the sponge. He admitted that he was weak and the chances for his winning were poor, but he wanted to be counted out so that his friends would not think him a quitter. He was pretty badly used up, and his defeat he took very hard. Barry after the fight first congratulated his victim on the showing he had made. He then received congratulations. Barry will meet the winner of the Levy-Connors fight which takes place on June 14.

1900-06-01 Charles Kid McCoy W-TKO13 Jack Bonner [Broadway Athletic Club, New York, NY, USA]

1900-06-02 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 14)
Kid McCoy Disposes of Bonner in Thirteen Rounds.
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Kid McCoy won at the Broadway Athletic Club last evening, but not with the same ease with which he has been putting them away during the past few months. His opponent last evening was Jack Bonner of Summit, Pa., and was considered to be one of the easiest that the Kid has had to contend with in some time. They were announced to box twenty-five rounds at 158 pounds, but it was evident when they stripped for action that neither was anywhere near that weight. Bonner was heavier than McCoy by more than ten pounds and could not have been less than 175 pounds. The Kid looked to be in superb shape when he danced about Bonner in the opening round, seemingly content with blocking Bonner's leads--without a punch. The crowd thought that he was simply waiting to get an opening and win with a punch. It was soon seen, however, that the Kid had more than a little fear of the Pennsylvanian, notwithstanding the smile on his face. He would not take a chance and fought cautiously. His judgment of distance when he did try was bad and as the bout progressed he held but little more than his own.

Bonner cut both his eyes early in the bout and in the eighth round scored a clean knock down with a right on the jaw. The Kid was up immediately. He lost his head and rushed at Bonner, butting him in the face, for which he was cautioned. From here on Bonner lost steam, and although he landed many a blow the Kid forged ahead and used both hands on face and body, cutting Bonner's face badly. He uppercut, jabbed and crossed Bonner until the crowd, out of pity, called for Bonner to be taken off.

Bonner stuck to it gamely, but weakened fast, and in the last couple of rounds fell to the floor several times from body blows. In the thirteenth, shortly after the bell rang, he went down with another right on the body and was so far gone that his seconds threw up the sponge to save a knockout. McCoy was declared the winner.

The preliminary was an exceptionally clever exhibition between Alf Levy of New York and Danny Smith of Brooklyn, for twelve rounds at 110 pounds. The bout pleased the crowd immensely, and the referee at the end decided that Levy had won.


1900-06-02 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)
Another Victory for McCoy.

Kid McCoy added another to his long list of fistic victories at the Broadway Athletic Club last night, when he forced Jack Bonner of Summit, Penn., to give up in thirteen rounds. Bonner's seconds were forced to throw up the sponge in order to save their man from being knocked out.

Bonner proved to be game to the core, and it took all of McCoy's cleverness and hard-hitting capabilities to bring the big miner down. It was a fast and clever boxing exhibition, and the loser deserves much praise, for he put up a splendid fight.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

1915-05-31 Mike Gibbons ND10 Soldier Bartfield [Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, NY, USA]

1915-06-01 New-York Tribune (New York, NY) (page 13)
OUTDOOR BOXING DRAWS WELL AT EBBETS FIELD
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Crowds Cheer as Bartfield Holds Gibbons to Close Decision.

Twelve thousand spectators set the seal of approval on open air boxing at Ebbets Field yesterday afternoon. Five ten-round bouts were contested, and few indeed were the spectators who left. This is the first battle fought in this city, or this vicinity, out of doors since Terry McGovern won the bantamweight championship of the world from Pedlar Palmer, at Tuckahoe sixteen years ago.

But now that the fans have had their taste of boxing under conditions that were really ideal, there is little doubt that shows held in the open air will become as popular here as they were in California. After five years of watching boxing bouts in superheated clubs where the air was smoke laded and impure, the enthusiasts hailed the chance to get out under the sun, where the boys could show at their best. The fighters also hailed the chance, and the pace was fast in every bout from the time that Dutch Brandt landed his first left jab on Battling Lahn until Al McCoy missed his last wild swing on Silent Martin.

To start the ball rolling Dutch Brandt defeated Battling Lahn after a rattling bout, coming through in the last five rounds. Then Battling Levinsky outboxed Dan (Porky) Flynn. The surprise of the afternoon, however, came when Soldier Bartfield held Mike Gibbons to a close decision, and although outpointed by a fair margin, was hailed by the crowd for his brave showing. Johnnie Dundee knocked out Johnnie Drummie in two rounds of a one-sided battle. The last bout resulted in a draw, and Al McCoy was one of the principals, with Silent Martin the other.

Soldier Bartfield astounded the crowd by his work against Gibbons. It was only that Mike landed his punches straight and according to the Queensberry rules that won for him.

The bout between Levinsky and Flynn was fast for big men. Levinsky scored a knockdown in the second round and outboxed his man easily. He weighed 179 pounds to 198 pounds for Flynn.

Experience and strength won for Dundee over Drummie. The speedy little Italian was entirely too good for the Jersey boy and had the additional advantage of five pounds in weight. A left and right hand punch to the jaw, landing simultaneously, brought the bout to a close.


1915-06-01 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 2)
First Open Air Boxing Show Makes a Big Hit With Fans
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Soldier Bartfield Surprises Mike Gibbons--Levinsky Pounds Porky Flynn and Dundee Hands Drummie the Kayo--Silent Martin Makes McCoy Look Anything but a Champ--Brandt-Lahn Go the Best.
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When approximately fifteen thousand men and women give up over twelve thousand dollars to see a few husky youths show their skill with the gloves, boxing looks as if it were really some sport. That is what happened at Ebbets Field yesterday afternoon, when Johnny Weismantel led his cohorts over from the Broadway Sporting Club to the home of the Superbus and put boxing on the map as one of the big outdoor sports.

When the outdoor game was first broached there were many who said that Johnny could never get away with it. But he did, and got away with it good. He put on a card that has seldom been equaled for class about these diggings, and during the forty-two rounds out of fifty that were originally scheduled there was neither action or word by either the crowd or the boxers that might offend the sensibilities of the most exacting.

The ring was pitched where the home plate is on ball days, and about it yesterday afternoon were many well-known Brooklynites and a score of big politicians from all the boroughs. Even Labor was represented in the person of Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor. What Mr. Gompers came for we do not know, but it was hinted that he has in view the forming of a boxers union with a graduated scale of prices. If such be a fact, the promoters will give every assistance, for what some of the fighters are getting away with gives the magnates cold chills down the back, even on so warm a day as yesterday.

Mike Gibbons Gets the Surprise of His Life.

The event of the afternoon had been forecasted by the prophets as a joke. And so it turned out, but not in the way predicted. Mike Gibbons, the St. Paul Wizard, met Soldier Bartfield, the local aspirant for welter-weight honors, and it was expected that Mike would kindly oblige with a little boxing lesson and Bartfield take the place of an animated punching bag.

But did it happen so? Not much. Wizard Mike received the surprise of his life. Mike had been guaranteed $1,500 for his little exhibition, $50 a minute, and he got it. In fact, he got more than that, but not in coin. As has been intimated, something happened that upset calculations. Mike was received with a roar of applause when he entered the ring, while Bartfield got a scattering hand and an acre of grins. The grins changed to a yell of surprise before the first minute of the first round had passed, and then to roars of encouragement for the rest of the battle.

Bartfield accomplished the impossible. He did to Mike what Mike has been doing to others. He made him look like a monkey. He outjabbed and outguessed Mike and landed two punches to the Wizard's one. He rubbed his nose before Mike rubbed his, and even beat him to the sneeze. He had stolen Mike's code book and had studied it to such advantage that he knew it better than Mike. The St. Paul lad tried every trick in his box, but none of them worked. With seven pounds the better of the weights, he naturally hit harder than the Brooklyn boy, but that was all.

Soldier Bartfield "Made" Himself.

With the exception of a couple of rounds, it was Bartfield all the way. The Soldier played on Mike's left side the whole distance, and with all his wonderful finesse Mike was never able to get on his right. In the clinches alone he excelled, but did no damage there. On the other hand, Bartfield had his left in Mike's face all through the bout, and worked his right to such advantage that Gibbons' left ear looked like a toy balloon before the bout was over. The Soldier "made" himself yesterday afternoon, and when he left the ring he received an even heartier cheer than did Mike when he entered it.

Almost as pleasing to the crowd was the result of the McCoy-Martin bout. Silent Martin took the place of Johnny Howard against the middle-weight champion, Al McCoy. The crowd showed sl well how it liked the champion when he appeared that Martin, although deaf, caught the drift and followed his cue to the letter. The champion was hailed as a joke and so he proved as a champion. Off the reel, Martin was after him like a wildcat, and the crowd howled in delight as the silent one forced him about the ring. McCoy grabbed and hung on at every opportunity. He did not like Martin's style and showed it clearly. Martin has not much style at that, but he is effective. He can punch, and to this statement McCoy can testify. For the full ten rounds Martin was on top of him all the way, and had McCoy stood to his guns and fought, instead of making a wrestling bout of it, there would have been a new champion without a doubt. As an alibi, McCoy's friends declared that his hands are in such bad shape that his doctor has told him he will never be able to hit hard with them. He lived up to the doctor's orders yesterday afternoon.

Johnnie Dundee had the easy time of the day. He went on with Young Johnny Drummie. This also was for ten rounds, but Dundee ended it in the second with a left to the body and a right hook to the jaw.

Battling Levinsky obliged by taking on Dan (Porkey) Flynn for ten rounds and almost tickled the porkey one to death with tantalizing lefts. Dan was on the received end from start to finish and was the prettiest decorated contestant of the day when the Battler got through with him. Only Dan's weight saved him on several occasions, and the final bell was a welcome sound.

Brandt and Lahn Furnish the Pyrotechnics.

The opening bout furnished the genuine pyrotechnics. Dutch Brandt and Battling Lahn were the principals, and while they were at it there was not a dull moment. In the early rounds Lahn looked like a sure winner, but he lacked the stamina of his opponent. Brandt's body blows took the sap out of him in the fourth round, and after that the Dutchman was always the aggressor. Lahn fought back gamely, but never had a chance to recover, and was a well-whipped lad at the finish. All in all, it was a wonderful day for the fight fans, and as they left the grounds there was nothing but praise for Johnny Weismantel, who had engineered the show.


1915-06-01 The New York Times (New York, NY)
GIBBONS HAS HARD BOUT.
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Soldier Bartfield Makes Westerner Hustle to Win.

Under a clear sky, with a warm sun tempering the rather stiff breeze, open air boxing was revived at Ebbets Field yesterday afternoon in the presence of 11,000 enthusiasts. The solid bank of straw-hatted fans in the upper tier of the big baseball stand, the circus seats and canvas walls on the field, the bright hued raiment of the women scattered throughout the big crowd, the boxers dancing around the ring, the referee clad in white flannel, the band and the clicking of the "movies," all tended to give real holiday color to the scene. The boxing show itself was good, very good. Five real star bouts were staged, and card, and the contest was somewhat of there was variety of boxing sufficient to satisfy the most ardent and exacting devotee.

The ring was built on the playing surface of the diamond, near home plate on the third base line, and its decorations of the national colors and its ropes covered with green velour made the setting a very attractive one.

Mike Gibbons, the St. Paul middleweight, and Soldier Bartfield, champion of the United States Army, furnished the star bout of the all-star a surprise as Bartfield easily earned a draw with the Westerner. Gibbons did not appear to exert himself and did not show the ability as a boxer which has marked his work in the past. Bartfield realized that he had the opportunity of his career and he displayed the best he had. Although the busy left jab that he shot to Gibbons's face repeatedly did not have any effect on the St. Paul boxer, but all his tricks were mimicked over a swing or jab that stung. At those times during the bout when Gibbons did let out, he easily showed his superiority over Bartfield, but these spurts were too far apart to give him any advantage. Only in the last two rounds did Gibbons cut loose from his apathy and jarred and staggered the soldier with his terrific wallops. Gibbons is a tricky boxer, but all his tricks were mimicked by Bartfield yesterday and were not of much value to the Westerner. Gibbons weighed 155 and Bartfield's weight was 148.

Dan (Porky) Flynn, who put a crimp in Al Reich's aspirations several weeks ago was pitted against Battling Levinsky, and the rugged young east sider had the better of the contest. In the second round Levinsky scored a knockdown, and several times during the bout he caused the blood to flow from Flynn's mouth and nose. Levinsky was careful and did not take any chances with the Boston boxer. He was always alert, on the defensive mostly, and kept the boxing at long range as much as possible. The Bostonian with his superior ring experience and generalship was able to keep Levinsky's attacks at a distance and but few times during the bout did he assume the offensive to the point where Levinsky was worried. The Boston boxer had an advantage of nineteen pounds over Levinsky, whose weight was 179.

The only knockout of the afternoon was scored by Johnny Dundee, the Italian-American boxer, who dropped John (Young) Drummie of Jersey City to the floor with a dull thud for the count in the second round. Dundee was hopping around through the air most of the time, and about the middle of the second round he drove a right and left uppercut to Drummie's jaw, and the Jersey boxer went down. He tried gamely to regain his feet, but those wallops had completely drained him of energy and strength.

Al McCoy, a Brooklyn middleweight, was matched against Johnny Howard of Bayonne, but Howard being laid up with ptomaine poisoning, Silent Martin was rushed from the trenches to take his place. McCoy didn't show much championship ability in his bout with Martin. Martin by his gruelling, aggressive method of boxing had the Brooklyn man plainly worried, and several times during the bout caused him to wince. Martin is by no means a polished boxer, but he can take reams of punishment and still be on hand for more. And he has a clever defense. He did not have to extend either of these qualities yesterday, but whenever McCoy did put on steam, the "dummy" merely smiled. McCoy had an army of advisers in his corner, who continually barked instructions at their charge, but even then the best he could get was a draw. He weighed 157 1/2 to Martin's 155.

Dutch Brandt and Battling Lahn furnished the opening ten-rounder, and it was a fast, hard hitting bout, with Brandt the winner by a big margin.


1915-06-01 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 13)
GIBBONS EXTENDED.
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Soldier Bartfield Surprises Him With Vigorous Attack.

The open air boxing bouts of the Brooklyn Sporting Club held yesterday afternoon at Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn baseball club, proved a big success. Nearly 15,000 fight fans, including a number of women, were in the stands to see five ten round bouts, one of which ended with a clean knockout in the second round. In this contest Johnny Dundee put Young Johnny Drummie of Jersey City away with a right hook to the jaw, followed with a left uppercut. Drummie lay flat on the floor of the ring and was counted out.

In the main bout of the afternoon between Mike Gibbons and Soldier Bartfield the Brooklyn man surprised his noted foe and put up a good fight. Gibbons won by only the smallest sort of margin. It looked to those around the ringside as if the St. Paul man wasn't going at his best. In the first four rounds the Soldier peppered Mike with jabs, while the St. Paul fighter smiled. As the ninth opened Gibbons caught the Soldier on the ropes and with quick right and left hooks to the jaw made the claret flow from Bartfield's mouth. The Soldier was cheered when he left the ring. Gibbons weighed 155 pounds and Bartfield 148.

In the opening bout Dutch Brant won over Battling Lahn. The bout was fast from start to finish, both boys putting up a clean contest.

Battling Levinsky and Porky Flynn furnished the second entertainment. Levinsky won. He weighed 179 pounds, whereas Flynn tipped the scales at 198. In the final Al McCoy made a poor showing against Silent Martin, who was substituted for Johnny Howard. In McCoy's corner were several seconds throughout the bout telling Al what to do. The silent man, who is deaf, had no one in his corner. One of his seconds remarked, "We only use the wireless when he is fighting."

The ring on the field was put up between home plate and third base and gave a good view to all those in the grandstand. Around the ring were benches and boxes. The seating arrangements gave everybody a clear view of the ring. It was the first open air contest around here in many years.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

1911-05-30 Johnny Kilbane ND12 Jimmy Walsh [Auditorium, Canton, OH, USA]

1911-05-31 The Evening Repository (Canton, OH) (page 6)
KILBANE AND WALSH GO TAME
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Crowd Hisses Fighters When They Spend Time In Fiddling; Neither Has Much On Other
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Boston Scrapper Appears Willing To Make It A Battle, But Cleveland Adversary Keeps Dancing Away And Shows Foot-Work, Not Fist-Work.
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If the Kilbane-Walsh and Dunn-Lemaster bouts at the Auditorium Tuesday night had been reversed in the order given the small crowd of fight fans would have departed with better tastes in their mouths. As it was the Dunn-Lemaster curtain raiser created an appetite which the Kilbane-Walsh go failed to appease.

The two men might have been placed in the ring with their hands tied behind their backs and the bout probably would have been as interesting as it was, for the major portion of the activities were devoted to footwork. It was a liberal education in fancy stepping, the ballet dancers having nothing on these prancers of the squared circle. A small crowd of the faithful looked on with amazement and wondered why the boxers didn't land a clean smash once in a while. They are still wondering.

The gladiators at the finish stepped from the ring without a mark. Not a drop of gore was drawn, though Kilbane did emit a drop or so in the last round, but whether it came from forced breathing or whether he pushed his nose to Walsh's glove is a question.

"For points only" correctly describes the affair. Most any 15-year-old lad could easily have assimilated every blow struck and felt "bully". It was the most affable affair ever seen hereabouts.

Many expected to see Kilbane "put something over" in accordance with his advance information. A little on the K. O. order would have had the soothing effect on the crowd. Some of Johnny's press agent stuff of his battle with Rivers had preceded him and the fans were expectant, but those wallops which stopped and dazed and mystified the terrible Mexican must have been left on the Pacific coast. Many in the crowd believed that the protest of the churches to Mayor Turnbull had the effect of slowing down the affair.

At any rate Kilbane was content with doing fancy stunts about Walsh like a Comanche chief and Walsh is no novice with his feet, either--so it was a grand display of the possibilities of pedal pugilism. Walsh, however, set himself right with the crowd by making an attempt to fight.

When the men were not dancing about out of range of each other, they were in loving embrace, pushing their gloves in each other's faces and occasionally Kilbane would tap Walsh in the stomach. The crowd couldn't see these gentle taps and it's doubtful if Walsh felt them. The crowd would hiss and Referee Kelly would insist, "Gentlemen, we're doing the best we can." Some fan would yell "rotten," and another deluge of hisses would roll down over the ring. The boxers would respond with a clinch and Kelly would work hard to separate them.

On several occasions in the breakaway, Kilbane put a right hook to Walsh's head and the crowd showed its disapproval. Kelly explained, "The men must protect themselves in the clinches."

Considering that both men were on their feet and going fast at the finish and that no telling blows were struck, also the fact that Walsh was aggressive in spite of Kilbane's superior cleverness, it would not be the usual ring procedure to call the bout anything but a draw.

FIGHT BY ROUNDS.

Round 1--With the gong the men met in the middle of the ring. They didn't go through the formality of shaking hands. For about thirty seconds they feinted and fiddled about neither leading or landing. Walsh tapped Kilbane lightly with a left and in the clinch that followed Kilbane pushed his left to the chin. They broke and again dropped into a clinch when neither could land. Kilbane lead for head but blow was blocked. The round ended with the men dancing about.

Round 2--They danced some more and then Walsh put a light left to head but Kilbane was backing away and no damage resulted. The men embraced each other and in the break Kilbane missed a left hook, but succeeded in putting a straight left to face. They clinched and Kilbane put two light lefts to face. The round was a repetition of clinches.

Round 3--The round was appropriately opened with a clinch, which were more and more becoming hugging matches. Kilbane did some infighting and showed speed. It was evident that Johnny had it on the ex-bantam weight champion at the infighting game. Walsh put his left to the head and in the clinch that followed Kilbane used left successfully on Walsh's jaw. They were pushes instead of punches. Kelly was the hardest working man in the ring.

Round 4--Kilbane as an opener put a snappy left jab to the face. Walsh continued to force the fighting but couldn't successfully penetrate Kilbane's defense. Kilbane did some rapid fighting landing lefts and rights in clinch and Walsh broke ground. It was Kilbane's round.

Round 5--Kilbane put his left to the chin and in the break that followed the clinch sent his right to the head. Walsh landed a hard left to the head and the men clinched. "Quit wrestling," admonished Kelly. Kilbane pushed his left to Walsh's head and in the break hooked Jimmy on the head with his right.

Round 6--The feature of this period was the hissing of the crowd, which showed its disapproval of the tactics of the combatants. The fighters were clinched half the time and the remainder was utilized by Kelly in getting them apart. In the final break Kilbane managed to get in his customary right hook to the head, but there was no steam behind the blow.

Round 7--The hissing had the desired effect, and Kilbane started the round actively. "I thought you were going to knock him out," yelled one of the spectators to Kilbane. Walsh landed a left to the head and in the clinch Kilbane landed left and right to body. Kilbane worked his left overtime but the blows lacked steam. In this round Kilbane landed three light blows to Walsh's one. Kilbane's round.

Round 8--The men were in a clinch before they got started and both missed right swings. Kilbane showed greater cleverness in the clinching and succeeded in tapping Walsh frequently.

Round 9--The men exchanged lefts and rights and clinched. The crowd became boisterous and Kelly told it to keep quiet that he would do the best he could. Someone yelled "Stop it," but there was nothing to stop. Walsh managed to find a resting place for a right swing alongside Kilbane's neck. Kilbane countered with a stiff left which rocked Walsh's head slightly. Walsh rushed and a clinch resulted.

Round 10--Kilbane put Walsh's head back with a straight left and Walsh rushed. Kilbane put a hard right to Walsh's wind and followed it with left to face. Walsh rushed, and the round ended with the men's shoulders together.

Round 11--Walsh stuck his left in Kilbane's face twice in succession and also landed left and right in a clinch. Johnny tapped Jimmy on the face getting under his guard, a fancy stunt practiced by all amateurs. Kilbane put his left to the face and Walsh rushed into a clinch.

Round 12--Walsh put light left and right to head and Kilbane caught Jimmy on the neck. Walsh rushed and Kilbane met the onslaught half way and proceeded to push Walsh through the ropes. Walsh then pushed Kilbane to the ropes and the men clinched. Kelly to the rescue. Walsh rushed and the gong relieved the crowd of further distress.

Monday, May 30, 2011

1912-05-29 Packey McFarland ND10 Ray Bronson [Independence Ball Park, Indianapolis, IN, USA]

1912-05-30 The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN) (page 10)
Big Crowd Witnesses Boxing Bouts at Washington Park.
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BRONSON HANDS PACKEY SURPRISE
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Makes Low Weight and Holds His Own in Bout With Clever Chicagoan.
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CHICK HAYES TAKES COUNT
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Popular Bantamweight Runs Into Punch and Loses to Young Herman.
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BY H. G. COPELAND.

Packey McFarland had his hands full last night when he met Ray Bronson in a ten-round, no-decision bout before 8,000 enthusiastic ring fans at Washington Park. Packey, it was announced, was coming to Indianapolis for a big guarantee and thirty minutes of good exercise. He got them both, but it's a big question whether a referee would have given him anything more had a decision been given.

Bronson is entitled to credit for the battle he put up, for he entered the ring only a few minutes after little Chick Hayes, his protege and close friend, had unexpectedly been knocked out in the second round by Young Herman, the hard-hitting bantamweight from Pekin, Ill. The defeat of Hayes didn't unnerve Ray, but he was sorely disappointed over the youngster's defeat, and he waded into his own battle as if he had Hayes's conqueror in front of him instead of McFarland.

The big contest was not three rounds under way before the clever McFarland learned he had a task on his hands, and he knew he would be fortune to get a shade in the battle.

Packey used his punishing left hand to good advantage, but that is about as far as he got.

BRONSON'S FOOTWORK FAST.

He bruised Bronson's mouth when he got through with his left jab time after time, but Ray's footwork was so fast and clever that McFarland couldn't do a thing with his bread-winning right uppercut. In the work at close range Ray really had the better of the argument and at no time was he in danger, for McFarland wasn't there with the punch. There was only one knockdown--if it could be called a knockdown--in the contest. It came in the third round, when Packey sent a right hook to Bronson's jaw and Ray sat down, only to bounce up and tear into the stock yards champion.

Bronson entered the ring at 9:40 and McFarland followed a moment later while Battling Nelson was making a speech.

Emil Thiry, McFarland's manager, and Packey's brother Johnny and his cousin Johnny were in his corner. Jack Dillon and Walter Owens were Bronson's chief seconds.

Two decisive defeats by the knockout route marked the two preliminary bouts and put the big crowd on edge for the main go.

Honors went to the boys with a punch, for the punch decided the first two battles. Freddie Cole showed he still carries a wallop, when he put Bobby Long down and out in the fifth round of the first bout, and a popular idol was badly disfigured when young Herman knocked out Chick Hayes in the second round of the second contest. The end came before the second round was one minute old. Herman lived up to all his press agent promises when he caught Hayes on the chin with a right smash and Hayes was the same as finished. It would have been better had he stayed down the first time, for he was so dazed he was unable to save himself by ring generalship and was forced to take a severe beating.

MANY "LIGHTS" IN CROWD.

There were numerous pugilistic luminaries at the ringside, and Battling Nelson was among those present. Before the Hayes-Herman bout began the grand stand was about half filled, the ringside seats were taken and there were several hundred spectators in the left field bleachers.

There was only a short delay before the principals faced each other for the big bout of the evening. Tom Dillon, the club's referee, was the third man in the ring and in the main bout Ed W. Smith, a Chicago boxing critic, was the referee.

Bronson and McFarland weighed in at 138 pounds at Dan Smith's at noon and Bronson surprised the spectators by his fine physical condition. He stepped on the scales clad in his underwear and did not tip the beam. McFarland, who was supposed to be under weight, was forced to strip to the last thread and then spit to keep within the required figure. As soon as he weighed in, Bronson partook of a nice, juicy steak and then jumped into his automobile and went out to his home near Riverside, where he spent the afternoon. McFarland took an automobile trip in the afternoon to get his mind off the coming battle. Both boys expressed confidence in their ability before they entered the ring.

LONG AND HAYES KNOCKED OUT.

Bobby Long entered the ring at 8:40. Referee Tommy Dillon and Freddie Cole followed a moment later.

Boxing fever was high and the steady stream of spectators which poured into the stands made it one of the biggest crowds that ever witnessed a ring contest here. There was little betting on the outcome of the main bout, although McFarland was the ruling favorite.

It was 8:40 when the announcer bellowed through his megaphone, and the first bout was on.

Cole and Long looked to be in good shape. They were cautious in the first round. Toward the close they mixed it and honors were even.

There was more action in the second, but neither boy gained a lead. Cole's cleverness in blocking saved him punishment.

Long had a slight shade in the third, getting in the cleaner blows and forcing most of the milling. It was nip and tuck in the fourth, with Long taking the lead by his aggressive tactics. Cole finished strong and opened a cut over Long's eye, gaining an even break.

Long rushed into a right swing that all but put him down in the fifth, and was cautious, but Cole sent a right and left to the head and Long began to weaken. A right swing to the jaw put Long down and out.

CHICK'S CLEVERNESS FAILS.

Hayes and Herman entered the ring at 9:15 o'clock. Harry Donahue was in Herman's corner. Larry Donovan and "Bob" Barnes looked after Hayes. Herman is a stocky little chap and stripped like a wrestler.

The little fellows lost no time in going to work. Hayes was too clever for Herman in the first round. In the infighting Herman got in a right uppercut, but Hayes made him miss a right swing and step into a left punch that slowed him up. The round was even.

Then Hayes met his Waterloo. He relied on his cleverness to save him, but he stepped into one of Herman's right swings to the chin which sent him to the floor with a thud. He managed to get up at the count of nine, but a right and left to the jaw sent him down in a heap. The little fellow arose and staggered about the ring. Herman urged the referee to stop the bout and then drove Hayes to the ropes, and, since Hayes was helpless, the bout was stopped.

The fact that Ray Bronson, Chick's tutor, was not in Hayes' corner lessened his chances and Chick made the mistake of swapping punches with the hard hitting Illinois boy after outboxing Herman in the first round. It was the first time Hayes had lost decisively and the first time he ever had been knocked out.

Herman was unmarked at the close of the bout, and before he left the ring he went over to Hayes's corner, where Chick's seconds were working over him, and shook hands with the boy he defeated.


Round by Round History of Big Battle Between Ray Bronson and McFarland.
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ROUND 1--It was 9:41 when the principals came to the center of the ring to receive instructions from Referee Smith in a drizzling rain. They shook hands and sparred. Bronson put in two light left jabs in the clinch. Packey tried a right uppercut and missed twice. Bronson swung right for the head and left for the body and stepped away from an uppercut. Ray forced the fighting and landed half a dozen rights to the kidneys. He sent a hard right to McFarland's head and stepped away from an uppercut. McFarland sent a left to the wind and they clinched. Bronson sent his right to the head, and in the clinch McFarland sent an uppercut to the face. McFarland rushed and sent right to the face and crowded Ray into his corner, sending a right to the face. Again he rushed and jarred Bronson with a right to the face. They were sparring in McFarland's corner at the bell.

The round was fairly even, but McFarland was forcing matters at the bell.

ROUND 2--Bronson rushed in with a left to the face and worked his right to the body. He slipped to the floor in missing a swing, and McFarland hit him before he arose, and they shook hands. McFarland sent right and left to the jaw and apparently dazed Bronson, but a moment later Ray worked his horseshoe punch and nearly took McFarland off his feet. He rushed Ray to the ropes and Ray came back strong using a left to the jaw. They clinched and Packey sent his right to Ray's wind. The blow looked low, and the referee cautioned him. Ray jabbed and tried for a right cross and missed. McFarland wrapped a right around Bronson's neck and they slugged, and Ray more than held his own in the rough work.

The round was even.

ROUND 3--Bronson rushed in with left to the stomach and they sparred. A right hook to Bronson's head pushed him, and he ducked a left swing and ducked a right swing, and they exchanged rights. In the fierce milling that followed McFarland sent Ray to the floor, but he bounced up like a rubber ball. Packey sent a left to the face and they both missed right swings to jaw. Bronson used his right to the kidneys in the clinch. McFarland sent two lefts to the face, and missed right swings. McFarland sent a back-hand right to Bronson's face as the gong sounded.

The round was a little in Packey's favor.

ROUND 4--McFarland sent a light left to the jaw and missed right and left swings. Both missed swings and McFarland sent a light back-hand right to Bronson's face. They slugged and exchanged rights to the jaw. Bronson had the better of the infighting. McFarland got a right and left to the head, but Bronson ducked and avoided danger. McFarland rushed Bronson to the ropes, but Ray clinched and worked out of danger. Bronson sent two lefts to Packey's face and in the clinch McFarland again hit low. Bronson ducked two left swings and caught a right to the head.

Honors were fairly even, with the shade in Bronson's favor.

ROUND 5--They sparred in the fifth and McFarland missed two swings. Packey whipped his left to the wind in a clinch and jarred Bronson with an uppercut. They exchanged right and left swings. After an exchange of lefts to the face, they exchanged rights to the body and worked more cautiously. Packey sent his right to the head and shook Ray with a stiff left to the face. In a clinch Bronson played for the kidneys and in the breakaway caught a hard left to the face and they clinched.

McFarland had the shade.

ROUND 6--They went into a clinch and Ray sent two rights to the head which forced Packey to clinch. Packey rushed Ray to the ropes, and Bronson backed away from a vicious uppercut. Packey sent three lefts to Bronson's mouth and a moment later whipped a left to the wind. Bronson sent a stiff left to McFarland's face and caught a hard right to the chin, which sent him to the ropes, but he bounded back and mixed at close quarters. Bronson caught a stiff right to the face and missed a right swing. McFarland sent two lefts to the face and they clinched at the bell.

Honors were fairly even in this round.

Both boys were going strong and up to this time neither had a decided advantage. Bronson was bleeding from the nose, and McFarland had two big bruises over his left eye.

ROUND 7--Bronson rushed in and they clinched. McFarland got through Ray's guard with a left jab to the sore face, repeating the trick half a dozen times. He came out of a clinch and McFarland sent another left to the face and a moment later sent a right to the head. Bronson rushed Packey to the ropes, but no damage was done. Bronson missed a right swing and caught a right to the head. McFarland rushed Bronson with two lefts to the face, and a moment later sent right and left to the head.

McFarland's round. McFarland used his left to good advantage and had Ray's mouth sore.

ROUND 8--They exchanged rights and Packey got through with right and left. Bronson used his right to the kidneys in the clinch. McFarland sent his right to the face. McFarland sent a hard right to the jaw and McFarland fell into a clinch. Both missed right swings. Ray sent right to the wind and went into clinch. McFarland sent right to the head and rushed Bronson to the ropes. McFarland's left again found Bronson's mouth, and they were sparring at the bell.

McFarland had the shade in this round, although Bronson did not seem to be the least distressed.

ROUND 9--They worked into a clinch and both missed swings when they broke. McFarland planted two stiff lefts to Bronson's jaw. Bronson missed a swing and slipped to the floor. They worked at long range with little damage. McFarland sent three lefts and a right to the head and they clinched, both playing for the body. They clinched again and, on the breakaway, Ray rushed Packey to the ropes and swung three lefts for the head, bringing cheers from the crowd. McFarland rushed, but Bronson kept out of danger and they were fighting close at the bell.

The round was even.

ROUND 10--They shook hands and rushed into a clinch. Packey rushed Ray to the ropes, but no damage was done. McFarland missed an uppercut. Ray put three lefts to the head and a right to the body. Ray missed a right swing and they clinched. They exchanged lefts to the face and then clinched, sending rights to the body. They exchanged blows and clinched. They worked to the center of the ring in a clinch as the bell sounded.

Honors were even and the bout was a draw.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

1917-05-28 Benny Leonard W-TKO9 Freddie Welsh [Manhattan Sporting Club, New York, NY, USA]

1917-05-29 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) (page 9)
BENNY LEONARD, NEW CHAMPION, RESTORES OLD WEIGHT LIMIT
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Will Defend Title Monday Night Against Joe Welsh and Then Plans to Enlist in Army--May Meet Johnny Kilbane on July 4.
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Up in Harlem last night a little mother sat patiently awaiting a telephone call from her son, a message that would bring joy or sorrow to the family circle. At last, toward the witching hour of midnight, the 'phone bell rang and Benny Leonard, new lightweight champion of the world, flashed to his folks the magic words:

"I knocked Welsh out in the ninth round."

Was there a celebration at the Leonard domicile? The answer is yes, and the followers of the fortunes of Benny were still going strong and keeping the neighborhood awake when many were rushing to catch the 6 o'clock subway train to work this morning.

And the neighbors who were kept awake did not begrudge their sleep. They had followed the career of Benny Leonard since Billy Gibson first took the lad under his wing several years ago. Benny never has failed, whether he was boxing in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland or the Far West, to immediately notify the home folks of the result of his battles. Last night was no exception, and all the neighbors who were not at the ringside waited up for the news. The new champion was no slacker; he fought all comers and was not afraid to tell the truth when he met defeat. Consequently the telephone company profited quite extensively when Leonard was a contender.

Benny Leonard, in private life, is Benjamin Leiner. He is a son of George Leiner and is a native born New Yorker, being therefore the first champion to come from the big town. Benny was born in Manhattan on April 7, 1896, and celebrated his majority only last month. He began his real boxing career when Billy Gibson saw him in a preliminary bout at an obscure club. The "Mayor of the Bronx" immediately saw the possibilities in Leonard and he secured the consent of his parents to manage the lad, who was then only 16 years old.

------

Billy Gibson, a Prophet.

Shortly after this, Gibson came to a group of newspaper sporting writers one afternoon and asked them to take a trip to the St. Nicholas Rink to see the next American who would hold the championship of the world. The boys thought Billy was too enthusiastic, but as Bill always had the reputation of being a good fellow, some decided to oblige him. What they saw impressed several, and while it was conceded that Leonard had a lot of faults, he pleased the experts with his agility and judgment of distance. It was true he could not hit very hard, but a lad of sixteen has not gained his full strength, and Billy told them to wait.

Gradually Leonard waded through the preliminary boys and invariably he was returned the winner of the short bouts. He never asked any odds; any match with the weights close enough suited him. All of a sudden it began to dawn on the fight promoters that Leonard was a real fighter. As he grew older and stronger he developed a punch, and being a lad who always lived clean, he had little to worry him. But the fight to the top of the ladder was not all peaches and cream. Benny had to take his lickings. Twice he was carried to his corner after the fatal ten seconds had been counted over him, and he lost "newspaper" decisions many times. But never discouraged by reverses, Benny always had in mind the ambition of his life, and that was to see his name billed as the lightweight champion of the world. A defeat merely stung him to greater efforts, for he was a student of the boxing game and would go over the battle he lost and find out where he made his mistakes.

Became Prominent in 1915.

In 1915 Leonard jumped into prominence when he knocked out Tommy Houck. Tommy was one of the best lightweight boys fighting. That year Benny had four knockouts to his credit, the victims being Jack Sheppard, Al Schumacher, Gene Moriarty and Joe Mandot. The last named win gave Benny a real reputation, and thereafter Billy Gibson decided that he meet only the topnotchers.

Benny at once made good. He started the 1916 season on January 1 by putting Joe Welsh away in five rounds in a Philadelphia ring. Five weeks later in Boston he met Phil Bloom and Phil took the count in eight rounds. Jimmy Murphy was the next victim of the rapidly developing right of the Harlem boxer, and then followed Sam Robideau, Shamus O'Brien, Eddie Andrews, Frankie Conifrey, Ever Hammer and Tommy Thorpe. In the intervals between these knockout victories, Leonard was busily engaged in no decision bouts in New York.

His meeting with Welsh last night was the third time he had faced the erstwhile titleholder, and the decisions were fifty-fifty up to the ninth round of the battle with the Pontypridd lad. Leonard also has met Johnny Dundee, who is a contender for the honors that rests on the Leonard brow, although Johnny Kilbane will probably be Benny's next opponent for the title. Leonard meets Joe Welsh in Philadelphia next Monday night.

Gives Credit to Manager.

Leonard said last night, after the fight, that he had no plans for the future. He declared that Billy Gibson deserved all the credit for his success. "Whatever Billy says goes," said Benny before leaving the Manhattan A. C. for his home, at 101 West 115th street, where his father and mother were awaiting his arrival. And father and mother, brothers and sisters were not the only ones to greet Benny. Neighbors came from blocks around and--for the sporting tickers had flashed the news even before Leonard's 'phone message reached the home district--several hundred persons were on hand when Leonard arrived.

Benny was carried on the shoulders of his admirers into the house, and after greeting his father and mother he had to recount the story of the fight as well as he could. Leonard is not much in the Bill Bryan line, as he would rather fight than talk, but he tried his best to give the home talent who did not have the $15 to pay to see him in the ring a good version of the victory.

"I was confident," said Benny, "when I entered the ring, and after the first two rounds I knew I had the title within my grasp. It was in the sixth round that I was certain. In this session I put a right swing to Welsh's wind and felt him crumble up under the force of the blow. "That was a good one," I remarked, half under my breath, and from that time on I played for the body.

Wasn't Rattled in Ninth.

"Welsh surprised me by his rally in the seventh and eighth rounds, but it was my opinion that his efforts were those of a man who was desperate, and I bided my time. In the ninth round I again turned loose that half-uppercut to the wind. This time Welsh wobbled visibly and I saw my chance. Some of the critics remarked that I immediately became excited and, losing my head, rained in punches at all angles, knowing I had the title in my grasp. Such was not the case. I was fighting at top speed, and that may have given the impression that I was anxious, but, believe me, I was measuring my blows to the best of my ability, and had a clear head at all times.

"If anything, I was taking even greater pains, for I knew what a perfect defense my opponent had. The blow that I tried for the jaw, and the one that sent Welsh down for the first time was perfectly timed, but by instinct Freddie ducked and it caught him on the temple. He reeled to the ropes and went down on one knee. When he pulled himself up I saw by the look in his eyes that he was practically out, and as I stood over him raining rights to his unprotected jaw I was in hopes that the referee or the seconds of the then champion would stop the bout. I do not like to punish a game man, and if there ever was a game boxer his name is Freddie Welsh.

"Yes, I was a little dazed when they told me I was the champion, for in the heat of battle I was thinking only of putting Welsh away and I did not realize what I had accomplished until I nearly lost both arms trying to shake hands with about 300 persons at the same time.

"Billy Gibson deserves a lot of credit for the victory. For the last two weeks, Billy, Jimmy Lee and myself have been going over the plan of the fight and I obeyed orders to the letter."

Gibson corroborated this later at a little celebration held for his friends.

Plans to Enlist.

Leonard will fight next Monday night in Philadelphia, where he meets Joe Welsh, one of the best lightweights in the Quaker City. A big delegation of the admirers of the new champion will make the journey, for Leonard has won his last five fights by knockout and when such a record includes the winning of a world's title, the boys can afford to spread a little. After this battle it is the intention of Leonard to enlist in the army. Matt Henkel of Cleveland was a spectator at the ringside and he immediately made Billy Gibson an offer for a match with Johnny Kilbane, at Canton, O., for July 4. Gibson will consider the terms today. Gibson said last night that he would re-establish the lightweight limit at 133 pounds, as that is the weight recognized in this country.

Welsh at His Farm.

Freddie Welsh was recovering at his farm at Summit, N. J., this morning, but he had nothing to say. Recently, in an interview with a Brooklyn Eagle representative, Freddie gave his views as to how a champion should defend his title. It was Welsh's idea that the ten-round bouts he was engaged in were only exhibitions; that he was not getting the champion's share of the purse for his efforts, and that it was only necessary for him to defend himself against the attack of his opponent, and not hurt his hands trying for knockouts when the bouts were no-decision affairs. When it is considered that Welsh paid part of $27,500 for the privilege to fighting Willie Ritchie in London, and winning the title, perhaps he was right. Ritchie was to get the money, win, lose or draw, and Welsh thought a champion was always entitled to a big purse if he was to place his title in jeopardy in a ring where a referee would give a decision. This view never made the Welshman popular in New York, and while there was nothing in the rules against the covering-up tactics he used, it was not real battling according to the fans.

Near a Riot When Benny Won.

The clean-cut win of Leonard came rather unexpectedly, and when the crowd realized that a New Yorker had won the world's championship, Bedlam broke loose. The rush to the ringside broke down the railings, chairs and press box, and the special police were powerless to check the avalanche of human beings tearing toward the ring. Hats were crushed, coats lost or torn, and even heads bumped in an endeavor to congratulate Leonard.

At that the crowd was slow to perceive what had happened. Welsh had been going along in his usual style, covering up and taking all of Leonard's punches on his gloves or arms, when Benny let go with the right to the body. Weakened from previous punches to the mid-section, Welsh virtually collapsed, and thus was a new champion made.

Pollok Rejects the Verdict.

There was a lot of friends of Welsh, including Harry Pollok, his manager, who raised a howl because Referee Kid McPartland did not count ten over Welsh. It was Pollok's and Welsh's claim that he had not been counted out, and that therefore he still retained his title. But it was all wrong, for when Welsh was released from the ropes he reeled across the ring like a drunken man, then fell through the ropes into the press box. He had to be carried to his corner, and it was fully a minute before he regained his senses. The referee might have counted two hundred and Welsh could not have responded. Leonard is the real lightweight champion, though the question may be debated for many weeks by letters from the Welsh camp. And Benny and Billy Gibson deserve the honors that it took five years of real work to win.

1910-05-27 Stanley Ketchel W-KO2 Willie Lewis [National Sporting Club, New York, NY, USA]

1910-05-28 The Evening Telegram (New York, NY) (page 6)
LEWIS DROPPED TO THE MAT IN SECOND ROUND
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Ketchel Swung Over a Right Chop and the Bout Ended in a Hurry.
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Well, there was nothing to it. Stanley Ketchel just landed on Lewis' jaw with a right hand chop, and "Willie" took the count last night in the second round of a scheduled ten round bout at the National Sporting Club, in West Forty-fourth street.

After sparring for about one minute in the second, Stanley hooked a left to "Willie's" midsection, and he doubled up like a jack-knife. Then the middleweight champion stepped back a foot and measured his distance very carefully, then shot over a short right hook to the point of the jaw.

Lewis fell to the mat like a log, turned over on his back, rolled his eyes, then closed them as Referee O'Rourke counted ten. His seconds rushed over and carried him to his corner, helpless.

In the opening round Lewis seemed to have a slight lead at the finish, but it could be plainly seen that Ketchel was only trying his opponent out. "Willie" landed a fierce left jab to the face and in the close quarters Stanley worked a short uppercut to chin and missed two right swings in the breakaway, which, had either reached its mark, would have ended the fight.

Ketchel made his appearance through the aisles first in a long black overcoat and seated himself in the northwest chair, where he stripped to black trunks and was looked after by his manager, "Jimmy" Smith and "Joe" Ferguson, followed in a few seconds by Lewis, who received the lion's share of applause, as his followers were on hand in large numbers.

"Willie" took the southeast corner and was handled by "Dan" McKetrick, his manager; "Danny" Morgan and "Jim" Stewart. After donning the gloves the boys stepped to the centre of the ring to receive instructions and agreed to fight until ordered to break by the referee.

While waiting for the gong Lewis looked a bit nervous and shuffled his feet in the rosin, while Ketchel chatted with friends around the ringside and shook hands with each of his seconds. He looked in good shape and appeared to be well trained for the occasion.

Long before the time set for the fight to begin 2,500 enthusiasts, who came from all directions and included many whose faces have been familiar in and around ringside events for many years, were seated in the boxes and chairs anxious for the bell to start the boxers on their journey.

"Jim" Savage, "Jim" Stewart, Sailor Burke and "Tommy" Maloney were introduced to the members while the principals were getting ready for their contest.

"Jim" Smith, Lewis' sparring partner, met "Sailor" Carter, a negro middleweight, champion of the navy, in the semi-final bout, scheduled for six rounds, but it did not go the limit, as Smith had the sailor all but out in the first session, when his second threw up the sponge.

It was a good fight and furnished the crowd with plenty of excitement. Smith floored Carter twice in the first round, but he came back and fought hard and took a severe beating up until the time his second called a halt.


1910-05-28 The New York Times (New York, NY) (page 11)
LEWIS LASTED LESS THAN TWO ROUNDS
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Champion Ketchel Wins at National Sporting Club Without Damage to Himself.
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Willie Lewis, with a halo of Parisian ring victories around his devoted head, but a knockout in three rounds by Papke in the French capital to his discredit, was put soundly to sleep last night by Stanley Ketchel at the National Sporting Club one minute after the second round of their ten-round bout had started. Nor was there any doubt about the manner and completeness of Ketchel's victory. Lewis was out for fully five minutes after being hit on the jaw by a short right-hand swing, and had to be carried to his corner by his seconds and Referee O'Rourke.

The first round was a sparring contest. Ketchel assumed a style absolutely new for him of boxing with his opponent at long range. Only two or three blows were landed in these first three minutes, and at their conclusion the bout had every appearance of going its scheduled distance. A half minute before the gong sounded in the first round Ketchel landed a light right to the face, and coincident with the clanging of the bell Lewis put a straight left on Ketchel's mouth.

Apparently cheered by his ability to land in this wise, Lewis started the second round by jabbing three times with his left to the face. Ketchel's defense was wide open at this time, but he was constantly the aggressor. Lewis was, as he had been during the first round, very nervous and fidgety, frequently covering up hard when his opponent was completely out of range.

Soon after the second round started Ketchel forced Lewis into a neutral corner and landed right and left to the face. The second blow, a clean half swing, landed on the jaw, and it seemingly dazed Lewis, for the latter started to mix it up with his heavier opponent. Ketchel, carefully measuring the distance, then shot a terrific right half-swing flush to the point of the jaw.

Lewis lurched forward and fell on his knees and then toppled slowly over until his shoulders touched the floor. He lay on his left side, his left arm under his head, as completely out as a fighter ever was. Referee O'Rourke slowly tolled the seconds over him, but Lewis's involuntarily twitching his legs were the only signs he gave of life.

After the tenth second had been counted O'Rourke leaned over and started to lift Lewis to his feet. The latter's head hung limply over his left shoulder and his eyes still had the glassy stare that marked total unconsciousness. By this time Lewis's seconds had climbed into the ring, and three of them, with O'Rourke helping, carried the defeated man to his corner.

After working on him for about five minutes his seconds finally brought Lewis's senses back, and then he clambered shakily to his feet and tottered across the ring through the ropes and down the aisle to his dressing room.


1910-05-28 The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) (page 12)
WILLIE MAKES FATAL MISTAKE
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Kids Himself That He Can Trade Jolts With Ketchel.
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Special to The Post-Standard.
BY HARDY D. CASHMAN.

NEW YORK, May 27.--Willie Lewis made the mistake of his fighting career early in the second round of his bout with Stanley Ketchel at the National Sporting Club to-night. He kidded himself into the belief that it was safe for him to swap punches with the middleweight champion. Then his seconds had to carry the Lewis boy to his corner and work over him some five minutes before he recovered consciousness.

A snappy right hook flush on the point of the jaw terminated the fracas. During the first period few blows had started and the fingers of one hand would suffice to count the number that landed.

During the intermission Dan McKerrick whispered in Willie's ear that Ketchel could not hurt him. Willie gave heed; hence the fatal error. After landing a smart left on the face that shook Ketchel to his heels, Lewis discarded his caution. He whipped over a right that grazed the chin.

Stanley woke up.

Bing!

Good night!


1910-05-28 The Sun (New York, NY) (page 11)
QUICK FINISH FOR LEWIS.
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Ketchel Knocks Out Welterweight in Two Rounds.

Willie Lewis, the local welterweight, who made a reputation as a fighter by whipping second and third raters in France and England, was knocked out cold in the second round by Stanley Ketchel, the middleweight champion, at the National Sporting Club in West Forty-fourth street, last night.

After a tame first round in which neither man exerted himself, Ketchel began to fight in earnest. Lewis was a pigmy in his hands. He landed a couple of left hand jabs as Ketchel rushed, but that was the best he could do. Ketchel almost knocked the wind out of him with a body punch and then at close quarters he hung a fearful right hook on the chin that sent Lewis into dreamland.

Ketchel, barring two punches, did not half try, because he evidently realized that he was up against the easiest of marks. Very few of the spectators in the big crowd figured that Lewis would stay ten rounds, but everybody was surprised by the quick ending of the battle. That Ketchel is one of the hardest hitters in the world was the general opinion as the crowd piled out of the building.

A representative crowd of members occupied expensive vantage points in the finely appointed arena long before the fun began. Ketchel had not appeared at a local club since he beat Philadelphia Jack O'Brien in a sensational fight. Ketchel weighed 158 pounds at 6 o'clock and probably took on three or more in the four hours he rested and ate before getting into the ring. Lewis on the other hand did not weigh more than 148 pounds.

The semi-final was of interest because Chuck Carlton, colored, the middleweight champion of the navy, met Jim Smith, Lewis' sparring partner, for six rounds. In the second round Smith staggered the Jack Tar with a smash on the jaw. Carlton rallied and scored a knockdown with a right hand swing on the head. Smith did all the fighting in the third and fourth and when the bell rang Carlton was just getting up from another knockdown. Smith beat the negro to the floor with the same tactics when the fifth round began and the latter's seconds threw a towel into the ring to indicate defeat.

Ketchel showed up first and was rather quietly received as he got into his corner with his seconds.

Then came Lewis, who promptly shook hands with the champion, the latter sizing him up from head to foot with a grim smile. When they stripped for the fray they looked very fit. Both wore bandages on their hands. Tom O'Rourke was the referee. The betting was 10 to 7 that Lewis would not stay the limit.

First Round--Ketchel led with a left that went high. Lewis clinched as Ketchel moved closer, and tried a right for the head. Lewis let go a left, but it was blocked, and then clinched his man in a corner. Ketchel feinted a moment and then drove a right to the body with little force. Lewis blocked and covered up and also stepped away from a dangerous right. Just before the bell Ketchel shot a left to the eye. It was Ketchel's round, but there was little or no hard work by either man.

Second Round--Ketchel put a left on the neck and followed with a right on the side of the head. Lewis danced away from another attack and then came back with a couple of lefts in the face. Ketchel took the punches with a grin and rushed Lewis to a corner. He drove in the left to the stomach with so much force that Lewis was half doubled up. Lewis squirmed out of close quarters, but Ketchel was after him like a flash. Another punch in the stomach made Lewis hang on, but Ketchel threw him off and then shot a left to the neck. Lewis tried to mix it and in so doing he made a fatal mistake, for Ketchel cut loose a fearful right hook that caught Lewis squarely on the point of the jaw. Lewis dropped like a log and rolled over on his back. The referee counted off ten seconds and then picked Lewis up. The latter was clean out and did not regain his senses for several minutes. Then he burst into tears and was led away by his seconds. The time of the round was 25 seconds.