1912-10-11 Packey McFarland W-TKO7 Tommy Kilbane [Auditorium rink, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada]

1912-10-12 Manitoba Free Press (Winnipeg, MB, Canada) (page 25)

M'FARLAND FORCES KILBANE TO QUIT
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Packey Outclasses Cleveland Lad in Every Round--Referee Stops Bout in Seventh.
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At the end of seven rounds of boxing that served only to give Winnipeg fight fans an idea of the cleverness of Packey McFarland, Referee Bun Foley stopped the scheduled ten-round bout between the Chicago scrapper and Tommy Kilbane, of Cleveland, and awarded the decision to McFarland, at the Auditorium rink last night. Kilbane was plucky and willing, but was so clearly outclassed that there was never even an element of fight interest. McFarland seemed to be looking for a knockout toward the end of the seventh and punished the Cleveland lad so severely that it would not have taken much of a real punch to make him take the count.

Only a fair-sized crowd saw the bout, and it demonstrated that the peddling of even the best boxers in the world to Winnipeg fans is a thankless business. McFarland is without doubt the best man of his weight in the business, but Winnipeg enthusiasts failed to show the interest that usually attaches to the appearance of a champion.

KILBANE OUTCLASSED.

Kilbane looked small and weak compared with the brawny Chicago boy, and although he boxed cleverly and took all that was coming, he was completely smothered every time he tried to open up. Packey landed at will, and when he got tired landing light punches and gentle swings, he turned Kilbane around and cuffed him about the ears with an ease that showed there was no comparison between the two. Occasionally Packey opened out with a heavy rip to the body or a straight left that nearly always found its mark, but he did not follow up with any effort at a knockout until the seventh, when he apparently objected to the criticisms of the crowd at the slowness of the affair. When he began to put some steam into his punches Kilbane weakened rapidly and Referee Foley was undoubtedly well justified in stopping it.

PACKEY THE GOODS.

The whole interest in the bout centred in the appearance of McFarland, his first in Canada. He looked big and heavy and must have weighed well over 140, but he appeared hard and rugged and although never extended, showed fast as a cat when he took the notion. He is a methodical boxer, beautifully clean and effective in every move he makes and in this respect is to be compared only with Abe Attell among the scrappers who have visited Winnipeg in recent years. Every move the Chicago boy makes is for a purpose and there is not a waste motion. For this reason he does not look as fast as Freddie Welsh, but when necessary he showed speed, both with feet and hands, that showed that he is as fast as the best of them. He had no difficulty in stopping most of Kilbane's leads and swings with his arms and gloves and there was therefore little chance to see just what his defensive work is. He hits with lightning speed with either hand, and from any position, and against a heavier opponent would undoubtedly have given Winnipeg fans something to talk about, as he was apparently willing to work if there was any work to do.

THE PRELIMINARIES.

The preliminaries were fairly interesting. Young Abe Attell and Jack Allen, two youngsters, mixed things for 4 rounds without either doing much damage. Young Wolgast and Young Mack put the crowd in good humor. Mack, who was much bigger and heavier than his opponent, opened like a cyclone, but once Wolgast got his bearings he made the big fellow slow up and in the last four rounds had much the best of the bout. Fargo Kid and Johnny Logan two likely looking boys, hammered away at each other for 6 rounds with both doing about an equal amount of damage.


1912-10-12 The Winnipeg Tribune (Winnipeg, MB, Canada) (page 6)

REFEREE BUN FOLEY STOPS BOXING BOUT AFTER SEVEN ROUNDS
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Crowd Goads Packey McFarland Into Trying for a Knockout and With Tommy Kilbane Hanging Limply on Ropes Third Man in Ring Terminates Contest
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Boxers are human beings after all--human beings whose emotions are but playthings in the hands of the hempen arena guild. It is said with a certain degree of truth that men of the gloves see only their opponent, not a sea of eager faces fringing the ringside, and that the roars and shouts of the crowd are but a meaningless rumble. Perhaps. Some boxers may fulfill an engagement and see only the men in front of them, and occasionally the referee, and hear nothing, but this does not apply to Packey McFarland.

Packey has ears of wondrous sharpness, and the sounds outside the gladiatorial square reach him with crystal clearness. Packey last night seemed willing enough to make his bout with Tommy Kilbane at the Auditorium rink last, but the crowd willed otherwise. Spectators gave evidence early in the fray that they wanted a slugging match, not an exhibition of boxing.

Forgetting the masterly display of glove work, spectators clamored for the sterner side of the game--the knockout. They were not content to see the cleverest of all present day boxers exhibit his art.

WANTED A KNOCKOUT.

They wanted a knockout. And they almost goaded McFarland into satiating their venomous desire. Not that they entertained a spirit of animosity toward Tommy Kilbane. The game little Cleveland boy was the friend of all, yet they were disdainful toward McFarland--and voiced the feeling that they wouldn't be satisfied unless Packey scored a knockout. Human nature is peculiar--an enigma that cannot be solved.

McFarland outboxed Kilbane in every round. It was obvious to all after the first three minutes of milling that Kilbane was in a different class to McFarland. Packey knew this, too, and while he meted out considerable punishment about the face and body his purpose evidently was not to win too quickly.

But the crowd was not content. About the fifth round spectators commenced shouting at McFarland. They didn't go to see a burlesque, they said. And all the time McFarland was controlling that little something which in some fighters is called the brutal instinct.

PACKEY TRIED TO PLEASE.

McFarland heard the comment of the crowd as well as the men in the press box. And he was incited into an onslaught on Kilbane in the seventh round, which would have probably never materialized had not the crowd shouted for slugging. Packey then threw all restraint aside and instead of continuing in the role of the boxer who had pity on an opponent immeasurably beneath his own standard he tore into Kilbane. To please the crowd McFarland beat Kilbane about the ring. He ripped in rights and lefts so fast that it was difficult to keep count of them and when the bell rang Kilbane was resting limply on the ropes.

Kilbane would have come up all right in the eighth round. He appears to have that gameness which is above anything associated with repugnance in a boxer. It wasn't necessary for Kilbane to take more grueling, however, for with the sound of the bell Referee Bun Foley stepped between the men and waved them to their corners. Seeing that Kilbane was so palpably outclassed, Referee Foley, with the same judicious judgment that has characterized him in the past, stopped the bout. It will probably be recorded as a knockout for McFarland, for such is the ritual of the game.

McFARLAND A MASTER.

McFarland must be seen to be appreciated. It is common for the scholar after graduating from the highest seats of learning to be called a master. That's McFarland. He cannot be taught anything in boxing, so that it would only be a waste of time to try and explain why he excels all other glove men in skill. Some may think Freddie Welsh is faster, but their only reason for that would hinge around a difference in style of footwork. Welsh dances in, out and around an opponent. Packey is more firmly set in deportment, but his hands and feet move with lightning like rapidity. Not as showily as Welsh, perhaps, but the different style gives Packey more driving power. The fact that he can hit so hard and still retain a marvelous defence is the real secret why Packey McFarland is peerless in the 135-pound class of boxers.

WHAT WOLGAST SAID.

"I know I'm in for a lickin', but I'll get a big slice of money out of it."

That's what Ad Wolgast is reported to have said after signing articles with McFarland a few weeks ago. This admission coming from Wolgast helps smooth out the wrinkles for Kilbane. He need not feel ashamed of his efforts when the lightweight champion of the world made the candid statement that he would be beaten in a ten round go with Packey.

McFarland pressed Kilbane nearly every second. Tommy was crowded to the ropes and he couldn't escape from the rights and lefts that McFarland showered. Packey had a habit of forcing Tommy into the corners and there was no escape for the Clevelander. Three times Kilbane tried to scurry away from McFarland and each time his knees touched the canvas. Tommy was nervous, though game as a pebble. It was nervousness and the knowledge that he was inferior which made Kilbane slip to the floor.

COULDN'T HIT PACKEY.

Seldom did Kilbane lay his gloves on Packey. It was all McFarland from the first to the last gong which closed the dramatic incidents of the seventh round. Many wondered how it was that Tommy made such a good showing against Packey in their previous encounter. That can only be regarded as one of the inexplicable mysteries of the ring.

A big crowd was present and spectators saw some lively milling in the prelims. In the first four round affair Young Abe Attell and Jack Allen gave a good account of themselves. Honors were about even, Attell having a shade. In the second go Young Mace started to rush Young Wolgast and slam him about the ring. This he succeeded in doing in the first round, but in the second Wolgast met all rushes with punches on the face and before the bell he had Mace slowed up. The last two rounds were also Wolgast, so that he finished with a good margin.

LIVELY SEMI-WINDUP.

In the six round semi-windup the Fargo Kid and Johnny Logan exhibited fast work and plenty of slugging. It was about a stand off, although a knockdown to the credit of Logan gave him just a trifle the better of the argument. Logan hurt his wrist in the fifth in delivering a wicked smash, and was handicapped a little in the closing round. But Foley refereed all bouts in his own efficient manner.

1899-10-11 Joe Gans W-PTS20 Martin Judge [Eureka Athletic Club, Germania Maennerchor Hall, Baltimore, MD, USA]

1899-10-12 Morning Herald (Baltimore, MD) (page 8)

A DECISION FOR GANS.
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The Baltimore Lightweight Bests Martin Judge in a Twenty-Round Bout--A Rattling Finish.

Lovers of the manly art of self-defense had a very enjoyable evening at the Germania Maennerchor Hall last night, when the Eureka Athletic Club pulled off two of the greatest bouts ever seen in Baltimore.

The star event of the evening was the meeting between Joe Gans and Martin Judge. For once, at least, the public got its money's worth, and when the bout closed there was a universal shout of satisfaction.

The fight was scheduled for 20 rounds, and it went the limit. Every round was covered with beautiful work and hard fighting and the bout closed with a whirlwind finish, which fairly took the crowd off its feet.

The men had been matched to meet at 135 pounds. Gans was down to weight, but Judge weighed 148 pounds in the afternoon and must have tipped the scales at something over 150 pounds when he went into the ring. It was a light-weight against a middle-weight.

Judge was as strong as an ox and put up a great fight, calling into play all of Gans' skill. The Baltimore lad showed himself a past master, however, and as far as cleverness went laid all over his burly antagonist. His wonderful blocking was the feature and he stood off all the rushes of the big Philadelphian in a wonderful way. Midway of the fight Gans injured his left hand, which had been hurt in his late bout with Spider Kelly, and thereafter was compelled to rely on his right.

Joe did most of the leading and landing. Early in the fight he had Judge bleeding at the nose, but the big fellow minded this very little. In the 15th round Judge began to show the first signs of weakening, and in the 16th only the gong saved him. In the next two rounds Judge rallied, and in the 19th had Gans guessing.

The finish came in the 20th, when Joe started in to do business. Like a flash he was all over Judge, and in a minute had the big fellow on Queer street. Gans fought like a demon and punished his man terribly. He rapped right after right into Judge's ribs, and all that Martin could do was to clinch and hang on to Joe's neck. Judge was beaten to a standstill, and, although when the gong sounded he was on his feet, he was gone beyond a peradventure. It was one of the most rattling finishes ever seen in Baltimore, and the crowd was wild with excitement. Referee Mantz, as a matter of course, gave the decision to Gans.

The preliminary to the main event was a 12-round meeting between George Kunnicker and "Kid" Lackey. This was a corking curtain-raiser, and was a fit prelude to the star bout. Both boys put up a great fight from start to finish and covered themselves all over with glory. "Kid" Lackey appeared to have a little the better of it in cleverness, while Kunnicker was a shade the stronger. In the sixth Lackey knocked his man down and had him going. He also put a mouse under Kunnicker's eye and started his nose bleeding.

It seemed to many that Lackey on points should have had the decision, or at least the verdict should have been a draw, and the crowd generally was disappointed when Referee Mantz decided Kunnicker the winner.


1899-10-12 The Sun (Baltimore, MD) (page 6)

GANS WON AGAIN
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Defeated Martin Judge, Who Was At Middle Weight.
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A HARD AND GAME FIGHT
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Rally By The Philadelphian Which Nearly Finished Him--Kunnicker Got A Decision Over Lackey.

Before the Eureka Athletic Club, at Germania Maennerchor Hall, last night Joseph Gans got a well-deserved decision over Martin Judge, of Philadelphia, in a 20-round fight. Gans won in a positive way in the last round. He had a big shade the better of the contest all through, and the shrewd manager of Judge, H. Walter Schlichter, knew it. He sent Judge in at the beginning of the nineteenth round to do or die.

The fight had been bordering on a draw, and Schlichter was convinced that his man would have to make a pronounced winning to get a verdict. Judge worked according to orders, and in the nineteenth round he made a big showing and insured a verdict of "draw" had he been able to sustain it. He used himself up in this round, however, and Gans got his measure. In the last--the twentieth--round Gans was all over Judge, and the Philadelphian only lasted through the round by clinching and hugging his opponent.

It was a great fight. According to the original conditions Judge and Gans were to weigh in at 3 P. M. at 135 pounds, give or take 2 pounds. Gans only weighed 143½ pounds with his clothes on, and stripped he only weighed 134 pounds. Judge weighed 148½ pounds stripped. Schlichter, who was backing Judge, forfeited $150 to Al. Herford, who was backing Gans, because of Judge's overweight. Many persons thought Herford was foolish to let Gans fight Judge, who must have weighed 152 pounds by the time he entered the ring. He takes on flesh quickly, Mr. Schlichter being the authority for a statement that Judge gained a pound in Philadelphia during the time he was in a Turkish bath.

The match was a case of a small man with superior science up against a big man with much strength and some science, too. The cleverer of the two won. The work was clean, the men breaking at the command of Referee Mantz, except in the last round, when Judge was too far gone to trust himself to get away and face Gans.

This was the third time Judge and Gans had met in the fistic arena, and each time the decision was given to Gans. A provision was made in the articles governing last night's fight which stipulated that in case of police or other interference Judge was to get the entire fighters' end of the box receipts. He was also to get all if Gans failed to stop him, but this part was changed to the regular division of 75 and 25 per cent., owing to Judge's overweight being an infraction of the agreement. There was no interference. The big weight of Judge kept Gans from being as aggressive as he otherwise would have been. He was up against a middleweight and knew it.

Though Gans outfought his man from a scientific standpoint all through the twenty rounds, Judge was always dangerous until he started in to do or die in the nineteenth round and "died." Here he fought hard and viciously, but Gans was out of reach, and between Judge's work and the clever counters Gans gave him the Quaker City man was virtually at a standstill. He was not knocked out, but he had so little fight left in him that he could not have been patched up to stand another round. Doses of brandy were given to nerve him for the two final rounds.

Gans did not escape unhurt. He received a number of body and face blows during the 20 rounds. His nose was bleeding and his eyes bruised. Judge proved to be a second Smyrna for taking punishment. His nose bled and his face was "done up" pugilistically. He won the admiration of the spectators who crowded the house by his plucky work. He lost because he was simply outclassed in the science.

There were no slow rounds, but there was little choice up to nearly the end of the fight.

After the boxing Mr. Walter Schlichter, sporting editor of the Philadelphia Item, matched an unknown to wrestle William C. Hart, of Baltimore. The match is to be for $250 a side, and is for two falls in three--first Greco-Roman, second catch-as-catch-can, and the winner of a previous fall in the least time is to decide the style of a third fall, if one is necessary. The men are limited to 158 pounds weight at 3 P. M. the day of the match. The wrestling is to be done on a night named between now and Saturday week. It will probably be decided October 21. The Philadelphia unknown is said to be much smaller in weight than Hart, who has proved himself a good local man.

The first preliminary boxing bout last night was between George Kunnicker and "Kid" Lackey, both of Baltimore. Lackey had the advantage of about four pounds in weight. They fought in hurricane style. In the sixth round, when he seemed to be nearly gone, Lackey crossed his right and put Kunnicker down. Kunnicker got up and went to a clinch. They fought hard to the twelfth round, and referee Mantz gave Kunnicker the decision.

1900-09-11 Mysterious Billy Smith W-PTS18 Young Peter Jackson [Business Men’s Gymnasium, Cleveland, OH, USA]

1900-09-10 Cleveland Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) (page 3)

PUGILISM.
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Interest at Fever Heat.

The big glove contest scheduled for tomorrow night at the Business Men's gymnasium between young Peter Jackson and mysterious Billy Smith will certainly be a great affair. Both contestants are in the very best possible condition and this will certainly mean a good contest.

The men are now on edge and waiting for the gong to sound. They will simply do enough work now to keep in condition. The weighing in process will be gone through with tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Both men are well under the weight limit, which is 145 pounds. If either man weighs more than the weight stipulated in the articles he will forfeit $100 to the man at weight.

The advance sale of seats goes far ahead of any previous contest ever given by the club and the crowd will surely be a record breaking one.


1900-09-10 The Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, OH) (page 8)

PUGILISM.

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ALL IN READINESS.

All arrangements have been completed for the 20-round contest to-morrow evening before the Business Men's Gymnasium Club between "Young" Peter Jackson and "Mysterious Billy" Smith. Both men have taken their final hard work before the contest. Yesterday they devoted their time to light road work to keep down their weights. The advance guard of out-of-town sporting people who will attend the contest arrived last evening, and more are expected to-day. All arrangements have been made to handle a large crowd. The main bout will begin promptly at 9 o'clock.


1900-09-11 Cleveland Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) (page 6)

BOTH MEN ARE CONFIDENT.

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Statements From Smith and Jackson on the Eve of Battle.

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A Championship is at Stake.

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While Cleveland has never been much behind the other cities in this part of the country in any line of sport, a championship contest in the roped arena has never been decided here, and had the old-time rules which governed pugilistic affairs prevailed, the chances are that no such event would be forthcoming for some time to come. Under the rulings that put science at par and discount brutality, however, a championship contest was arranged, and the followers of boxing have been waiting for this, the eventful day, for a long time past.

Young Peter Jackson and Mysterious Billy Smith will meet at the Business Men's gymnasium, on Bank street, tonight, and the winner will have a good claim on the welterweight championship. The records of the men which have been published have set all the "dope" experts to figuring, but as the men have fought in widely different circles there is little to be gained from figuring out their records.

Jackson has beaten nearly everybody in his class in the west, and no one need be told what Mr. "M. B." Smith has done in the east. The men will come together tonight as strangers and there is every reason to believe that they will be extremely close acquaintances before they leave the ring.

Each contestant picks himself to win in tonight's contest in the following personal letters to the sporting editor of the Plain Dealer:

"I will show Jackson that I am his master tonight. I know he's a tough fellow, but then I've always had hard ones to beat and I have no doubt but that I will beat "Bishop's Black Demon." I am in better shape now than ever before and if I don't win it will not be because I am not in condition. I am very confident of victory. I want Tommy Ryan after I win from Jackson. Mysterious Billy Smith."

Jackson writes:
"I know Smith to be an exceptionally good man, but still I have no doubt as to the outcome. I am just as confident as ever. I never like to say I can beat anyone until I have done so. I prefer to do all my blowing after the contest is over. I will surely do my best and you can rest assured that I will bring home the laurels. My condition is all that could be wished for. I am in perfect fix.

  "Young Peter Jackson."

The doors will be open at 7 o'clock and the entertainment will begin promptly at 8:30 with a four-round bout between Denny Gallagher and George Siddons.

Smith and Jackson will enter the ring precisely at 9 p. m. Smith will be seconded by Prof. Jimmy Kelly, Mike Barry and Joe Maxfield. Jackson will be looked after by "Biddy" Bishop, Ed Chartrand and Grant Nickens.

The public is warned by the club against purchasing tickets from scalpers. Those desiring to buy tickets can do so today and tonight at the club and at the usual sporting resorts about town. In this way purchasers can have no fear of buying counterfeit tickets.

The preliminary bout will begin at 8:30 and the main event will be on shortly after 9 o'clock.


1900-09-11 The Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, OH) (page 6)

PUGILISM.

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WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

After a great deal of discussion "Young Peter" Jackson and "Mysterious Billy" Smith will meet in a twenty-five round contest for the welterweight championship this evening before the Business Men's Gymnasium Club on Bank street. "Rube" Ferns was originally engaged to meet Jackson, but he backed out of the agreement after articles had been signed and the forfeits posted, and hence Smith was engaged to take his place. The latter is a more formidable opponent for the colored man, as he has had more ring experience and has also defeated some of the best men of the day, including Joe Walcott. That this bout is attracting the whole pugilistic world is shown by the large number of out-of-town sporting men who are arriving to witness the contest. It is expected that fully 300 of them will be here.

With the coming of the sporting men, the betting on the result of the contest has greatly increased. The result is that several big wagers were made yesterday afternoon, in which Smith was the favorite at 10 to 9. The Jackson people are backing their man at these odds. There is still plenty of money in sight, and it is quite likely that when both men enter the ring to-night the betting will be even. Jackson takes a wonderful amount of punishment, even to get in a blow, and his backers are pinning their money on his strength and staying qualities.

The main go will start promptly at 9 o'clock, with Lavigne as referee. The men are now down to the required weight and there will be no trouble on this score. The doors will open at 7 o'clock. A large number of extra seats have been placed in the building. The curtain raiser, which will be a four-round bout between Denny Gallagher and George Siddons, will be called at 8:30 o'clock. Following are the views of the principals for this contest:

"Mysterious" Smith--I am going to do my best to win. I am in good condition, in fact I never felt better in my life and if I lose I will have no excuses to make. I know Jackson is a good man and I know he is a hard fellow to beat. If I don't win it will be because he is a better man. After this contest I will challenge Tommy Ryan.

"Young Peter" Jackson--Smith is, I think, the best man I have ever gone against. I am confident I will win. I can't say just how I'll fight him until I get into the ring, but I will surely give my supporters a good run for their money, and Wednesday will see me the champion. I am in good condition and have trained hard and faithfully. I think every one will be pleased with the contest.

Professor James Kelly--I have trained Smith myself and his condition is all that could be desired. I think it will be the greatest glove contest ever seen in this city.

"Biddy" Bishop--You can rest assured that Peter will win. I have been with him each day that he has trained and have worked with him, and he is in perfect condition.


1900-09-12 Cleveland Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH) (page 6)

TOO FIERCE A BATTLE.

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The Smith-Jackson Bout Stopped by the Police.

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Eighteen Hard Fought Rounds.

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Wonderful Gameness Shown by the Western Colored Boxer.

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Mysterious Billy Smith and Young Peter Jackson boxed eighteen hard rounds before a big audience at the Business Men's club last night, and because the bout began to look a little rough toward the end, the police representatives requested that it be stopped.

Early in the match Smith discovered an old sore spot on Jackson's left ear and he went after it. The result was that while the colored man was not in the least distressed there was too much blood flowing to please either the spectators or the contestants.

Jackson put up one of the gamest battles that has ever been seen here, and when he was finally stopped he insisted that he was not hurt in the least and begged to be allowed to continue. The examination that followed after the western boxer was taken to his dressing room showed that his injury looked far worse than it really was, but there seemed to be plenty of cause for stopping the bout, and it was for the best interests of the boxing game that it was not allowed to go farther.

Jackson protested vigorously when he was sent to his corner and justly claimed that he was as strong as his opponent. At the time the bout was terminated Smith had the best of it on points, but Jackson was proving that he is well entitled to all the confidence that was placed in him.

Smith started out in the lead for the first three rounds, but while he landed often his blows did not hurt. In the fourth round the colored man held the mysterious Billy even and then came so fast that he had the better of the next two. The seventh it was even again, but the next was all Jackson's. After this he did not show so well, and while several of the remaining rounds were even Smith did the better work on the whole.

There was a long delay on account of selecting a referee. Both parties had agreed upon Billy Lavigne, but at the last minute Smith's managers put in an absurd objection, based upon the statement that Lavigne and Biddy Bishop, Jackson's manager, are personal friends. Mat Hinkel, the president of the Newburg Driving club, and manager of the Rockport Athletic club, was finally selected.

Denny Gallagher, the same old-timer who has been seen here in all sorts of contests for the last few years, and Kid Phillips of Saginaw went on for a curtain raiser. The bout was of two-minute rounds, with gloves that looked like pillows. No decision was to be rendered. Even under all these restrictions the boxing was fast enough to keep the audience interested all the time, and had the gloves been regulation size and the rounds the prescribed length there would have been a fierce battle on. As it was, it was impossible for the men to harm each other, and the only danger was from loss of wind. At the same time, the match was one of the most amusing that has ever been seen in the club's preliminaries.

Mysterious Billy Smith and young Peter Jackson were not long in appearing, but the audience, impatient for the main event, kept up an almost continuous uproar. The men weighed in without difficulty at 145 pounds at 3 o'clock. Neither one was up to that weight.

Smith was first to enter the ring, and behind him were Prof. Jim Kelly, Mike Barry of Chicago and Joe Maxfield and Bob Bell of this city. Smith wore bandages on his hands and unusually high trunks. Jackson came in a little later. He was attired in a loud bathrobe and wore no bandages. Behind him were Biddy Bishop, Grant Nickens and Ed Chartrand. There was quite an argument over a referee, Manager Lavigne having declined to act. "Spike" Sullivan, the famous lightweight and Tom Couhig of Buffalo were introduced to the audience, and there were cries for both to referee. There were also cries for Mat Hinkel, Tom Jenkins and others. Everybody yelled for his favorite, and it was worse than a political convention. It was impossible to agree upon a man for a long time, but it was finally agreed to have Mat Hinkel act in the ring, with two judges on the outside, who were empowered to overrule the decision of the referee. Spike Sullivan and the sporting editor of the Plain Dealer were agreed upon as judges.

It was after 10:30 when the men were called together. At this time odds were offered at 3 to 1 on Smith. Jackson put on light bandages just before the bout started. Tom Jenkins was the official timekeeper.

Round 1--Jackson made the first lead lightly; Smith came back with left and right on body. Smith put left on head. Jackson landed straight left on body and face, but they were light. In two close mix-ups Smith had the better of easy infighting. Smith hammered Jackson on the kidneys repeatedly with his right after blocking his leads.

Round 2--Smith rushed from his corner and landed left and right on the head. He kept on rushing and was cautioned for hitting in a clinch. He had Jackson worried and the black boy kept hanging on. He came back fast, however, and put in several good lefts on the body. The wind up was fast.

Round 3--Smith landed repeated rights on Jackson's kidneys, Jackson fighting low. Jackson landed left in face. Smith landed left and right on face and kept up his kidney blows. Jackson hung on and was slightly worried. Smith met Jackson's punches with straight lefts on the neck. The round was decidedly Smith's, Jackson fighting low and giving opportunities for hammering on the kidneys. He hugged often.

Round 4--Smith opened with straight left and right to head. A left to jaw was Jackson's first really hard punch. Smith landed straight left twice to face, then missed several vicious body blows. Jackson landed lightly on face and body, but they didn't count. The round was the most even so far.

Round 5--Jackson got in a hard left to body but most of the blows were light, the colored boy doing the rushing. Jackson landed right on head and Smith in a clinch put right to body. In clinches Smith used right on face and body, Jackson leading for face with left. They mixed it up in the middle of the ring on an exchange of face blows. As the bell rang Jackson led left for face, Smith coming back with right. The round was fast and Jackson showed up well.

Round 6--Jackson used his left effectively on face. Smith landed a hard left on neck and put both hands to the wind. Smith began to show the effect of the face blows. In the clinches Jackson held his own. Smith's uppercuts with right were blocked. The white boy was rushed to the ropes. They were mixing it in the middle of the ring and Jackson, by his showing, began to make a few friends among the spectators, even money being offered.

Round 7--Jackson put back Smith's head with a straight right. They mixed it and in clinches Smith got in a couple of good body blows. Jackson's lefts and rights to face began to tell and Smith clinched often, getting in body blows, which were growing visibly weaker. Smith missed a couple of swings, but the round ended soon.

Round 8--Both were cautious, but when they mixed both swings right and left to face. Smith sent straight left to wind, pushing Jackson to the ropes. Jackson landed a terrific left on chin and repeated. Smith clinched and got in right on body. Smith landed right on the neck as the bell rang. It was Jackson's round.

Ninth--Jackson opened with the same left to jaw, Smith landing kidney blows in the repeated clinches. Smith rushed Jackson to the rope with rights and left to face. The white man began to lead right to face, Smith blocking. The round was even.

Tenth--Smith after opening with a straight left to the wind landed once or twice on face. Jackson blocked Smith's uppercuts and then ducked his face into a left. Jackson countered hard with left reaching face on Smith's rushes. The round was even.

Eleventh--Jackson reached Smith's bad left eye. Smith rushed the black boy, uppercutting right and left. They fought into clinches, both landing hard. Jackson slipped down and was hit, but it was unintentional. Smith hooked right to jaw at the close of the round. It was Smith's.

Twelfth--Billy rushed Peter to the ropes. They began to rough it. Jackson began to bleed on the left ear which Smith kept pounding. They landed rights and lefts on head, Jackson slipping down. Peter put back Billy's face with a left and both were fighting hard and furious at the end of the round, which was Smith's by a shade.

Thirteenth--Smith put left to Jackson's ear, but matters were evened by Peter's straight ones to face. Smith landed a couple of hard body blows, but devoted most of his attention to Jackson's ear. The round was even.

Round 14--The early part was tame. Smith's right to ear hurt. In a clinch the white boy uppercut with right. Smith sent a hard left to stomach and Jackson seemed very tired. On exchange Smith had slightly the better. It was slightly Smith's round.

Round 15--Smith opened the round by rushing Jackson all over the ring. Smith got a hard right to wind and met Jackson's rushes with blows to face, which were closing the black boy's left eye. The round wound up with Smith sending a left to face which made Jackson rather dizzy. It was Smith's best round so far.

Round 16--Smith's right swings to head made Jackson very weak and closed his left eye, but the colored boy was game and took his beating, getting in several light blows himself. Again Smith's round.

Round 17--Smith got in all of the earlier blows, landing on face and stomach. Jackson swung left to face, but Smith continued to play on Jackson's ear. It was all Smith's.

Round 18--Smith uppercut. Smith kept putting left and right on face and neck and right on the sore ear. Jackson only kept smiling and kept coming back whenever he found an opening.

While the men were in their corners the police objected to further bloodshed and the battle was stopped. It had gone long enough and fast enough to suit the most ardent admirers of the boxing game and while Jackson lost the decision, he won many friends.


1900-09-12 The Cleveland Leader (Cleveland, OH) (page 6)

FIGHT WAS STOPPED.

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Smith Had Best of It When Police Interfered.

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END OF EIGHTEENTH ROUND.

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JACKSON TOOK A WONDERFUL AMOUNT OF PUNISHMENT.

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COULDN'T LAND DECISIVE BLOW

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ALTHOUGH "MYSTERIOUS BILLY" LANDED ON FACE AT WILL.

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The Finest Boxing Bout Witnessed Here for Years.

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After eighteen of the fastest and fiercest rounds ever witnessed in this city, "Mysterious Billy" Smith was given the decision over "Young Peter" Jackson before the Business Men's Gymnasium last evening. The contest was originally scheduled to go twenty-five rounds to a decision, and had not the police interfered it is quite likely that it would have gone to the limit, for, although Smith had the best of the contest with the exception of three rounds, he was unable to finish the colored man, who seemed to be a glutton for punishment and was ready for more. When the contest was stopped his left ear was in bad shape, it being partly torn off, and his left eye was closed, but he was still game.

Some of the blows that Smith landed on him would have put any ordinary man out of the business, but they did not seem to bother the colored man in the least. While the crowd seemed to think that Jackson was having the worst of it, the colored man did not think so, and was always ready with his trusty left hand when he had a chance to use it. If Jackson had Smith's experience and knew something about ring generalship he would be one of the best fighters in the business to-day. He can take punishment, but he cannot defend himself, and is very awkward on his feet, as well as in the use of his hands. He has only one good puncher and that is his left, and he had only a few chances to use it, but it showed every time. Smith had him guessing all the time, and clearly earned the decision. In only three rounds did Jackson seem to have any the best of it, the fifth, sixth, and eighth rounds. When the contest started, it looked as though it would be a walkaway for Smith, for he landed at will, while Jackson seemed to be in distress. But in Jackson the public were fooled, for he was ready for the call of the bell when the police stopped the contest. He was game to the core, and the crowd, after the tenth round, appreciated his gameness and cheered him on until the contest was stopped.

It was a cosmopolitan crowd that witnessed the contest; in fact, it was the largest crowd that has attended a boxing show here since the Lavigne-Daly contest several years ago.

There was a long delay between the curtain raiser and the main bout, and the crowd was impatient. "Mysterious Billy" Smith and "Young Peter" Jackson were the principals for the main bout, which was scheduled to go twenty-five rounds to a decision. They were matched to weigh under 145 pounds, and both tipped the scales under that weight. It was just 9:30 o'clock when Smith entered the ring. He was looked after by Professor "Jimmy" Kelly, "Mike" Barry, "Joe" Maxfield, and "Bob" Bell. He looked to be in excellent condition, although he had a big plaster on his kidneys. Jackson showed up a few minutes later, wrapped up in a bathrobe. He was looked after by "Biddy" Bishop, "Ed" Chartrand, and Grant Nickens. There was another delay when the men entered the ring over the refereeship. While the argument was on Spike Sullivan and Tom Couhig, the fast lightweights were introduced, and it was announced that they would appear before the club in the near future. The betting was $100 to $80 on Smith, and several wagers were made at these figures. There were calls for "Spike" Sullivan, Matt Hinkle, and Tom Jenkins. Finally the crowd became so demonstrative that Manager Lavigne announced that he "would give the men five minutes to decide between themselves, and if in that time they could not agree the club would appoint the referee. When the five minutes were up Lavigne appointed Matt Hinkle to referee. Jackson objected and the club called "Spike" Sullivan. After a long argument Jackson agreed to Douglass White, but the latter refused to serve. After a wait of forty-five minutes it was finally decided to accept Matt Hinkle and a proposition of two judges on the outside, who were to make the final decision. To the two judges Smith at first would not agree, but finally consented.

At once Jackson made arrangements to begin proceedings, thus causing another delay until he put on his bandages. When Jackson stripped he looked in excellent condition and wore a green ribbon around his waist. Smith appeared to have the better of it in height and reach, and it was plainly seen that both were trained to the hour. At 10:30 o'clock both men shook hands.

First round--Jackson led lightly on wind, Smith countering with right and left on body. Smith put his right on the face. In a rush Smith put his left on face. Jackson dodged cleverly from a right swing and got away neatly from an uppercut. Smith kept playing repeatedly with his right on the kidneys. In a fast mix-up Jackson put his left hard on the face and Smith countered with two hard rights over the kidneys. Honors were even.

Second round--Smith rushed as the bell rang and put his left squarely on the eye. Smith kept rushing and caught Jackson with a left swing on the jaw, which dazed the colored man. He appeared weak and kept hanging on Smith with every lead, while the "Mysterious" played continually for the wind. Jackson was unable to lead a square blow and repeatedly clinched to save himself. It was all Smith's round.

Third round--Smith at once played for the kidneys, Jackson taking a crouching position. Smith put his right and left on the jaw without a return, Jackson being unable to land. In a mixup, Smith landed right and left on the head and face, Jackson being very tired. Near the end of the round, Smith started to take things easy, looking for an opening.

Fourth round--Smith started to end matters and rushed with right and left to the face. Jackson feinted with his left, Smith coming back strongly with a hard right swing. Twice in succession Smith landed his left on the face. He tried to rush but Jackson dodged cleverly. In close quarters Smith put his right on the jaw. Twice Smith landed his right over the kidneys, but the blows did not appear to affect Jackson, who went back to his corner strong when the bell rang.

Fifth round--Jackson started to mix up matters at the start, and put his left on the head and kidneys and in close quarters Jackson put his right and left on Smith's face. In a rush Jackson slipped to his knees. Twice Smith tried his right on the jaw but fell short. Jackson in another mixup placed his right on Smith's jaw. Near the end of the round the fighting was fast and furious, both giving and taking a great deal of punishment. Jackson appeared to be tired when he went to his corner. Jackson had slightly the better of it.

Sixth round--Smith was cautious when they came up this time, but he caught Jackson with a left swing on the jaw. In a mixup Jackson put his right on the jaw, without a return. Jackson was just warming up and he put his right and left on the jaw, forcing Smith to the ropes. A left jab on the nose brought the claret from Smith's nose. It was all Jackson's round.

Seventh round--Jackson blocked cleverly left jab for wind. Both were fighting viciously, Smith leading, putting his right and left on face, Jackson countering with a right swing on the jaw. Smith dodged cleverly from two vicious swings. He was on the offensive and twice put his left on the face. This was the tamest round of the contest thus far.

Eighth round--Smith rushed and put his right and left on the head and wind. In another rush Jackson was nearly pushed through the ropes. Jackson changed things a second later when he landed his right twice on the jaw without a return. Jackson poked his left on the wind. Smith worked hard to land a decisive blow, but Jackson was always on his guard. This was Jackson's round.

Ninth round--Smith jabbed his left on the wind just as they came to the center of the ring. In a hot mixup Smith had the better of it, putting his right over the kidneys. In another mixup he rained right and left blows on the face and jaw without a return, Jackson seeming to take the punishment without a murmur. This was Smith's round.

Tenth round--Smith tried to follow up his advantage and put right and left on the face and wind without a return. Jackson did not seem to be able to use his right. Three times Smith crossed his right over on the jaw, Jackson never offering to return. Two strong left jabs on the face knocked Jackson's head back, but he was always ready for more, while Smith was tiring himself out in the attempt. This was Smith's round.

Eleventh round--Jackson allowed Smith to do all the leading, and the latter was doing all the work, landing right and left on head and face. Getting Jackson near the ropes he put right and left squarely on the jaw, which would have put any man out, but Jackson was ready for more. Smith followed up his advantage. Jackson landed his left on the jaw, and just as Jackson was slipping to the floor, Smith put a right on the kidneys.

Twelfth round--Smith put his left in the wind as a starter. He started to wind up matters, but Jackson took his punishment gamely, and landed his left squarely on Smith's jaw. This was a very hard round, and both men were tired when the bell rang.

Thirteenth round--After sparring for wind for a moment, Smith put his right over the kidneys. Jackson countered with a left on the face. Smith kept playing for the bad left ear, but Jackson was cautious, and put his left on the jaw. A right poke on the wind made Jackson wince for the first time during the contest. Honors were even.

Fourteenth round--Smith slowly forced Jackson to the ropes, and then put his right on the jaw. Jackson ran into a left jab on the jaw, Smith countering with right on the head. Smith started to rush, and put right and left on head and wind, without a return. Smith seemed to be tiring, and his blows lacked steam.

Fifteenth round--Smith rushed Jackson to the ropes, and put right and left on the head and face. Jackson dodged cleverly from a vicious right uppercut, but Smith changed tactics for the kidneys and bad ear. Smith put his right over the heart with his whole force, but Jackson came back for more. In a mix up, Jackson put his left on the jaw. Just as the bell rang, Smith put his right squarely on Jackson's head. This was one of the fastest rounds of the fight.

Sixteenth round--Smith kept putting his right and left all over Jackson without a return, any one of the blows being strong enough to put an ordinary man out. In close quarters Smith, with a vicious right hand uppercut, landed on the jaw, but it seemed not to bother the colored man, he being a glutton for punishment.

Seventeenth round--It was the same old story, Smith starting to do the rushing, putting his left and right on the head and wind. Jackson rushed into a left hand jab on the jaw, but it did no damage. Three times did Smith land his right over the bad ear, but Jackson was game to the core.

Eighteenth round--Smith kept playing all over Jackson's injured ear and bad eye, while the colored man did not seem to be able to defend himself. He was strong when the bell rang, but the police ordered the contest stopped.

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"Denny" Gallagher and "Kid" Phillips, announced from Saginaw, Mich., gave a four-round setto with twelve ounce gloves as a curtain raiser. No decision was to be given. The contest created plenty of amusement, as Gallagher had all of the science, while Phillips did not have the first rudiments of ring generalship. He kept the crowd in an uproar by rushing Gallagher, and made it interesting. Each round would usually start off with "love taps," but when they got warmed up, it became all the more interesting.

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.