Newsletter Vol 4 No 1

[robert.snell1]

The Boxing Biographies Newsletter
Volume 4- No 1 6th Jan, 2009

www.boxingbiographies.com

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Hope You All Had a Happy New


Name: Fighting Dick Hyland
Career Record: click
Alias: William Uren
Nationality: US American
Birthplace: Grass Valley, CA, USA
Hometown: San Francisco, California, USA
Born: 1885-10-20
Division: Lightweight
Managers: Sam McClintic, Jack Kearns
Per the Tacoma Daily News (Tacoma, WA, USA) of Nov. 13, 1908, William Uren was a substitute for an amateur boxer named Dick Hyland at the old San Francisco Athletic Club, and the name stuck. The newspaper also reported that there was an imposter "Dick Hyland" boxing in Seattle at this time.
The Fresno Bee 10 Feb 1957

Dick Hyland, born William Uren, was a Fresnan by adoption and was a member of the Fresno Fire Department for 32 years. Yet he fought only one four round exhibition in the city which was to claim him as one of its most distinguished citizens in the world of fisticuffs.

Now 72, Hyland lives in San Jose, his former home. He served as referee and later state boxing commission inspector, working in and out of Fresno, following his retirement from the ring after 14 years of success.

Hyland was born In Grass Valley October 20, 1885, of parents who migrated from England. The family moved to San Francisco in 1891, settling in Fillmore Street, south of Market. He left Fresno a couple, of years ago.

How a Uren came to be a Hyland is a story in itself, of the sorrowful financial straits of the youngster. Young Uren, as a teenager, ran with a gang who aspired to become boxers. Their idols were the three famous Attell brothers, Abe. Monte and Caesar, who trained at the San Francisco Athletic Club.

Bent on becoming fighters, the gang decided to join the club, operated by Alec Greggins, a one time boxer and later a well known referee. Membership in the club cost 25 cents. Somehow, all the boys managed to get the 25 cent:; all except Hyland.

Uren went to the club with hit pals, saw them signed as members, and then tearfully began to walk out. But Greggins, watching the heartbroken lad, called him back and explained that a youngster who found the ring sport a little too tough decided to quit after paying his dues.

Gives Him A Card

"You can have the card, son," Greggins told him. "But you’ll have to go under the name on the card here." The name was Dick Hyland, one which he has carried since be was 17.

Hyland made his debut as an amateur July 10, 1902 at the SF club. Manual Torres, his first ring foe, lasted against the flailing fists of Hyland for only-two rounds.

Harry Cashman of the San Francisco Chronicle saw the buzzsaw youngster that night: and next day wrote: "Fighting Dick Hyland ..." The prefix, "Fighting", stuck with Hyland the rest of his boxing career.

In the three succeeding years, Hyland won all of his 41 bouts as an amateur, 33 of them by knockouts. One of his victims was Young Johnny O’Brien. Hylands pro debut was against the hard hitting former world bantamweight champion Frankie Neil. Just back from England where he had lost his title to Joe Bowker. Neil was too much for Fighting Dick and suffered his first defeat, a knockout in the 15 th round.

Undaunted Hyland went on to defeat all the best lightweights on the coast and by 1906 he had run out of opponents. His manager Sammy ( Red ) McClintic, decided it was time to hit the big time in New York City. En route McClintic stopped of in Denver, then a hot spot in the fight game. Despite his coast record Denver promoters insisted Dick “Get a reputation first”.

Incensed McClintic offered to have Hyland take on three of Denver’s best lightweights in one night. The Denver promoters to the astonishment of most everyone accepted. If the acceptance was astonishing the result was even more so. Hyland won all three bouts, two of them by knockouts. He had only 15 minutes rest between the fights, two of them scheduled for six rounds, one for ten rounds.

That earned Hyland a shot at Denver’s favourite son Young Corbett, a former featherweight champion. Hyland gave Corbett a trouncing, knocking him out in the fifth round in their bout in Ogden,Utah, April 30, 1906.

While training for the bout in Salt Lake City, Hyland received word that the great earthquake had destroyed the family home in San Francisco. The family moved to San Jose and after things were cleaned up in San Francisco Hyland, in September 1906, took on Eddie Hanlon in a scheduled 20 round main event. Hyland won by a knockout in the 15th round.

Frustrated on his first attempt to get to New York, Hyland and McClintic then went all the way. Hyland fought Matty Baldwin, Pal Moore, Young Shugue, Harlem Tom Murphy and others in the national Sporting Club in New York.

Hyland also had a tour of duty at the Westside Athletic Club in Philadelphia where light heavyweight champion Jack O’Brien was the promoter.

Hyland had a big year in 1909, starting with a “No Decision” 10 rounder with Packey McFarland, who never lost a fight in his career. This served as a tune up for his big chance – a 40 round title shot against Battling Nelson in Colma, May 29, 1909.

Nelson was too durable for Hyland, winning by a knockout in the 23 rd round of the scheduled 40 rounder Just 28 days later, the busy Hyland, knocked out Leach Cross in 41 rounds of a scheduled 45 rounder, also in Colma.

A loss to Johnny Frayne of San Francisco followed and then Hyland wound up the year by stopping the heralded Mexican fighter Aurelio Herrera in Bakersfield, in six rounds.

From 1911 through 1913 Hyland toured British Columbia and Canada with Jack Kearns, later to manage Jack Dempsey, as his business chief. The late heavyweight champion Tommy Burns promoted a fight for Hyland in Calgary in 1913. On his swing home Hyland lost a tough 12 rounder to Freddie Walsh, the English lightweight, in Butte, Mont.

The year 1914 was a successful one, in more ways than one. While training for a fight in Salt Lake City Hyland , then with a national reputation, was approached by a youngster who had been boxing under the name of Young Blackie. He asked to spar with Hyland, so Dick could advise him whether he had any future in the fight game. Hyland assured the 19 year old he did have a future and then made a suggestion. “Use your real name, Jack Dempsey it sounds more like a fighter”

Fighting Dick rang down the curtain on his 14 year career in 1916. He did not achieve his goal of becoming champion because of Bat Nelson, but did fight the second longest fight on the Pacific coast – 41 rounds against Cross.

The next year Hyland sought out Normart, then assistant fire chief in Fresno, for a job. Dick got the job and held it for 32 years. Hyland’s one appearance in Fresno as a boxer was in 1923, seven years after he had retired. He and the Durable Dane, Nelson, who had beaten him in the Colma title bout, put on an exhibition in the old Fresno Auditorium.

The Salt Lake Tribune 17 Nov 1906

Fighting Dick Hyland Is Winner
Cyclone Thompson Loses Battle
in the Twentieth
Round.

HYLAND DID ALL THE FORCING IN THE CONTEST

Thompson Continually Clinched, and This Only Saved Thompson
From Knockout.

Fighting Dick Hyland defeated Cyclone Thompson in a twenty-round boxing contest at Ogden tonight after both men had gone the limit. Hyland did all the forcing while Thompson continually clinched. This only saved Thompson from a knock-out. Both men were in the best of condition and were fast, and each was able to block the attacks of the other. Neither man was hurt. Over Thompson s kidneys were two large red blotches, the result of blows showered there by Dick. Dick fought to the body entirely with occasional good jabs to the head.

The decision of Referee Jim Williams was popular with the audience, but there is some defense from people who think that it should have been declared a draw as both men were on their feet and fighting when the gong rang at the end of the twentieth round. Thompson had been knocked down just before the gong rang.

Over 900 people came up from Salt Lake in two special trains over the Short Line and on the arrival in Ogden they rushed to the opera house, Which was already nearly filled with the Ogden sports. Every seat in the galleries and parquet was filled and five tiers of ring side seats, on three sides of the ring were occupied by prominent Politicians and prominent men from Salt Lake and Ogden.

It was 10:25. p. m. when Thompson stepped into the ring for the main event and a minute later Hyland appeared. Both men we're loudly applauded on their appearance but there was a ripple in the audience which showed that Dick was the favorite.

A great deal of even money was bet about this time and just before the fight began $100 to $70 was offered on Hyland. Very little of that money was taken up. Hampton, Geiger and Rawhide Kelly were in Thompson's corner. Willard Bean, Sammy McClintic and Red Fitzsimmons attended to Hyland. Jim Williams was the referee and was well received by the audience when introduced.

Both men weighed on scales in the ring and both were found to be under the light weight limit. Hyland had his hands bandaged, as also did Thompson, and Referee Williams called time at 10:43. p. m. and both men stepped to the center of the ring and shook hands.

Fight by Rounds.

Round One

The men went to clinch feeling each other. Thompson landed right to jaw. Hyland blocked for face and landed on kidneys. Thompson shot his right back of the ear and Hyland to the jaw. The men went to their corners with even honors and no damage. It was a slow round.

Round Two

Thompson rushed in. both men clinched, scuffling, with no damage. Exchanges between the men to the head were passed. Thompson landed on ear and received two rights on ear. Hyland missed a knockout punch, followed by three rights to the kidneys. Honors even.

Round Three

The men rushed to clinch. Thompson right to mouth. Both landed left to jaw scuffling, and Thompson landed two rights to face. Hyland left to ribs and right to face. At the gong Hyland had a shade the best of the round.


Round Four

Hyland landed right to ribs. In a clinch Hyland landed continually on the kidneys and Hyland's right went to Thompson's head in the break away. Dick struck Thompson on the nose and brought the blood, and handed a heavy left to the jaw. Hyland again landed a straight to the face and staggered his man. It was Hylands round.

Round Five

Thompson rushes Hyland lands three straight lefts to face. Thompson right to jaw, followed with left to wind. Thompson groggy after light exchanges and swings. Hyland rushes Thompson against the ropes with blows to head and body. Hyland lands lightly on jaw at gong. Honors even.

Round Six

They rush to a clinch and Hyland sent his right to the kidney. Thompson his right to the wind and two rights to the face. Hyland landed left on face and right on kidneys and both men were sparring at the finish

Round Seven

As usual, Thompson rushed to a clinch and Hyland got him in the wind and later a good stout left to the jaw that staggered Thompson again; They were in a clinch when the gong sounded. It was somewhat in favor of Hyland.

Round Eight

Thompson made another rush to the center and clinched. both men landed on the face and Hyland gets in a good one on the nose starting blood. Thompson staggers from a blow deliverer over the eye and clinches to save himself from punishment. Hyland lands right and left to face and Thompson was going when the gong sounded and saved him.

Cyclone Was Fresh.

Round Nine

Thompson came up fresh and rushed again like a cyclone to the center. He landed his right on the chin but it did not faze the fighting man. Both missed long swings and Thompson landed right and left to face. Hyland went after the wind and then tapped the kidneys a little more. Hyland gave left to the wind again and left to the face, then left and right to the jaw, two rights to the kidneys, then the gong.

Round Ten

Thompson clinched again. Hyland went to his kidneys and then punched him all around the ring. Hyland uppercuts the face, left to Kidneys and right to wind. Both land on the jaw. Hyland right to head and it was his round by a big margin when the gong rang.

Round Eleven to Twenty are on the web site




Hyland Awarded Decision.

Hyland had the best of the fighting in most of the rounds and the fact that he forced the fighting was all in his favor.

He was awarded the decision by Referee Williams and was loudly applauded. Thompson is entitled to credit .for his ability to stand punishment.
-
On at least three occasions in the fight it looked as though he might be put out. He was in fact groggy but he possesses great powers of endurance and a good pair of bellows and in each new round he came up strong only to weaken., again .under the rain of blows delivered by Fighting Dick.

Oakland Tribune
27 June 1909

New Yorker Cleverest Fighter of Pair, But
Lacking in Strength, Finally Collapses
Under pushes of the Cornishman.
By EDDIE SMITH,



HAD the contest yesterday been most any other athletic event the affair would go do\in in history as a record-breaker. As it was simply a boxing contest, however, the record will simply read that Dick Hyland won from Leach Cross In the forty-first round by a knock-out. Simple as it may sound and though the fighters will never get any credit for establishing a new record, it took the greatest amount of grit to stick to their work and the pace they set and the grueling each took makes the gameness of Marathon runners and the like fade away into insignificance.

The battle was one in which a sturdy little son of the soil was matched against a wiry youth whose ancestors, and especially has parents, no doubt tabooed manual labor many years before his birth The son of the soil, "Fighting Dick" Hyland, had as his chief asset an indomitable grit and an almost everlasting endurance, his boxing: from a scientific standpoint Being badly overmatched. He was shorter than his opponent in the matter of height and reach, and during- the early rounds was sadly outboxed.

Hyland Has Grit

"Fighting Dick," and no name ever suited a man better, had that one asset, grit, however, and although It took some time to assert itself, In the end it conquered. Cross had as his chief asset a cultivated cleverness, a lightning- like punch and his brain worked with greater activity. Leach is not the natural fighter, though, and his cultivated fighting spirit deserted him when that sturdy little son of the soil marched up with the greatest persistency In the face of a severe beating and kept trying to land a punch, being entirely satisfied if he could land but one to the other fellow's two. It took Hyland forty-one of the toughest kind of rounds to finally conquer that cultivated lighting power of the New Yorker, but although it came slowly, it came surely, and the victory was all the sweeter owing to the fact that It was well earned.

The contest is the longest that has been fought In San Francisco for about eighteen or twenty years and it tops the much-talked of Joe Thomas-Stanley Ketchel battle In the same arena by nine rounds and falls short of the famous Gans-Nelson championship battle at Goldfield by one round. The day was anything but an ideal one for an open-air athletic event, as the fog hung heavily over the ring and a cold southwest wind was blowing:.

Possessed Interest of Marathon Race

As to whether or not the contest was highly interesting, It might be said that from a standpoint of sensationalism it was a failure, for during the early rounds, when both men were fresh, there was nothing sensational about the affair, and many bec.ime convinced that Cross would eventually show that yellow streak that is so often talked of .From an interest point of view the battle took on the excitement with which one would watch a Marathon race or any other endurance contest, for after twenty rounds it became apparent that the battle was to be either a limit bout or one in which the man with the
grit and endurance would come out the victor.

One of the best proofs that this Interest held the fans was the fact that although it grew bitter cold during the last rounds not a man left the building until the last round had been fought, and this means much as proof of the interest the spectators had in the ultimate re-suit. After Billy Jordan had introduced the contestants and they had posed for their pictures the men returned to their corners, and when the bell rang for the first start both hesitated about taking the initiative in the matter of pace.

Cross Delivers Punishment

Their start could very easily be likened to that of any exhibition wherein the contestants realized that a long grueling test was before them, and as one looks back at that start It almost seems as though each had a premonition of the long route they were to travel. Hyland, with his lips closed tightly together and his teeth clinched, walked right up to Cross and tried to close in from the start. Cross, who had met the little fellow in the center of the ring, immediately shot out his left hand and Hyland ran smack into it, the force pushing Dick's head backwards. Hyland reached up with his right and pulled the unwelcome hand down and Cross cleverly stepped away without getting hit. In this manner the contest proceeded for some few rounds, Hyland always boring in, but Cross delivering the greater amount of punishment. Those who had backed Hyland with the idea that he would leave his corner with a rush to rip and tear into the New Yorker suffered disappointment, for Dick plodded on In the most patient manner and with great fortitude stuck to the task of wearing the other fellow down with his superior strength.

Cross Not Anxious to Mix Matters

Cross displayed no desire to mix things and very early in the game it was apparent that he had serious doubts as to his ability to go the route. The visitor jabbed and hooked, ripped and crossed with both left and right swings, and in doing so landed at least two to one punches, but wherever he shifted to inside the roped square he always found that game little Cornishman after him like a shadow, and there can be no denying the fact that this had much effect on the nerve of Cross during the early rounds.

When Hyland crowded the dentist-pugilist the hardest the latter would turn sideways and back away ready to strike as the aggressive little fellow came in. Any number of times during the early rounds Cross sidestepped away from his man, making him miss badly. Hyland landed occasionally but he was receiving a severe beating trying to land these occasional punches, and before the contest had gone ten rounds he was bruised and bleeding, while not a mark showed on the face of the clever visitor and it could hardly be said that he had been stung. Hyland had been shaken up a few times but not badly and it was apparent that Cross was not the possessor of a knockout punch. By the time the tenth round had been, fought it was easy to see that Cross had to jab Hyland into submission and that Hyland had only the chance of wearing his opponent out Cross held tightly to his man in the clinches and in this manner greatly handicapped Hyland. whose only chance was the landing of blows at short range.

Cross Fights at Long Range

Referee Billy Roche was forced time and again to pull the fighters apart, and each time he did so Cross quickly backed away and tried to box at long range. By the time that the tenth round was reached half of the people in the 'house were of the opinion that Cross would win, but it was proven beyond any .doubt that he would never do as an opponent for Nelson. After the tenth Leach, seemed to fear the fighting Cornishman more than ever and he backed .away more when he was being forced. In fact, it seemed as if the only chance .Hyland had to land a punch was to force the dentist to the ropes and there 'land his punches before the clever Hebrew could tie him up in a clinch. Hyland is not the fastest fellow in the world by a big margin and he often failed. Failures seemed to mean little to him, however, for he went right back at the work again with all the vigor he possessed.

Twelfth Round is Turning Point

Round twelve seemed the turning point of the battle, for when Cross left his corner he seemed desirous of finishing the job. He displayed more fighting- spirit than he had previously and for a time he planted his punches on his man at will.

Hyland kept coming just the same and near the end of the round Cross weakened and Hyland shot over his left to the head and down went Cross to his knees. He started to get up without taking the count but again slipped back to the floor for the time allowed him, which Roche would not permit, claiming that he had gone down the second time without being hit, which was right.

From then on Cross had little chance for victory and 'at times he gave every evidence of wanting to stop, and not ten men in the .house could be found who would not have said the New Yorker was about to quit..

One round was a repetition of the other from then on, for although at times Cross made rather sensational sprints, it seemed as If Hyland would .wear him out much quicker than he did. Cross at times made believe he was worse off than he was, in the hope that Hyland would fight himself out in an effort to stop him, but the plodding little Cornishman kept at his work persistently, but without any undue rush, and when Cross backed to the ropes and covered up with his arms wrapped about his face and body Hyland patiently waited for the openings before wasting his punches.

Time after time Cross was either put to the floor with a punch or pushed to the floor after backing to the ropes, but never would he stay down and to .the surprise of all present he would smile and wave to his seconds every time he went down. During the last five rounds It was apparent that Cross was to stick the limit and probably win with a knock-out punch Both men were so tired, and weak that they could hardly hold a balance and even though Cross was very weak, it looked as if Hyland had also shot his bolt

Cross' Final Collapse

With his manager Jack Perkins' smiling face as an encouragement, and Willie Britt, who had gone to the corner to help earlier In the contest shouting words of encouragement, however, Hyland kept at the job and Cross was given an awful lacing. All the remarks as to the lack of courage that the Easterner might have were by this time dispensed with for he had put up a wonderfully game a battle as has been witnessed here In years and he was much admired for his staying qualities.

The end had to come, however; and in the forty-first round he finally collapsed after having- been to the floor several times in the last five rounds from a light punch to the body and his efforts to get up were of no avail Hyland had proven the more rugged of the pair and victory crowned his game uphill fight made during- the early rounds. It was a great battle and the best man truly won. It was a fair test and Hyland must be considered the best of the two at the long distance game.


The Syracuse Herald
30 June 1909

Nelson knocks Out Dick Hyland
twenty-three Rounds Enough for Californian.,

FOUGHT GAMELY, BUT COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE PUNCHES
OF THE CHAMPION.

May 29.—Fighting Dick Hyland of California went down to defeat In twenty-three rounds at the hands of Battling Nelson before Jimmy Coffroth's Colma club this afternoon. The pair were to have met to a finish and the lightweight championship of the world was at stake. Hyland, although whipped, was not disgraced. He fought as hard as he could and gamely too, but could not withstand the knockout punches of the champion.

There was a large crowd in the arena when the men appeared. The day was pleasant and the accommodations were fine. The Dane was in fine condition and appeared to be trained to the minute. The boxers weighed in at 1:45 o'clock. Betting at the ringside opened at 10 to 4 with Nelson the favorite. A number of bets were made at even money that Nelson would win inside of twenty-live rounds.

In addition to Britt. Nelson had behind him Jack Grace, Abdul, the Turk] Jeff Darry and Abe Silverman. Hy]4nd was looked after by Jimmy Hyland, Jack Perkins and Billy McDonald. It was exactly 2:60 P. M. when the fighters entered the ring. They agreed to box straight Queensbury rules. There was no time lost in starting the mill. The announcer introduced the men to the crowd and stated the conditions etc, and the fight was on.

Fight by Rounds

First round

They rushed to close quarters and clinched. After they were separated Nelson drove two short rights for the body, and a moment later put another hard right to Hyland's stomach, Hyland whipped the right hard to Nelson's jaw. Nelson drove Hyland to the ropes and smashed Hyland on the face with right, There was no decided advantage.


Second round

Hyland planted a stiff left on Nelson's body. The Dane planted a stiff left to the head. Hyland retaliated with a vicious right to the jaw. They then hammered away at each other at short range and Hyland stung Nelson with a beauty plump on the solar plexus. Hyland put one to the body as the bell tolled. The round was about even.
Third round
Nelson put a straight with a right to Nelson's jaw which almost floored the champion. Nelson was forced to clinch and the crowd cheered. Nelson on the breakaway landed several blows on Hyland's face and jaw. Hyland landed two rights on the body and then got in two more rights on Nelson's jaw which shook the latter, but Nelson came back and scored with the left to the jaw. This was a vicious round, with Hyland having a alight advantage.

Fourth round

Hyland put the right to Nelson's body. Nelson rushed and drove Hyland to the ropes. Hyland put a hot one to the face, bringing blood. Hyland again brought the gore with a stinger to the nose. This was Hyland's round

Fifth round

Hyland hooked two heavy lefts to the jaw, and an instant later stopped Nelson's rush with a right to the face. Nelson missed a terrific right to the jaw and they clinched. Hyland rushed Nelson to the ropes. This was Hyland's round.

Sixth round

Hyland shot a straight left to the face. Nelson retaliated in kind. Hyland then put a stinger to the jaw. A moment later Hyland again shook the Battler with a right to the head. Nelson put a stiff left to the jaw. This round favored Hyland.

Seventh round

Nelson swung left to the jaw, but rushed into a hard right upper cut. Hyland put a hard right over the kidney’s. Nelson clinched and wrestled his man around and apparently butted Hyland. He was roundly hissed by the crowd.

Eighth round

Nelson landed a hard left on the eye and swung two rights to the ear and head. Hyland countered with an uppercut to the jaw. Nelson wrestled Hyland against the ropes and was cautioned by the referee

Ninth round

Nelson planted a vicious left to the jaw. He duplicated the blow a moment later. Hyland ripped two stinging lefts to the body causing Nelson to clinch. Hyland landed two rights to the wind and a right to the jaw. Nelson put two rights to the stomach. Nelson sent Hyland against the ropes with a
straight right to the body. The round was even.

Tenth round

Nelson landed two lefts to the face, Hyland countered with the right. Nelson’s left eye at this stage was bleeding slightly. Nelson put two lefts to the face two rights to the body. The Dane slipped to his knees from a misdirected blow. He was up in an instant. The men were in a lively mix-up when the bell sounded.

Eleventh round to twenty third available on the web site

[Robinson]

Thanks Rob.

I am running of some scans for you. Should have them
off to you soon.

[robert.snell1]

cheers mate. I appreciate that