new web site-boxingbiographies.com

[robert.snell1]

Thanks Alex I appreciate that a great deal. The next edition is out on Monday so plenty more to read about. The response to all this has taken me by surprise to be honest as i did think it would take a while longer for people to visit the site in such numbers and sign up for the mailshot - over 300.

lots of other things to try out yet which will be interesting for me.

all the best mate

Rob

[Alex]

Glad to hear it's going so well. It's surprising, and refreshing, to find so many people are interested in the old timers.

All the best,

Alex.

[silkov]

Great stuff Rob, sorry I havent commented before!... my heads been everywhere lately with various things!.... keep up the good work mate!...

[robert.snell1]

Hello mate always good to hear from you. As you can see its going great and getting a good supply of new material ready to upload. In the new year I hope to be able to make a lot of the material available as a download so people can have the source material or the word document.

I would like to try and do some special editions of the newsletter and focus on one particular week in history. EG the week of the Wolgast v Nelson fight and put together a wide selection of what was said before and after the contest.

[robert.snell1]

The Boxing Biographies Newsletter
Volume 1- No 13 13th October 2007

http://www.boxingbiographies.com please visit our parent site http://www.crapboxingchat.com

If you wish to receive future newsletters please email the message “NEWS LETTER” [email protected]

The following articles in there complete form are available on the web site

In this issue I wish to showcase the series “Famous Fights” which are available from http://www.famous-fights.com/

This series of publications are remarkable reproductions and a veritable dream to anybody wanting to read about old time boxing. With the agreement of the publisher short extracts and a selection of the wide range of illustrations used in the issues will be shortly available on our website.


New Material Added This Week

The Anaconda Standard 15 April 1914

Dillon Easy Winner In Levinsky Tangle

Jack Dillon stung in the fifth round by the hardest punch Battling Levlnsky could muster, tore Into the New Yorker in their fight at the Holland arena last night and from then on piled up a big lead which he topped of with having Levinsky weary and wobbly in the final round. Dillon outboxed, outfought and outgeneraled Levinsky, who was game but not aggressive
enough to mix with Jack.

When Levinsky was stung he would open up occasionally, but when he did Dillon punched harder. From the ninth round on Levinsky was only able to counter feebly. Several times the Hebrew tried to stem the tide, but to no avail. Few boxers could in the face of the ever-rushing covered-up Indianapolis boy, who was a 10-to-9 favorite. Levinsky said that after the ninth round his strength appeared to leave him. A stiff overhand swing: spun Levinsky around in that session and another opened up his nose. Levinsky has beaten heavy weights like Jim Flynn, but as a contender for the world's heavy-weight championship he would better pass up Gunboat Smith, from his work against Dillon, who had him on the ropes numerous
times.

Dillon was faster than Levinsky, whose left did not even loosen up Jack's nasal organ. Against a boxer Levinsky would get a decision in many cases, hut when it is fight or get out he cannot claim premier honors. Only once did Jack hesitate , that was in the fifth, but it was unfortunate for Levinsky that he stung Dillon, for it angered him and he showed no mercy to the Hebrew. Dillon showed a fighter's instinct and courage, for he let Levinsky land his best and then bored in, weakening his opponent with stomach and kidney smashes.

Same All the Way

Every round was a succession of sameness, with Levinsky doing the Marathon stunt until driven into a corner and then fighting back. Only once or twice did he use a right blow, and then in exploration work. Levinsky at first seemed willing to fight it out, but what could he do when he was hurt from every side? Dillon whipped in stomach, kidney and head punches every round, and it was only when in a half embrace that Levinsky showed his class. After the fight he had no excuses to make to Referee Harry Stout of Milwaukee. Stout was a real referee and he made It a good fight because he pried open every clinch. He knew the game and it was pleasant to see him work. Jack Regan, matchmaker for the Treasure State club, has signed Stout for the club's next show.

The tireless stomach punches of Dillon showed when Levinsky was rubbed down. His ribs were black and blue. An overhand chop was Dillon's favorite weapon In working on Levinsky's stomach and midship section. It was not the clips to the jaw that weakened Levinsky.

Official’s Comment.

Referee Stout said: "It was a. tough fight, with both boys in fine condition and both trying hard which made it hard for me to keep them apart. Towards the last Levinsky was doing the holding. From the ninth round on he was weary. In the fifth round Levinsky made his stand. He used that loop-the-loop uppercut on Dillon and it shook Jack up, and from then on Dillon was the aggressor.

From simply building up a lead Dillon became a fierce fighter. Dillon was the aggressor and a bulldog, while Levinsky was the boxer. Jack kept on Levinsky so close he smothered his blows, Dillon's short left punches as he came in hurt the battler. Levinsky said that in the ninth round he was all in; from then on it was all Dillon. Until then he was feeling aggressive. The punishment that hurt him was a wild overhand swing that took Levinsky on the nape of the neck In the eighth round,"

Their Statements.

Dillon said: "The only chance I had was to keep after him. Levinski is a good boxer — fine for his weight. It came out as I figured and I would have finished him if I had taken a chance after the seventh round, when I saw that the body punches had weakened him. He struck me one telling blow. It is hard to fight when you have to chase a clever boxer."

Levinsky said: "I blew up after the seventh and did not have my strength. I think that Dillon is a real champion and I have no excuses to make. He is, a wonder at infighting," The fight drew the largest gathering ever recorded in Butte. The receipts were $8,221 , Levinsky received about $2,100 and Dillon about $2,000. The nearest approach to last night's gate was the -Nelson-Herrera fight, when about $7,600 was taken in.

By Rounds

Round 1
Dillon rushed and landed first a light left to the head. Levinsky snapped his fast-working left to Jack's head, but it was a slight blow. Dillon was cautious in spite of his leading when he landed a right and left to the jaw, Levinsky had shown clever feinting, but he lost the round.

Round 2.
Both landed rights and lefts that did little damage, and then Dillon worked short-arm jabs into Levinsky's stomach and the Yiddisher was content to rest with his cleverness. In a corner exchange to which Levinsky was driven he bested Jack for a moment, but in the set punches Dillon snapped them in harder and oftenor. In spite of his laying himself open to lead, it was Dillon's round.

Round 3.
Jack sent a damaging right to the stomach and then a left to the head before Lewinsky could swing in a light left, Levinsky then winced under a hard lot of kidney punches, which were followed by crushing rights and lefts to the jaw that made Barney hesitate. Dillon again.

Round 4.
Dillon pursued Levinsky with a stiff left and was after Barney like a wild man. He never let up in his task and Barney clinched after getting some head punches. Suddenly Levlnskey shot a stiff right to Dillon's jaw and it made Jack stop. After he recovered he tore into the Hebrew and put a hard right to the kidneys. Jack's round.


http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index. ... &Itemid=27


Tribune Sports 23 Nov 1907
by Eddie Smith

Owen Moran Proves Too Clever For Frankie Neil


With just a slight tinge of suspicion, those who follow the boxing game the closest entered the Dreamland Pavilion last night to witness the Owen Moran- Frankie Neil contest. This suspicion was brought on by the peculiar change in the betting which changed from 10 to 7 with Neil the favorite to 10 to 8 with Moran on the long end.

What an agreeable surprise was in store for us, however, and what a contest we were treated to, one of the sort that is always expected but seldom materializes. Then, too, what a surprise Moran really proved to almost every man in the place. The stories from the east and the information gained at the training camp of the visiting boxer led us to believe
we could expect to see a high class performer in the ring, but even those who were closest in on the information regarding the Britisher had little hopes of him proving the master of the game that he is.

GREAT BOXER.

He proved to be the greatest find of many years and his clean-cut, clever style of milling will live in the memory of the lucky fans who witnessed last night's contest for many days to come.

"I'll show the people of this country that the country where I come from will be able to send over one champion," was the remark by Moran to the writer and published In this paper during the early part of the week. He has done all he said he would, for he is an ideal fighter, ready at all times with either hand, never off his balance and the false or unnecessary moves he makes are so seldom seen that he must be likened to the king of boxers, Joe Gans.

The contest was one replete with thrills, admiration for the victor and sincere sympathy for the loser. Moran from the first seemed to have Neil's measure and held him fast, but the indomitable courage with which the game little fellow continually rushed Into close quarters and. with fortitude seldom seen in a fighter, try to land a telling punch, called forth the admiration of every unbiased man In the pavilion.

NEIL'S GREAT GAMENESS.

Stories have been told of game men in the history of the ring, but last night's gritty showing , on the part of Neil forever stamps him on an equal footing with the gamest of these who have gone before or who will come perhaps in the future.

Had it not been for this wonderful showing of grit on the part of Neil the contest would have lacked in interest, for Moran out-classed him at every turn of the game. Just when things would look darkest for the native, however, he would gather himself together as if preparing for a supreme effort, tear into the thickest of the fighting and in the face of a beating that few men would stand, force the clever Britisher to the ropes and try frantically to land telling punches on his elusive opponent.

Each time Neil would make these game flashes, which were often, his admirers and backers would cheer him on and dampened hopes would again be raised. Time and again Neil made these dashes for victory, each succeeding time bringing him as a reward only a more severe beating.

SHOULD HAVE STOPPED.

The only thing in connection with the contest of last night worthy of criticism was the fact that Neil was allowed by his handlers to take More beating than was necessary. The sponge should have been thrown into the ring long before it was stopped, or the referee who has Absolute control of the men should have stopped it.

Billy Roche when asked after the contest why he did not stop the unnecessary prolonging of the inevitable defeat, said Neil’s father had asked that the contest should not be stopped by the referee, saying that he would attend to that matter himself if it became necessary for his boy to be protected. In the face of defeat, such as it was, it would be rather cruel to criticize the father, but it would have been far better had he thrown up the sponge as a token of defeat than to have Captain Duke of the police force order the thing stopped.

Men Enter Ring

Neil was the first to enter the ring with his seconds, Tim McGrath, Johnnie Frayne, Ralph Murphy and Johnnie Jones. Frankie chose the corner in which the winner of the preliminary bout had sat, evidently taking it for the good luck corner. He was chipper and gay and laughed and talked with his friends at the ring side. His weight was announced as 117 pounds.

After a wait of about ten minutes Moran entered, followed by Jimmy Kelly, Krelling and Alf Wicks. The men met at the corner where Moran entered the ring shook hands and smiled pleasantly at each other. Both seemed cool and confident, but the least sign of anger was not visible on their faces. In fact It might be well to say here that all during the contest the men showed the greatest respect for each other, and the contest was as cleanly a contested one .was ever fought, they being ready at all times to help each other up if a slip occurred
and the best of all was the fond embrace they gave each other as they were about to leave the ring.

Moran won the toss of the coin and took lucky corner. When the men stripped for action and took their position for the picture men it was noticed that Moran was larger in every way than Neil and out weighed him at least five pounds. The clang of the gong sent the men to the scratch at 9;55 and for a short time the spectators remained so quiet that one could hear the excited breathing of his neighbor on either side.

First Round

The first round opened up with both men rather cautious. They feinted for openings with the hope of discovering an opening through which they might shoot a gloved fist. Neil started things going by leading off with a left to the body which fell short and threw him into close quarters with the visitor. A vast exchange of blows followed and, like the shot out of a cannon, Moran shot a left hook in the jaw., quickly following it with another for the same place. It was noticeable from that time Moran was the class and that if Neil was to win he would be compelled to outgame the Britisher. Then, when the men went into a clinch, imagine the surprise when he really out-fought the lad have seen force men who have out-weighed him almost ten pounds around the ring.

Moran, In this round, appeared both anxious and careful. He was ready at all times to take advantage of an opening, which he did with remarkable cleverness, but at the same time he seemed to be studying the methods of the local lad .When Neil rushed Moran proved his master. When he tried to box with the new-comer he was again found wanting. In fact the first round should have discouraged a less game fellow, but Neil came up for the second round as confident as he had for the first.

NOT DISCOURAGED.

Moran became a little too anxious in this round, evidently believing he was to win in a short contest. He started his straight left working on Neil's face in this round and right from that time Neil was unable in any round to avoid the clean jabs of that left hand that traveled such a little distance, but carried with it a world of force.

Moran shook Neil up considerably in this round, and his backers called "Take your time, Frankie." In this round Moran landed several times with clean left hooks to the body and right crosses to the Jaw that shook Neil from head to foot.

The third and fourth rounds found Moran too anxious to finish his opponent, and his heavy breathing led some to think he was tiring. His work was gradually telling on Neil and by the end of the fourth round his face had begun to show the marks of the beating.

Moran Looked The Winner

At that time it was freely predicted that Moran would win in ten rounds. Little did people think Neil would be able to go on as he afterwards did. It was noticed that Moran had the advantage of Neil in all the clinches and at one time Frankie complained to the referee.

In the fifth and sixth rounds Neil was again handed a beating, especially in the sixth. After jabbing and countering Neil on almost every allowable portion of his face and body, Moran landed a well-timed and clean-cut right cross to the jaw, and down went Neil, in a heap. For a few seconds It looked as if he would be unable to get up, but as the timekeeper reeled off the fatal seconds he slowly regained his feet and at the count of nine he stood erect, rushed at Moran as a wild bull, forcing him to the ropes and received the applause of the crowd for his gameness.

From then to the tenth round Neil tried to wear the Briton down by force of' fast and aggressive fighting. Each round found him battered and bruised, leaving his corner with a rush and meeting Moran before that fighter had left his corner. The game little fellow tried at all times to force the fighting, but Moran, who had somewhat cooled off and was not as anxious
as he was during the early part of the contest, used all his cleverness to avoid any unnecessary mixing or rough work.

Moran Always In Lead

In every round Moran either had a little better of the going or it was even. Neil at no time having the better of a round. By the time the tenth round was reached Neil had received an awful beating, but he kept coming all the time and as Moran was also becoming a little tired he was able to land an occasional punch on the body or head. With very few exceptions Neil fought entirely with his left hand, using It for the head and body at all times. Moran soon realized that the left was the only dangerous punch the little fellow had and simply ducked away from them at all times.

From the tenth round on it was simply a case of how much beating Neil could stand, as It was almost a certainty that Moran was the winner. Neil, as has been said, took his medicine gamely and has only the admiration of the fans who would have been glad to have seen the contest stopped before it was.

http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index. ... &Itemid=29



The Indianapolis Star
23 Feb 1911

Dillon Takes Rank As Leading Middleweight

Indiana Boy Too Fast For Gardner

Shows His Class by Boxing Clever
Easterner to Standstill Before
Big Crowd.

COOLEY FINISHES HOLZHAUER
Pride of Mitchell Club Forces Fort
Wayne Boy's Seconds to
Throw Up Sponge.

Jack Dillon demonstrated before a crowd that packed the Virginia Avenue Auditorium to the guards last night that He is as good as any middleweight in The game today. Whatever qualms of fear We admirers may have had when Dillon was matched with Gardner were set at rest when the youngster more than held his own with Jimmy Gardner, the clever .Eastern middleweight who gave Frank Klaus a severe beating not long ago.

For ten fast rounds Dillon and Gardner went at it hammer and tongs, and while no decision was rendered whatever advantage there was lay with the Indiana boy. He forced the milling most of the time and it took all of Gardner's cleverness to enable him to weather the storm.

From the fourth round on until the tenth there was not a round in which Gardner could have claimed the shade, but he came back strong in the tenth after he had stood up under a terrific rain of blows in the two previous rounds and held his own. Early in the game Gardner was forced to abandon his boxing at long range, for Dillon kept right on top of him. Gardner worked his left jab to good advantage, and he planted in some good body blows, but Jack was too strong for him, and Gardner did not show to advantage in the work at close range.

GARDNER GOOD ON DEFENSE.

Even-at boxing Gardner could not show Dillon up. He proved he was in the pink of condition by trying to exchange wallops with Dillon and he gave a beautiful exhibition of blocking. Dillon also showed his cleverness at avoiding punishment, and his blocking, too, was effective, Dillon, appeared to be larger than Gardner, but they weighed yesterday afternoon at 154 pounds at 3 o'clock and neither raised the beam of the scales.

The Dillon-Gardner bout was not the only good thing on the card. Even the preliminary bouts in which Kid Nig and Jimmy Casey boxed four rounds without a decision and Larry Donovan and Bobby Long put-up a contest that had the crowd on edge for four rounds. Casey had the advantage over Kid Nig, but the Long-Donovan bout was a draw.

DILLON FORCES FIGHTING

In the main bout Gardner and Dillon wasted little time. After rushing into a couple of clinches in the opening round Dillon crowded Gardner to the ropes and had the better of a brief exchange. Dillon blocked left and sent right to the face and again forced Gardner to the ropes. Gardner got through with a left jab to the face, but Dillon forced the going throughout the round. Honors were even.

Gardner rush at the bell-in the second. Dillon blocked his blows and Jack had the better of It when Gardner tried to force the milling. Gardner stayed away and tried to use his left jab, which Dillon blocked. Jack sent right and left to the body in fierce exchange, Gardner covering up. Gardner sent a left to the face and got a right and left in return, and they mixed. Dillon caught Gardner with a hard left on the jaw and Gardner clinched. He jabbed Dillon with his left Dillon smothered him with right and left to face and body. This round was Dillon’s.

Dillon sent a left to the body and kept right after his man in the third round. He shot a right to the jaw and followed with a left jab to Jimmy's face. Dillon took a right to the body and sent a right and left to Gardner's jaw. He sent two rights to the jaw and the men clinched. Gardner sent through two left jabs. Dillon rushed him into his corner. They worked to the other side of the ring and Dillon landed three blows to Gardner’s one and they were in a clinch at, the bell. Dillon had a big advantage and seemed to be the fresher. Gardner's cleverness was not in evidence as yet against Dillon's style of fierce milling.

CLASH AT CLOSE RANGE.

They clashed at close range in the fourth and Dillon pumped a half dozen blows into Gardner's wind. Dillon sent swing to chin and right and left to the head as they fought out of a clinch. Gardner got in a right to the jaw, but the blow did not make Dillon break ground. Gardner sent right and left to the face and Dillon missed a right swing. Both men swung hard rights to the head. They were mixing it in the middle of the ring at the-bell. Honors-were fairly even in this round.

Dillon set the pace in the fifth. Gardner shot through a right to Dillon's face, and in the mix up took two hard punches to the body. Dillon landed hard left to face and they clinched. Dillon rushed Gardner to his corner and then sent a hard right to the chin. Jack sent right and left to face, followed by two stiff left jabs to the face, and he forced Gardner to a clinch against the ropes again, Gardner tried to exchange blows with Dillon, but was forced to cover up. Gardner sent right and left to the face at the bell. Dillon appeared to be the fresher and had a slight advantage In this round. No blow that Gardner landed up to this time seemed to bother Dillon.

Dillon kept right after his man in the sixth and Gardner was more cautious. Dillon sent a stiff left to the jaw, forcing Gardner to back up, and they mixed it, Dillon rushed Gardner to the ropes with right and left to face and body and had the advantage in the milling which followed. Gardner kept looking for an opening, but his left jab to the face was about the only thing he could hang on Dillon. Jack forced Jimmy to the ropes and showered rights and lefts to the body. They were sparring at the bell, and the round was Dillon's.'

[robert.snell1]

The Boxing Biographies Newsletter
Volume 1- No 14 20th October 2007

http://www.boxingbiographies.com please visit our parent site http://www.crapboxingchat.com

If you wish to receive future newsletters please email the message “NEWS LETTER” [email protected]

The email version contains plenty of images and you will also recieve the document as an attachment

The following articles in there complete form are available on the web site

Dubuque Telegraph Herald
16 November 1901

Jeffries Is the Victor
Ruhlin Gives Up In The fifth Round And Retires
San Francisco Nov 16

In one of the most unsatisfactory prize fights ever witnessed in this country. James J. Jeffries proved to be the victor last night over Gus Ruhlin, the "Akron Giant” in the fifth round of what was to have been a twenty round struggle, Ruhlin wilted and then surrendered to his peer to the utter amazement and disgust of the assembled thousands.

No one was more surprised at the outcome than Jeffries himself who asserted that while he had delivered one telling blow in the second round, he did not expect to win the victory so easily. Ruhlin’s sole explanation of the outcome of the fight is that he received a chance blow which utterly disabled him and that Jeffries persisted in fighting him low.

While Ruhlin will make no absolute charge of Jeffries having committed a foul, he intimates that he was unfairly handled, and injured as the result. Ruhlin received the support of his seconds in this stand, who say his was a hopeless case after the second round.

When Ruhlin went to his dressing room he was followed by a very depressed retinue. The defeated man complained of no pain and moved about without assistance.

Before an assemblage of about ten .thousand people at Mechanics' pavilion, which has been the scene of many bitter and important struggles in the past, James J. Jeffries, of Los Angeles, Cal., met Gus Ruhlin, the "Akron Giant," last night and fought for the title he has held since his memorable battle- with Bob Fitzsimmons. Never in the history of San Francisco has there been such a crush of humanity at a pugilistic event. Hardly had the sun hidden itself behind the hills before the great pavilion began to fill with an enthusiastic crowd gathered to watch the championship contest.

Thousands poured into the gallery when the doors finally opened and long Before the first preliminary was called the upper portion of the pavilion was black with spectators, people coming from pointy between Vancouver and Mexico and embracing well known state officials, members of the judiciary and prominent sporting people, .who early took possession of the high priced seats.

Round one
Ruhlin leads for the head and lands lightly with the left. They clinch. Both men are cautious. Jeffries' left goes around Ruhlin's head, but does no damage. Jeffries tapped Gus lightly on the head with his left. The latter cleverly ducked a light left. Jeffries uppercut Ruhlin to the Jaw with his left. Jeffries landed his left on the body, hut missed another for the head. Ruhlin countered with his left. Jeffries swung again but missed. Gus blocked a left Jab for the face. Jeffries rushed, but Ruhlin came into a clinch.. Jeff essays a left for the body, but the Ohio man got out of harms way. Jeffries is smiling. The round was tame with the champion having slightly the advantage.

Round two
They clinch. Ruhlin was hooked around the neck with a left. He accused Jeff of foul fighting. The Akron man then shot in his right and found Jeffries' ribs, following this up with an ineffectual left awing for the head. Jeffries waxed aggressive. Ruhlin planted a right and left on the face and then rushed, landing on the body. The champion led with the left and was countered. Ruhlin found Jeff's head and in a short exchange neither had the advantage. The men fought at closer range, Gus again landing on Jeff's face and stopping the latter's attempt to retaliate with a strong right. Ruhlin feinted with a right and shot a straight left on Jeff's nose, but the blow was partially blocked. The men wrestled when the round closed, This was decidedly Ruhlin's round,

Round three
The men came up strong and Ruhlin shot in with a right and left, which were stopped. Jeff elbowed his way back and forth and caught the Akron man with a terrific left to the neck. Jeff pursued Gus and swung with both hands. In the rush Jeff landed a weak body blow. Ruhlin again appeals to the referee. Gus ducked and was met with a straight left. He feinted and came back with an ineffectual short arm punch. Jeff easily held the advantage with Gus constantly complaining. The men .closed in several times. Ruhlin was fighting low and Jeffries was apparently looking for a chance. Jeff retreated about the ring until the spectators hissed him,. The round ended with neither man In distress, but with Ruhlin the more worried of the two.

Round four
After a short exchange at close range, Ruhlin landed on the face. He was forced back and Jeff smiled as Ruhlin again rebuked him, Jeff landed his left, blacking Gus's eye, and- then pursued him, lighting at short range and plainly wearing his man down. Ruhlin lacked aggressiveness and retreated as Jeff swung his left and right and missed, Gus led for the face and Jeff pushed him across the ring. Then the champion walked Gus across the ring again and landed a fierce blow on his Jaw , Ruhlin shot out ineffectual lefts. Jeff waded in, whaling Ruhlin right and left, Gus went down and took the count. He came up apparently weak and the gong saved him. Ruhlin was plainly in the greatest, distress when the round closed. This round was much in Jeff’s favor.

Round five
Ruhlin wore a distressed expression when he came up. Jeff went in with straight arm blows; but was blocked. Jeff, landed a right hook the Jaw and a short left to the ribs and then again to the neck .with the right. A volley of blows followed this in which the champion forced Gus with lefts to the face. Ruhlin ducked and retreated steadily, Jeff followed up his advantage and bore In, touching Ruhlin beneath the chin with a right, forcing Ruhlin to the ropes, after which Gus went to the floor and at the count Of five staggered to his feet. He ceased fighting and Jeff went in for a knockout. Ruhlin was utterly dazed and missed wild swings, while Jeff threw him against the ropes.

Ruhlin Gives Up


In the last minute of the round Ruhlin attempted to stop a left for the head and was forced back and struck squarely in the pit of the stomach. Jeffries was going at him fiercely and when the gong struck Ruhlin was assisted to his corner. He looked then as if the fight was practically ended.. Ruhlin gave every appearance of being distressed. He said something to Billy Madden and then, "Denver" Ed Martin walked to the center of the ring and hailed Referee Corbett. "We give up" said Martin. and the fight was over.

Almost from the. beginning of the fight Ruhlin appeared frightened. The fight was practically finished in the second round when. Jeffries landed a left hook on the Jaw that took all the fight out of him. Ruhlin claimed that a chance blow in the pit of the stomach rendered him unlit for fighting. His seconds complained bitterly, but Ruhlin insisted that he was the victim of an accident. Jeff walked to Ruhlin's corner, asked what was the matter mid then, turned in disgust and proceeded to his dressing room, while the spectators rose as one man and cheered the champion while they denounced Ruhlin as a quitter and fakir.

The police tumbled into the ring and stopped a fight in which Corbett, the referee, and officers of the club were involved. The utmost excitement prevailed, during which Ruhlin made his way out of the ring.

Lou Houseman, George Siler and George Hartlng, the official time keeper for the club, declared that Ruhlin was greatly overestimated, that his blows were weak and easily blocked and that he was positively without endurance. While some expressions were heard in the throng after the fight placing the stigma of a fake affair on the management, it was the consensus of opinion that Ruhlin fought a losing battle In order to obtain the short end of an enormous prize. Boxing In San Francisco has not been helped by this event. The city supervisors at the ringside last night expressed great dissatisfaction and even went so far as to entertain suspicion in their minds of a fistic swindle. It is estimated that something over $40,000 was realized at the box office. Of this 62% per cent Is divided In purses of 75 and 25 per cent and goes to the., participants In the event.

Crowd Was Disappointed

Sporting men who witnessed last night's contest for the championship of the world between Jim Jeffries and Gus Ruhlin agree that It was one of the most disappointing fights ever put up by heavy weights of reputation.. No one expected such a tame termination and when Billy Madden, acting for Ruhlin, threw up the sponge at the end of the fifth round, a howl of anger shook the, rafters of the pavilion. Referee Corbett plainly showed his surprise and at first thought that the sponge had been thrown. Into the ring by some practical joker. In an interview after the fight Corbett said:

"I think Madden made a mistake.He should have thought of the crowd that had paid a big admission fee to see the fight. The crowd that attends such exhibitions wants to see the defeated man knocked out. The fight might have gone another round or two when a decisive blow might have been given."

Billy Madden said that he decided to stop at the end of the fifth round to save his man from worse punishment "I did not want a knockout," said he .Ruhlin got over his grogginess quickly. He was not badly punished and bore no serious marks of the fray There was little trace of the heavy body blow in the fifth- round and he is little the worse for the wear. Ruhlin and his immediate followers spoke In awed tones of Jeffries' power. They agreed that he is a terrible fighter and sought to console themselves for the defeat by extolling the champion's fearful prowess.

Champion Jeffries In a signed statement says:

"I had not started to fight when Madden threw up the sponge. Had I gone at Ruhlin I am sure he would not have lasted two rounds. Ruhlin was scared from the first:"

It is thought that' only about $20,000 was bet on the fight.

http://boxingbiographies.com/bio/index. ... &Itemid=29


The Daily Advocate , Newark, Ohio 9 December 1892

Prize Fight Between Joe Goddard and Peter Maher

The Australian and the Irishman Have a Terrific Battle, but It Only Lasted
Three Rounds and Peter Maher Was Knocked Out.

CONEY ISLAND, Dec. 9.—


There was never a fight in this country that created less betting than that last night at the Coney Island Athletic club between Joe Goddard, the unbeaten and alleged champion of the Barrier, (the Barrier is a name for a locality in Australia), and Peter Maher, the so-called Irish champion. Goddard's reputation rested on his success in defeating a dozen local men, in securing a draw with Peter Jackson in eight rounds and in whipping Joe Choynski twice in four rounds each time. Maher's standing was made in stopping two poor fighters in one night at Madison Square Garden. He afterwards met Bob Fitzsimmons in New Orleans and showed himself to be a thorough “quitter," as the fighters say. Such bets as were put out before last night varied from 2 to 1, to 5 to 4. Goddard was always the favorite.

There was a very good fight in the ring at Coney Island before the big go between a couple of 115 pound boys. Barney Mullins, of New York, and Jerry Sullivan, of Brooklyn, who scrapped ten rounds, as they had formerly done in the amateur ranks and drew blood and black marks freely. Muffins won according to Referee P. P. Donohue's just verdict.

It was 9:40 when Joe Goddard, wearing around his trunks the colors that the Columbia Athletic club, of New York, had presented him. appeared in the ring. Jim Gibbons, of Passaic, N. J.; Billy Madden, Alexander Greggains, of San "Francisco, and Lou Morris, of the Columbia Athletic club, were after him. There was hardly a ripple of hand clapping when he came before the crowd. When Maher came on a great cheer went up. Maher's handlers were Jack McVay. of Philadelphia, Corbett's former co-worker; “Buffalo" Costello, Greggains' recent opponent: Jimmy Carroll, of Brooklyn, and Billy McGrath, of Dublin. Maher wore his usual green trunks.

The weights of the men were given out officially as: Maher, 175; Goddard, 187. Maher probably weighed 180 and Goddard 195. Maher won the toss for Choice o gloves, and there was another noise that -showed what a favorite Maher was with the mass of spectators. Johnny Eckhart was referee and Bob Stoll, of the New York Athletic club, held the watch.

First round
It was lightning work from the very start. The men went at it hammer and tongs, slash and crash, with Mayer a scienced man and Goddard only a bulldog. All for the head. A few body blows were struck, the two or three being given by Goddard. Maher went down to his knees once, but got up and tried it again, but it was no good. Goddard landed on him with his right and left, missing many times, but getting there often enough.

Second round


More punishing and smashing. Maher got in a couple of beauties on Goddard's face, staggering the Australian each time. Goddard looked a bit groggy after a couple of rights on the cheek, but he clung to his meat with a tenacity that can only be compared to that of -vermin, and smashed the Irishman on the ribs three times before he let go. Then Maher fell to his knees again. Peter stayed down for four seconds, his head shaking like a leaf. Up he jumped, however, and out at Goddard again. He got in a soaker on Goddard's breast and Goddard fell back to the ropes. Maher ran after him, but swung his right wildly.

Instead of touching the Barrier man on the jaw he went way beyond his ear. Goddard dashed at Maher and gave him a fierce blow on the breast. Maher fell back under its effect, and the bell sounded before Goddard could land again. It had been a tremendous round. Both men had worked apparently for a knockout blow, Goddard in his unclean, heavy and strong style, Maher in form that showed little of the neatness that he had displayed before, and was known for in New York for weeks after his arrival from Ireland.

On coming out from their corners for the third round, Maher looked tired: Goddard surly. Goddard made a lead for the breast and was neatly stopped. Maher let go his right, but swung wide. Maher tried the same thing again and this time caught Goddard on the ear. Though the blow was not hard Goddard seemed maddened. He dashed at Maher and with right and left and cracked him hard on both sides of the head. Maher's legs began to wobble and Goddard dealt him a stiff punch on the neck. Maher went down, never to rise again in that battle .

The ten seconds were counted and Maher was still on the floor, the final blow having been administered fifty seconds from the beginning of the round. When Peter did get up he was helped over to his corner by many hands, none more willing than these of Billy Madden, who was over from Goddard's corner to assist his protégé. Maher did not seem to be much done up by the experience he had gone through, nor did he appear to be especially pained mentally. Perhaps the poor fellow did not comprehend that he had been licked, but anyhow he smiled complacently when told that it was all over.

Goddard was well winded when the show was over. He had had some very fast rounds: probably no man. not even Choynski. had ever given him such a crack as that that sent him against the ropes in the second round. His face showed that he was surprised at Maher's vehemence. and this expression on his features caused more than one person to think that Maher, either through ignorance or viciousness attempted to give the Goddard party the '-double cross" and win if he possibly could.

The general opinion among sporting men. who saw Goddard for the first time, is that the Australian will never do to fight Corbett or Jackson. With all his strength and pluck they say the Barrier man would not be in it with skill and speed and he had better keep his hands out of it.
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Idaho Daily Statesman 10 June 1897

Big Fight Declared a Draw

Police Stop Fight Between Maher and Sharkey
In The Seventh Round

Decision of The Referee Given In Accordance With The Agreement Made
GREAT THRONG PRESENT
Ten Thousand People Crowded Into the Building

Peter Maher and Tom Sharkey fought Tonight at the Palace Athletic club for a $15,000 purse .At the end of the seventh round, the police interfered and the contest resulted in a most unsatisfactory manner.

Never in the history of the ring has there been such an enormous attendance at a boxing bout in this vicinity. There were about 10,000 persons squeezed into the big building at One Hundred and Seventh street and Lexington avenue. A more representative congregation of well known sporting men has never witnessed a boxing match than that which assembled at the club house tonight.

The quantity of money which would have changed hands had the bout resulted in favor of either man is well up in six figures. That there would be police interference it tbe men fought hard was feared by the majority of those who purchased tickets, but after the two boys who took part in the opening bout bad been allowed to pummel each other without being stopped by the police, those present had hopes that the big fellows would have a good chance to settle the question of superiority.

Maher, was a big favorite but there seemed to be plenty of money on Sharkey. Sharkey's style of leaving himself open when stepping away caused a good deal of comment and it was easily seen that Maher was in no hurry to mix matters, as he evidently preferred to size his man up. The boxing was very tame for five rounds, neither man showing a mark.

In the sixth round. Sharkey, with a well directed straight right on the mouth, sent Peter sprawling half way through the ropes, where he struggled for five seconds before he regained his feet As Maher was getting up Sharkey rushed toward him, but was called back by Choynski, who was evidently afraid that the sailor might commit a foul Ten seconds later the gong ended the sixth round and when Maher returned to his corner he spat out a lot of blood. Sharkey's friends, when they saw this, yelled "First blood for Sharkey" and there was a great deal of cheering.

The seventh round was nearly completed when Maher, after getting in some good blows on Sharkey. sent the latter to the floor near the ropes with a left in the wind and a right swing on the jaw. Tom was up again inside of five seconds and rushed into a clinch. In this clinch Maher kept working his right on the body and when the gong sounded, neither heeded the warning of the timekeeper but kept on hitting each other. One of .Maher's seconds rushed over and grabbed Maher. While he was trying to pull the big fellow away, Sharkey swung his right on the second's face, dazing him By this time, the house was in an uproar and there were cries of "Foul" from the partisans of both men. '

The din was terrific, but was increased ten fold when Inspector McLaughlin ordered the police, to arrest all those concerned in the fight. Policemen in uniform swarmed into the ring and a number of detectives also climbed through the ropes. The principals .were the first to be placed under arrest , and then the seconds and referee were told to accompany the officers
.
While all this was going on thousands of spectators were clamoring for a decision from the referee, who was busily engaged arguing with the officers who surrounded him. Finally it was made known that Referee Colville had decided to call the bout a "draw." This did not seem to please a good many, but, according to the conditions agreed upon by both men, the Judgment of the referee was right and proper.

DETAILS OF THE FIGHT
When the doors of the Palace Athletic Club Were opened at 7 o’clock Lexington avenue was crowded with a surging mass of people, each one endeavoring to get to the box office, and the corridor at the entrance, was jammed. Police Inspector McLaughlin and a large force of bluecoats. As well as a big force of central office detectives in civilian dress, soon made the people form in queue, and the ticket sellers were kept busy.

By 8:80 o'clock there were over 6000 people in the house and the crowd outside did not seem to be in the least diminished. Half an hour later the big building was filled with a clamoring host of sports. The seating capacity of the house is estimated at 8000 and the aisles and every inch of standing room were soon crowded to suffocation.

Large delegations from the principal cities west of Chicago were on hand and it would be easier to name the prominent sporting men who Were absent than to enumerate those who were in the arena.. The betting on the big! Event was lively and Maher was a pronounced favorite. odds of 100. to 86 and 100 to 70 were bet on Peter's chances and some of those who were confident of Peter's ability to defeat the sailor lad Laid odds of a 100 to 60.

John L Sullivan, James J Corbett and Kid McCoy occupied box seats at the ringside and each of them got a rousing reception when he made his appearance. At 9:20 o'clock, Charley Royden of Jersey City and Bob Quade of this city Entered the ring At the end of the third round Referee Charley .White Stopped the bout and declared Quade the winner, the Jersey City boy being Weakened by the battering he received.

Betting on the result continued to be lively and several wagers were made at even money that Maher would win in 10 rounds. Kid McCoy took the Sharkey end of this for $1000. He also placed $1000 on Sharkey to win at odds ranging from 100 to 60 and 100 to 80. Riley Grannon bet $3000 against $1400 on Maher, and "Pittsburg Phil" had commissioners placing his money on Maher at 100 to 70.

There was a long delay in getting Maher and Sharkey to the ringside. And the crowd begun to show signs of impatience. Sharkey entered the ring at 10:10. He was accompanied by Joe Choynski, Tim McGrath, Tim Lansing and, Solly Smith. He chose the southeast corner which was the one, in which the winner of the first bout had sat. He was warmly received. But the greeting which Maher got was vociferous. Peter took his corner at '10:14. His seconds were Buck Connolly, Pat Scully, Peter Lowry, Jack Quinn Jack Cattanach ."Pittsburg Phil" held the watch for Maher and Danny Lynch did the same for Sharkey.

Maher came into the ring wearing black sweater and black trousers while Sharkey was enveloped in a yellow bath robe trimmed with blue.Maher wore black trunks with green belt and Sharkey green trunks with an American flag for a belt.

Billy Brady announced that the agreement between The men and the referee was that, in case of Police interference if either men was in such condition as not to have a chance to win, in the opinion of the referee, the latter should give his decision in favor of the other man, but that if the referee saw that the man, having the worst of the contest bad a chance to win, then he was to declare the bout a draw.

The men were announced to box 25rounds at catch weights. It was announced the men had to break clean and that they could box with either hand free. They shook bands at 10:26.

THE ROUNDS.

Round 1
They sparred carefully for a minute, Sharkey holding his bands wide apart. Sharkey led for the stomach and missed. Maher landed a light left on the chest and Sharkey sent the left band on the stomach and then swung a left on the chest. Sharkey tried a right swing but was short. He tried a swing again on the body, but fell short again. Sharkey, still on the aggressive, swung his right on the neck and they clinched. Maher jabbed his left on the wind and swung his right on the neck at the end of the round.

Round 2
After some sparring Maher jabbed his left hook on the neck and Sharkey crossed his right on the neck. Sharkey put a left swing high on Maher's arm. Maher sent in a very low left jab, but Sharkey stopped it with his glove. Tom jabbed a left in the wind and swung again with a left on the cheek. Sharkey led for the stomach and put a low left on the stomach and Maher crossed his right on the head.

Round 3.
Sharkey led a left but fell sort and Maher crossed him with a right on the chest. Sharkey led a left, fell short and then touched Maher on the nose with a right swing. Peter feinted frequently and tried to draw Sharkey out. Then he jabbed a left on the head and they exchanged left jabs on the face. Both men were careful but Sharkey left himself very open whenever he stepped back.
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Fort Wayne Journal 19 August 1917
by Robert Edgren


McCoy" -was a stage burglar, but that didn't make any difference to Norman Selby He liked the name and he didn't –want to fight under his own.

Since that day Kid McCoy has had a life of adventure such as no other boxer can boast He has been a world champion. He has fought In Africa, England, France and America. He has traveled on brake beams and in private cars. He has sold diamonds, automobiles and horses. And to-day, in khaki, he is awaiting the chance -for the "great adventure" Beside which all others are mere petty Incidents of-life.

While McCoy wears the khaki and Is being hard trained for active service the others who fought him In the great old days of the ring have all gone by and dropped from sight. I have seen McCoy, tall, wide shouldered, carrying himself with a military swing, leap into the ring to call for war volunteers (he has been a recruiting sergeant for the Seventy-first regiment of New York) and some of his old opponents peering up at him from ringside seats in sheer envy of his lasting vitality of the youth that clings to him in spite of a hundred lives lived in one.

Where, by the way. are the men who fought McCoy? , Choynski is a boxing teacher m Pittsburgh. Peter Maher has been down and out for years. Jim Corbett Is financially successful, but far beyond the adventurous stage that is driving McCoy into the fighting lines. Tom Sharkey is. "tending bar" in Los Angeles, California, and is fat and stodgy and settled down. Gus Ruhlin is dead. Tommy Ryan has a "club" In Syracuse. Many others have disappeared and are forgotten entirely. The khaki hasn't called them. They are all too old. McCoy is alone in his class.

Adventure Called Him.

Adventure always did call McCoy.He ran away from home when a Small boy in knee pants and rode around the country on brake beams and "side door Pullmans." .He was of a good family, and had been well educated, while his education lasted. Also he was of an angelic appearance, so that the hard, cruel trainmen didn't- kick him off the trains, but took him into the caboose and him ham and eggs and coffee and
sympathized with him when he told them he was a homeless orphan.

Somehow McCoy learned to box.He found out that he could hit one night when a brakeman tried to beat him up for "riding- the rattler." McCoy didn't wait to learn what hospital they took the brakeman to. He moved along. In a few weeks he was a sparring partner in some boxer's camp. And very soon after that he was fighting preliminaries and then star bouts in small towns. He didn't "ride the rattler" now. He got on a
regular passenger coach, carefully selected a ticket check from the hat of some sleeping passenger, and went to his various destinations unquestioned.

In the next stage of his development he paid fares. But that was after he began earning a little money. Adventure began to prod young Kid McCoy as soon as he achieved some fighting reputation. He slipped away from New York and sailed to South Africa. There he introduced himself, quite privately, to a sporting person who conducted prize-fights.

This person fancied himself as a boxer. He offered the slight, slim, smiling Kid a tryout in private, and invited In a few friends to see him hammer a wandering American. McCoy half murdered him. He did It with a Bright smile of contempt on his face. The battered victim decided that the Kid could trim any heavyweight in Africa, kept It quiet and arranged some matches with big side bets.

McCoy did knock out one victim, but then some one discovered that he was "Kid McCoy" of New York. So the Kid gathered his earnings— a few thousand dollars—and sailed home again. No one else In Africa wanted his game.

Ryan "Thought He Knew."

The Kid's first great success came when he stopped Tommy Ryan. Ryan was a great fighter—middleweight champion of the world. Kid McCoy worked for him as a sparring partner, taking all the hard beatings Ryan handed him and saying never a word. But he harbored a grudge , and the man He had a grudge against might as well order the flowers. McCoy resigned went away and got backing and an offer of a match with Ryan.

Tommy didn't know what to make of It when offered real money to fight his former sparring partner. But Kid McCoy wrote him a letter asking him to please make the loser's end of the purse a little bigger and -to refrain from "beating up" the unfortunate Kid too much. 'You know what you can do to me," wrote the Kid, plaintively.

Ryan thought he did. He cut out training and went into the ring fat and out of shape. He got the surprise of his life. McCoy, sneering and cynical, deliberately began to chop him down. Ryan fought desperately. McCoy knew his every move and had a counter for it. He wanted revenge. Refusing to knock Ryan out when he had him helpless he cut Tommy to pieces until Ryan's seconds threw In the sponge.

After that McCoy fought the best heavyweights of his time—all but Fitzsimmons. He always said he'd wait until Fitz was about eighty years old before challenging him. As I said before. McCoy had brains. He fought and beat Maher, Ruhlin. Choynski and others equally famous. He knocked Tom Sharkey down twice, and then the Sailor broke the Kid in two with a swishing swing into the stomach.

McCoy made a few fortunes In the ring. He lost them, as a rule, at the race tracks. McCoy was a fool for one thing—horses. He always thought he could beat the game that can't be beaten. Incidentally, the Kid has been married six times. A life of adventure surely did appeal to him. When he began to slip a little as a fighter he traveled around playing poker with chance acquaintances. This paid very well. It's said the Kid has no superior as a card player. Then he sold automobiles, had a diamond shop and became a stock broker.

Tiring of trade, he went to England, where Jack O'Brien was cleaning up all-the English heavies. O'Brien fled from England when McCoy appeared. O'Brien always did think the Kid's poaching on his preserves rather unkind. McCoy knocked out three English champions In one night and after that there was nothing For him to do in England. He went to France And challenged the champion savate artist. It was Always been an open question whether or not the Skillful kicker could have landed his Battling toe or heel on McCoy.

The Kid using the nimble brain that had often Served him well before. He won before the Frenchman could start As they squared off the Kid assuming a look of Pleased surprise looked past the crouching Frenchman and asked “Is that pretty woman your wife”. The Frenchman glanced over his shoulder, it was enough. McCoys blow caught him just under the ear. They brought him to an hour later.
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The Dubuque Herald 5 June 1900
Siler On The Pugilists

The Famous Chicago Referee Talks
Of The Ryan – McCoy
Fight
He Strongly Favors The Loser



Fully ten thousand persons Saw Tommy Ryan and "Kid" McCoy go through six rounds of fighting at top speed at Tattersall’s Tuesday night. Interest in the contest had been at fever heat for days before the night set for the meeting. Each had admirers, and arguments as to their respective merits were us numerous as flies around a molasses barrel in hot weather.

McCoy, on the strength of his fights with Sharkey and other heavyweights, and also upon his aspirations to the heavyweight championship, was a natural favorite. The betting, and there was quite some, was 2 to 1 McCoy would gain the decision and even money Ryan would not stand the limit. Bets on the former receiving the decision were more numerous than upon Ryan's being there at the end. I thought it ought to be the other way at the odds, as I considered the "Kid’s" chance of knocking Tommy out was greater than his chance of receiving the verdict

Ryan is equally as clever as McCoy; has had as much if not more experience; is built on stronger lines; can land more punishment, and is, if anything better in mixups than the Kid. figuring along those lines, it appeared to me that Ryan, if on his feet at he end of the sixth round — the limit — would be equally us strong as the Kid. and such proved to be the case.

McCoy is considered the stiffest puncher, because he dropped Sharkey several times, and in addition knocked out Peter Maher and other heavyweights.

Followers of fighters, and they are the principal betters are posted on the Kid's hitting abilities Just as well as I am; therefore I cannot understand why even money on McCoy's knocking Ryan out should not have predominated. His chance of doing so, figuring its hitting powers, was certainly better than his possibility of securing the decision.

In speaking of the betting at the odds quoted above I allude only to those that had no personal feeling in the affair. Those that had, and they were but few, naturally bet on the decision. Those that bet on Ryan, of course, lost. Not, however, because McCoy clearly outpointed Ryan, or that he put it all over him, but simply because of a misunderstanding between the management and Referee Hogan. I said misunderstanding, but that word hardly fills the bill. I should say negligence, omission of duty to the referee and public, or carelessness.

According to an understanding between the principals and the club officials It was agreed that should both men be on their feet at the end of the contest no decision should be rendered. This clause, I understand, was Inserted in the articles. It appears, however, Referee Hogan was not aware of this, not being notified. This seems strange, especially when the personal friends of the contestants and quite a few outsiders knew, or say they knew, or hinted. It would be a draw should both men be there at the finish.

Ryan says Harry Franks, one of the club officials informed him that he, Franks, had talked the matter over with Hogan. Franks, on the other hand, denies this. Others, friends of Ryan say they heard Hogan remark a day or two before the fight that the contest would have to be declared a draw should both men last the limit. Hogan, In defense of himself, says he was not aware of the clause in the articles calling for a draw and the management upholds him.

The whole affair was, unfortunately for Ryan, his backers and everybody else concerned, badly mixed , and it is hoped for the good of the game, it will never occur again. It gave the management a lesson it will not forget in a hurry, and Hogan, I'm sure, will demand, at least, a peep at the articles hereafter before entering thering. That, however, is poor consolation for Ryan. He received, on account of the misunderstanding, the worst of it. and as the referees decision is final he has no redress. The purse was cut as per previous arrangement, so that the decision did not Injure him financially.

The fight was a fight pure and simple .It had to be. The men are enemies and have been for years. Each thought he was the other's master at the game of fisticuffs. Each wanted to slaughter the other. Ryan's defeat at Maspeth rankled in his breast. He wanted revenge. The money end of the game was fixed up for him,
win or lose so he was easy on that score. That, however, was the least of his thoughts. He would, so he said, willingly give McCoy all the purse money just for the pleasure and satisfaction of giving him a good hiding. McCoy felt the same toward Ryan, with probably the exception of the financial proposition.

I'll let the latter part of the argument drop, as I know they both like money. There was a feeling between them strong enough to assure a fight for blood, and such it was. McCoy on account of his height and reach had a decided advantage His long left Jab found Ryan’s face frequently, and too often to suit the latter in the first round. His short right hook also found lodgment on the side and back of Tom's head in the early part of the fight. In fact, the Kid looked an easy winner after the first round.

Ryan was the receiver general. Whenever he would advance he went plumb into McCoy’s left and when he sparred for an opening he would find or rather feel His opponents left glove hitting in and out of his face and body. This, however, was only in the initial round and during the early part of the second. Toward the end or the latter round he got his bearings — or, I should say, McCoy's bearings —after which he had something to say himself regarding the affair.

He sailed in, determined to get within his own reach. Long range work was too much to McCoy's liking, which Tom was not long in learning. Defeat at that kind of a game was certain, so there was nothing left for him but to gut to close quarters and exchange blow for blow. And this he did, and I must say successfully, too.

After the second round he followed those tactics .to the end. He gave the Kid no rest. He was at him and after him everywhere and at all times. In and out of corners, against the ropes, and in the center of the ring, forcing and rushing, swinging left and right for head and body, missing and landing and slipping into clinches
when he saw no opening to land a blow. Exchanging blow for blow when the opportunity presented itself, never dodging the Issue, breaking from clinches and on top of his man again.

He would shift from straight punches to swings. From body blows to kidney blows landing several of the latter .good and hard. He was always up and doing. Misses did not discourage him. His wind was good. He had the Kid breaking ground and frequently on the run. Many of his blows caught McCoy on neck, head, face or body. Some wore effective and some were not. It made but little difference to Tom. He knew fighting at close quarters was his long suit against his rangy and long armed opponent, and close quarters It was to the end.

He had McCoy tired and breathing hard. He had him anxious to clinch, anxious to slip away from the hot exchanges. He carried the fight to him in every part of the ring. He wanted to lick his man and lick him good and plenty and If he did not succeed It certainly was not his fault for he tried and tried hard. McCoy, however, was not idle while Ryan was forcing the fighting and chasing him around the ring. He also did good work .His consisted of straight left Jabs, hooks and counters, right hooks and upper cuts and right hand cross counters. intermixed with swings and left backhand slaps, the latter a stall for a right-hand cross counter.

Most of these blows were delivered, hit or miss after breakaways, before Ryan could get close for a mixup, or whenever the latter stood away for a breathing spell.

His foot work, ducking, and slipping out of danger were clever and saved him many a hard punch. He had to act the part of the artful dodger or get a good walloping. He was cool at all times and did not overlook clutching Tom by the throat several times as though to shut his wind off. He never neglected to give Ryan's neck a hard squeeze whenever he caught It under his arm. In fact, he did not overlook any part of the game any more than did Ryan and that Itself is proof positive that the light was a light In all the word implies.

It Is a different matter for anybody to keep a correct account of all the blows delivered In a contest and it Is therefore Impossible to say which scored the most points. But, summing the fight up from start to finish - execution, cleverness, aggressiveness, slipping, dodging, ducking, blocking, etc.— I will say that the worst Ryan should have had was a draw, and am casting no reflections on my friend Hogan's abilities at that.

In his defense 'I will say that he decided the contest as he saw it, and not as I and thousands of others did. The misunderstanding regarding the draw clause in the articles and the assault of Ryan on Hogan were the bad and unfortunate features of the contest.

Ryan thought he was double-crossed; He thought Hogan was aware of the draw clause In the agreement and despite that clause thought he was rightfully entitled to a draw. This nettled him and when after explaining to Hogan and receiving no satisfaction it angered him still more.

Those who jumped in the ring and on the ledge of the platform after the decision had been rendered told him he had been robbed, and this added fuel to the fire. He wanted to cool off and the only way he could do so was by slugging the referee, and this he did. It was an unfortunate occurrence, and it will do the game no good. Ryan wrenched his back during the-contest, but was out .and around the next day.

A few days after the contest the club officials took It upon themselves, to rescind Hogan's decision and for the benefit of Ryan declared the contest a draw to conform with the articles . This revocation, however, will have no bearing on the bets, as they must stand. "Wagers were laid on the respective abilities of the men, not on any stipulations In the articles, and as Hogan decided the contest on the merits of the men the losers cannot reclaim their money by falling back on the articles. Furthermore, Hogan will stand by his decision as rendered In the ring, and that settles all betting, arguments. McCoy, I understand, says he will take Ryan's name on his record book Irrespective of the actions .of the club officials.

[robert.snell1]

The Boxing Biographies Newsletter
Volume 1- No 15 6 November 2007

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Well I had short holiday which is why we are a bit late with the latest edition . Work is well under way on the publication of some special editions which will focus on the events of some of the classic boxing events and characters in the world of boxing and these will be available in the new year. These publications will be in addition to this Newsletter.
The following articles in there complete form are available on the web site

The Waterloo Times Tribune
29 November 1912
Ad Wolgast Steps Down, Ritchie Up Lightweight Champion Pug Of The World Is Dead
Long Live The Champ
Willie stands Two Fouls and Referee Gives Him The Belt
Daly City, California, Nov. 28.



Willie Ritchie, of San Francisco, became the lightweight champion, of the world by defeating Ad Wolgast this afternoon, at the Daly City open air arena, referee Jim Griffin awarding him the decision in the sixteenth round. Wolgast had fouled him twice.

Wobbling on leaden legs, his eyes glazed and his body reeling, Ad Wolgast, conqueror of "Battling" Nelson, fouled Willie Ritchie twice in the sixteenth round of their fight at Daly City today. With the wave of Referee Jim Griffin's hand, which disqualified him, the lightweight championship of the world passed for the first time in Queensbury history into the keeping of a California boy.

By his ring generalship, his courage and his splendid fighting ability, Ritchie won his spurs in the championship division. Through round after round, toe to toe milling, he earned clear title to the pugilistic crown he wears, with his waspish left to the face and his stinging right cross.

The unexpected end of the fight came after those at the ringside noticed, in the fifteenth round, that Wolgast's strength was waning a mite.

The boys faced each other in the sixteenth, Ritchie confidently carrying the milling to the new serious champion, from whose face the sneering smile had passed. As Wolgast was going away, Ritchie made him wince with a two handed volley to the mid-section, and then, quick as the wink of an eye, a crushing right shot out and caught the Cadillac fighter fairly on the jaw- He fell back on the ropes and sagged, pitching forward in another instant in his corner. Ritchie crowded him and as he raised his head the San Franciscan repeated the right cross. Ritchie, true to his agreement, had skipped, across to the opposite side of the ring when his opponent went to the canvass. As Wolgast came at him, he rushed to meet him, and the two exchanged: blows.

.Wolgast was dazed, but he-covered so that Ritchie "could not send in the finishing smash. Only. 24 seconds remained of the round. . Ritchie, near his own corner poised the deadly right cross again when Wolgast's left took him low Billy Nolan, his manager, leaped to the edge of the ring and shouted , to Referee Griffin and hundreds of voices raised the cry "'foul,foul” Griftin rushed over and cautioned Wolgast. In another instant the left Rip of the champion found the same sore spot. Ritchie tried to fight 98back, but he was plainly in distress
.
Griffin rushed between the fighters, pushed Wolgast aside and raised Ritchie's hand in token of victory. the crowd at the ringside cheered him and hundreds rushed to shake hands when he left the ring. Ritchie was taken to a bath house and Wolgast went to his ocean beach training .quarters immediately after the fight.

Wolgast had the better of several of the rounds, four were even and the remainder were easily Ritchie's.In the first two the local lad outboxed the champion in the fourth, and in the tenth, which was really the turning point of the . fight, he stood shoulder to shoulder with him. Wolgast said he did not intentionally foul Ritchie, and that he thinks it's a poor wav to win a championship.

The new lightweight, known to the world as Willie Ritchie, is plain Gary Steffen to his neighbors. When fifteen years old he Began boxing along with being a chauffeur. His first bid for the limelight was a year ago today when he substituted for the stricken Ad Wolgast in Los Angeles and boxed twenty rounds with Freddie Welsh. Since then he all but won in ten rounds from Joe Mandot in New Orleans, and last May he boxed four rattling rounds with Wolgast. flooring the champion twice. Since that time lie has been counting the moment when he could get back into the ring again. He is 21 years old and of German parentage.
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Oakland Tribune 11th October 1917
Ritchie Tries To Cover Defeat By Weight Protests
Farrell Proves Himself Better In Fast battle
Ritchie Gets In Bad By Misrepresenting Own Weight ;Farrell Over Weight
Willie Ritchie never stopped so many blows and never missed so many of his own swings in any fight in his career as he did last night when Marty Farrell of New York made good the predictions that he would prove too clever a man for the former lightweight champion.
About all that Ritchie had left after Referee Eddie Hanlon had raised Farrell’s hand and had shoved Ritchie aside, was a weight alibi about which he will probably be crying for the next month or more.

It seems that Ritchie and Farrell agreed to make 150 pounds at 8 o'clock last night. Ritchie has a holler coming—Farrell did not make the weight. Because of the lax system of making weight agreements binding, there was not enough at stake to make Farrell feel that he need worry about not making weight. But whatever sympathy Ritchie deserved through Farrell's failure to make weight was lost when Ritchie and his followers tried to cover up his own weight.

WHAT'S THE IDEA, RITCHIE?
In the ring before the battle, Farrell's weight was announced as 157 ½ pounds. Jack Kearns was on hand and insisted that Farrell weighed only 156 ½ and his statement met no denial Ritchie's weight was announced by the official club announcer as 147 pounds As a matter of fact the testimony of more than one person who saw Ritchie on scales is to the effect that Ritchie weighed 150 pounds Stories were going the rounds of a piece of gum and a half dollar that properly manipulated might have kept Farrell within the weight limit.

Ordinarily this story would have been enough to throw the spotlight of suspicion on Farrell,, but with Ritchie's camp so intent on taking three pounds oft his weight for some mysterious reason, Ritchie was the one who was the object of fandom s suspicion before the battle was under way.

The only object of Ritchie's followers in Insisting that he weighed 147 when In reality he weighed 150 was to make it appear that Farrell had a big weight advantage over him As a matter of fact Farrell had just about six pounds the better of him, and as the first developed, it was not a question of weight that settled the fight Farrell landed no hard blows, nor did he hang his extra weight on Ritchie to tire him Farrell beat Ritchie purely and simply because he outboxed him. Ritchie was up against a. man who could get away from everything Ritchie had and who in return could shoot in a rain of gloves that Ritchie could not miss

RITCHIE STARTS FAST.

Ritchie started like a flash and shot in rights and lefts to the head in bunches of three and four to start the first round. But Farrell hit his stride in the middle of the round and evened the honors for the round with lefts to the head and a flock of rights to the stomach in the clinches Ritchie's only round was the second, and that was by the merest shade. He landed right swings and left jabs Farrell began to show what later developed to be his big weakness — he has no right hand except for short pokes in the clinches If Farrell were a two-handed fighter, the fans would not be wondering why they had never heard much of him.

FARRELL GETS GOING.

But In the third and fourth rounds, Farrell cut loose and although he did not use much more than a straight left, he Jabbed enough of these into Ritchie's face to have Willie's nose a mass of blood and to have Willie staggering around swinging wild and trying In vain to keep in close long enough to hang on. Still Farrell failed to use his right, and still his left did enough work to make , Ritchie's followers begin to talk of the
possibilities of a draw.

When it was all over Ritchie edged up close to Farrell and showed that he would have been willing to take a draw. Referee Eddie Hanlon raised Farrell's arm and Ritchie shoved his up alongside. But Hanlon shoved Ritchie's arm down and Ritchie had nothing to say. The only protest heard was a. faint one from some of the old see-in-the-hole boys who tried to make themselves believe that it should have been a draw.
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26 April 1913
Showing Of Cross Is Sensational
New York Boy Battles With Joe Rivers


Dr Louis C Wallach, a dentist in New York, better known to the fight fans all over the country as Leach Cross, by his wonderful fighting in his last few appearances has stamped himself as a dangerous man to have around when many of the lightweights are talking about championships.

Leach has been in the fighting game for a number of years but he is just now showing in his best form. His
recent bout with Joe Rivers and his sensational knockout of Joe Mandot, the New Orleans scrapper, stamps him as a mighty hard hitter.

Leach's latest bout was with Joe Rivers, the greatest little lightweight in the game to-day. The men met in New York last;. Wednesday night and after ten grueling rounds, Leach was defeated by the little bronzed
warrior from Mexico.

Although defeated, Leach .was not disgraced by his showing. Joe was too strong for Leach. He showed a
great deal more speed and harder hitting ability, but the New Yorker also showed that he can hit some by several times staggering Rivers.

Victory Over Mandot.

Leach met Joe Mandot in a ten round bout which took place in New Orleans on March 10 of this year. Mandot forced the fighting from the beginning, and had Leach in distress several times, but the New York lad proved-to be as game as any in the lightweight division, and refused to go down for the count.

After, plugging along for nine rounds Leach finally found the opening for which he had been waiting, and he whipped his right through. It caught Mandot flush on the jaw and Joe went down and took the count of nine. He arose very groggy, and Leach tore after him, again sending him to the floor for a count of nine. Leach repeated this performance again before the bout was stopped to save Joe from probable fatal injury at the hands of the Gotham fighter.

During his boxing career Leach has fought sensational battles with many of the best lightweights in the game. Some of those he fought are Packey McFarland, six rounds; Jack Britton, ten rounds; Young Loughery, six rounds; Dick Hyland, twice; Jack Goodman, .Matty .Baldwin, Tommy Murphy, another New York favorite; Knockout Brown, twice; Willie Beacher, Tommy Maloney, Bert Keyes, One -Round Hogan, twice,. both knockout's; Young Jack O'Brien, Terry Maloney. and a host of other fighters too numerous to mention. He holds a popular decision over the great Battling Nelson.

Is Knocked Out Three Times.

Leach has been knocked out only three times; two of these happened, when he was starting in the- game. The other occurred in a bout with Fighting Dick Hyland, of California. Leach met Hyland in what was to be a finish fight in Colma, Cal., on June 26, 1909. After forty-one grueling rounds Leach finally succumbed to Hyland's tremendous punches.

In this bout Hyland showed his ability to go over the long distance better than Leach. He also showed his ability to assimilate a great' deal of punishment by taking all that Leach could hand out while he in turn sent a lot to Cross' head and body.

Leach entered the fight game as a side line to his dental practice in 1906. He celebrated his first fight by knocking out his opponent in two rounds. His second light was also a knockout, but in his third attempt he was knocked out in the second session of his bout with Jack Doyle. His next opponent also knocked him out.

Leach went along fighting his way to the top until he is now meeting the best men in the lightweight division. He is a full-fledged lightweight He can do 133 pounds ringside if his opponent demands it.

Finishes Hogan Twice.

Leach has knock-out victories over One-Round Hogan on two ' occasions. Cross met the Californian in a. ten round bout in New York on March 13,1912. Leach stopped Hogan In the first round. The coast boxer was dissatisfied with the result of, this bout and asked for a return engagement. The men fought their second battle on Nov. 14 in New York and Leach-repeated the performance of their first bout, except that it took him .three rounds to turn the trick. .

Leach met Packey McFarland, the cleverest man in the fight game, twice. Their first bout took place in 1908, and Packey was the victor in six rounds. Their second fight occurred •n New York on March 23, 1909. Packey was again the popular victor after ten fast rounds. Leach is 27 years of age. He was born. on Feb. 12, 1886, in New York. He is 5 feet 7 ½ inches in his stocking feet. ;He is a Hebrew.

Cross is managed by his brother, Sam Wallach, who is willing to match him with any man in the lightweight ranks. His one ambition like all the rest of the "33" pounders is to meet Willie Ritchie in a bout for the lightweight championship of the world.

Burlington Daily Times
27 Feb 1957
Fights I Can’t Forget .. No 8

Cross’s head Hit Canvas So Hard
He Woke Up And Flattened Bedell

By Nat Fleischer

It lacked the glamour of a real championship match. It didn’t Roll up a record attendance or gate receipts. It was fought at the Clermont Rink in Brookly. But when Leach Cross and Joe Bedell started their bout, it quickly became a ring classic.

The night was March 16, 1911. The Irish' already had begun to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The Italians were noisy about their idol, Bedell. And from New York's Ghetto, the thousands who had come to know the sport through Leach — a fighter who did much to popularize boxing during the Frawley Law and early days of the Walker Law — came out to see him take on Bedell.

Joe took a short count, but was dazed when he got to his feet. The din was terrific. Still wobbly, he went forward to meet Cross. Bedell reached down almost to his heels and uncorked a wild right hand that landed on Cross's face. Down Leach went, feet shooting high in the air. He got up quickly and ran into another right to the chin which sent him to the canvas again.

This time he fell so hard few expected him to get up. But he did. He took the count of nine and as he got off the floor, the bell rang, saving him from a sure knockout.

The last blow seemed to stupefy Cross. He came out of his corner for the second round bleary - eyed, he covered up and stalled through the three minutes. It was the same in the next round, but Leach weakened considerably under Bedell's heavy body attack.

In the fifth, Bedell tried for a KO. He stormed at Leach and traded blows with him. Leach took his best and fired back. Then, three seconds before the bell, Bedell threw a hay-maker and Cross dropped dead-weight. They could have counted 100 if the bell hadn't rescued him. The crowd shrieked as Cross, lifeless, was dragged to his corner.

Referee Lewis walked to the corner to sec if Leach could continue. In those days a fight wasn't stopped unless a man was helpless or his chief second tossed in the towel. Lewis decided he would let the fight continue. Smelling salts, an ice pack and brandy helped revive Leach. Somehow, he got through the next two rounds. In the seventh and eighth, Jimmy Kelly, later a powerful politician was offering 4-1 on Cross being knocked out. Through those rounds Bedell was catching Cross with terrific body punches.

In the ninth round. Bedell caught Cross with a right and put him down for eight. But as Leach hit the floor, something happened. At he explained it later, the fall shook him up and revived him. The ring wasn't as well padded then as it is now and his head banged hard on the ring floor — and cleared. Suddenly. Cross was on his feet, steady, eyes bright, looking for an opening. He feigned grogginess, an old trick, and Bedell fell for it. He rushed in — only to find Cross ready with a tremendous comeback assault which lasted the full final minute of the round. In the 10th, Bedell came quickly. As he did, Leach sidestepped, made Joe miss, then let go a long left hook that dropped Bedell. He got up at nine.

But he was groggy. Now it was Cross' turn to be on top and he didn't miss. He stepped in with a right to the jaw that tossed Bedell's head back and be went down for a second time, his head crashing against the floor. His body was stretched out. Not a quiver was visible as the referee's hand went up and down.
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The Salt lake Tribune
2nd January 1926
Shade Scores Easy Victory
Californian Wins Ten- Round Go Over Todd in Decisive Fashion.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1.—(By the Associated
Press.)—



Dave Shade of California scored a decisive victory over Roland Todd,- English middleweight, In a ten-round match, the feature attraction on the New Year's card at Madison Square Garden tonight. Shade did everything but knock out his English opponent. He floored him for a count of two In the third round, but the Englishman remained vertical during the remainder of the fight despite- Shade's tremendous punching power.

Todd confined his activities to a few jabs and punches, and ringside critics failed to score a single round In his favor. As the fight wore on it appeared, that Shade would score a knockout, but Todd was in good
condition and weathered Shade's furious storm of blows.

Todd weighed 159, while Shade scaled 155 ½ The semifinal bout produced one of the most stunning endings in the series of Madison Square boxing. Willie Herman of New York is credited with a second round knockout over Nate Goldman of Philadelphia, but the blow which ended the fight was landed simultaneously with the sounding of the bell at the end of the first round.

ROUND ONE.

Shade hooked a hard lick to the jaw In a clinch Shade batted Todd around the stomach. Shade rushed in with rights to the body. Todds mouth was bleeding from a left hook. The Englishman was short with left jabs. Shade hooked a left to the mouth. Todd put two to the left face. Dave ripped a right to the jaw. He slugged Todd around the head with both hands. Todd had Shade missing at the bell. It was Shade's round.

ROUND TWO.

Todd hooked a left to the face. Todd rushed In with left and right to the face. Shade jabbed a left to the stomach Shade's left brought blood over Todd's loft eye. Shade hooked two lefts to the eye. Todd kept walking after Shade and was landing some short punches with both hands, but creating no damage. Shade kept working on Todd's body. Dave hooked three rights to the chin. Shade outfought Todd at some close work. Shade piled Todd on the ropes and leathered him with both hands. It was Shade's round.

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THE SAN ANTONIO LIGHT. FEBRUARY 12, 1922.

Britton, Old As Champs Go, Still Leader

Like Wine, Welter Title Holder Gets Better as He Gets Older.

AND HE ENJOYS LIFE

He Trains Hard But He
Doesn't Make a Grind of
Holding Honors.

By ROBERT EDGREN.



Jack Britton, welterweight champion, is one of' the most remarkable, of All titleholders. He is a better fighter at 37 than he was ten years ago. Dan Morgan, his manager, ever since Jack began to work up to the championship, writes me a few interesting lines about the welter king.
.
"Britton's success is due to his careful living as well as his wonderful boxing head," said Morgan. "Jack eats plain food and plenty of it, and he is not a prohibitionist in any form. Anyone who has a case of Haig & Haig and is afraid to keep it can send it to Britton. He also smokes a good cigar now and then and enjoys life.

"But he walks seven, miles daily, and gymnasium work consists of from eight to ten rounds of boring every day of the year. Anyone who wants to see how a champion works can take a trip to Billy Grupp's gymnasium any day when Jack isn’t away somewhere for a bout and watch him pile into middle and heavyweights, handing them a high class brand of both boxing and slugging.

In a long bout of fifteen .or twenty rounds Britton gets better as he goes along. No matter how strong his opponents are, Jack always has them hanging on at the finish if be didn't knock them out.

Knows How to Hit.

Britton never hurts his hands, as knows how to twist his wrist or arm when he hits. He is a solid puncher .Britton has four different styles of boxing that no other boxer under the sun can boast of. That is one of the reasons the other .boys have been trying to find his weak spot for a generation of fighters, find can't do it.

Jack is married and has three children and when he isn't training or traveling for a bout you can always find him at home.

Britton is a real veteran. He has been boxing professionally for nineteen years. All the men who were his rivals in the early days of his career have gone by, and nearly all are forgotten, but Jack hasn't even stumbled. He is soon to give Benny Leonard a chance to fight for the welterweight title. He has fought Leonard before this, and even Benny, with all .his skill and hard hitting, was unable to do more than barely hold his own.

One thing about Britton is his absolute confidence , which comes from knowing just what to do in every emergency in the ring, and from a feeling that he can match, his rivals in speed and strength as well as skill. There is no more clever boxer than Britton.

Lost Title to Lewis.

Britton lost the welter title to Kid Lewis of England away back in 1915, taking two decisions over him. But the next year Britton beat Lewis jn a twenty-round fight, on the referee's decision. In 1917 Lewis won the title from Britton in a twenty-round bout. He fought Lewis lour times in 1918 and seemed unable to overcome the flashy Whitechapel boy's lead in skill and hitting power. Lewis was a great fighter at that time. He even gave Mike Gibbons a tough ten rounds, carrying the fight to Mike at top speed all the way, and came near having a claim on middleweight honors.

But another of Jack Britton's characteristics is a bull-dog grade of tenacity. He won't give up. He trained and studied fighting form and kept after Lewis until he got him again, in 1919 on which occasion he knocked Lewis out in the ninth round. Since then Britton has been unbeatable in his class. A score of husky rivals have tried in vain to make an impression on his skillful defense. And it isn't all defense when Britton gets into a ring. Unlike nearly, all titleholders, Britton refuses to ."play it safe" in any boat, •with or without a decision. He always sails in spitefully and is perfectly willing to meet the other fellow at any kind of mixing he prefers. .

Fought Like a Champion.

When Britton fought Benny Leonard before, the public expected to see him simply stand off and box, guarding the old title and taking no unnecessary risks. That wasn't Britton's idea at all. He preferred to fight like a champion, and he came very near giving clever Benny a boxing lesson.

The Fort Wayne Sentinel
5 April 1919

Jack Britton has "busted right through" old ring tradition by knocking out Ted Kid Lewis In nine rounds. According to said ring tradition Britton ought to be among the half forgotten ex-champions by this time, and here he Is again, wearing the crown in the welterweight class, and winning it back by knocking out the man who took It from him on June 26, 1917, nearly two years ago.

Britton won back the title like a real champion. Lewis took it from him on a referee's decision In a short bout, and Britton won it back by knocking Lewis out in nine rounds.

Britton's ring career has been out of the ordinary. He began fighting fourteen years ago at the age of twenty. From 1905 to 1911 he fought nearly a hundred fights, meeting the cleverest and the toughest men in the lightweight class. Then came the fight that made Britton's reputation. He met Packey McFarland in Memphis and held the greatest lightweight of his time to a draw. McFarland was in a class all alone, and Britton went to him and fought him hard through every round of the eight. Some of the sporting writers even thought Britton entitled to the decision, so the fight must have been very close. No other boxer at that time could break even with McFarland.

Shortly after Britton came to New York and met Danny Morgan, the famous Manager of the original Knockout Brown.. At that time Brown was Beginning to show that he had gone about as far as pure fighting spirit could take him. and Morgan was looking for a, lightweight who carried something more than a wallop. He found his man In Britton who was as keen and quick intellectually as he was with his hands. Morgan made Britton a proposition and became his manager.

Immediately crafty Dan began a campaign of advertising to put Britton before the public. He wrote and sent out hundreds of letters about Britton's draw with McFarland. and enclosed clippings of a Chicago paper that said Britton should have been declared winner. He challenged McFarland. and stirred up so much fuss over it that Packey, for once in his life, lost his "nanny" and announced that he'd never fight Britton again because to give him a match would be to give him a purse. Morgan enlarged on this decision of McFarland and got a lot of extra advertising out of It. Britton was in such demand all over the country that he was on trains half the time jumping around to fill his ring engagements in different cities. The fortune Morgan had promised began rolling in.

At this period Jack fought a lot of famous lightweights and some well known welters. He lost a four-round decision to Willie Ritchie In San Francisco, but beat Johnny McCarthy in 10 rounds in Sacramento. He beat Pat Moore in 20, Tommy O'Keefe in 2, Eddie Hanlon In 7, and fought a score of no-decision "bouts.'

Then he met McFarland at last in New York. There was tremendous interest in the fight, and the Garden was jammed with spectators. McFarland was out for revenge, and he trained as hard as he ever trained for a fight in his life. Using all of his wonderful skill he simply gave Britton a boxing lesson handing him so cleverly that Jack never had a chance to take the aggressive. Of course McFarland was a. much bigger
man than Britton at that time, heavier and stronger, and the match was uneven.

For a time after fighting McFarland poor Britton wan discouraged. He fought a long list of no-decision bouts without landing a single knockout—ten bouts in the following three months. Then he jumped back into his style again by knocking out Charlie White of Chicago in eighteen rounds in New Orleans. White was a dangerous contender for the lightweight championship and was noted for his hard hitting. Britton was far too clever to be caught by the Chicagoan's heavy wallops and he did a little heavy hitting himself.

With this victory under his belt, our friend Jack fought Packey McFarland again, holding him fairly even in a ten round Milwaukee bout.
Britton fought sixteen bouts in 1914, meeting such men as Kid Graves. Johnny Griffiths. Mike Glover and Eddie Moran. Britton was claiming the welterweight title. So were Graves and Glover and a few others


The welterweight crown had been hung, on a nail since Jimmy Clabby grew up and became a middleweight.

Won and Lost Title Within Two Months.

In 1914 Ray Bronson claimed the title and sailed to Australia to meet the British champion. Matt Wells. Matt stopped Bronson in seven rounds. Acknowledged welter champion in Australia Wells came to America, to get under the big tent and shortly afterward a twelve-round decision to Mike Glover in Boston.- Glover was beaten by Jack Britton. and Britton took the title. Hero Ted Lewis came on the scene eight weeks later and won two Boston twelve-round decisions over Britton. claiming the title. There was a personal rivalry between the men that made them fight bitterly whenever they met. Britton refused to recognize the English welter's superiority and they fought decision less ten-round bouts in Buffalo and New York.

At last Lewis and Britton agreed to settle their argument in a twenty round championship bout in New Orleans. Britton won decisively. This was April 26, 1915. Britton had so little fear of Lewis as a championship rival that he gave him two more matches before the year was out. Winning one bout and fighting one draw. Britton's cutting left was too much for the Englishman.

June 25. 1917. Britton and Lewis met again in a twelve round bout in Dayton Ohio, and the referee gave Lewis the decision. After this Lewis refused to risk anything but a no-decision bout with Britton for a. long time. When they met Britton gave him a tough battle, but was unable to stop him. Lewis was a real champion, and fought with all confidence. The fight followers agreed that Jack had passed his prime and that he’d never "come back." As It sometimes happens they were all wrong. Britton did come back, and when the two met this month he fought in his old style and smothered the English champion with left jabs and hooks until Lewis went down for the ten second count.

They Can't Keep a Good Man Down

Just how long Britton will hold the Welterweight championship now that he has corralled it again nobody knows. He Has been fighting fourteen years. He has "corne back " twice, re winning A title each time which is a unique record in itself. He is a clean living fellow With a family and a home to take care of. During the war and while Waiting and expecting to be called in the draft Britton spent a large part of his time boxing exhibition bouts at the camps and for the soldiers benefits. Britton prefers fighting to boxing and has none of the average “Top Notchers” fears of being knocked out and having his earning power impaired. Consequently he has usually insisted that his Exhibitions should be real fights. He likes it that way and the spectators were never known to object.

Britton may hold the title a long time, or he may not. But anyone who takes it away from him will have to fight for it.
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McFarland and Welsh Fight Draw
Both Men In Fine Form And They Strove Valiantly

Los Angeles July 5, 1908

In as fast a bout as ever witnessed in tills city, Packy McFarland, of Chicago, and Freddie Welsh, .of England, went twenty five rounds to draw.

After McFarland had assumed an apparently commanding lead in the early stages, and after Welsh had seemed to be on the verge of a knock-out toward the middle of bout, the Briton’s strength came back and, although bleeding freely, he managed to stand oft McFarland long enough to get a tied verdict.

Jim Jeffries, florid and ponderous, served as referee, and his weight enabled him to break the little fellows as they struggled about the ring. A sudden flash of speed by Welsh toward the end, when McFarland was clearly tiring, evidently led to the draw verdict and, amid mingled applause and hooting, Jeffries held aloft the hands of both men as the gong sounded for the final round.

Welsh's ability to come back after punishment caused surprise, and McFarland's punches, while stinging and sharp, did not seem to have the knockout force behind them
.
RECEIPTS $12.000.

As the time for the main event approaches the effect of the heat becomes more noticeable through the arena. The crowd is sitting coatless and vestless. The house at this hour is admitted to be the largest ever assembled in southern California. The gate receipts It is believed will reach between $12,000 and $14,000, prices ranging from $2 to $10,

McFarland's seconds will be Harry Gllmore. Pat Kinneally, Red Weiner and Jack Doyle. Behind Welsh will be Eddie Robinson, Howard Baker, Kid Carsey and Kid Astel.

2.58 p.m.—McFarland entered the ring preceded by a goat painted green. The goat seemed nervous and created considerable amusement. Welsh entered the ring a moment later and received quite an ovation. Welsh was attired in white and blue in color and seemed much more at home in the ring. Welsh was in street attire except his shoes, while McFarlane wore a bath robe. The seconds gather and enter the ring while a panorama picture of the arena was taken. McFarland looks brown and hardy. Welsh seems somewhat hollow-cheeked, but showed the effect of faithful training in his tanned skin and clear eye Neither man shows symptoms of nervousness.

3.03 p.m.—Eddie Graney is called for. He steps into the ring and receives great applause, There seems to be a social time in the ring. Young Otto challenges the winner.

3.07 p.m.—McFarland's corner faces the sun, while Welsh will have the sun practically at his back. The boys are now posing for pictures. They take their corners and are beginning to don gloves.

McFarland money at this price was as scarce as Welsh money was at ten to six.

3.14 p.m.—The boys are called to the centre of the ring for instructions after another photograph is taken.

WELSH GOT THE ONE BLOW.

Round 1—3.15 p. m.

They touch hands. McFarland feinted and they clinched. Welsh missed a straight left and closed in without result. Welsh missed a right hook and again they clinched. McFarland ducked a left hook and got away from a left swing by using his elbow, landing a light-left to the head. McFarland landed right and left uppercuts. Again McFarland ducked. a left; he seemed calm and confident, taking his opponent's measure.
Welsh missed a hard left swing and lost his balance. McFarland was quick to follow, but his uppercut was
short. McFarland loosened up when Welsh came to close quarters and landed a hard right hook to the jaw, the only blow of the-round.

WELSH LANDED ON THE EAR.

Round 2

Welsh displayed nervousness at the opening, and was short twice with the left. McFarland maintained his waiting attitude, closing in with short right Jabs. Four times in rapid succession he avoided Welsh's quick jabs, once putting in a right hook to head, following with a right uppercut and left .jab that did no damage.

In the in-fighting Welsh landed a left to the Jaw and took a straight left. McFarland's footwork seems to bother Welsh- McFarland forced Welsh into the neutral corner and put a left to the face twice. Welsh drew applause when he landed a left swing on the ear. The end of round two.

FREQUENTLY CUFFED WELSH.

Round 3

Welsh continued to dance in close to his opponent with hands flying, but McFarland cut loose with a series of right, uppercuts that ended in a clinch. Welsh used a corkscrew punch in the clinch, and. later brought a right and left to the face. Welsh put a straight left to the face. McFarland smiled as he took a hard right hook to the jaw and retaliated with a right hook. . He caught Welsh with his head down. McFarland was clearly waiting, and frequently cuffed Welsh with a left in order to avoid a lead. They clinched often without a hard blow being struck. Welsh ducked away from two straight lefts and managed to land a right on McFarland's Jaw that brought cheers from the crowd as the gong rang.

IN McFARLAND'S FAVOR.

Round 4

Welsh put a light left to the chin and McFarland's left landed flush on his opponent's face. They exchanged straight lefts. McFarland forced his man to the ropes, landing two lefts on the head without, return. Again, Welsh went to the ropes under a right for head, coming back and swinging without effect. McFarland was able to step out of range at will, and with a left landed three times without return. Welsh put two straight lefts to the chin and they clinched. Welsh put a light hook to the car and they clinched. McFarland came to close range with right and left hooks and Welsh ran away to escape punishment. This round was in McFarland's favor.

WELSH GOT IN A FEW.

Round 6

McFarland forced Welsh to the ropes with two stiff lefts to the face and taking a right swing to the jaw. Welsh hooked three straight lefts to the face and took a right on the chin. Again Welsh landed a left to the jaw and in the clinch McFarland threw a hard right into the stomach. McFarland forced Welsh into the corner and sent a right to the ribs. Welsh ducked under a straight left and they clinched, exchanging right
hooks at short range. Welsh backed to the ropes covering up and McFarland after landing a right hook was met with a stiff left to the Jaw followed by a right uppercut. McFarland continued to smile confidently, but Welsh made a much better showing this round,

LANDS, BUT M'FARLAND LAUGHS.

Round 6

Welsh worked a right and left to the Jaw and the stomach in the clinch and was forcing the pace. McFarland warded off a left and Welsh, in another clinch, worked his left to some advantage on the jaw. McFarland roughed It, opened up, putting a right to the body and a left hook to the jaw. Depending almost altogether on the upper cut he landed several times to the head and almost pushed Welsh through the ropes. Breaking away from a clinch, Welsh put a left hook to the ear and forced McFarland Into the corner, landing a straight left to the chin. McFarland laughed as ho walked to his corner.

HEAD TO HEAD WRESTLE.

Round 7

Welsh took a right and left hooks on the head as they met in the clinch, and brought up a hard right uppercut to chin. An exchange of hard straight rights followed and Welsh managed to land a right twice, taking two hard right jabs in return. McFarland stepped away from Welsh's leads and landed a neat uppercut to the chin. Again Welsh was short and McFarland landed a light uppercut. They wrestled about, head to head, until commanded to break. They exchanged straight lefts as the round closed.

WELSH IS GAME

Round 8

Welsh led three times but was always short. He put a straight left to the nose and McFarland escaped from the corner to meet him in the clinch. McFarland forced Welsh into the corner, but his man came out and with swift right and left hooks forced McFarland to cover up. McFarland nearly lifted Welsh off his feet with a left uppercut and followed with a right and left to the head. Welsh sent a left to the stomach and McFarland landed with rapid succession on the stomach. McFarland drove Welsh against Jeffries with a hard right swing. Welsh stood up gamely and came back with straight left and short right jabs.

NOT A DAMAGING BLOW.

Round 9

Welsh landed ineffectual rights and lefts and McFarland closed in with a stiff right uppercut. brushing Welsh away with his right as he landed. McFarland worked a right to the body. Welsh landed a hard right uppercut to the jaw. The heat began to tell and the men perspired freely, while the pace slackened. McFarland put a right to the head and Welsh worked in a succession of short right and lefts that found a mark in McFarland's face. Welsh covered cleverly, avoiding several leads of McFarland's. Not a damaging blow was struck during the round.

WELSH'S EYES CLOSING.

Round 10

McFarland put two light lefts to the face and keeping Welsh at bay, landed a right. Welsh caught McFarland with right and left hooks. Welsh put a hard left to the chin and ducked a terrific left swing. Welsh landed a hard right to the jaw and followed with a left swing to the same place. McFarland began to look worried and in exchanging hard rights managed to plant a swift straight right to the stomach. Welsh's eyes show the result of a hard left. McFarland allowed Welsh to escape from a corner after taking a hard right on the chin. Gong.
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[robert.snell1]

PLEASE READ
PROFESSIONAL BOXERS PENSION PLAN
Everyone, please take a minute to sign the petition that the below link leads to. It's to try and get something done about getting retired boxers a pension plan started, which is way, way overdue.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-c ... nsion-plan



The Boxing Biographies Newsletter
Volume 1- No 16 16 November 2007

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The Lima News 23 May 1926
Pete Latzo—a miner; by day, and a pugilistic celebrity' by night!

There's the unique double role played by the newly crowned king of the welterweights — the boy who conquered the great Mickey Walker. For the last six years, this 23 year-old product of the coal mining region has worked the two way shift.

One of a family of eight, he comes of fighting stock. Three brothers before him were professional ringsters, but only one, Steve, made much headway in the game. None progressed so sensationally as Peter, however, who.; in his first bout in 1919, fought; under the name of Young Clancy, because the Latzo name at that time was not regarded as an impressive nom de ring.

As Young Clancy, Pete copped, his first battle, knocking out a fellow named Red Ferguson in three rounds. He followed that success by scoring three more kayoes in rapid and decisive fashion. His early achievements then induced him to tight under his real name of Latzo.

The youthful Scranton youth has climbed the pugilistic ladder rapidly during the last three years. True, he was decisively whipped by Mickey Walker a few months after Walker won the welter title by edging the aged Jack Britton, but that proved only an incentive for Pete to get back in the running again.

The interesting and decidedly unusual part of Latzo's ring career is that he's never failed to lick an opponent that had previously defeated him. He's a scrapper without a jinx. Two years ago he fought the strong Willie Harmon in New York – and lost. A few months later Pete handed Harmon a fancy trimming at Scranton. The same is true of Latzo’s scuffles with Frankie Schoell and Paul Doyle.

In the case of Doyle, Pete was licked right in his home town after a sensational battle. Boston put in a bid for their services and Latzo came through victoriously. George Ward, a good mauler, has dropped three battles to Latzo while the renowned Dave Shade lost one decision and was given a draw in another bout with the Scranton miner boy.

Morrie Schlaifer, the only man to knock Latzo off his pins, took Pete on in a return match at Philadelphia a couple months ago and barely managed to escape a knockout. Since then Schlaifer has not accomplished anything to speak of. Latzo's favorite pastimes, when not fighting or working in the mines, is playing baseball and basketball. As a diamond performer, Pete is classed with the best in the anthracite field. He plays second base and the outfield.
Pete is under the management of Paddy Mullins, who also looks after Harry Wills.
The Titusville Herald 17 July 1928
TOM LOUGHRAN RETAINS CROWN IN CLOSE BOUT
Wins Decision Over Pete Latzo by Margin of One Round.
CHALLENGER STAGES RALLY AT FINISH

Miner Rushes Champ Through Battle, But Winner Is Too Clever For Him.

By EDWARD J. NEIL
Associated Press Sports Writer

WILKES-BARRE, July 16.—While rain hovered in the sky and seats and the ring alike sogged under an early downfall, pudgy Pete Latzo. pride of this anthracite mining center, battled with all the viciousness and pride of a kid fighting in his own back yard but in vain—tonight for Tommy Loughran's light heavyweight championship.

Game as his stand was, furious as his gallant attack, the brown skinned youth was forced to bow for the second time this season to the mastery of the Philadelphian.

By the narrowest of margins was one of the most vicious skirmishes of the. outdoor season decided in Loughran's favor after ten rounds of the kind of milling that had even the spectators, bitter partisans in this all- Pennsylvania struggle, fighting among themselves. The Associated Press score card gave Loughran five rounds with four for the challenger and one even.

"Battled Champ Two Months Ago

A little over two months ago, Latzo. once the welterweight champion, but now grown to a full-fledged light heavyweight, battled Loughran on almost as even terms in a 15-round go in Brooklyn.and tonight, as then, the gameness and plunging, two-fisted attack of the challenger carne within an ace of stripping Loughran of his crown.

Remembering that fight and hoping for the best, the miners who trooped to Scranton two years ago to see Peter, then a lithe 147-pounder, batter Mickey Walker's welterweight crown into the shape of his own head, flocked out tonight to honor the former breaker boy and cheer him to victory. But with honor in his grasp and Loughran fading before him in the third and fourth rounds, Pete found that he had wasted too much strength in his rushing assault.

Loughran Takes Fresh Hold

Then it was that Loughran took a fresh hold, and stabbed out the decision over his closest rival in the 175- pound division. Rallying in the middle rounds, Tommy boxed his way to enough of an advantage to hold Pete off again when he stormed the championship citadel with a final desperate rally in the last two rounds.

Boxing as cleverly as he ever has, Loughran had. Latzo totally at sea in the first round. Again in the second, the champion, boxing like a well-oiled machine, poured a flood of gloves into Pete's face that had the miner constantly gnawing the leather of his left hand.

But the one trait that seems to rise in every fight--to threaten Loughran's perfect boxing technique—inability to defend himself properly on the ropes caught Tommy in the fourth. Pete. game and rushing every second, stormed the champion to the ropes and in a-moment the .entire complexion of the battle was changed. Ripping rights and lefts to the head staggered Tommy as Latzo pinned him to the hempen barriers and poured a storm of leather into the champion's head and body. .Loughran came away with a streak of blood crossing his right eyebrow. Within another round Latzo’s vicious attack had opened a broad cut there and blood streamed into the champions eyes and down his face. Here the strength Latzo had been saving for just a moment failed him. He allowed the titleholder to steal the show with stabbing lefts as Tommy
danced backward around the ring, eyes foggy, brain a bit numb, but instinct, still controlling his fists. Before Latzo could gain control again the opportunity was lost and Pete's second chance of winning his second crown went aglimmering. '

It mattered little that Latzo, after letting the next three rounds drift to Tommy with the eighth even, rallied in the final two sessions, whaled into Loughran with new vigor and again cut his eye and cheek. The effort was too long delayed. The champion had retained his title by the margin of a single round and the coal regions must wait for another champion.

The crowd of approximately 15,000 paid $60,000 to see the show. Promoter Morgan Bird was reported to have paid Loughran $25,000 to defend the title while Latzo received $7,500.

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The Bridgeport Telegram
13 December 1927

Loughran's Rush in Final
Rounds Wears Slattery Down
Buffalo Youngster Chooses to Swap Punches with Philadelphia
Rival after Loughran Wears Him down with
Body Blows—Crowd Is Dissatisfied with Decision
By Edward J Neil

Madison Square Garden , NewYork, Dec. 12—(By Associated Press.)

The light heavyweight championship of the world, a diadem disputed for months between the representatives of the New York State Athletic commission and the National Boxing association rested tonight on the curly-headed thatch of Tommy Loughran. Sturdy heavy fisted youngster from Philadelphia.

Loughran, recognized in New York as king of the 175 pounders won the crown beyond all dispute by whipping Jimmy Slattery. rival standard-bearer, in a thrilling fifteen round match that kept 15.000 spectators in the spacious arena in a constant uproar. At the close the crowd roared their disapproval of the decision, and cheers for the Buffalo boy and his game stand volleyed to the rafters as the fighters
left the ring.

Despite masterly boxing ability that at times made the speedy Loughran appear slow by comparison, and a willingness to swap punches with an opponent enjoying an eight pound weight advantage, the lithe New York youngster appeared to have been bettered in eight of the 15 rounds after winning five and holding Loughran even for two.

Came With Rush.

Tommy came with a rush toward the close, when Slatterv's dancing legs tired under the torrid pace and arms, wearied by constant blocking, grew trembly and weak. Then it was that Loughran. bleeding slightly from a cut Jimmy had opened under his left eye, stormed in close, flailed both hands in an unceasing stream to the body, and pounded out his margin of victory.

The match was a brilliant display by two master craftsmen, clean, decisive punchers, fast and furious workmen. Showing all the form that won him heraldry as another Jim Corbett before the flashing fists of Dave Shade knocked him from prominence, Slattery outboxed and outgeneralled Loughran through, the early rounds.

Hands hanging limply at his sides "Slats" bounced around the ring, flipping stinging Jabs into Loughran's eves and whipping solid right crosses to the chin. After him pounded the "Philadelphia Adonis," grim and unrelenting. out speeded but by no means out gamed.

Slattery Slows Up.

The occasional right hand shots Loughran drilled into Slattery s body slowed the lighter youth, brought his speed closer to his own and wore the lean youngster down steadily. As his speed gave out under the long grind, Slattery chose to mix in close, swap shots with his husky rival—and lose all claim to the 175 pound title, fighting rather than running away.

There were no knockdowns and neither was in serious danger at any time during the sensational milling, although several times Slattery's clean . rifle-like shots to the chin shot Loughran's 'head back. But Tommy always was able to retaliate by storming in close, laying a barrage on Slattery's ribs, and driving the Buffalo youth away with overhand smashes to the head. Loughran scaled-in at 173 ½ pounds Slattery 165 ½ .

Round One
Both were very cautious as they pranced in the centre of the the ring measuring each other with light lefts to the head. Tommy cut loose with a fierce two fisted body attack that drove Slattery into a neutral corner arms doubled across his ribs. Boxing flashily, Jimmy worked his way out and speared Loughran with lefts to the head but Tommy's fists dug solidly Into the Buffalo boys body. Tommy punched Slattery viciously
with short rights to the ribs on the rope. Slattery broke away and peppered Tommy's face with lefts at the bell.

ROUND TWO
They formed a pretty picture, dancing cleverly in the center of the ring shooting with both hands to the head and body, shots that traveled almost too fast. Tommy punched through Slattery's dazzling footwork and rocked the Buffalo boy with a right under the heart. Jimmy gave ground, backing away behind a whiplash left, but Tommy caught him and ripped to his body at the ropes. They jabbed and retreated simultaneously so that the bell found them standing in their own corners with Slattery winking
confidently at the ringside denizens.

ROUND THREE
Loughran came steaming out on the offensive shooting lefts to Slattery's chin . Jimmy ducked and dodged backwards, spearing Loughran neatly with a left and right to the head when Tommy missed once. Loughran was warned when a right dropped below the foul line. Slattery took the offensive, threw caution to the wind, and they slugged to the head and body like a pair of leaden footed heavyweights in the center of
the room while the crowd roared approval. They broke loose to look the situation over as the gong clanged.

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Nevada State Journal 9 August 1925
Shade Wins Decision Over
Schoell In Fast 10 Rounds



San Francisco Aug 8

Dave Shade, Concord, Cal., outstanding challenger for the welterweight title, took a 10-rouhd decision tonight over Frankie Schoell, Buffalo, N. Y. The bout was held in the ball park here.

The decision was never in doubt. Schoell's only chance seemed to be to put over a knockout. Throughout the battle Shade was on the aggressive. He rushed Schoell from rope to rope, swinging terrific rights and lefts, many of which landed solidly. Several times Schoell was in distress. He was floored in the first round by a hard hook to the jaw. He got up without waiting for a count. In the final round the Buffalo welter sank to his knees momentarily under a hot barrage from Shade.

The Buffalo fighter proved his gameness by taking practically everything Shade had. But Frankie was not able often to land effectively. Once he opened a deep cut over Shade's eye. On a number of occasions he slowed the Californian. with stiff lefts. Shade had his man bleeding from the nose and mouth before the eighth round.

The eighth round was the most spectacular. Shade drove Schoell into a corner, but the Buffalo boy turned and matched him blow for blow. They mixed at a terrific clip, drawing an ovation from the crowd. In the tenth round Shade had Schoell almost out on his feet several times, but the easterner hung on tenaciously until the final bell brought relief.

Jack Kearns. manager of Mickey Walker, the welterweight champion, had given a tentative promise to match the title holder with the winner of tonight's fight. Schoell was considered a hard hurdle to clear, although the Concord fighter was a heavy favorite in the betting. Shade left no doubt of his superiority . The last time Shade and Schoell met the bout was called a draw.

The fight by rounds:

Round 1
Shade began shooting lefts at long range. They rushed into several clinches. Schoell landed a stiff left to the jaw after some sparring. Shade floored Schoell with a. left hook to the jaw The Buffalo battler rose immediately, smiling. Dave pressed Frankie, but Frankie held him off till the bell

Round 2
Shade rushed Schoell. The Concord battler pushed the Buffalo boy around the ring, trying hard for a knockout. Schoell was landing only lightly. Shade made his opponent miss badly. Shade landed a stiff left to the jaw. Shade tore after his man, swinging both hands. As the bell rang they were sparring in a neutral corner.

Round 3
As they met in the centre Schoell protested vehemently about a low blow. Shade shook hands and then rushed Schoell against the ropes Schoell cut Shade's right eye with a hard left hook. Dave, however, was still on the aggressive, keeping Frankie's back to the ropes. They were mixing it in a neutral corner at The bell.

Round 4
Schoell bored in, landing lightly to the face and body. Shade tore in, and they mixed it furiously with Schoell holding his own. They wrestled in the clinches. Shade backed Schoell against the ropes and pounded him, but Frankie bounded out safely. Shade kept crouching and weaving in, but Schoell met him will several stiff punches as the round ended.
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Soldier Bartfield


The Bridgeport Telegram 21 June 1921



Lou Bogash welterweight champion of New England and one of the leading contenders for Jack Britton's crown, won on a technical knockout from Soldier Bartfield in the third -round of their scheduled fifteen round bout at the Arena last night. -. Bartfleld claimed to have injured his left arm in the second round of the -bout but continued to fight with the arm dangling; useless by his side until the -boxing- commissioners ordered Referee Terry Lee to stop the bout. Although there were many rumors to the effect that the fight was a fake the boxing commissioners gave it their official sanction last night and declared that so far as they were concerned the promoters could pay Bartfield and Bogash at any time.

It was understood by Bartfield's manager that Bartfield would have an X-ray photograph of the injured arm taken today and compared with one taken a few weeks ago on the occasion of the postponement of a previously scheduled bout. Even if t h e X-ray shows no new break the boxing commissioners stated last night that they, would not order
Bartfleld's money to be held up.

What fighting was done in the bout was by Bogash who hammered Bartfield from the. opening round but who could not seem, to make much of an impression on him. Bogash had a, world of speed and went after Bartfteld strong in the opening round. 'Bartfield landed, only a, few light blows which did no damage to the local boy.

In the second round, Bogajsh hit Bartfield several times on the left arm which was injured some months ago and which forced Bartfield .at that time to quit the ring. Suddenly Bartfleld dropped the arm to his side and defended himself with his right hand only.Bogash was after him like a wildcat and slammed him with everything he had but the Brooklyn battler could not be knocked off his feet.

The third round was a repetition of the second with Bartfleld still receiving. Bartfleld seemed to be able t o inflict considerable damage with his good arm ;but Bogash's blows continually landed on the injured arm that Bartfield seemed to be suffering so much pain that finally the' boxing commissioners ordered Referee Terry Lee to stop the fight which was done.

Bartfleld was examined by the club physician and three other doctors, who all agreed that while there were apparently no bones broken in the injured arm. Bartfield was suffering considerable pain and was unable to continue. The- result, stands as a technical knockout. If Bartfleld was faking it did not appear so to the boxing commissioners who have not ordered that his money be hold up.
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Benny Leonard

Leonard is cleaning up big bankroll
1919 news report



Benny Leonard. world's lightweight champion, is cleaning: up a bank roll a hound dog couldn't jump over with a springboard and a running start.

About every other week Benny hikes to Philadelphia. That's the town where, any one who pays more than 7 cents for a cigar is rated as either a reckless spendthrift or a lunatic. In Philadelphia any promoter who charges half a dollar to see eighteen six-round bouts in a single evening, all guaranteed knockouts, Is and always has been denounced as a hideous profiteer. Yet a couple of times a month Benny Leonard visits Benny Franklin's village and steps 6 rounds or less with some near-contender and brings about $14,000 back to the Bronx Soft? yes, Bo! .

And now they want to pay Benny $20,000 to go Out to Denver and step twenty rounds—OR LESS—with ol' Charlie White, Said White will be remembered by old timers as the gentleman who had several times Benny’s chance to take the lightweight title away from, Freddy Welsh, when Freddy was already slipping down the toboggan with yelps of distress, and who couldn't do it .

White fought Freddy twenty rounds in Colorado Springs, and made such a poor showing, when every one present knew only a tap was needed to tip Freddy over, that the collection of seat cushions, pop bottles and hip pocket flasks shoveled from the ring by the janitor next morning was said to beat anything on record since Tommy Ryan and Jack Root at Jack McGuigan's place In Philadelphia White also boxed Welsh in Brooklyn, which is about all we can say of the affair, and twice boxed him ten rounds in Milwaukee.

Benny Leonard never had a 20-round chance at Welsh, He boxed him two 10-round goes, and next time, knowing all about what Freddy had and hadn't, went after him like Dempsey after Willard, and hung him on the ropes, out, in nine rounds.

That's the difference between Charley White and Benny Leonard—except that it's more so White has gone away back in the past two years and Leonard has become even a better boxer, He is bigger, stronger, far more seasoned and experienced, and has a champion's confidence On paper it looks as If this would be an easy match for Leonard, and just about as soft a $20,000 as he ever put in his bank.

Leonard hasn't fallen over his own Feet rushing: to accept "White's challenge, at that. While he is a slow boxer and never will be arrested for exceeding the speed limit in thinking ,White has an awful kick, and sometimes lands It There isn't a chance in a hundred that he'd land It on Leonard but If he did—well, $20,000 would be small comfort to Benjamin for the loss of what he can gather in the coming year by boxing here and there In the 10-round game.

However, if Benny ever gets the Idea that any one thinks he is side-stepping Mr White the Leonard-White match Will be on at once One thing Benny hasn't learned yet is the side-stepping idea He may love that title, but as he says himself, when a fellow who can take it away comes along he can have it and welcome.

Benny's Limit An Unknown Quantity. Just how good is Benny Leonard? It's fashionable to compare him with Joe Gans.

Benny may be a Joe Gans, but he hasn't had anything like Gan's list of rivals to wade through. So We don't know what his limit is. He may be
better It's sure that Leonard has done everything asked of him. And it Isn't -his fault if the competition isn't what it used to be In his class. He wins his fights as quickly as he can. He doesn't stall He doesn't content himself with winning on "points" by a small but safe margin, although he's clever enough to do it.

One thing about Leonard—which Is a. quality seen In all first-class champions— is his knack of winning whenever he meets a man for the second time, He took a hard hammering from Willie Ritchie in the San Francisco Four round bout, but when they met again, a little later, he disposed of Willie before the end of the eighth session He knew all about how to beat Welsh the third time they met He boxed ten rounds with Johnny Kilbane in 1915 When he was champion he met Kilbane again In a Philadelphia six-round bout, This time he knew all about clever Kilbane's style, and walking straight Into him beat him to his favorite punches and knocked him out in three rounds.

Leonard can win in a hurry when he feels like hurrying. He fought Leo Johnson, a very clever darkey lightweight,-who was regarded as extremely dangerous, When the two stripped in the ring, and stepped out to face each other, the spectators gasped' Johnson seemed to have every advantage in the world He was a perfect picture of a smooth-moving, lithe, hard-hitting fighter, Benny went Into him like a whirlwind and stopped him In the first round We never have seen Leonard in any real distress, except in the four-round bout with Ritchie, where Benny's left eye was closed tight and he was rocking from the right hand punches he couldn't see In time to block. That time no fought back magnificently in the last round, recovering and holding Ritchie even in the last two minutes of hard mixing.

But Benny hasn't been hit by any one like Dal Hawkins. Nobody knows what would happen in that case.

Nevada State Journal – 27 July 1922
FULL TWELVE ROUNDS ARE FOUGHT OUT WITH NO DECISION

IN CLOSE CONTEST
Ringside, Jersey City July 27

Benny Leonard, world lightweight boxing champion, successfully defended his title Against Lew Tendler of Philadelphia in a 12-round no decision contest tonight, earning, in the opinion of a majority of sports writers at the ringside, a narrow shade in a great struggle.

The challenger, a left-hander, furnished the champion the most 'interesting combat Leonard has had since he turned back Willie Ritchie some years ago.

Tendler. starting with great confidence and skill, carried the fight to the champion. He pummeled Leonard with stiff lefts to the body and
sharp right's to the head and Jaw and brought blood to the champion's nose early. It appeared in the first of the rounds that Tendler was to have
things all his own way.

Then Leonard steadied himself and began to find a mark. He carried the fifth , sixth and seventh rounds in a burst of speed. In the seventh round his mouth bumped Tendler's shoulder and he lost a false tooth. The eighth found Tendler on the aggressive again. After taking a hard right to the jaw And another under the heart he fought Leonard at close quarters and swung in a number of hard lefts to the jaw. Leornard’s knees sagged and he clinched to save himself. From then on the champion took few chances.

The ninth was an even round, and In the last three Leonard appeared to Have a shade. When it was over the champion, battered more perhaps
than he has been in any bout since he won the title from Freddie Welsh In 1917, said, "These southpaws are hard to solve."

All during his training he had belittled Tendler's pugilistic record and predicted that he would finish the Philadelphian within seven, rounds.
Tendler. too, had said that he would win by a knockout, but he had nothing to say of this tonight. He said he was satisfied with his showing and
would seek an engagement with Leonard in a decision match.

RINGSIDE, Jersey City, July 27.
Benny Leonard and Lew Tendler fought a twelve round no decision bout here tonight, in which honors slightly favored the champion in the final rounds. It was 9:13 when Tendler, the challenger, escorted by a squad of police, made his way down the aisle from his dressing quarters and entered the ring. He was clad in a greenish gray bath robe and was accompanied by his seconds, Philip Glassman, Morris Tendler, his brother, and Jack Reinfell.

Champion Leonard entered the ring a moment later and both contenders for the title Were given a great ovation. Leonards seconds were Billy
Gibson, Manny Seaman and Charlie Leonard, his brother. Both Leonard and Tendler were called to the center of the ring, where the commission physicians examined their hearts and lungs and announced them to be in perfect condition.

Both boxers had their hands heavily Bandaged with soft tape. The rival managers examined the bandages and the new gloves were taken from
boxes and given to the rival seconds. The weights as announced from the ring were: Leonard 134 pounds, Tender 134 pounds 12 ounces. the weights being taken at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Rocky Kansas of Buffalo, recently defeated by Leonard, appeared with his left arm in splints.

Both Were Nervous
Both fighters appeared more or less drawn and nervous, and Leonard appeared a trifle more drawn than Tendler. Leonard leaned over the
ropes and jokingly remarked to a friend at the ring side that the bout would be over in a few minutes. Tendler sat quietly in his corner with
downcast eyes and listened attentively to the instructions of his seconds.

The great pine bowl built on Boyle's Thirty Acres for the memorable encounter between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier in July
1921, presented another remarkable spectacle tonight as the crowds gathered for the lightweight championship contest.

When the first preliminary fighters were called together the arena, having a seating capacity of more than 90,000, appeared to be about three fourths filled.

At the ring side Tex Rickard, the promoter, said gate receipts were about $450,000 and the attendance about 60,000. Under the terms of the
agreement with the principals in the contest they are to receive from 62 ½ to 66 ½ per cent of the gross receipts. Of this sum Leonard will receive approximately two-thirds, the other third going to the challenger.

Some Seats Vacant
The seats at the top of the bowl, cheapest in the arena, were about one-third filled. Many of the spectators in this section purchased miniature
opera glasses on the outside of the arena for 50 cents.

When the lights were turned on for the first preliminary the skies, which had been overcast all day began to clear and the colours of the sunset tinged the clouds. The vigilance of the police was relaxed for a minute on one side of the arena and several hundred boys and men came over the top. They found seats in the crowd and remained unmolested.

The Krug- Quinn bout was shortened to seven rounds when it was announced that Leonard and Tendler were ready to enter the ring. Krug finished with a rush of blows and had slightly the better of the milling.

The threatening weather, it was announced, led the promoters to advance the championship contest and avoid any possibility of postponement.

Newspaper men about the ring differed to some extent in their opinions. The majority appeared to favor Leonard at the end of the bout,
although some declared for a draw. Tendler had the better of the first five rounds, but Leonard finished strongly. Leonard was asked why he did not knock out Tendler, and replied, with a "blood-smeared grin: "Southpaws are Hard to solve."

Round 1
The bell rang at 9:28. Tendler was short with two rights and then landed a light left. They fell into a clinch and began dancing around. Tendler
landed a left hook to the chest and followed with a light left to the body. Tendler landed another left and then two sharp rights to the body. Tendler was rushing the champion. Tendler slipped and fell and, standing up slowly wiped the blood from his gloves. Tendler landed a hard right to the champion's head, cutting his right eye. Tendler was warned for hitting in a clinch. They were sparing at the bell, and when he sat
down Leonard said the cut was caused by a butt." Leonard held a towel to his eye to stop the bleeding.

Rounds 2
Tendler missed two rights and rushed the champion into a corner Leonard sent a hard right to the jaw. Leonard missed a right and left.
Tendler had the better of a clinch Tcndler landed a hard left und followed with short uppercuts. Tendler landed a short left. Leonard countered with a right to the body and followed with two short uppercuts Tendler continued leading and had the champion covering his face with both arms. Tendler landed hard rights and lefts to the head and then three more lefts to the Jaw. Blood was trickling from Leonard's eyebrow.

Round 3
Tendler again jumped into the lead .Tendler was again warned for hitting in a Clinch. Leonard complained of Tendler's low hitting. Tendler replied with a left swing, to the jaw. Tendler smiled. Tendler had the better of a body exchange and landed two rights to the Jaw. There was another exchange at close quarters. Tendler missed with his left. Tendler told the champion, “Come in and fight.," Tendler rushed Leonard to
his corner at the bell.



Benny Training the troops
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