BoxRec

Adapted from article published in The Nebraska State Journal 15th May 1910

Goss – Oldest Champion Since Broughton Was Beaten By A Novice

Joe Goss v Paddy Ryan

TWO years after the final retirement of Jem Mace, in 1871, the issue of the championship was decided between "Mike" McCoole and "Tom" Allen, the latter regaining the title he
had previously won and lost . In 1876 Allen surrendered it to "Joe" Goss at Covlngton, Ky.,on a foul after twenty-seven rounds of hard fighting. There were few aspirants for pugilistic honors at this time and public interest in .the game was dying out. Those who cherished the traditions of a great sport with a roll of names that stood for manhood, courage and fair play despaired of ever reviving the prize ring as an athletic institution of the race.

Goss, like "Jem" Mace, a left over from, a brighter and cleaner period of fistic history, could find no adversary worthy to step inside the ropes with him during the four years he held title. A match with John. Dwyer came to naught and the champion's repeated efforts to obtain competition resulted in failure until, in 1880, a stranger announced himself as a candidate. This was "Paddy" Ryan, "the Trojan," who never yet had appeared in the squared circle. If ever a man deserved an object long sought through years., of patient struggle and frequent discouragement 'that' man was "Joe"' Goss, who, won the championship , of the world at the age 'of thirty eight.

A fighter from the time he attained his majority, a consistent winner up to his clash with the redoubtable Jem" Mace, he hung to his purpose until that phenomenal boxer," his acknowledged master, had been removed from the field and then achieved his ambition in the Indian-summer of his ring life.Opposed to Mace In three battles he drew once and went down twice In honorable "defeat. The rest of his record was without a check up to the last.

Goss was born in Northampton,. England, in 1837. .After entering the ring in 1859 he fought through the ranks of: the third and second class heavyweights and arrived in 1863 at the notch Just ' under the championship. Here he remained, awaiting his further opportunity, wresting the honor at last from '"Tom" Allen when that brave but unskillful pugilist again forced himself to the front by, sheer strength and determination.

"Jack"Broughton, father of pugilism, fought to retain his place, at the head of the sport when forty seven years .old: .'"Tom" Johnson was finally defeated at the age .of forty one. Mace was forty when he fought his last championship battle. Goss was nearly forty two at the time he met Paddy Ryan, almost two years older than Fitzsimmons in the second: Jeffries fight .Goss Is therefore entitled to recognition As the oldest active reigning champion since1750.

That such an aspirant Paddy Ryan should Have been able to measure fists with the first boxer of the day serves as an adequate commentary upon the state of the game in 1880. Ryan was born in Tipperary in 1853, and when; first heard from had gained a local reputation as a rough and tumble bruiser In Troy, N. Y. There was nothing to recommend him for premier, honors in the prize ring beyond his strength and his undoubted ability to take and to inflict punishment Science he had none, nor experience of the kind that makes champions under recognized rules. But the fact that he could "whip" anything near his weight, without reference to the manner of the "whipping," gave him sudden prominence and he found backers to the extent of $1,000 in obtaining a match with Goss.

Goss was glad enough of the chance for action. Rake England and America as he might, there was No other anxious to do battle with him and in the general Dearth of material the Ryan challenge and support gave promise of relief. After wearying negotiations and unsuccessful attempts to dodge the authorities of Several states, the men and their attendants, with a crowd of about three hundred Set out from Pittsburgh on may 31st 1880. By early morning of June 1st the party Had found its way into the mountains of West Virginia, and there near Colliers Station in a weeded amphitheatre the drama of the championship was once more enacted.

The ring was pitched by moonlight on the un trampled turf of the secluded valley And as dawn broke the little gathering thus furtively come together and took up positions on the surrounding slopes. Ryan resplendent in red shirt, black clothes and silk hat was the first To approach the spot. He regarded the preparation of the ground with curiosity And remarked that it was all strange to him, but that he hoped to afford his friends Good entertainment. Soon afterwards he tossed his “tile” within the ropes, Goss followed, and they stripped for business both standing up in white breeches and stockings. Ryan the novice seemed rather nervous and awkward. Goss, who had passed through a score of such ordeals, was calm and confident, almost too confident, his backers feared.

A Giant In Battle

In truth the challenger in spite of his slender qualifications for boxing was admirably equipped for fighting. Six feet one-half inch in height and weighed 180 pounds he was in the flush of his twenty eight years, a gigantic, heavy limbed, solid bodied mountain of brawn and sinew.No trim lines Or whipcord litheness of build contributed to his points but strength he had, and long arms bunched with muscles and a deep chest capable of carrying him far in a wearing contest. He looked what he was and no more, a man built for primitive struggle, rough rugged and big handed.

Goss, thogh he was far from showing the wonderful preservation that fight followers Had observed in Mace at his last championship battle was still in rude health and sound condition. Ryan towered above his five feet ten inches and in addition to other obvious advantage had a greater width of shoulders and reach. But the champion was in no way to be scorned as a fighting figure.Beyond a slight tendency to flabbiness about the ribs he seemed to have all his old muscular power and agility. In limbs and pose he was a finer picture of an athlete than his opponent. His was the design of a pugilist, compact and firm in the upper structure, more delicately modeled in the legs, with a certain flexibility and balance in his movements that Ryan lacked.

The men tossed for corners, Goss winning and choosing to place himself with his back to the east and on slightly rising ground. The seconds then established quarters. Griffin and Jones for Goss, Roach and Paine for Ryan. Goss’s umpire was “Jimmy” Shannon, Ryan’s was Dr. Archer of New York and “Shell” Fairchild was selected as referee. Time was called at twenty seven minutes to seven and the two shook hands lightly at the scratch, falling on guard.

Ryan, somewhat unready and quite unversed in the usual tactic, had evidently determined to offset his handicaps by resorting to instant aggression. There was to be no sparring in this meeting, swift flashes of wit against wit, no clever shifting and stratagems so far as “Paddy’s” part of it went. He was there to fight and if the conventions prevented him from using his thumbs and his heels and his knees as freely as he could have wished then there was someone to hit and he had his fists by him. Goss on the other hand had a good understanding of pugilistic science. He was no such exponent of generalship as Mace. Against his brilliant conqueror he had seemed raw and willing himself. But Ryan’s knowledge of the subtle points was zero and “Joe” was his master ten times over at brain work.

However, it was now to be seen whether youth and muscle were not more than a match for age and craft and Ryan began the demonstration without delay, leading of awkwardly with the left Ryan whirled on him, swinging Wildly with his right, but Goss ducked the danger and hopped to safety. When Ryan reached him again the Veteran stood to his guns and .they mixed for a moment, Goss -parrying smashing swings at his head, right and left, and working In until he could slam through two swift Jolts to the body. As "Paddy"
flung upon him, arms flailing, he used the old, legitimate trick of dropping before he was hit to end the
round.

The introductory session had clearly Impressed them with equal desire for closer acquaintance and they clashed from the scratch without a paused Ryan reaped a wicked left straight through "Joe's" guard to the body and the old-fellow winced. It was here that he was weakest. Tears and soft living and given him a padding that was no help to him to such an interview. But he recovered quickly and hooked a smacking right, to the left cheek as Ryan came on.

'Ryan now surprised his opponent and the spectators by developing an unexpected speed. He was right after Goss, beat through his barrier and drove left and right smartly to the face, following with another Jolt to the ribs. Goss was willing and joined him in a brief but fierce rally, both boring in desperately at short arm and taking and giving a rattle of blows to the body. "Joe" could ill endure an exchange of this nature and he hurled through the mixup to a clinch. They wrestled a moment, stamping and circling, then went down together, Goss underneath. Ryan had acquitted himself well and his followers cheered him to the echo as he walked off to his corner.

Goss Is Wary Now.

Both were fresh and brisk for the third round, Ryan leading as before with his left. Goss was wary and got away from It sidestepping prettily and throwing himself in behind n crashing left to the ribs that drove the big fellow back to his own ground. It was a shrewd blow and its incidental effect was to flick Ryan's temper, never too carefully controlled. He jumped in with a rush and Goss gave another proof of his age by being much too slow at retreat Ryan caught him, driving wickedly to the head with both hands and preparing for more when "Joe" ducked in and closed. Goss slid through Ryan's grip to the ground unwilling to fight it out in a clinch.

The veteran increased his pace to keep abreast of Ryan who continued to show dangerous speed And swept into the fourth round with a feint and a thrashing left to the face. Ryan promptly found him with the right and repaid the compliment on the same spot. They milled an instant snappily then rushed to the clinch by common impulse. Goss getting down in a hurry.

Ryan had successfully rid himself of any confusion or hesitation that might have oppressed him at the opening of the battle.The prompt and easy manner in which he had reached Goss gave him the touch of confidence he needed and from this point his aggressive style was not assumed to cover lack of technical training but adopted as a deliberate and dangerous method. He sprang to the fore at the calling of the next session and led boldly for the face with the left. Goss ducked the drive cleverly laughing, and drove up under the other's guard with a stunning one, two in Mace's best manner to the nose and upper Up. Before his feet could carry him away,. however, Ryan, rapid and alert, countered heavily to the face with a crushing right Jolt. "Joe" fought back hard, but "Paddy" would give him no room for maneuvering, pressing him closely and smacking hard at the ribs until Goss got down.

The situation after five hot and fast rounds, was clear to those experienced in the game. Goss’s tender ribs presented a vital weakness In offence, though he knew the blows, the tricks and the way of cleverness, he was altogether too slow. He could leap into an opening with all the necessary agility and-precision, but the spring in his legs was gone and he could not get out again with equal dexterity. For the rest his aim was fair and he was landing sledge hammers with a full-head of steam. If Ryan's massive body could be made to yield to that pounding punishment The veterans chances were still good. .

Goss waded into the sixth round as the aggressor, charging .immediately Into Ryan's own territory and meeting the young giant a trifle, unprepared. Feinting left and right he opened Ryan's guard a little and shot through a terrific drive to the left side of the body. Ryan slammed at him point blank, but "Joe's" right arm caught the blow In midair and at the same instant he stepped forward, smashing his left to the left cheek before he got out unscathed. It was clever work, of a kind seen all too seldom In days when the teachings of "Dan" Mendoza were hazy theories to most pugilists. This was one of the several points In the battle when Goss showed flashes of his old form and proved himself the boxer he had been.

Ryan Takes His Time.

Ryan, checked at every turn, promptly slacked rein on his temper again and launched Himself upon his opponent with fury driving right and left swinging Repeatedly at the head and forcing Goss to trip a lively measure in keeping safe distance. Had Joe possessed the requisite steel in his knees during this , interview he must have made Ryan pay a proper price for such wild fighting. But all the veteran's energies were devoted to escaping the Berserk "Irishman, and after some minutes of hare and hound about the ring neither he succeeded in dodging under the volley and getting 'to grips. Ryan tried hard to lift his man and hurl him bodily, but "Joe" established a neat shoulder lock backed Ryan off his balance and threw him for a clean fall. First crimson was awarded to Goss in this round Ryan showing plentiful-traces about his face.

The seventh round was brief and rapid. Goss retaining the upper hand that he had assumed in the sixth.. He came at Ryan, dodged, and swept in from another angle, feinting and, whirling right and left ' prettily, to the ribs.. Ryan fought back at him hard breaking through with his left to the1 head and repeating the blow twice. This disturbed Goss not at all. As long as ."Paddy" went after face and head no one was better pleased than the veteran himself. The body treatment was what he feared, and with reason. They drew finally into a clinch and fell together.

"Ryan was as eager as Goss at the opening of eighth round and they came together briskly both smiling, clashing at the scratch. To the friends of Goss it seemed as if the better part for the veteran ,was the hitting and footing game rather than the stand up slugging test; but none knew so well as "Joe" that he was not up to the necessary fast work for such a campaign. He was confident that his heavy punishment of the novice must soon sap Ryan's Strength and he believed that he could best husband his own resources by less dancing and more heavy artillery. Ryan swung hard and got home with his right to the head and left to the jaw.

Goss came back with his right to the head and left to the jaw. Goss came back with wicked body jolts Taking a hard welt to the ribs and pounding through two more to the left side of the face.They mixed it roughly and “Paddy” swinging his powerful arms with regular, irresistible strokes hammered Joe freely about the head varying with hooking jabs to the body. On a straight drive to the mouth he split, his right hand between the first and second knuckles, but apparently suffered no inconvenience. Goss found the interview too trying and, ducking a vicious left swing, went to grass.

Ryan on the surface had suffered thrice the punishment taken by his adversary. Goss' persistent slashing at the left side of his face had drawn crimson from a dozen cuts and cheek and eye were swollen. His left ribs were also badly welted. "Joe" showed few effects of the enemy's delivery about the head, but was plainly uncomfortable from what pounding he had received on the body. They joined nimbly for the ninth session, Goss leading with a clean left hook to the body and working In behind swift drives until Ryan drew off and slammed a. right flush to the nose."Joe" was still willing .and Ryan stood him off in a fast half arm rally that quickened into a clinch, Goss going down. Goss was still forcing, seeking to complete his scheme of facial decoration, and they came together for heavy infighting at the opening of the tenth round. A terrific slogging affray ended when Ryan rammed a whopper to the nose and Goss countering hard to the body, went down. The next two sessions brought more brief exchanges, Goss always getting down. Throughout the fight it was never Ryan who brought a round to an end, unless thrown.

The Unlucky Thirteenth.

By the thirteenth round "Joe's" wind was beginning to give trouble, but be stood manfully to the only course that appeared feasible to him. He seldom resorted now to shifting and foot play, almost never attempted to hop out of a melee and pinned his faith upon the efficacy of the drubbing he persistently administered to the left side of Ryan's face and body. "Paddy," however, proved a perfect glutton for punishment and was as strong as at the start. They fought through two more short, milling sessions, and In the sixteenth round Ryan, angered by a stinging slash to the eye, .rushed suddenly and threw Goss a heavy fall stumbling over him. Goss patted “Paddy’s” back with the utmost good nature as the scrambled to their feet.

After three more quick warm rounds Goss took a sharp brace, such a spurt as had turned the tide in his favor in more than one close struggle and joining briskly was all over Ryan in a minute. He slammed tremendous drives, one, two, to the face, warded paddy’s return, got in another double smash, onceMore escaped Ryan’s swings and then bored steadily through with fierce snappy jolts to the ribs. Ryan for space seemed utterly powerless to stop the veteran and retreated sullenly, taking raps to the body and jaw with every step. When he finally pushed through a lunge to the neck Goss got down.

Though the battle had been speeding steadily neither man dared relax the tension an instant.The pace was now furious. Goss kept up his end in wonderful manner, nursing his defective wind and sending in magnificent blows at every session. No slacking or weakness was apparent and the rounds were a succession of fierce stand up clashes where they went at it hammer and tongs, mutually bent upon damage. Until Joe went down to nurse his powers for a fresh attempt.

In the twenty third round the shouting uproarious crowd fell silent for an instant when Goss got over a full solid unbroken swing with his right to the left temple that would have felled an ox. Ryan crumpled under it staggering into a clinch. But after the interval he came to the mark with undiminished vigor, fighting through six fast rounds like clockwork.

The thirtieth round brought another sudden flash of championship brilliancy from Goss. The old fellow had caught his second wind and he went after Ryan’s left cheek and eye as if set upon finishing the matter offhand. Ryan could not stop him in his burst of style and speed. He leaped in under a perfect guard, rocked his man right and left, then pounded through time after time with his right to the face. Paddy’s swings were blocked at every try and still the thrashing right held to its course until Ryan Was half blind with crimson and wholly wild with anger and impotence. Goss kept on until he could get no further and then dropped. He brought the two following rounds to an end after a single blow, and, heartened once more by the respite, whirled Into the thirty-third round with telling sledge hammers to the body before he went down.

At the Thirty fourth round it was anybody's fight. The wonderful endurance of the veteran and his trick of tightening up for a terrific round held out every hope to his .supporters that he could pull through. Ryan's blows so far chiefly directed at the head, had done him no serious injury and the careful, attention of his seconds sent him up after every Interval fresh and ready. Ryan, meanwhile, was terribly ripped and pounded and swollen, his face all on one side, his left eye closed: But for the fact that he never failed to come back as strong as and faster than when he started he must have been considered as well on the road to defeat

Show Amazing Vitality.

There seemed no limit to the energies of the combatants, as they fought through ten more brief but whirlwind rounds. The spectators had forgotten to yell. The suspense grew sharper. Closely matched as they were, the men were; approaching a climax In which one or the other must take the upper hand while the other must begin to flag. .Flesh and bone could not endure such a pace much longer. There was a momentary break In the thirty eighth round when Ryan back-heeled his man for a jarring fall.But Goss evened matters in the forty-first by a tremendous facer that snapped "Paddy" across the ring.

In the forty-fifth something happened. Those who watched saw only that Ryan led off with a smacking jolt to the .ribs and seemed to be landing an unusual number of body blows. But that lead, unnoticed though it was, formed the turning point in the battle. Coached from his corner Ryan now changed his tactics and began to center his attack upon vulnerable parts of .the veteran's defenses. When .he took that line, Goss gallant, and courageous as. any man who ever stood' in buff was beaten. Ryan henceforth used the body blow consistently, and when four rounds had passed the result was plain to the least observant spectator at the ring side.

Goss was failing. He no longer held himself erect and launched his blows with every inch of power. He crouched to ease his suffering, and occasionally shrank away when Ryan threatened one of his rib searchers. Not that he was ready to give up or that he had a thought of any result but victory. But Ryan had found him and barring accidents his Chance was gone. He made a magnificent rally In the fiftieth round, swept through Ryan's defences and knocked him off his feet. As always, Ryan was up again; undaunted,: and it may well be that the old fellow felt the first sharp nip of age when he saw his best efforts, after so much accomplished, apparently as unavailing as a summer breeze against the younger-man's massive physique.

"Joe's" last determined stand against the turn of events was mode in the fifty-second round, easily the severest and most desperate of the fight It was little more than an exchange of blow for blow at the center for the four minutes that it lasted, but in those four minutes Goss put forth every reserve he had nursed. He landed almost as he pleased for neither attempted to cover and when they had fought each other literally to a standstill, both covered in crimson, Ryan was as sound as ever. But Joe was going. From his this time he fought a losing battle, dangerous as a wounded and cornered animal, plucky and resolute to the last, coming back wickedly at instants, but slowly yielding to his triumphant antagonist. Youth would have its way.

Ryan's problem now was to land a knockout and His lack of experience lengthened the fight by at least twenty rounds. He continued to hammer the veteran's ribs but could not hasten the wearing process. small satisfaction at Intervals by spreading the decoration. The result was that ''Paddy" fought through the last part of the battle in very bad humor, was challenged repeatedly by "Joe's" seconds for fouling and was more than suspected of using his knee surreptitiously in the falls.

From the sixtieth round on Ryan went after Goss into his own corner and pounded him as long as "Joe"body. Goss fought all he knew, gathering his failing strength always for at least one effort In every round In the seventy-fourth Ryan administered a terrific drubbing about the ribs and allowed "Joe" to slash him on the face as often as it pleased him. Aside from his Injuries Goss was sapped by his wind, which had failed him. He was utterly unable to maneuver and could only stand with laboring lunges, until Ryanwas ready to leap upon him with heavy, crushing fists, while he sought vainly to return some portion of the punishment he endured.

From the eightieth round It was simply an exhibition of how far high courage and rock bottom stamina will carry a beaten man. Goss had no further hope that he could hurt Ryan or even check him. Paddy except for surface treatment was as sound and as strong as when he climbed through the ropes. Having withstood the best Goss could offer there was no chance he could be stopped now. But Goss would not yield. He was the Champion and if any man was to to take that honor from him it would only be when he was unable to lift a hand in defense. He had fought to long for the title to dishonor it by surrender. So he tottered and stumbled through six more rounds, while the young man played with him and hit him down repeatedly, angry at himself for his inability to land the coup de grace.

At the opening of the eighty-seventh round Goss got up and took two faltering steps toward the centre, when Ryan was across the ring at him In a rush. Joe could hardly raise his guard and when Ryan shot through a drive to the ribs he had reached the end. He dropped to his knees and his seconds carried him to his corner. When the referee called the men to the center once more he tried to get up but failed. Thereupon
Ryan was declared the winner.

“It’s nature, my boy” was the veterans simple comment. “It gave out”.

"But Goss would not yield. He was the Champion and if any man was to to take that honor from him it would only be when he was unable to lift a hand in defense."