Fight:93897

Tommy Ryan beat Philadelphia Jack O'Brien by NWS in round 6 of 6

• Date: 1904-01-27
• Location: National A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
• Referee: Bert Crowhurst

Kid McCoy, O'Brien's second, wrote in day-after report that he viewed it as a draw.

Ft Wayne Journal (wire report?) called it a draw.

Trenton Times seemed to rule it even.

Police Gazette scored for Ryan.

"Jack O'Brien and Tommy Ryan fought one of the fastest six-round bouts ever seen in this city and the Philadelphian had a slight advantage. O'Brien clearly outfought Ryan in the first four rounds and in the fifth dropped him with a hard blow to the jaw. Ryan took the count of eight and came up groggy. He saved himself by clinching until he had regained his hearings. A moment later Ryan drove a vicious left to O'Brien's stomach which sent the Philadelphian to his knees. Ryan seemed to regain his wind as the round progressed and landed repeatedly on O'Brien's stomach with vicious lefts. It was only the gong that saved O'Brien from being knocked out. In the sixth round honors were about even, both men having received severe punishment. When the gong sounded ending the fight both men were in very bad shape. Near the close of the fifth round, while O'Brien was on the floor, one of his seconds threw a sponge full of water on him. Many persons were of the opinion that this ended the fight, but the referee said no." (Daily Review)

San Francisco Call wire report ("The Fight by Rounds"): [1]