Wells Birdsall

Name: Wells Birdsall
Hometown: Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA
Pro Boxer: Record

Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 97, Number 27, 20 March 1899

WELLS BIRDSALL AIMS HIGH. HOPES TO BECOME CHAMPION WELTERWEIGHT. Wisconsin Papers and Sports Declare Him a Future Worldbeater in His Class. "Wells Birdsall, the young welterweight boxer of the Sacramento Athletic Club, is now in Wisconsin and is using the skill he acquired in Sacramento quite profitably. In a letter to a friend here he mentions several glove fights he has had since leaving Sacramento, all of which he won. He is at present employed in the City of Two Rivers, Wis., but takes on any one that comes along looking for a fight in his class.' The papers there say he is the coming world's champion, and he admits that he has aspirations in that direction. The Manitowoc "Herald" publishes the following account of Birdsall's latest fight in Two Rivers: "Charles Higgins. the pride of Sheboygan's sporting element, was knocked out in a ten-round sparring contest by Wells Birdsall, a Two Rivers man. The event was pulled off at Voshardt's Opera-house Saturday evening under the auspices of the Arion Athletic Club of Two Rivers. The affair was attended by a large crowd of sports, among the spectators being a number of people from Sheboygan and Manitowoc. This was the first public exhibition of the kind ever attempted at Two Rivers, and the result was satisfactory, both financially and otherwise. 'The Herald's Two Rivers correspondent says of the event: 'Higgins, who has been 1 in training for some time, was in good condition. He has participated in several recent events and his backers had a great deal of confidence in his ability to put up a good fight. Birdsall is a Two Rivers man with a local reputation as a scientific scrapper, and his friends were not In the least disappointed in him. The two men were very evenly matched in weight. . " As they faced each other in the ring Higgins tipped the scales at 145 pounds and his opponent at 143 pounds. The fight was refereed by John T. Herzog of Manitowoc, and his accurate and prompt decisions were heartilycommended by all. " 'The first round was not marked by any special features, but it convinced Higgins that he had a warm task ahead of him. After the first fewrounds it was quite evident to the spectators that Birdsall was punishing his man to a finish and at the close of the sixth round Higgins was practically out. However, he recovered sufficiently to enter the ring when the seventh round was called, and was able to finish the ten rounds. Birdsall was declared an easy victor. His future in the prize ring is promising' " Birdsall has another fight on hand for the 30th of this month, when he is to meet the champion of Wisconsin He writes that he will have no trouble in disposing of his man.