Ike Weir vs. Jack Havlin (1st meeting)

Ike Weir 117 lbs drew with Jack Havlin 120 lbs by PTS in round 61

• Date: 1887-07-20
• Location: Rocky Point, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA
• Referee: Jimmy Colville

Notes

This fight was held by lantern light in the woods of R.I. at a makeshift venue. Some 200 people attended. Tom O'Rourke and Jack Ashton seconded Havlin. Boston Councilman Billy Mahony, Colonel Daniel Murphy and Danny Gill seconded Weir. 3 minute rounds were fought. At the midway point of the battle Weir, despite having taken a brutal body beating by Havlin, had had the best of the close contest. But he was unable to capitalize due to both of his hands being broken. But Havlin couldn't take advantage in the second half to fully sway the momentum his way either, his eyes being so swollen that they had to be lanced after each round. Both men were floored three times apiece but were game and battled hard the whole way. However The Boston Herald reported "The Spider came out of the affray almost unmarked", whereas Havlin was "almost unrecognizable". The fight lasted four hours and seven minutes. Referee Colville consulted the fighters and the crowd and it was unanimously agreed to call it a draw. After interviewing several spectators the following day The Boston Daily Globe reported that "the general impression is that had the fight gone to a finish the Spider would have won," but overall "It proved the battle of the lives of both men, for if they should live to round out a century, it is extremely improbable that either of them will acquit themselves as they did in the struggle of last night. It will be forever memorable in the history of ring contests in this country."