Unfilmed classics - ringside views

A thread for the newspaper accounts of significant fights for which there was no film footage or for which the film footage has been lost.

STANLEY KETCHEL v SAM LANGFORD, APRIL 27 1910, PHILADELPHIA


Special to The New York Times. PHILADELPHIA, April 27.—The main
feature of the fight here to-night between Stanley Ketchel and Sam Langford, the colored light heavyweight, was the dis­satisfaction among the big crowd who saw the go—dissatisfied because they could not see more of the lively going which characterized the bout throughout.

It was a fight full of action from start to finish in which the only apparent damage was Ketchel's bloody face, the re­sult of Langford's straight jolts on the nose and mouth. Langford was the finished boxer and landed clean and hard on the white man, who was all willingness and determined to finish the black man in short order. Langford lost a clear title to the fight by his slowing up in the last part of the last round. He was entitled to a draw, however, and the doubt still remains whether or not he is Ketchel's master. Up to the last round he demonstrated this fact, but his slowness in the last round took a lot of credit from him. Many thought he was stalling, but only he could tell that with any certainty.

At 7 o'clock the doors were opened and a crowd that had blocked the wide street in front of the clubhouse surged In be­tween a double line of city policemen. The cheaper seats at $2 and $3 were soon occupied. An hour before the scheduled opening the management announced that the rec­ord for the club, a $23,000 gate, would be broken.

A crowd of New Yorkers, including Tom Foley, Gene McGuire, Arthur Murphy, "Honest John" Kelly, Charlie White, Billy Gibson, Jim Buckley, Tim Sullivan, Jimmy Johnson, Larry Mulligan, Johnny White, Billy Long, P. Paul, Eddie Milan, and Jimmy Kelly occupied seats around the ring. Another partv included Tom Jones, Billy Job, Charles Gates, Warren Bar­bour, the amateur heavyweight champion; Frank Mulken, M. Murray, John Mooney, and John Murray.

Langford was the first to appear in the ring. He was accompanied by Young Mississippi, George Byers, and George Cole, his seconds. The colored fighter received a warm reception. He was fol­lowed a moment later by Ketchel, who en­tered the ring with Eddie Baun, Jimmy Kelly, and Nick Muller. Ketchel was cheered to the echo as he crawled through the ropes.

Langford looked to weigh easily ten pounds more than his white opponent, though the latter had the advantage of height and reach. For an instant they fiddled after the gong announced the start, and then they broke for each other, coming to a clinch. Langford boxed and Ketchel took a chance and literallv threw his left in. It fell short, but lie tried again, always to be blocked by his clever opponent. Langford feinted and got home a left half swing to the body. More spar­ring with Ketchel boring in. The crowd hissed. A slight let up in the going, and Langford went in with both arms work­ing. He landed left and right on the body lightly. Ketchel got away with a left on the negro's stomach as the round ended.

There was no question of the willing­ness of the pair as they rushed at each other for the second round. Langford landed a stiff left on the side of the head. The crowd worked up to the realization that they were about to see a real fight. and cheered wildly as the fighters pegged away. Ketchel was always after Lang­ford, who was kept jumping continually, but the middleweight champion only landed once effectively at this stage. It was a hard right swing on the chest, as Langford was stepping away. Langford was measuring his man coolly, and backed and sidestepped the swings Ketchel was working. He stepped in as the round closed and landed a short half-arm left and then a right on the neck and side of the head.

Ketchel carried the fight to Langford as usual in the third round, but the black man saw him coming and landed pretty much as he pleased. Langford's blows were clean and had force back of them, but they were not doing much damage, apparently. To those close to the ring it was evident that Langford was shaping Ketchel up. The latter was busy at all times, however, and thinking only of rushing Langford. He kept trying his right shift low for the body, and landed it twice. The crowd went wild, for it was all with the white man. Langford was not at all worried, and came back with hard, straight rights and lefts on the neck. They were fighting furiously as the round closed, and exchanged a couple of punches even after the bell rang.

Langford was all scientific action as they toed the mark for the fourth period, and it looked as though close fighting was beginning to tell on Ketchel, who looked worried and a bit tired. His nose and mouth were bleeding from the straight lefts Langford was planting, but they did not deter Ketchel, who came along nevertheless. He was taking all that Langford sent across, and got back a few of his favorite right shifts for the body. Langford shook Ketchel up with straight lefts and a right uppercut close­ly following, just after they stepped to the centre Ketchel was rough in the clinches, while Langford boxed whenever he could get set. He was kept busy, though, dodging Ketchel's swings and getting out of the road of his rushes. Ketchel's many attempts to find the col­ored man were mostly futile, though he couldn't be denied. Langford missed a straight left lead for the head as the bell rang and slipped to the floor.

The crowd yelled like wild Indians in the final round. Ketchel started furiously and had Langford backing away, dodging and side-stepping to keep out of the road of the slamming Ketchel had ordered for him. It was a sort of a finish that the average crowd likes to see in a limited round go, because it was so full of ac­tion. Ketchel was showy, but he was not effective. About the middle of the round Langford stepped in and shoved over a left and right that landed beauti­fully. Ketchel staggered, but he was back at the little negro like a bull. Sam kept his hands quieter and Ketchel thought he saw a chance to slip one over. Langford immediately woke up and countered hard enough to crack an inch board. He didn't follow it, up, however, in the manner his friends knew he could. Ketchel kept hard at it and was trying like a demon at the bell rang. The crowd cheered him to the roof.


Source : http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00C1FF63F5F12738DDDA10A94DC405B808DF1D3

JAMES J JEFFRIES v JAMES J CORBETT ( II ) AUGUST 14 1903, SAN FRANCISCO

An extract from an ( almost full front page, ) article in the " New York Times "

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 14.—James Jef­fries, holder of the title of heavyweight champion of the world, made secure his claim to first place in the pugilistic world by defeating James J. Corbett, the former champion, after ten rounds of fast and fierce fighting in the Mechanics' Pavilion here tonight.

Ten thousand men seated about the arena saw the fight, the crowd represent­ing an expenditure for seats aggregating $54,000. This was the largest crowd ever assembled at a ringside in this country, and the third largest sum in dollars and cents ever contested for. The two that ex­ceeded it in receipts were the Corbett-Jeffries fight at Coney Island, $66;000, and the Corbett-McCoy fight at Madison Square Garden. New York, $63;000.

The scene about the big pavilion from 5 pm. until the men stepped into the ring was one of confusion. The gallery ticket holders formed in line on Hayes, Larkin, and Grove Streets in three large rows, and , although there was much crowding and scrimmages in the attempt to gain admit­tance, a hundred policemen kept perfect order once the doors were opened, The pa­vilion ticket holders were more leisurely about coming to claim their seats. Not un­til 9 o'clock were the chairs, boxes, and benches full. About the ring were many celebrities that have graced every pugi­listic encounter within the last decade.

Over on the south side of the arena more than 400 Jeffries admirers from Los Ange­les, the home of Jeffries, sat in a group. Official San Francisco was largely repre­sented. Benches, bar, council, and super­visors, in fact every branch of the city administration was at the ringside. There was less trouble in handling the big crowd than has been experienced on similar occasions. An unusualfy large force of police was on hand, distributed on the outside at the doors and throughout the pavilion a force of efficient ushers promptly conducted the ticketholders to their seats. At 9 o'clock Captain of Police Mooney entered the ring and had Billy Jordan announce that not until every man holding a ticket was seated would the contest go on. This announcement was greeted with cheers, and the few who had not already found their places were quickly seated.

Two preliminaries, bouts of six rounds each, kept the crowd interested until the time set for the big men to appear.

The ring looked large compared with the enclosures used heretofore in this city. In pursuance of an understanding with the big fighters, it was made the regulation twenty four foot ring. Heretofore twenty foot rings have been the rule. The floor was solidlv constructed, heavily and tightly padded. While it was not an ideal ring for fast footwork, it did not impede the speed of either man. Above the ring at a height of twelve feet were suspended eight large arc lights, shaded in such a manner as to throw the greatest light straight down on the men.

Just before the fight, the betting was 2 to 3, with considerable Corbett money in sight. There was no big betting on the result, but some good wagers were placed on rounds. The favorite seemed to be even money that Corbett would stay twelve rounds.

At 9:15 the crowd rose as one man as champion Jeffries walked down the long aisle and vaulted through the ropes.

THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.

ROUND 1. The men came to the centre, Jeffries feinting and Corbett stepping lively. Jeffries swung left over Corbett' s head. Cor­bett came in quickly to a clinch, and they were very slow about breaking. Jeffries put a light left to Corbett's ribs, and they refused to break. Corbett put his right over the heart and clinched. Corbett stayed close in and put a hard right on the body. They were exceed­ingly careful in the break. Jeffries forced his man across the ring and put a left lightly on the body. It was noticed that Corbett displayed very little footwork, but stayed close, and put two rights solidly over the heart. Jeffries missed a right for the body, but put it on the chest lightly. As they broke Corbett quickly stepped in and put his right to the heart. Jef­fries laughingly remarked, " Ah " The first round indicated that Jeffries is very fast. Cor­bett did not do any fancy work.

ROUND 2. Jeffries came up quickly and missed a left for the head, and the men came to a clinch. They would not break, Corbett claiming Jeffries was holding on. In the break Jeffries swung his left on the back of the head lightly. Corbett had failed thus far to land a single left-hand blow. He attempted it at this stage, but was too close in. Jeffries forced him to the ropes, coming dangerously near the jaw with a left hook. Thev immediately came into a clinch, in the break of which Corbett hooked a smashing left to the jaw. Corbett sent in left and right to the body but got a left hook on the head. Jef­fries came on quickly, but Corbett clinched. Cor­bett sent in a peculiar right-hand half unpercut for the jaw, but was a trifle low. They fought carefully to the end. Corbett had shown very little speed so far. while Jeffries showed im­provement in speed and cleverness.

ROUND 3 Both came to the centre, Jeffries missing a left and Corbett clinching. Jeffries hooked his left to the neck and Corbett jolted him over the ribs with a short right. Corbett increased in speed somewhat, and had to run to avoid a rush. He turned quickly and put his right over the heart hard. There was a lot of clinching, neither man taking a chance in the break. Jeffries barely missed a right for Corbett's jaw, and roughed him in the clinch. There was much hooting from the galleries. Jeffries forced the fighting fiercely. Corbett began using his left hook on the jaw, landing three times, and also a left on the stomach. The blow did not hurt Jeffries, and he only smiled and chased his man around the ring. It was a rough round, with honors even and Jeffries showing a wish to force the fighting.

ROUND 4 Jeffries went after Corbett, but clever clinching and blocking prevented damage. Referee Graney stopped the fighting to look at Jeffries's glove, which was burst, but told them to go on with the round. Jeffries fought hard in clinches, but Corbett got in too close to receive any damage. Jeffries swung hard left to the chest and got left on the mouth and right over the heart. There were calls that Jeffries was fighting foul. Corbett got in close, jabbing Jeffries with his left several times, but the blows were so light that Jeffries laughed and came back. Corbett slipped to his knees from a left in the stomach. Jeffries came back with another one, but Corbett blocked it. Corbett was strong and ran to his corner at the close.

ROUND 5 Police Captain Mooney entered the ring to look at Jeffries' glove. Fitzsimmons and Ryan went to Jeffries' corner and cut the glove off. Another was immediately substituted, but not until thirty seconds of the fifth round had expired. Jeffries fought for the body, Cor­bett doing some fast stepping to keep away. Corbett did not seem to have a bit of force be­hind his left hand hooks, and alternated with a short right over the heart which seemed to be the best he had. Jeffries stood up straight and hooked Jim twice in the stomach. Corbett put the best blow thus far on Jeffries' ribs, but got a left on the neck in return. Jeffries put a hard left hook on Corbett's jaw, following it up with left and right for the body. Corbett held on and the gong rang. Corbett seemed tired and did not seem to have any force behind his blows. His old cutting left stabs were not in evidence.

ROUND 6 Jeffries took his crouching position and put left on head. He then stood straight and put left on chin. Corbett went down for nine seconds. He got up and stalled for a moment, then clinched. He took left on tho body and another on the head, but fought back gamely. He crossed Jeffries with right to the jaw but without damage. Fighting at close quarters Corbett uppercut Jeffries to the chin.

ROUND 7. Jeffries went after Corbett fierce­ly. Corbett used his feet to good advantage at this stage. He tried to use his once lightning left but it was a lame excuse. He came in quickly and sent his right to the heart, but Jeffries came back with left on the body. Cor­bett was holding on saying: " He can't knock me out." " He can't knock me out. Go on, Jim, see if you can knock me out." They clinched repeatedly. Corbett landed several short arm left and rights on the head. As quickly
as they came into a break Jeffries was on top of him, forcing him to a clinch. Corbett took a left on the head, and uppercut to the chin. Corbett was fighting faster on his feet at this stage, using his fancy boxing tactics, but they were of no use against his burly opponent.

ROUND 8. Corbett staggered Jeffries with a left to the nose and ducked Jeffries' left. Jef­fries hooked a right to the body, Corbett sending in half a dozen lefts and rights on Jcffries' face, which he accepted pleasantly. Jeffries was coming toward his man all the time and in a breakaway almost landed a right on the jaw. Jeffries put a hard left to the body, but got two lefts on the face, and came back with a left on the head. Corbett endeavored to stab Jeffries in the eyes, but thus far his blows had not raised a bump. Corbett fought cleverly at this stage, sending in half a dozen lefts and rights on the jaw. He seemed to improve 100 per cent., and the great crowd was in a state of wild excite­ment. They cheered him to the echo. This was Corbett's round. He had changed his style and was using some of his old-time cleverness in ducking and blocking.

ROUND 9. Jeffries came at Corbett with a rush. Corbett put a left on the face and avoided a return. Jeffries leaned heavlly on Corbett In the clinch. Corbett seemed as strong as ever, and there was a long series of clinches. Corbett put three rights on the body at close quarters. He hooked Jeffries on the jaw three times with left and crossed with right. He blocked Jeffries' efforts and at close quarters put three rights on body and one on the jaw. He repeat­edly stabbed Jeffries on the mouth with lefts. Corbett's left cheek showed a lump from one of Jeffries' close-arm blows. Jeffries had a sim­ilar mark. Jeffries hooked a left to the body, and the referee had trouble In separating the men. At the close Corbett stabbed Jeffries' mouth with his left three times, but they were weak efforts.

ROUND 10—Jeffries stood straight up and came after his man without hesitation. Corbett seemed to be making a waiting fight. They exchanged lefts to the face and Jeffries made a vicious effort. Jeffries sent a left hook to the stomach and Corbett went down for nine seconds. He got up and received a left in the stomach and a right on the jaw. He went down, and after the count of seven Tommy Ryan threw up the sponge. Corbett was suffering pain and a chair was brought for him. After a minute's rest he re­covered and got up and shook hands with Jeffries.


Source : http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05EFD81739E433A25756C1A96E9C946297D6CF&scp=1&sq=James+J+Corbett&st=p

HARRY GREB v MICKEY WALKER JULY 2 1925, NEW YORK

Newspaper : The Gazette Times
Date : July 3rd. 1925
Author : Harry Keck

Harry Keck telegraphed this to the newspaper immediately after the fight, the night of July 2nd., while it was fresh in his mind.

NEW YORK, July 2 - In a 15 round fight, which will go down in the annals of time, and which was one of the hardest contests of his long and colorful career, Harry Greb of Pittsburgh successfully defended his world's middleweight championship against the ferocious assault of Mickey Walker of Elizabeth, N. J., the world's welterweight champion, in the 15 round wind-up of a great all-star boxing card at the Polo Grounds here tonight.

Greb was awarded the unanimous decision of the judges at the finish of the gruelling struggle and no one in the capacity crowd raised a voice against the verdict, for it was well deserved.

The show was not only an artistic success, but also went over with a bang financially. The crowd totalled 50,000 and the receipts were approximately $375,000, assuring huge net proceeds for the charity in whose name it was staged.

Greb came within a punch or two of upsetting the dope by scoring a knockout in the 14th round, when he sent Mickey reeling helplessly into his own corner, but he did not have sufficient steam left in his punches to finish the job.

Walker Sets Pace

Greb fought a very careful and cagey battle to score his victory over the greatest welterweight the world has seen since Joe Walcott. He let his younger opponent-younger by seven years-set the pace in the early rounds, and was far in arrears when the scrap was one-third completed.

Then he gradually speeded up in his work and took the lead away from Walker, to win hands down at the finish. With an exception of a rally by Walker in the twelfth round, Greb simply overwhelmed him the last third of the journey, and Mickey was indeed lucky to last the limit.

For sheer punishment handed out by both men, the bout has had few parallels among top-notchers. Walker's face was badly puffed and he was bleeding from his mouth, nose and right eye when the final gong clanged. He was bleeding from the nose and mouth during most of the battle and the eye was cut in the last session, making him a bloody smear.

Greb Takes Punishment

As for Greb, he had to withstand a terrific bombardment of the body punches throughout the first half dozen rounds and at spasmodic intervals thereafter. Mickey apparently had taken a leaf out of the book of Gene Tunney and had made up his mind that Greb could be beaten through the medium of a never-ceasing volley of solid lefts to the stomach.

The crowd feared for Greb as he took these smashes in the early rounds and winced, but kept in the running.

In the fifth round Walker suddenly shifted his attack to the head and a solid left smash to the mouth caused Greb to spit out teeth. Harry instinctively put up his hand to his mouth and hesitated momentarily, but he quickly caught himself, and beginning with the next round he cut loose and began to whittle away Mickey's early lead.

Harry Cuts Loose

Of the initial five rounds Walker carried the first three. Greb had a slight shade in the fourth and the fifth was even. Greb won the sixth, seventh and eighth, and Walker held his own in the ninth.

In the tenth, Greb gave the spectators their first glimpse at his speed, and made Walker break ground for the first time in the fight, through the furiousness of his attack. In the eleventh round Greb began to adopt smothering tactics, forcing Walker repeatedly to the ropes and pinioning him there by pressing his weight against him and flailing away vigorously with both fists to the head and body.

He had Walker all at sea until late in the round when Mickey suddenly straightened up and sent a powerful left to the jaw which caught Harry as he came bounding in and badly dazed the Pittsburgher and brought the crowd up cheering for Mickey.

Greb In Danger

Greb was in grave danger, but his ring generalship asserted itself and pulled him out of the hole. He grabbed a clinch until his head cleared and then proceeded to smother mickey against the ropes again until the bell ended the round.

Walker made a good recovery in the twelfth round . He started off swinging punch for punch with Greb and kept it up throughout the session, with Walker driving home his blows with greater force than Harry.

In the thirteenth round Greb began another of his furious drives and battered Walker around the ring throughout, keeping him against the ropes most of the time, Mickey was very tired and flustered when the bell rang.

He was still confused when he came up for the fourteenth round and Harry resumed where he had left off. He rushed Walker against the ropes several times and fairly mobbed him with punches until mickey was weak and staggering.

Mickey Reels to Corner

Suddenly Harry shot a right to the jaw and mickey reeled across the ring into his own corner. He seemed to be helpless and Greb rushed in to finish him. However, Mickey had sufficient presence of mind to sway with the punches and Greb tired himself out swinging at him. Just before the round ended Mickey got out of the corner and fought off Greb with a left to the body. The welterweight champion never escaped a knockout by a narrower margin.

Ends With Rally

Walker's wonderful condition showed itself in the fine recovery he made during the minutes rest before the final round. He came up fairly strong and made a great rally, fighting the tired and also weakened Greb on almost even terms. Harry, however, seemed to be playing it safe in this last round, knowing that he was sure of the decision.

Greb weighed in at 159 pounds and Walker at 152 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Walker seemed to be the stronger of the two when they started, but he exhausted much of his sturdiness in the early rounds, and Greb robbed him of some more by constantly using his weight advantage against him in the clinches and on the ropes.

THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.

ROUND 1. They shook hands and returned to their corners to come out fighting. They immediately went close, where both scored effectively. Greb worked his trick of getting behind his opponent, confusing but not hurting him. Walker sent a hard left to the body as greb rushed. Walker sent Greb to the ropes with left and right to the body but Greb came back fighting. Walker sent another hard left to the body and seemed to hurt Greb. Walker sent a hard right to the body after Greb had scored with his one-two punch to the head. They were fighting furiously as the round ended, with walker scoring heavily to the body with solid lefts. Walker's round.


ROUND 2. They met in mid-ring and Greb sent a right to the body. Greb blocked left and right and when Walker insisted on mauling at close quarters, Greb gave him some of his own medicine. Walker sent a left swing low. Walker outslugged Greb at close quarters and Greb broke up his attack by forcing him to the ropes , holding with his left and pummelling with his right to the body, landing solidly, Greb suddenly stood his ground and traded punch for punch with Walker, making Mickey back up. A right to the head almost sent Mickey to the floor. It was a great slugging bee and had the crowd cheering. They continued the furious fighting until the bell. It was another Walker round, on his clean punching. Greb's seconds worked furiously on his arms and legs during the intermission.


ROUND 3. They went close and clinched. Greb pushed Walker to the ropes and clubbed him to the head with his right. Greb was wild with a left swing and Walker sent a hard right to the body. Greb sent left and right to the head and Walker out-punched him in an exchange of swings. Mickey was keeping up his concentration on Greb's body, trying to sap the Pittsburgher's vitality through this method. Walker sent another left to the body and Greb sent a right chop to the head. Greb crossed his right to the head and sent left to the head as Walker moved in. It was another round for Walker, on his solid body punching.


ROUND 4. Walker started with another left smash to the body. Greb crossed his right to the jaw and followed with a left to the head. He was short with a left and Walker sent over a right to the jaw. Walker landed another solid right to the body and Greb crossed with two rights to the jaw. Walker rushed and sent right and left to the head but Greb only smiled. Greb sent a wild right which landed on Walker's back, then Harry wrestled Mickey around, again getting behind him. Harry sent another left to the body and knocked down a left to the head by Mickey. Greb, who was taking matters fairly easy at this stage, laughed as mickey tried to free his arms in a clinch. Greb had a shade in the round, his first of the fight and Walker seemed to have tired considerably as he walked to his corner.


ROUND 5. Greb led the first punch, a right to the side of Mickey's body. Greb rushed in with both fists flying, forcing Mickey to the ropes. Walker rushed him back and scored solidly to the mouth. Greb spat and felt his mouth with his glove. A couple of his teeth had been knocked out. Walker was bleeding from his nose. They did a lot of wrestling and mauling. The action was very slow during the last half of the round. It was an even round.


ROUND 6. They immediately went went close and flayed away to the body with their rights. Walker sent another left to the body. Walker ducked completely under a left and they clinched. Walker sent another left to the body as Greb started to move around him. Greb held Walker with his left and pounded his kidney's with the right. He repeated the operation. Greb again went completely around Walker but did no damage. They staged a holding and hitting session, with Greb winning the honors. Walker sent two lefts to the body. Greb jogged to his corner when the bell sounded. He earned a shade in the session on his work at close quarters.


ROUND 7. Greb rushed, but Walker blocked a right to the head. Greb forced Walker to the ropes but was unable to land effectively. Harry crashed a right to the jaw and stayed close to walker, pounding him about. They traded blows in close, with Greb having the edge. Mickey brought up a hard right to the body. Greb sent a right to the head and they traded blows in close. Both landed lightly to the head, and again they they flayed away in a semi-clinch. Walker almost backed between the ropes, but Greb pulled him close and they shook hands. Harry had Walker against the ropes, hitting him lightly when the bell rang. The referee almost on top of them, wrenched his knee and fell down and as the men came off the ropes they had to step over him. It was Greb's round, he being the aggressor almost throughout.


ROUND 8. Greb came out full of fight and sent a series of short rights to the head. Walker retaliated with a left to the body. They traded left swings to the body, Greb scoring first and Walker countering. Harry began to weave up and down in Dave Shade fashion, and Walker nailed him with a left hook to the jaw. Harry came back, however, with a shower of punches which forced Walker into a corner. Walker scored with four hard blows to the body in rapid succession. Harry sent two fast rights to the head in a semi-clinch and Walker went to the wrong corner when the bell sounded. Greb again had a shade.


ROUND 9. They met in mid-ring and clinched, neither being able to break loose to land a punch. Greb crowded Walker to the ropes and mauled away, but did no damage. Greb blocked a left to the body and again backed Walker to the ropes when the referee parted them. Walker sent a hard left to the body and again Greb rushed him wildly to the ropes. The referee spoke warningly to Greb. Mickey sent a left to the body and put a whipping left to the head, followed by one to the body in return. Walker had the better of an exchange at close quarters. Greb again backed Walker to the ropes, leaning his weight on mickey. Mickey's work at close quarters gave him an even break in the round.


ROUND 10. Greb backed away from a right to the head, Greb piled in with left and right to head, followed by right to body and another left to head. Greb sent another right across. He blocked several body blows and then whipped over another right to the head. Harry rushed furiously and backed Walker to the ropes under a windmill of punches. Walker steadied himself as his back touched the ropes and let go a right which grazed greb's jaw. Harry continued to do the forcing with Mickey getting in only an occasional left to the body. Greb jolted Mickeys head back with a succession of rights to the head, and it was Greb's most decisive round of the bout. He was beginning to step on the gas and show some of his real speed.


ROUND 11. Greb backed Walker into Mickey's own corner and held him a prisoner there while he pumped an unceasing stream of lefts to his unprotected head, until the referee broke them. Walker was furious when he got out of this awkward position but Greb immediately backed him to the ropes again and belabored him with all manner of punches. He again forced Mickey back and was giving him a lacing when Walker suddenly straightened up and sent a powerful left to the jaw, dazing Greb. The crowd yelled for Mickey, but before he could take advantage of his opportunity Greb was on top of him and found a clinch and hung on until his head cleared. Then he backed Walker to the ropes again in a neutral corner and kept him there, smothering him with a mauling attack until the bell rang. During the fight the referee again fell down. Greb's round by wide margin.


ROUND 12. They started off at a fast pace, with walker swinging right with Greb. He was outpunching Greb, both to the body and head, although Greb was scoring the greater number of blows. Greb again backed Walker to the ropes. It was Walker's round on clean hitting.


ROUND 13. They started off swinging with both fists and walker scored the first effective punch, a left to the body. Greb again circled around Walker and forced him to the ropes, but did not land. They traded swings from a distance, both landing lightly. Greb piled in with left and right to the jaw. Walker was talking to Greb. Sent a right uppercut to the jaw. Greb again forced Mickey to the ropes and sent another right to the head and outfought him in close. Greb drove Walker into the latter's own corner and landed a good right to the jaw. Greb again circled around Walker just before the bell rang. It was Greb's round by a wide margin. Walker's face was badly puffed as he went to his corner and he seemed tired and confused.


ROUND 14. They traded light blows at the start. The referee was having a lot of difficulty with his trick knee and several times had to grasp the ropes to hold himself up when he turned quickly. Greb had Walker completely at sea when he turned on his speed. A right to the jaw sent Walker staggering into his own corner and he seemed to be on his way out. Greb piled in to finish him, but Mickey stood up under the rain of punches and came back with a solid left to the head in mid-ring. Greb tired himself considerably trying for a knockout. Walker was all but out on his feet when the bell rang and his chief second, Teddy Hayes, pulled him back to his corner. Greb, also, was exhausted from his efforts.


ROUND 15. They shook hands. Greb sent a right to the head and forced Walker to the ropes, where he sent lefts to the body. Walker exchanged a few swings and then caught Greb off balance and Harry almost fell down. The crowd was in an uproar. Greb sent a right to the head and then forced Walker to the ropes, where he laid on him and mauled him with a game rally and slugged punch for punch with Greb. Greb was stalling for time as Mickey rushed . Greb again got Walker against the ropes and dropped an overhead to his chin. Greb sent another right to the head. Greb's round.


Source : http://www.harrygreb.com/homepagewithframeset.html

Apparently the Greb - Walker fight was actually filmed... However mysteriously no one knows where it is! Unless it's just a myth.

Bang on, Alex. The film has been lost over the years. Probably in somebody's attic as we speak.

ABE ATTELL v JIM DRISCOLL FEBRUARY 19 1909, NEW YORK.

New York Tribune., February 20, 1909

ATTELL MEETS MASTER

Driscoll outpoints American champion in fast bout.

On the eve of his departure for the other side, Jem Driscoll, champion featherweight boxer of England, earned the honors with Abe Attell the American champion, in a ten-round bout at the National Athletic Club in this city last night.

Of course, no decision was given. It was the cleverest encounter seen here in years, Driscoll's footwork and ducking, especially his famous dipping, causing general admiration. Attell was unquestionably out-pointed.

Every available in space within the enclosure was occupied long before the principals crawled through the ropes, and had the seating capacity of the club been double the size the condition would probably have been the same. Choice seats purchased by the members in advance brought fancy prices.

Driscoll ruled a favorite in the betting, although the odds at the ringside were not so long as quoted earlier in the day. The men weighed in at 12 o'clock and neither exceeded 124 pounds. After a long wrangle Charley White was selected as referee.

THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS

There was little to choose between the men in the first round. Attell tried to force matters, and although he landed a few body punches, Drlscoll's lightning left found the American boy's face frequently. It was Driscoll's round on points.

Attell improved considerably in the second round, reaching the body and face in rapid succession with solid punches. Driscoll responded, however, with straight lefts to the mouth and eye. While the Englishman's blocking was marvellous, Attell more than held his own.

Another left by Driscoll to Attell's eye did not help the American boy any in the third round, and the champion found it difficult to avoid Driscoll's accurate left. The latter also staggered his man with a right to the jaw and the Briton easily had the better of the argument when the bell sent them to their corners.

Driscoll shook his man up with solid punches In the fourth, and a little later cut Attell's eye. This was Driscoll's round. So were all the others, the foreigner occasionally scoring two and three times without a return.

A change came in the seventh round, when Attell, after a left to the nose, staggered Driscoll with a blow on the jaw. This round ended in Attell's favor.

After a fairly even eighth round, in which both men reached the face with lefts, Driscoll forced his man to clinch in the next with a wicked right to the jaw. This was shortly before the bell.

Both men were strong throughout the tenth round, but Driscoll landed two blows to the other's one. They had just broken out of a clinch when the clang of the gong ended hostilities.


Source : http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1909-02-20/ed-1/seq-5/;words=ATTELL+Driscoll+AttelL+Attell?date1=1906&date2=1912&searchType=advanced&lccn=sn83030214&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=Driscoll+Attell&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=0

HumanWindmill wrote:Bang on, Alex. The film has been lost over the years. Probably in somebody's attic as we speak.

Probably worth a few bob also!!

What interested me most about the reports i've read of the fight is that Greb was expected to weigh around 165lbs in ring only a few hours after weighing 158.5lbs at a 2 o'clock weight in.

BOB FITZSIMMONS v JAMES J JEFFRIES ( I ) JUNE 9 1899, NEW YORK

New York Times, June 10 1899


The long-heralded prizefight, known by a pleasant fiction of New York law as a box­ing contest, between Robert Fitzsimmons, who held the championship of the world, and James J. Jeffries, the aspiring boiler-maker from California, was fought last night in the building of the New Coney Island Sporting Club. It resulted in an indisputable victory for Jeffries in the eleventh round. Consequent­ly the world has a new champion pugilist this morning and Fitzsimmons, who knocked out Corbett, who knocked out Sulli­van, has taken his place in the long pro­cession of fistic heroes known in ring circles as " back numbers " or "has beens."

The work of changing champions occu­pied a little less than forty-four minutes. How much the two men gained in money nobody knows. On a rough estimate it is said that Fitzsimmons, whose dignity de­manded large pecuniary inducements to tempt him to display his prowess upon a comparatively unknown man, will receive about $25000 of the gate receipts as his share, besides contingent profits from the vitascope, which took photographs of the fight and will reproduce them indefinitely. Jeffries will do as well and is probably richer by a comfortable amount in side bets, to say nothing of gratuities from winners, who are naturally all his enthusiastic friends.

The room in which the battle was fought is 200 feet long by 100 wide, and is 40 feet high. Ceilings, walls, and rafters are stained a light brown. From the arena tiers of seats arise to within fifteen feet of the ceiling. In the centre of the arena rises the square platform, with the three stout manila ropes enclosing the square in which the fighting was done. Over the ring, up among the rafters, four strong arc lamps were hung. Twenty other arc lamps, equidistant, hang alongside the arena. High above the ring hung a square, flying gallery, suspended from the rafters by iron rods.

At 9 o'clock all the arena seats were oc­cupied, and the tiers of seats banked at each side and the ends presented masses of white faces and shirt fronts. There was a clamor of thousands of tongues and a cloud of tobacco smoke drifting up and gathering in a haze against the roof.

There was a great cheer and a rattle of applause when Jeffries walked in a little after 9 o'clock, pushing his way through the men packed along the arena. He looked huge and rather angry than pleased, and, with his red sweater under a sack coat, and a flimsy cap on the back of his head resting on his thick black hair, was the most care­lessly dressed and the roughest-looking man in the room. There was a fainter cheer as Fitzsimmons was announced, and after his disappearance there were symptoms of impatience and cries and hoots began to sound from around the house.

The rumor that there was a dispute over the rules had gone abroad, and it caused impatience and dissatisfaction. The uncer­tainty of Chief of Police Devery's intentions added to the uneasy feeling. The men there had not come to see whether Fitzsimmons or Jeffries was the better boxer. They wanted to see which was the " best man," which could hit hardest, endure the most pain and fatigue, keep his head, and use his skill the better when breath was coming hard and short and the body was sore and the muscles tired and resenting the fearful strain upon them.

At 10 o'clock there were yet vacant patches in the expanses of reserved seats opposite the ring on each side. The crowd amused itself watching workmen on the flying platform patch a broken railing and put the finishing touches on the rows of black vitascope machines, which looked like mortars trained on the ring below. Stamp­ing in imitation of drum beats, whistles and cat calls, and ironical cheers relieved the monotony.

But the annoyance of waiting seemed to be forgotten when a cheer began at the eastern end of the great building, and the men there were seen to rise in their seats. The mass of humanity surged up like a great wave as a mound of roses appeared moving through the throng down on the floor. This was a gigantic. horseshoe of pink, white, and crimson roses, with Ameri­can flags above it, and bearing the inscrip­tion, " Good luck to the champion." Behind this aesthetic proclamation, which was carried by two men, Fitzsimmons stalked solemnly, like the chief figure in a classic spectacle. His bearing was solemn, like that of a, man who felt that he was about to perform a rite with the eyes of an admiring world concentrated upon him. He wore a bath robe of pale blue, gathered at the waist, and his head was bare. His three attendants, in white flannel under­shirts and long trousers, followed him, two of them bearing galvanized iron buckets and broad palm leaf fans, one of them with a long bottle driven into his hip pocket.

Jeffries was more on the rough-and-ready order. He moved briskly and swung his shoulders and wore a red sweater, with suspenders over it, and the breeches of ordinary,commonplace humanity; but his three seconds carried the galvanized iron buckets and the bottles and fans and were also in their undershirts.


THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.

ROUND 1. The men met in the centre of the ring. They feinted, with Fitzsimmons breaking ground. Jeffries kept almost in the centre of the ring. Jeffries was evidently trying to get the right over. Fitzsimmons led left to head, but Jeffries ducked cleverly. Jeffries led left and fell short. He led for stomach and again fell short. Again he led a left swing, but Fitzsimmons was out of the way. Jeffries tried right for body and left for head, but Fitz­slmmons blocked and got away clean. Fitz­simmons tried left, landing on neck. Fitz­slmmons essayed a right swing for the neck, landing lightly, and they came to a clinch, but broke clean. Jeffries tried a straight left for jaw, but did not reach, and FItzsimmons blocked an attempt at a left hook. shooting his left to the ear as the bell rang.

ROUND 2. Fitzslmmons in middle of the ring made Jeffries break, and FItzsimmons sent left to body. Jeffries countered with stiff left on face, and Jeffries tried left for body, but was neatly blocked. Jeffries then assumed a crouch­ing attitude, boring in with his left on the body, but was again blocked, and they came to a clinch. Jeffries landed two lefts on the body and shot the left three times to Fitzsimmons' face, without a return. Fitzsimmons tried his right for the head, but was short, and they came to a clinch, the referee going be­tween them. Jeffries tried a left chop for the head, but Fitzsimmons ducked safely. Jeffries tried a left swing for the head and another for the body, but Fitzsimmons ducked away from him. Jeffries then knocked Fitzsimmons flat on his back with a straight left on the face. The champion was up in two seconds, and then the bell rang.

ROUND 3. Fitzsimmons looked very determined when he came up for this round, with Jeffries on the aggressive. They clinched twice without doing damage. Fitzsimmons tried a right hook for the body, but failed, and it was then seen that he was bleeding from the nose. First blood was claimed for Jeffries. After another clinch Fitzsimmons landed a hard left on Jeffries' face and repeated it three times, coming to the centre of the ring. Fitzsimmons landed a left swing on the jaw and a left hook on the ear. Jeffries came back with a left hook on the side of the head, and they came to a clinch. After some feinting Jeff­ries sent both hands to the body and drove Fitzsimmons back with a left on the chest. Fitz­simmons endeavored to land a left swing on the head, and they came to a clinch. Fitzsimmons landed a left hook on the head, Jeffries countering on the face just as the round ended.

ROUND 4. Fitzsimmons came up determined and tried a right swing, failing to land, and both clinched. Jeffries tried a left for the neck, but Fitzsimmons got inside of his lead, landing left on the wind. Jeffries sent two hard left hooks to the side of Fitzsimmons's head, jarring the champion each time. In the mix-up Fitzsimmons got his left to head and right to body. After some fiddling and feinting Fitzsimmons sent a left straight to the eye. and was heavily countered on the body by Jeffries' right. A hard blow over the heart by Fitzsimmons was answered by Jeffries with a left on the neck, and then Jeffries planted a heavy left on the chest and Fitzsim­mons broke ground, but returned quickly, shooting his left to the jaw.This was an even round.

ROUND 5. Fitzsimmons led off with a left to the face, splitting Jeffries' left eye, which bled freely. Jeffries retaliated with a hard left on the ear. and Fitzsimmons tried his right for the dam­aged eye, failing to land. Fitzsimmons tried left for head, but Jeffries ducked and a clinch fol­lowed. Fitzsimmons put a light left on Jeff­ries' head and forced him to the ropes. The Californlan broke, but clinched immediately. Jeffries tried a left swing for the bodv and left an opening which Fitzsimmons failed to take advantage of. Jeffries, encouraged by this, sent two lefts to the jaw and a right on the forehead without a return. Fitzsimmons rushed, but in trying to side step almost fell through the ropes, but regained himself, and came back with a hard left on neck and right on body. Jeffries replied with two stiff hits on face as Fitzsim­mons crowded in on him. At this moment the bell separated them.

ROUND 6. Fitzsimmons jumped across the ring and Jeffries broke ground. Fitzsimmons swung his left for head, landing lightly and blocked a right lead for the body. Both tried lefts for the head, but were short. Then Fitzsimmons put his left to the face and missed a right cross for the jaw. Fitzsimmons was still on the aggressive. He sent his left to Jeffries' face. Jeffries countered on Fitzsimmons's wind. Fitzsimmons crowded in and sent his left for the wind, and Jeffries crossed his right to the ear. They broke from a clinch and Fitzsimmons sent a left to the face and a hard right over the in­jured eye. Another clinch followed, and the referee had to separate them. Fitzsimmons sent his left twice to the head and followed with a hard left on the chest. Jeffries fought back wildly, landing both hands outside Fitzsimmons' guard, and after another clinch Fitzsimmons uppercut his opponent with his right on the wind. This was the last blow of the round, which was in Fitzsimmons' favor.

ROUND 7. Jeffries was a bit slow coming to the scratch. He broke ground, making a circle of the ring. Fitzsimmons tried right to head, landing lightly, and Jeffries got a left to the ribs. Jef­fries jabbed his left to the ribs and got away clean. Then the Californian endeavored to land a straight left for the face, but was blocked neatly and received a left counter on the ribs. Fitzsimmons was on the aggressive and sent a left far back on the neck. Jeffries tried to crowd Fitzsimmons on the ropes, but Fitzsimmons got away nicely. Then in a rapid mix-up both swung rights and lefts for the head, landing lightly. Then Fitzsimmons hooked a left for the side of the head and Jeffries jumped in with a right hard on the body. Jeffries swung his left for the head, but Fitzsimmons got inside of it and drove his right over the heart, when the gong sent them to their corners. This was Fitz­simmons' round.

ROUND 8. Jeffries was tardy in coming up, and the referee had to wave his hand to him to come to the scratch. Both men rushed matters, without doing damage other than clinching, until Fitzsimmons sent his left to the rihs and Jeffries hooked two lefts to the face. Jeffries tried with his right, but was short. Fitzsim­mons countering lightly on the chest. Fitzsim­mons put a straight left on Jeffries' bad eye. Jeffries came back with a hard left on the body. Fitzsimmons endeavored to land a vicious swing with his left on the body, but Jeffries came back with a similar blow on Fitzsimmons' head. Jeffries then bored in and sent a straight left to Fitzsimmons' face, staggering the champion to the ropes. As Fitzsimmons walked to his corner he smiled at his seconds, but nevertheless Jeffries had the best of this round.

ROUND 9. Both came up willingly, with Fitz­simmons the aggressor, but Jeffries sent him back with a straight blow to the face. Fitzsim­mons missed a left swing for the head and re­ceived a hard right on the body. Then they clinched, and after the breakaway both tried lefts at close quarters, Jeffries landing twice. Fitz­simmons, still on the aggressive, was sent back once more with a left on the body. After another clinch Jeffries put two smart left raps on the nose, which made Fitzsimmons wince. Jeffries played again for the head, smartly, with his left, hitting straight. Then a back-hand blow brought his left in contact with Fitzsimmons' nose. Fitzsimmons responded to this and clinched. Jeffries threw his right over the heart with all his might and had Fitzsimmons guessing when the bell rang. Jeffries had decidedly the best of the round.

ROUND 10. Jeffries came up looking confident and Fitzsimmons wore an earnest look on his face. The Californian was first to land with a straight left on the body, bringing it up to the head, Fitzsimmons clinching. Going into the clinch Fitzsimmons drove his left hard to the wind. After a lot of fiddling, Fitzsimmons tried a left swing, but went wide of the mark, but caught the Callfornian a second later with a swing on the nose. A straight left from Jeff­ries made Fitzsimmons' head wobble, and then a left swing on the jaw put Fitzsimmons on his back. Fitzsimmons was very groggy when he got up in seven seconds and was sent down again with left and right on the jaw. He came up again in five seconds and Jeffries rushed him into a corner, trying hard to finish the cham­pion, who was very weak. Jeffries was too anxious and failed to finish his man.

ROUND 11. Fitzsimmons came up slowly, but assumed the aggressive, Jeffries was standing off, evidently waiting for a knockout. They clinched three times. Coming to close quarters, Jeffries put two hard rights over Fitzsimmons' heart, sending him back, and then sent a straight left to the neck, following with a left on the chest. Fitzsimmons crowded in, trying his right for the jaw, but fell short. He suc­ceeded in blocking the Californian's right re­turn. Jeffries then assumed the aggressive and jabbed his left to the head. Jeffries dazed Fitz­simmons, who stood helpless in the centre of the ring. Jeffries looked at him for a second and soon he had him at his mercy. He swung his right to the point of the jaw and Fitzsimmons went down and out, relinquishing the cham-' pionship to the Californian. The time of the eleventh round was 1 minute and 32 seconds. Fitzsimmons was carried to his corner. He came to very quickly.


Source : http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A0CE5DB1430E132A25753C1A9609C94689ED7CF&scp=1&sq=James+J+Jeffries&st=p

JACK ROOT v KID McCOY, APRIL 22 1903, DETROIT

( This was the first world title fight in the brand new lightheavyweight division. )

The Evening World, ( New York, ) April 23rd., 1903


DETROIT, Mich., April 23.—Jack Root won an easy victory over "Kid" McCoy in a ten-round bout before the Metro­politan Athletic club last night. Al­though the fight went the limit, McCoy was dead on his feet after the second round, but Root seemed utterly unable to finish him at any stage. In spite of the talk that McCoy had recovered his form, his work last night indicates that he has far from regained his old-time speed and cleverness. He was down several times during the ten rounds and three times the gong saved him after he had been floored by a stomach punch.

The fight was not satisfactory from any angle and Bat Masterson gave a sorry exhibition as referee, making no effort to control the men. It was understood that the men were to break clean, but after the fight had been started the referee claimed that this was not the understanding.

The men entered the ring shortly after 10 o'clock, Root looking to be in superb condition. McCoy seemed a trifle fat.

They lost no time in getting together. Root was the first to lead and fell short with his left. Then he put a right to the body. McCoy missed a right swing but hit Root on the return. Both missed swings and clinched. Both hung on and started fighting in the clinch and Masterson made no effort to stop them. McCoy put right and left to head and then danced out of danger. Root missed another swing and got an uppercut.

In the second round McCoy began to display his cleverness and was in and out with light blows. Root showed him­self willing to mix and started after McCoy's stomach. He hit him twice very low and McCoy went down like a shot. George Considine claimed foul, but the referee would not allow it. McCoy evidently was in great pain, and the gong saved him when he was car­ried to his corner.

Root tried hard for a knockout in the third round, but McCoy stepped in and clinched at every opportunity. Root showed bad generalship by hanging on also, and both tried to fight themselves free. A left on the stomach put McCoy down again, and he took nine of the count. Just before the close of the round he went to his knees and stayed there until the end of the round.

In the fourth round Root sent McCoy against the ropes with a left stomach punch and then threw him. McCoy was weak, but kept stalling himself and Root was not clever enough to catch him.

The fifth was a repetition of clinches, and Masterson was bewildered, while the spectators shouted to him to make the men break. McCoy just side-stepped a couple of right swings in the sixth and then put a straight left to Root's jaw. Root got twice to the stomach and McCoy uppercut him with the left to the chin.

The seventh round found McCoy a lit­tle stronger, and he put hard left and right to Root's jaw, but they did not seem to bother the Chicagoan. Root forced McCoy to a corner and worked in a stiff body blow. Both clinched and Root wrestled McCoy to the floor, where the latter took the count of nine.

Root tried to finish McCoy in the eighth, but the latter was too shifty. Root planted several jabs on the head, but McCoy did not mind them and kept guarding his stomach, occasionally keeping Root away with a right to the jaw. Root put his left hand twice on McCoy's head, the latter going to his knees again and taking the count of nine.

In the ninth McCoy clinched at every opportunity to save himself. Root put his right to the stomach and then over the heart, and McCoy retaliated with a hard right to the chin. Root Just missed planting a terrific right swing which carried him off his feet. A moment later McCoy went down from a light blow on the head and was there when the gong sounded.

Root was careful in the tenth round to avoid McCoy, stepping in with a right to the jaw. McCoy worked in a left swing, but missed with his right. He kept rushing and then clinched after putting his left to Root's face. When the gong sounded both were clinched in the middle of the ring.



Source : http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1903-04-23/ed-1/seq-13/;words=McCoys+Root+Jack+McCoy+Kid+ROOT+Roots+KID?date1=1903&date2=1904&searchType=advanced&lccn=&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=Jack+Root+Charles+Kid+McCoy&proxtext=&phrasetext=&andtext=Jack+Root+McCoy&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=1

The Mirror of Life September 2, 1911

Langford Beats O’Brien Badly

BOUT STOPPED IN FIFTH ROUND
New York, Aug. 15 – Sam Langford, working on half speed for most of the way, knocked out Philadelphia Jack O’Brien tonight at the Twentieth Century A.C. in the first minute of the fifth round.

Langford was kind to the Philadelphia dancing master in permitting him to stay as long as he did, for he showed by both his power and his speed that if he had cared to put on the accelerator the white man would have been lucky to have lasted more than the first round.

Although Sam was not hitting as hard or as often as he can, by the time that the fifth opened O’Brien was running around the ring for dear life and holding on whenever he could. The reason for it was that Langford had given him an awful battering, even with the few good stiff punches that he had put to the right places.

TAPS IN THE FIFTH
Langford sounded taps on the white man in the fifth when he sunk one into the stomach and when O’Brien was bending over from the result of the impact. Langford dropped over a short left hook to the jaw, and it was farewell for O’Brien. He went down on his haunches half through the ropes and then dropped over.
Charley White, the referee, started the count and when he saw what a helpless condition the Quaker was in he waved the Negro away. Langford, knew, though, that his work had been done very expeditiously and needed no warning to cease hostilities.

NO SIGN OF FAKE
Because of previous things that these two boxers had done in the ring there were many remarks to the effect that the pair we’re faking it. To be absolutely fair, however, with both, the fight looked absolutely on its merits. The thing that aroused suspicion was the fact that Langford did not wade right in and try to finish the Quaker in the first round. Langford was too wise in ring craft to attempt anything foolish like that. He bided his time and when he had felt “Jack out and had warmed up himself, he showed the crowd what he could do in the line of boxing as well as fighting. Fast and pretty as O’Brien is the Negro in the fourth round when he felt that he could afford to step with O’Brien, showed that he is every bit as finished in the Queensbury art, and furthermore had the sting in his punch as an added asset.

O’Brien started the fight at a fast pace and he kept up a merry tattoo on Sam. The blows that he landed were light and would not have done any great damage to a featherweight. He kept Langford chasing him, but Sam developed some speed in the sprinting line himself, to the surprise of the crowd, and never let the white man get very far from him. One straight left to the face that sent O’Brien reeling for a moment was the only hard blow in the first round, and there were all sorts of murmurings about the whole thing being prearranged.

The Quaker was able to continue his fancy stuff in the second. Langford started for the stomach and Jack bean to grunt as if he would like almost anything better. Early in the round Sam poked a left to Jack’s nose and a thick stream of crimson began to drip down over his lips. The Negro appeared to be just warming up and all signs pointed toward an early finish.

If Langford had been in any particular hurry to catch a train back to Boston he could have settled Jack in the third round. In the early part of this period Sam hooked one into the stomach with his left and bounced it right up to the jaw. O’Brien went down with a thud, and the Negro turned his back and walked away as if he felt that it was all over.

LANGFORD SMILES
O’Brien was able to get up, and for the first time the Negro smiled. Instead of going after Jack, as he should have done if he wanted to have it over with him, he deliberately toyed with the white man. O’Brien held on for all he was worth, and Langford gave him an awful beating on the kidneys when he would not let go. Sam put on some of his speed right there. A sudden left to the jaw sent Jack staggering back toward the ropes, and then he gave the Quaker a hard battering. O’Brien was very wobbly under the fusillade. A sharp left hook that sunk into Jack’s stomach lifted him up off the floor and sent him sitting flatly. He crawled over and took the count of nine and was able to last only because the bell rang in time to save him. He was very groggy when he went to his corner.

In contrast to the lazy methods of the Negro’s few seconds there was a big force led by Kid McCoy, working hard over O’Brien, and they were able to fix him up well enough to make a little further stand. In the fourth Sam showed some of his most stylish boxing.

After feinting and dancing with his rival for a time, the Negro plunged a terrific right into the pit of the white man’s stomach, and the latter howled aloud from the pain of it. The Negro gave him a hard pounding and all the skill that he could marshal together did not avail him. Just before the bell Langford hooked a left to O’Brien’s chin and sent him reeling to his stool.

O’BRIEN DOES PRETTY WELL
O’Brien made as good a showing as might be expected of him, after the long time since he has fought a good man. He landed many punches on the Negro, but they had no snap to them and he might just as well have been throwing bird shot against a steel turret. His lightning jabs in the early stages raised a little bump over Langford’s eye, but beyond that the Negro hardly knew that he was in the fight. After O’Brien was brought round all he said was that the “other fellow was a little too much for me.”

THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS
First round – The men wasted very little time in sparring, but got to work quickly. O’Brien found Langford’s head and face with rights and lefts repeatedly, but the blows were apparently without force. He made the Negro miss frequently throughout the round. Shortly before the bell Langford knocked O’Brien to the ropes with a left to the body, but O’Brien was off his balance at the time.

Second round – They mixed in the middle of the ring and clinched, both holding. O’Brien sent over a solid left upper cut to the jaw and was roundly cheered. Langford landed two light lefts to the head and O’Brien retaliated with a left to the face.

O’Brien’s mouth was bleeding, but he was fighting fast with flashes of his old-time cleverness. The men exchanged rights to the face and Langford landed a damaging right uppercut on O’Brien’s face. O’Brien’s round.

Third round – Langford missed with a short left, but got in a right under O’Brien’s jaw. O’Brien went to his knees in a neutral corner from a right to the head, but was up quickly. The Philadelphian, although evidently tiring rapidly, assumed the aggressive and landed a fusillade of right and let straight-arm blows on the Negro’s face. They went into a clinch, and Langford hammered O’Brien over the kidneys with a sledgehammer right. The repeated blows evidently hurt O’Brien badly. Langford whipped two rights to the head and crossed O’Brien’s left. The Philadelphian went down and took the count of eight. Langford’s round.

Fourth round – O’Brien came in with a rush and put light lefts to Langford’s face. He followed with a hard right to the chin, one of the best blows he had landed. There was a hard exchange in mid-ring, in which O’Brien had all the worst of it. Langford’s short rights and lefts to the body work down the Quaker fighter perceptibly. He came out of the clinch staggering, and made a splendid, although momentary, rally, causing the Negro to miss four hard swings, any of which might have ended the battle there. O’Brien was saved by the bell.

Fifth round – The spectators began leaving before the opening of the fifth round. O’Brien had his fighting spirit left and that seemed to be about all. Langford put a hard left to the Philadelphian’s head and followed it with another fusillade of kidney blows in a clinch. The Negro then shook himself loose and tried a terrific right for the jaw. O’Brien ducked it with a last despairing effort. Langford followed with a sharp left hook to the jaw and O’Brien went down on his hands and knees. He might possibly have arisen before the count of 10, but it was evident that was all he could have done, and the referee motioned Langford to his corner and helped the defeated fighter to arise.
.

HARRY GREB v GENE TUNNEY II, FEBRUARY 23rd. 1923, New York.

Greb, having become the only man to ever beat Tunney the previous year, loses his lightheavyweight championship of America in the rematch, via a hotly disputed and unpopular decision.

THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.


ROUND ONE- Greb tore right after Gene in a most excitable manner, and a series of clinches followed. Greb was very sore. Tunney uppercut Harry to the chin with a hard right and then lifted a short left to the stomach. The referee had a hard time parting the men in the clinches. Tunney rapped Greb with a right to the head. Greb missed with a left swing to the chin. Tunney kept trying with a right for the jaw, and had Greb somewhat bewildred.

ROUND TWO- Greb rapped Gene behind the cap with a hard right punch, and in the clinch that followed Greb slipped to the floor. He was up instantly, and a fierce scrimmage followed. Gene slipped over two lefts to the head. Greb sent right to the head, but it was high. Tunney uppercut with hard right to the chin, forcing Greb to the ropes. It was a wild sort of a fight. There was no display of science, each man trying for a knockout. Tunney played a tattoo with lefts and rights to the stomach. Tunney kept sinking rights into Greb's stomach, and Harry backed away. Gene plastered the Pittsburgher at will, while Harry was very wild with all his leads.

ROUND THREE ­ Greb rushed Gene to the ropes without any damage. Gene missed hard right for the head, and the clinched, each sending some good body punches in. In another clinch Greb placed some sharp punches to the chin through Tunny's guard, and the crowd hissed him, but it was fair. Greb sent a right to the ear, but missed another in the same spot. Tunney placed a hard right ot Greb's stomach, and had him in bad shape. Greb was missing continually with right and left swings. Harry hooked a left to Gene's ear, but Gene was back with a hard right to th emouth. The ?? was improving in speed at the end of the frame.

ROUND FOUR ­ Greb slipped to the floor right at the start of the round. Tunney rushed him to the ropes with a volley of punches in the head and body. Greb was still missing with his right for the head while Tunney kept ripping right and left pokes to the body. Gene plastered Greb with a series of rights and left uppercuts to the face and body. Tunney appears much stronger during the scrimmages. Geen rushed Harry into a corner where he drove in some hard lefts and rights. Greb appeared to be fighting a losing battle at this early stage.

ROUND FIVE ­ They cinch. Tunney rushed Greb with a straight right to the chin and the latter danced around like a wild man. Gene rocked Greb with aright to the ear and then hooked left to stomach. Greb got in some good body blows in a clinch. Tunney was apparently much stronger than Greb and had the better of all the infighting. Greb was fighting a very clumsy fight, missing all his leads. Tunney raised ? with a haymaking right. Greb rapped Tunney with an overhand right to the ear and then sank two rights to ?? right at the belt.

ROUND SIX ­ Gene sent a hard right back of Greb's ear and Greb rushed him to the ropes landing two lefts to the wind. Harry sent a straight left to Gene's mouth but his punches lacked steam. Greb landed a hard right to the ribs. Tuney's body punching was weakening Greb. Harry landed a light left to the mouth and then hooked a hard left on Gene's midsection.

ROUND SEVEN ­ Greb landed a right and a left on Tunney's face and repeated a second later with another right to face. Greb ripped a left to the stomach and followed with a hard right to Gene's left eye. It was the first time Greb took the lead and he showedto advantage. They stood in the middle fo the ring sizing eachother up and Harry missed with a terrific right just grazing Gene's chin. In the clinch that followed Harry had the better of the exchange. The referee was working like a Trojan separating them ni the many clinches. Tuney's right eye appeared to be slightly cut in an exchange in the center of the ring. Just at the bell Greb grazed Tunney's ear.

ROUND EIGHT ­ Tunney sent two lefts to Greb's face. They clinched. Greb rapped a left hook to Gene's chin and forced him to the ropes. In a clinch Greb landed a left to the chin. Harry sent a short-right hand punch to Gene's ear and then hooked a left to the chin. Greb was now forcing the fighting. And Greb shot another left to the face. Greb sent Tunney back on his heels with a straight right punch to the chin. Greb forced Tunney to the ropes but Gene socked him plenty with terrible punches to the body. Greb sent a terrible left hook to Gene's wind just at the end of the round.

ROUND NINE ­ Greb drove a fierce right hand punch to Tunney's chin to start the ninth. The punch rocked the Irishman from head to heels. Then followed a series of hot scrimmages, clinches and more scrimmages. It was like a fight between two longshoremen. Science was abandoned by both fighters. Harry ripped left hook to the body and Tunney tore in striking Greb with hard lefts and rights to face and wind. Gene forced Harry into a neutral corner where he punched him with every punch on the calendar and Greb laughed. Greb missed a terrible swing for the chin. Tunney staggered Greb with a hard right uppercut landing on Greb's nose.

ROUND TEN ­ They clinch. Gene ripped a short left hook to Greb's wind and followed it with a right under the heart. Then Gene landed a short right-hand chop on Harry's head, and a moment later a left to the stomach. Greb was wild, and it looked as though several of his punches were low. The referee cautioned him several times. In a clinch Greb landed two rights to Gene's ear and made Gene miss a try with a right. Both men mixed it furiously. Greb was laying for the head, while Tunney contented himself with hard socks for the body.

ROUND ELEVEN ­ They clinch. Greb appeared to have his second wind, and pitched into Gene, swinging both hands for the head. He hooked a short left to the body. Greb sank two more lefts to the face, and acted like a young lion in the clinches. Greb chased Tunney around the ring, whaling away with both hands. He never stopped swinging his right for the jaw, while the Irishman seemed to have lost a lot of his steam. Greb was always the aggressor, but was getting many a sock in the stomach while plunging forward. Greb sent a hard right-hand punch to Tunney's head near the close of the round.

ROUND TWELVE ­ Greb immediately tried with a right for the head, which was short, while Gene hooked a light left to the ribs. Referee Haley cautioned Greb for an alleged attempt at butting in the clinches and for a while it looked as if the referee was going to disqualify him. Greb argued his case out and was permitted to continue. The rest of the round was a tigerish affair. Both men were fighting like a pair of novices, just swinging from eery position withouth any regard for where the punch would land. Greb landed a hard right to the chin. Again Haley had to caution Greb for his rough work in the clinches. Tunney sank a right and left to Greb's body at the end of the round. Referee Haley walked over to Greb's corner at end of round and cautioned him again.

ROUND THIRTEEN ­ The usual scrimmage started the round, followed by the usual clinch. Greb landed hard right on Tunney's chin and once more they clinched. Tunney hooked a left to the stomach and brought his right over to Harry's mouth. Greb was fighting desparately with the odds against him. He sank a hard right to the chin, rocking the Irishman. Greb sent a left to head. Tunney ripped a hard left to Greb's ribs, but Harry was back with a left to stomach and right to the jaw.

ROUND FOURTEEN ­ Tunney sent the champion to the ropes with a right that landed flush on the jaw. He followed this shot with an aggressive attack that apparently weakened the champion. Greb was on the defensive for the first time in the bout but succeeded in blocking the most of Tunney's punches.

ROUND FIFTEEN ­ Greb came back strong as the final round opened and rocked Tunney with a succession of right uppercuts as they mixed at a speedy pace. Tunney punished the champion about the body but was jolted by several smashes to the head in return.


http://www.harrygreb.com/homepagewithframeset.html

Nice one Windy, an interesting read.

Interesting to read confirmatory evidence that Tunney had started to target Greb's body (following the advice of Benny Leonard). Something I'd read about in the past but not seen in an account of the actual fight before (I think Paxton neglected that point slightly in "The Fearless Harry Greb").

Pleased you found it interesting, fellas.

HARRY GREB v TOMMY LOUGHRAN, JANUARY 30th., New York.


Lightheavyweight championship of the USA.

New York Times, Jan 31st., 1923.


FIRST ROUND

Greb opened with a typical rush. He lashed out with rights and lefts for the face without direction. The champion's rush flustered Loughran for a time, but the Quaker City boxer quickly started pecking with a left jab which had Greb's head bobbing. Greb was kept at bay with Loughran's stiff left jabs. The champion kept tearing in , but was wild while Loughran countered cleverly. At close quarters Loughran worked both hands to the body. Greb sought to work in the clinches, but his attack was checked by Loughran.

_______________________

SECOND ROUND

Greb rushed and was met with a left jab to the face. They clinched. Greb was short with a right for the face and took a stiff left jab in return. In the clinches Loughran held against attack. A left jab drew the blood from Greb's mouth. Greb rushed and landed a right to the face and body. Loughran hooked a left to the face just before the bell.

_______________________

THIRD ROUND

They exchanged left jabs. Greb rushed wildly about the ring in an effort to drive in a godd punch. Greb landed a right to the jaw but missed repeatedly as he continued his furious assault. After sparring for a while Greb landed a right to the jaw and Loughran shot a right uppercut to the chin. Loughran turned Greb half way round with a right to the jaw. Loughran landed to the jaw and followed with left and rights to the jaw.

_______________________

FOURTH ROUND

Loughran hooked a left to the jaw and then drove a left and right to the body. Greb started roughing Loughran at close quarters. In the clinches Loughran pumped his right to the body. The crowd booed Greb for using his head in the clinches. Greb opened a cut over Loughrans left eye with a wild right. They exchanged rights and lefts to the body in a mix-up near the bell.

_______________________

FIFTH ROUND

Loughran landed several light lefts and they clinched. Greb rushed continually, but was wild. Greb was warned for using his head in close quarters. Greb landed a left hook to the face. Greb hooked a left to the body. Loughran drove a right to the heart as Greb came in. After sparring for awhile Loughran drove another right to the heart. They were clinched at the bell.

_______________________

SIXTH ROUND

Loughran landed several light lefts to the face and then drove a right to the jaw. Loughran jabbed a left to the face and drove a right to the body. Greb repeatedly rushed Loughran to the ropes, but did not land a clean punch. Loughran made no effort to take the offensive. They were clinched at the bell and the crowd was voicing its disaproval.

_______________________

SEVENTH ROUND

Greb rushed, landing a left to the stomach and face. They exchanged rights to the body. Greb uppercut with a wild right to the chin which drew the blood from Loughran's mouth. At close quarters Greb did all the work. loughran drove a left and right to the body. Both missed with rights for the jaw. They were sparring at the bell.

_______________________

EIGHTH ROUND

Greb rushed his rival and they clinched without either striking a damaging blow. Greb was warned for using his head at close quarters. They exchanged rights to the stomach. Greb drove Loughran to the ropes under a shower of rights and lefts to the face. Greb hooked a left to the stomach. Loughran drove a right and left to the jaw and took a left to the stomach in return just before the bell.

_______________________

NINTH ROUND

Greb pounded the face and body with a right at close quarters. Loughran landed several jabs and then drove a right to the jaw. They exchanged rights to the body. Greb roughed Loughran in the clinches. The champion was warned again for using his head. Loughran drove a hard right to the body. They exchanged lefts to the face at the bell.

_______________________

TENTH ROUND

Greb drove Loughran about the ring with lefts and rights to the body and face. A right to the ribs almost floored Loughran. Greb carried a furious pace in driving home lefts and rights to the body and jaw which made Loughran hold,. Loughran drove a right to the jaw as Greb rushed in. In a clinch they exchanged rights to the body. Greb hooked a left to the body which made Loughran gasp. Greb forced Loughran around the ring at the bell.

_______________________

ELEVENTH ROUND

Greb rushed his rival about the ring and landed two solid rights to the jaw. They exchanged rights to the body. Greb worked his right to the body and face at close quarters. Loughran uppercut a right to the face, but took three solid lefts to the stomach in return. They were clinched at the bell.

_______________________

TWELFTH ROUND

The boxers clinched repeatedly at the start of this round. Greb drove his right to the face and body at close quarters. Greb twice hooked his left to the stomach and then drove his left and right to the face and Loughran pounded the body with rights and lefts. Loughran drove a right to the heart at the bell.

_______________________

THIRTEENTH ROUND

Greb sent Loughrans head back with a left in a clinch. At close quarters Greb worked lefts and rights to the stomach. Greb twice hooked his left to the wind. Greb leaped in with another left hook that made Loughran gasp. Loughran bombarded the body with lefts and rights as Greb tore in. Greb missed with a left and right for the face and took a right to the body. Greb rushed his rival to the ropes and landed a left to the face at the bell.

_______________________

FOURTEENTH ROUND

Loughran was warned for hitting low with the right, but the crowd hissed the warning. The boxers fought furiously, exchanging rights and lefts to the body in spirited mix-ups. Loughran drove his left and right to the body, while Greb swung with both hands to the face or body. Greb almost doubled Loughran up with a left hook to the body. Greb drove a left and right to the jaw. Loughran opened up a two-handed attack to the body at the bell.

_______________________

FIFTEENTH ROUND

The men shook hands. Greb drove a left hook to the wind and they clinched. Loughran drove a right to the body. As Greb tore in Loughran landed lefts and rights to the body. They exchanged left hooks to the wind. Greb drove a left and right to the jaw, but took a left and right to the body in return. Loughran tore in and landed several hard left and rights to the body. Loughran caught Greb coming in with a left and right to the jaw. Loughran drove a right to the jaw just before the final bell.

Thanks, Windy. I'm very interested in how Greb managed to go 4-1-1 against one of the genuinely great 175 lb men in Loughran - a phenomenal achievement for a man of Greb's physical dimensions, even if Loughran was only a young pup at the time.

Good Christmas I hope, mate?

Tops, mate, thank you. Hope you did, also.

I agree that the Greb wins over Loughran constitute a terrific feat. If I can find in depth details of the others I'll drop them here also.

Personally think that Grebs wins at light heavyweight are somewhat over rated but that's just a slight grievance I have, Harry was at his physical peak at the time while Loughran was still growing into the weight but still a fantastic series of wins.

JAMES J CORBETT v CHARLIE MITCHELL, JANUARY 25th., 1894, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

Heavyweight championship of the world.

The Daily Huronite 26 January 1894

THE GREAT FIGHT.

How Corbett Won and Mitchell Lost the Great Battle at Jacksonville. The Details of the Much Advertised Mill—It Was Easy For the Champion.

Duval Club Unmercifully Scorned For Lack of Enterprise In the Arrangements

For the first time since he has been acknowledged head of the pugilistic fraternity of the world, James J. Corbett has defended with success the title which he won by defeating his predecessor, John L. Sullivan. Pitted against the boasted exponent of the manly art in England, America's brawny representative has proven his fitness for the place of honor which his sinews and muscles won for him and the tail of the British lion has been severely stepped upon by the foot of the mighty bruiser from the West. There is exultation in the land, and Charles Mitchell is groveling in the dust of defeat, heaping imprecations on his ill luck, and mingling with them vain regrets of his inability to whip his victor. The British pugilist has attended his pugilistic funeral, and henceforth he will remember with permanent grief the time and place of his first defeat. It was all Corbett's battle, though Mitchell made a show in the first round.

The Fight By Rounds

The men entered the ring and time was called at 2:50 pm.The referee ordered them to shake hands, but neither responded. Then the fight began.

First Round

Corbett led with left on Mitchell's chin. They clinch. Exchanged body blows and Jim reaches Charlie's left eye, heavily. Mitchell reaches the ribs. Another exchange and Mitchell clinches. Mitchell gets in on Corbett's neck, and Jim lands right and right again. Just as time called good body blow. Honors easy in first round. It looks as if it was to be a wicked fight.

Second round

A wild exchange and a clinch. Corbett uppercuts his man as they come together. Mitchell lands hard on ribs, and as Mitchell came in Jim caught him on head, staggering him. Corbett uppercuts Mitchell again and lands with right on Charlie's ribs, Mitchell reaching Jim's chin as a sharp rally, with Corbett having all the best of it. They are going to get at it. Mitchell got in twice on Corbett's neck. Corbett knocks him down twice in succession. Jim floored his man clearly and knocked him down again as he assayed to arise.The gong saved Mitchell.

Third round

Mitchell rather groggy. Corbett rushed at him swung right and left heavy on Mitchell's neck. Charlie went down. He took the full time to arise, and then Corbett rushed at him like a tiger. Mitchell clinched. Corbett threw him off and floored him with a stifffacer. Again he took all the time to rise, and when he advanced towards Corbett the latter swung his right with deadly effect on Charlie's nose. Mitchell reeled and fell on his face,helpless. Corbett wins easily. The referee counted 1, 2, 3, 4,5,6, 7,8,9, Mitchell is knocked out. The referee declared Corbett winner of the match and champion of the world. Mitchell's face was covered with blood. He was carried to his corner in a helpless condition. Time of fight nine minutes.

Morning Of The Fight All Jacksonville Was Up At An Unusually Early Hour

This city was up and doing earlier than it has been for many a day. It had been fairly lively all night long, for many of the sports were so late in getting ready for bed that they were afraid they might miss something, so they remained up and made themselves very much in evidence throughout the small hours. The rush toward the arena began at an early hour. It was long before the time set for the contest when streams of buggies, carriages and all sorts of vehicles began to drift out toward the arena. The price of transportation went up with the increased demand. Hard times in the North have made visitors fewer in number this year than for a decade.

The hackmen of Jacksonville, therefore, prepared to accumulate as much wealth as possible to tide them over a hard summer. Two, three and four dollars was asked and paid for a trip to the arena. The price carried with it the privilege of a return ticket, but there was no earthly chance of finding the original vehicle, as the avaricious just snapped up everything that had the price ofa ride and let the majority of those whom they carried out get back to town the best way possible. The jam around the doors of the arena was dense at times, but there was plenty of room for all and no discomfort was experienced by anybody.

The betting in the morning was strong in Corbett's favor, the general impression being that the little Englishman would stand no show against him. This "general impression," however, did not exist to any large extent among the members of the Mitchell party. It did not bother Mitchell himself either. He was just as cool and confident before the fight as he has always been. Mitchell, in fact has never shown the slightest nervousness or anxiety over the result. He has always acted as though he was the person least interested in the fight. He climbed out of bed shortly after 7 o'clock, happy and cheerful and announced promptly, "I want my breakfast, and I want it pretty quick." He; went through a short series of light exercises, was rubbed down and then turned his attention to his breakfast, which consisted of mutton chops, a little steak, a small amount of potatoes, toast and tea. This over, Mitchell went quietly in his room waiting for the time to come for his departure for the ringside.

CORBETT ARRIVES

The champion Comes Up From Mayport Early In The Morning

Down at the ferry landing at Mayport a large crowd gathered to speed the parting guests on the way with cheers and good wishes. It was a motley gathering of people of both sexes and both colors. When finally the tall, lithe form of the champion, in a close fitting business suit, appeared at the head of his delegation, there was a loud cheer from the assembled throng at the station, a compliment which Corbett gracefully acknowledged with a nod of the head. There was happiness written all over his face, and as the train slowly steamed away the disappearing crowd in the distance enthusiastically waved their kerchiefs and hats and gave rousing cheers for the sake of patriotism.

The trip up the river was uneventful. Down at the landing here there were carriages in waiting and a reception committee made up of sports, gentlemen and ragamuffins. Across the river at South Jacksonville a self appointed escort of enthusiastic people had put the champion aboard the ferry. When the boat landed on this side of the river Corbett and his retainers walked with a quick pace to the carriages, and then they were driven post haste to the St. James hotel, running the gauntlet of hundreds of eyes as they made their way to their rooms. Once in the rooms only the most intimate friends of the champion were allowed to enter, and Corbett carefully made preparations for his trip to ringside.

Dempsey and Hall demanded a better place to fight in

Jack Dempsey went over to the ring to inspect the arrangements . He found the floor in a shaky condition, and the posts not padded, He emphatically told the officers of the Duval club that unless the mailers were remedied there would be no fight, as Corbett would not enter the ring in that condition. Jim Hall went over to inspect the ring on behalf of Mitchell, and heartily approved of the alterations suggested by Dempsey, and intimated as Dempsey had done, that it would be wise action on the part of the club to get a move on itself if it cared to see his principal in a fight. This put the club almost into a fit, and it started to do things with what passes for a hurry in this land. The nearer the contest comes the worse seems to be the management of the Duval club. Its members seemed more than ever to justify Mitchell's caustic comment:

"There ain't a man in it with brains enough to have a headache."

It is getting tickets at all kinds of prices and charges are openly made that it has not hesitated to sell the desirable seats of the arena several times over. This means that the mill between Mitchell and Corbett will be the wind up of a long series of petty rows and fights among the audience.

THE DOORS OPENED

Promptly at 12 o'clock the doors were opened, and the crowd, which had by this time swollen to fully 500, made a wild surge through the doors. They carried the one lone ticket taker entirely off his feet, and before he regained a standing position at least 20 men had passed into the arena to view the fight without the necessity of going to their pockets for something which they probably did not contain. The workmen had not finished padding the posts, and fully a dozen ofthem were placing pillows around them. The pillows, however, were much too short, and a space of fully 30 inches was left between the bottom of the pillow and the floor of the platform. It made an ugly place for a man to strike his head upon if he should happen to be knocked against it.

While one gang of men were working on the resin on the floor of the ring, another was laboring to stretch canvas from the roofs to the sides of the edge of the arena. There was a feeble effort to keep out the rain which came down in fearful spurts but was death to the hopes of the men who had discovered the mode of entrance to the arena. It effectively prevented them from slipping over the edges of the arena. Referee John Kelly came into the grounds later, carrying a small unpretentious looking bundle, but it contained that that without which there would have been no fight here. It was in fact a bundle of banknotes, consisting of several $1000 bills, a lot of $500 and a whole chunk of smaller denominations, the whole aggregating $20,000. The purse which will belong to the winner.

HISTORY OF THE MATCH.

The Corbett-Mitchell fight is logically the outcome of the downfall of the 12-years idol of the pugilistic world. Mitchell had fought a draw with Sullivan when Sullivan was in his prime. Before Mitchell and Corbett met each other in the ring. Mitchell equally with the San Franciscan was a formidable claimant for the laurels which Corbett wrested from the pride of Boston in New Orleans a year ago. When Corbett was proclaimed the champion he had to face a torrent of challenges. It was a public cry that Corbett should meet the handsome English lad first and the conviction settled itself in Corbett's mind that a fight with Mitchell That was inevitable. A. long prelude of cross firing in the press finally brought the men together. An agreement was prepared early last summer and the month of December selected for the date. The articles of agreement included a stake of £10,000 each, to be posted by the men and invitation to the then three leading clubs in America, to bid against each other for the honor of the battleground. Even before the match was made Mitchell had signed a promise with Charley Noel to give New Orleans the preference, but fighting got a black eye in the Crescent City by the Hall-Fitzsimmons fiasco and Coney Island was left to wrestle with Roby for the consent of the fighters. Judge Newton came out victor in the competition but prize fighting became an issue in NewYork politics.

Mayor Boody signed the death warrant of Coney Island. and then Governor Matthews prepared a shroud for the club and its backers, and Mitchell and Corbett turned their eyes southward for money and a battle ground. They dickered with the Olympic club of New Orleans, made their demands decisive, and finally lost the opportunity to fight without annoyance and police protection. Then from among a mass of offers the pugilists picked out the one from Jacksonville for serious consideration. J. E. T. Bowden, one of Jacksonville's first citizens was east when the death knell of the Coney Island was sounded. He rushed back here, consulted the Florida statutes, found no prohibition against boxing contests, sounded the oldest and the best and most influential citizens, and found bucking on both sides and the Duval Athletic Club was born. Then the commissioner of the club went East met the backers of the pugilists, talked business to them and obtained their signatures to articles of agreement. Under the agreement the club offered a purse of $4O.OOO and acceded to a demand of the pugilists for $5,000 to cover training and incidental expenses. The Coney Island's original offer was $40,000 for the fight. Executive interference sliced the purse in two. After making the match the Duval club proceeded to advertise it broadeast. Then telegrams began to pour into Jacksonville protesting against the contest. Governor Mitchell

WAS DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION

He ranged himself in stern opposition The impolitic management hero bid open defiance to the authorities, and then commenced the long newspaper warfare between Jacksonville and his excellency, culminating in the marshaling of the troops hero and the institution of the action for an injunction. The club won the legal tilt, the state gracefully yielding, and the most interesting match which pugilistic history records was permitted to proceed to its finale. The fight was under Queensberry rules, with 5 ounce gloves, with a referee selected by the club and with no limit to the number of rounds.

TRAINING QUARTERS

Corbett's training was done at Mayport, a small fishing station unknown to the world at large until the advent of the pugilist and his party, and situated about 20 miles from Jacksonville and 7 from Pablo Beach, the summer resort of Floridians. The hamlet of Mayport is but a straggling one, possessed of few if any natural attractions, but a spot well fitted for a pugilist's training. The Atlantic stretches out its broad bosom to the eastward, leaving a broad and unbroken beach of firm white sand, and the wide river St. Johns courses past it to the west. Of the few cottages of which the hamlet can boast, the Corbett party secured four, and under their roofs and on the broad firm beach the champion took his daily practice at boxing, wrestling and running. With Corbett has been Billy Delaney, his trainer, the same who made him fit to whip Sullivan; John McVey, the wrestler; Dan Creedon, the Australian aspirant for Fitzsimmons' scalp; Professor John Donaldson, New York's expert boxing instructor; Dan Tracey, W. A. Brady, Corbett's manager, and "Kid" Egan, private secretary to the pugilist.

Corbett has trained hard and faithfully since he arrived in Florida and his appearance prior to his departure from his quarters fully justified the assertion of himself and his friends that he was fit to do battle for anything within the gift of man.

Mitchell Quarters More Retired.

Mitchell, the English pugilist, was in a sense more fortunate than his opponent in the selection of training quarters, for the place which he picked out is far from Jacksonville, and, consequently, Mitchell has been subjected to fewer visitors. His quarters were located on Anastasta island, reached by the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West railroad, and with him have been Billy Thompson, his manager: Jim Hall, Tom Allen, ex champion: Bat Masterson and Steve Brodie. Mitchell's course of training has been practically the same as that followed by other pugilists preparing for an encounter, but in all of his training he has been singularly methodical and painstaking and has evidenced that intensity of purpose which has marked his career. His time has been divided between punching the bag, boxing with Jim Hall and long runs on the beach. Barring the spraining of a muscle in his ankle, Mitchell has been free from troubles during his weeks of preparation and was in excellent trim for the fray when he arrived here from Anastasia island.