The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-31
TRIED TO FIGHT TO A DRAW.
Farce Between the Murphy Feather-Weights
-Checkmated by the Referee.

took place at the rooms of the California
Athletic Club tonight between Frank Muir
ply, the feather-weight champion of Eng
land. and Billy Murphy, the feether-weight
champion of Australia, who knocked out
Johnny Griffin. of Boston. in three rounds
in the same club-rooms on the 18th inst
Frank Murphy's last battle was with Ike
Weir, the Spider" with whom he fought
draw in eighty rounds in Indiana in March
last. Both men were in good condition to-
night, and the betting was nearly even.
At 900 p. NJ. the men entered the ring.
The Australian is about two inches the
taller. The men weighed just 1912 pounds
each. Billy Murphy was seconded by PADDY
German and Billy Armstrong. while Martin
Murphy and Patsy Hogan took care OF
Frank Murphy. Hiram Cook, as usual,
Frank led with a left hander in the Aus
tralian's stomach. Interchange of blows
followed, Franks left finding Billy's ear,
and the latter's right reaching the English
mans wind. Billy then got on three SIN
giles on different parts of Franks body,
while the little man broke ground, but re-
manned cool and confident
Second Round-The men spared well up
in Franks corner. The latter broke ground
arm blows followed, the Englishman land
ing heavily. In the rally Frank fell in the
corner. and Billy slipped over the ropes.
The Australian kept both hands going. and
failed to ward right-hand rooster IN his
ribs In another rally sounding right
handler on Billy's ear brought out consider
able applause.
Third Round-Frank shifted ground fire.
quently, and in one shift got in another rib
rooster. He was apparently hrmer on his
latter led frequently, the blows often fell
short. The Englishman's blows were much
the heavier In delivery. and were mainly
for the ribs.
Fourth Round-Billy led with the left,
passing over Franks shoulder. and a clinch
followed. In evading one of the Austria
lian's rushes. Frank slipped to the floor in
his corner. The men spared cautiously,
when Frank landed sounding right hand
er in the Australians wind, and the latter
fell on his left knee.
Few heavy blows were struck in the next
three rounds but in the eighth a left
ha1der on the chin drove the Australian
back. The latter, in the rally, fell clean
over the Engllshman. landing on his hands;
Frank got in several saunders in the wind
with his right.
Ninth R0und-The Australian kept his
man in the corner. and followed him close
" when he changed his position. The
Englishman made but few passes. while the
ing his hands going in see-saw fashion, and
looking for an opening.
Tenth Round--Billy rushed savagely, but
a chnch prevented any blows. He again
crowded the Englishman to the ropes and
received a right -hander upper-cut for his
pains. Clinches were in order in this
round, and upper-cutting from the English
man was sure to follow. The Australian
was perspiring freely and inclined to
be desperate. The Englishman got another
right handler in on the Australians left ribs
and cleverly avoided left-haud swing.
The Australian rushed, but was stopped by
Franks outstretched right: The men did
some clever ducking. The Australian
chased his man around the ring. getting
number of short blows in on Franks neck.
The latter's fayorite blow was the left hand
in the ribs with his right side and face
averted.
Eleventh Round - The Englishman
changed tactics In this round and assumed
the aggressive, leading and stopping the
Australian with his left, and landing heav-
lily in the wind and on the chest and ear.
Australians ribs was followed by clean,
straight blow on the Englishman's nose.
A clinch followed. and the Australian re-
ceived another left-hand upper cut.
Thirteenth Round-1he Australian came
up savage, and chased his opponent clear
across the ring into the. 1atter's corner.
Frank tapped him several times with his
left Will he sought an opening. In rush
he caught couple of right and left-hand
swings in the ribs.
Fourteenth Round-The Englishman as
sumed the aggressive and some fierce
fighting followed; right and left-hand
swings for head alternated with savage
upper-cuts and clinches. Both men fought
themselves groggy.
Fifteen ROund-Frank came up trifle
freshened, and his blows had more strength.
A light left-hand swing, however, pushed
him to the floor. The Australian dazed
Frank with a terrific right-hand swing on
the nose and sent him to the floor again.
knocking him against the ropes. Although
apparently tired out. he punched him in
the ear with his right repeatedly and
ducked anumber Of left-hand swings clev-
erly.
Sixteenth round-Billy came up appar-
emily intent on butting his man out of the
ring with his head, but a warning from the
referee and some telling upper cuts caused
him to quit. He again led for Franks ear
with his left and reached him heavily. The
Englishman stayed with him, presenting
his ear to his opponent and allowing him
to punch it, then with his right hand
swing nearly knocked the groggy Aus
more vigor now apparently than when
they were fresher.
Seventeenth Round-The fierce fight of
the last few rounds let up little in this
round-the men played for wind.
The men freshened in the eighteenth and
nineteenth rounds. and in them initiated
the actions of couple of bantam ROSTERS,
letting off blow for blow. Nothing was
done in the twentieth or twenty-first
rounds. the men merely circling around, oc-
casionally presenting their lefts.
In the twenty-secOnd round, after circling
a little, Frank led, falling short, and re-
ceiving q singing left-hander on the cheek
that flO0red him, causing the Australian to
laugh.
In the twenty-third, twenty-fourth and
twenty-fifth rounds nothing was done, each
man waiting for the other to lead. At the
end of the twenty-fifth round President
Fulda stepped into the ring and said he
would have physician examine the men,
as the Australian kept his left down, claim.
ing he was injured. Time. however, was
called for the twenty-sixth round, and the
men resumed their tactics of circling
around In the center of the ring, making no
pretense of fighting.
At the end of the twenty-sevelth round
the referee stepped into the ring and said
1T was clearly apparent that the men conld
not go on with the fight. He said he did
not know what was the matter with the
men. but the club never did and never
would declare draw. He would not al
low the men to stand around doing nc
fighting. He would simply declare the
fight postponed, and in the meantime the
directors would take measures to find out
what was the matter with the men.