Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-06
WITH BARE FISTS.
Joe Ma rtin Defeats Billy Barnes Yesterday
Morning ON L ocaI Ground-A Short and
Lively Battle at Daybreak.

Joe Martin Defeats Billy Barnes Yesterda,
Morning ON L ocal Ground-A short and
Lively Battle at Daybreak.
Over 200 persons of sporting proclivitiei
gathered around a 2+foot ring at sun
rise yesterday morning to witness the bare
knuckle fight between Joe Martin and Billy
Barnes. two mill men of Soho. The match was
for 500 a side, Queensbury rules governing,
and the fierceness of it, from the start, plainly
demonstrated that the crimson fluid was IN
demand.
Only two rounds were necessary to finish
Barnes, who was gently laid low by the telling
jugular "biff' of Martin. There was consider.
able money bet on the result with slight ooot
The fighters are both young aspirants for
fistic Iaurels, the winner being only Il years OF
age and his antagonist about ~, nghtlng AT
12S and 134 pounds respectively.
Some little murmuring was made by the
crowd as to the selection of referee, Dut
finally man well mp in the art himself, ana
equally informed on the governing rules, was
chosen.
Just as the men stepped into the ring Old
Sol came up red and smiling through the vista
of suburban fog. He looked winner him.
self and his carmine colors sent an ominous
thrill of surety through the friends of Martin.
This was because his colors were red. and
his opponents green. 1t was simply case OF
red above the green.
When the usual preliminaries had been
finished; reading the articles, the last rubbing
down given, and the cautious hand-shake Of
the principals, then every breath was held by
spectators, seemingly to save it for hearty
yell for their favorite when the first point
was scored.
In the first round Barnes led of with a crack
ing good thump which found resting place on
Martins stomach. This tender part Of the lat
ter's anatomy was the objective point for the
little fellow but his tactics were not coupled
with enough science in protecting the upper
part of his own body The advantage of a long
reach and superior sparring of Martin made
Mr.. Barnes, of Soho, sick at the ending of the
initial round.
Martin played for the face and neck all the
a corking left handler on his opponents mouth.
He followed up his lead and, with two more in
the jugular, sent his man to earth, doubled up
like pretzel. He responded groggy, and the
bettors dropped their lips and said, Good
by, S."
Round second was particularly vicious, and
Barnes made good, game fight against big
odds Martins first blow was sufficient to
drop him, but the little fellow, 'redheaded
and hopeful" was on his feet in jiffy but to
no purpose. Martin was IN waiting for him,
and shot blows in a very promiscuous manner.
The telling effects showed on Barnes still he
stuck; but the decisive one was a right-hander
on his neck, which sent him almost through
the ropes and into the hands of mis- second, in
sensible. He could not respond to ''time," and,
amid wild hurrah, Martin was declared the
winner and awarded the money.
He is very likely Lightweight, and, with
some good trainer, would make very formida-
BILE showing against the best of them. The
affair was very quietly carried out, and, though
the authorities heard some wind of it, they
were successfully given the slip.