Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-29
SETTLED IN FIVE ROUNDS.
George Dixon Wins the Bantamweight
Championship OF the World.


George Dixon Wins the Bantamweight
Championship of the World.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 28.-George
Dixon, of Boston, and Abe Willis, of
Australia, fought at the gymnasium of
the California Athletic club tonight for
purse of So, 900 and the bantamweight
championship of the world. Willis was
practically an unknown man here, and
betting before the fight was in Dixon's 8
favor, ranging from 100 to 70 and 100
to 80. Great interest was taken in the
fight here, and the club room was filed
tonight. The men had trained faith
fully and both were IN perfect condition,
and Hiram Cook was referee. Dixon's
seconds were Tom O'Rourke, Mitchell
and Billy Akers. Willis was seconded
by Martin Murphy and Billy Smith.
The contestants appeared in the ring
soon after 8 80 o'clock. Time was called
at 8:35.
First Round-The men spared care
fully for full minute, Dixon showing
greater advantage in reach. Then Dixon
led and caught Willis on the jaw, send
ing him down. When he rose there was
the liveliest kind of rally, the men
slugging each other at close quarters,
Dixon plainly having the best of it.
Willis hugged as much as possible.
Second Round-It was opened eau
tiously by both; then Dixon rushed, but
accomplished nothing. A moment later
be planted a swinging left on the Aus
tralian's jaw. Several sharp rallies and
much clinching followed, then they kept
up a seesaw on each others jaws, at the
closest possible range. The round closed
with cheers for both.
Third round-The men were at first
very wary. Dixon landed his right on
Willis's jaw, but the blow did not do
much damage.
Fourth round-After two minutes
sparring, Dixon rushed and landed on
Willis's jaw and body several times, re-
ceiving two sharp raps in return. Both
were very quiet and saved themselves
by dodging.
Fifth round---This round was opened
like the others. Neither seemed dis
posed at first to rush and force matters.
Towards the close there was sharp
rally near the ropes, in which it was
give and take for moment, though
Dixon was plainly landing harder and
oftener. Presently Dixon caught the
Australian on the jaw with his left and
sent him down. Willis rose to his
hands and knees and took his ten
seconds on the floor. He arose little,
but when Dixon rushed him he stood
prepared to receive the attack. He was
not able to do much, however, in the
rally that followed and Dixon's right
soon came into contact with Willis's
jaw, and the latter went down fiat on
his back. He fell heavily and lay like
log. When ten seconds had expired,
Willis's seconds had to lift him from the
floor and Dixon was declared the win
ner. The colored man seemed as strong
as when the fight commenced.
The battle occupied less than twenty
minutes. Dixon's style of fighting was
not known very well here, and he was
not expected to do much rushing, but
he forced the fight from the first round.
He rushed Willis hard whenever he
could get him at close quarters, and
beat him with ease. Willis struggled
hard to hold out against Dixon's assaults,
and. in the half-dozen sharp rallies he
fought back manfully, but was not able
to hit as hard or as frequently as his
opponent. His quickness and his ability
to stand hard punishment saved him
from defeat earlier, but after being
knocked down in the first round and
numerically pounded in the four
following rounds, he was greatly
weakened, and the blow which
finally sent him out was a light one
compared to a dozen others which he
had received. Dixon was apparently
uninjured, and as soon as be saw that
Willis could not rise in the fifth round
the c0lored man gave leap almost hall
across the ring, while the spectators
cheered him wildly.