The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-18
A LONG FIGHT.
Danny Aeedham and Tom Ryan Meet at
Minneapolis.

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 17.-Twelve hundred
people gathered in the club-rooms OF the
Twin City Athletic Club tonight to Wit
ness the much-talked. of fight between the
welter-weights. Danny Needham OF Calltor-
mia and Tom Ryan of Chicago, for a purse
of $1,000, OF which $500 went TO the winner
Queensberry rules and to finish. Needham
weighed in at 1917 and Ryan 1894 pounds.
Charley Kemmic and Australian Smith
were Needham's seconds, while Billy Meyer
and George Siddons acted Tor Ryan. joe
ManniX was chosen referee. Four-ounce
gloves were used.
There had been much talk during the day
about Ne edham's hands being in bad shape
and that he would fight with them IN
plaster. The Ryan men strenuously oD-
jected to this, but the Directors of the club,
at conference Just before the fight to the
surprise of every one, allowed the plaster TO
go.
The men entered the RUG at 9:15 o'clock
The betting then was about even anG both
appeared to be in good condition. Ihe hrSt
round ended in Needham's favor after
sharp Interchange of blows, with 10 harm
done. Ryan then forced the fighting, but
Needham countered successfully, ana SO the
hight went on, round after round, without
any great apparent damage on either side.
III thV III III ttu pOhCNl liI5 lGll llto -tV'A-
hams left eye, partly closing it, and there
after persistentiy tried to disable the other
one, his tactics being evidently to blind
Needham. The latter was guarded. how
ever, and kept playing for Ryan's Wind:
There was much spaTring and many good
blows interchanged, Needham devoting the
most OF his fayOrs 20 Ryan's body.
They took turns at chasing each oteeT,
and Needham's face began to show signs Of
punishment, but both men were pretty
fresh.
In the twenty-seventh round. Ryan rushed
right and left, getting in three good blows,
and driving Needham ag inst the ropes.
NeedhanI, at this time, and for several
rounds after, was not using his right.
In the thirtY-iirst Needham forced the
fighting, and in clinch Ryan tried to throw
him. Needham received a hot rigat-hand
smash which swelled his upper lip.
In tile thirty-fourth Ryan opened with an
awful right which sent Needham to the
ropes. The latter then began using his right
again freely, and there was some vicious
fighting.
In the thirty-fiith and thirty-sixth rounds
Ryan got in two more good smashes on
Needham's ribs, but without doing much
apparent damage.
In the thirty-seyenth the fighting was fast
and furious, but ended in Ryan's favor.
Needham's face showed evidence Of Sc
we're punishment, but both men, aside from
that appeared in good shape. SO it went on,
many blows being exchanged without ylsi-
bic results, each taking turns in rushing the
other until the ifty-second round, when
Ryan rushed Needham to the ropes without
effect and narrowly escaped a Knockout
blow, getting two good Smashes in the neck
Up to this time the sporting men pro-
nouneed the fight one of the most scientific
ever seen. Not foul had been hit or
claimed.
At the end of the sixtieth round, at 80
~ al lnply fi.a ~
dersto0d the fight was to be To a finish and
that he would make the men fight This
stirred up the audience, and a bet of 500
that Ryan would win found no takers even
at odds.
The men resumed the fight with vigor. Up
to this time Ryan didn't show a mark of
punishment
-, At 2;2O o'clock President Harris of the
Twin City Club announced his intention Of
making the men fight to n finish.
Up to this time seventy-three rounds had
been I0ughtand the men were simply walking
around each other.
In the seyenty-fourth round Needham
forced the fighting. but did little damage
lie got III smash on Ryan's face aud Ryan
returned II, almost scoring knOck-dOwn.
In the seventy-ffIh the fighting was hot
and fast, and Ryan scored first blood. The
audience went wild. Desperate infghting
followed. In the seYenty-sixth, Ryan
knocked Needham down with his left A
cllneh, and Needham went down again.
Ryan then upper-cut, right ana left, knock
ing Needham down repeatedly, and only
tie call Of time saved him from being
knocked out as it was, he was carried to
his corner in dazcd condition.
Before time was called again. his seconds
threw up the sponge. Ryan's admirers
went wild and as the audience dispersed,
were hugging and tossing him.
Needham's friends, who hud been exceed
ingly confident, are down-hearted. Tommy
Ryan is now the champion welter-weieht of
the world.