Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-29
AUSTRALIAN WHIPPED.
The American COlOred Champion Puts
Willis to Sleep
IN FIVE VERY BRISK ROUNDS.
Both Men Were in Prime 0ondition-li Was fol-
srably Even Fight to the Fifth Round, When
Dixon Got in Two Hard Jaw bits
Which Rfsctualy Settled Willis

SAN FRANCISCO, July So.-UeOrge
Dixon, of Boston, and Abe Willis, OF
Australia, fought at the gymnasium OF
the California Athletic Climb tonight for
a purse of $4,000 and the bantam cham
ponship of the world. Willis was
practically unknown to many here, and
the betting before the fight was in Dix
on'sfavor, ranging from 100 to 20 to 100
to 90. Great interest was taken in the
fight here, and the club room was filled.
The men had trained faithfully and
both were in perfect condition. Hiram
Cook was referee, Dixon's seconds were
Tim O'Rourke, Mitchell and Billy
Akers Willis was seconded by Martin
Murphy and Billy Smith. Dixon won
the fight in the fifth round.
The contestants appeared in the ring
soon aSter $50 o'clock, and time was
called 1T SAB.
In tie first round the men spared
careful.y for fully minute, Dixon
showing the greater advantage in reach.
Then Dixon led and caught Willis on
the Jaw, sending him down. When he
rose there was the liveliest kind OF q
rally, The men slugging each other at
close quarters, Dixon plainly having the
best OF it. Willis hugged as much as
possible.
The second round was opened caus-
iously by both men. Dixon rushed but
accomplished nothing. A moment after
he planted swinging left on the Aus
tralian's jaw. Several sharp rallies and
much clinching followed, then they
| kept ND a see-saw on each others jaws
at the closest possible range. The round
closed with cheers for both men.
During the third round both men were
very wary at first. Dixon then landed
his left on Willis body and right on his
| law. Neither blow did much damage.
In the fourth round, after two min
utes OF sparring, Dixon rushed and land
ed on Willis jaw and body several times,
receiving two sharp raps in return.
Both were very quiet and saved them
selves by lodging.
The fifth round was opened like the
others. Neither seemed disposed at
first to rush and force matters.
Toward the close there was a sharp
rally near the ropes, in which 1t was
give and take for moment, though
Dixon ,yas nlotniy laucius hdruur anu
| Ofteher. Presently DiAvu 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 and
when he did 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 jaw
and the latter went down fat on his
back. He fell heavily and lay like a
log. When ten seconds had expired,
Willis 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, Willis was knocked out In
fifth round after having had the
worst of hard fought bat
tie from the very start. Dxon's
style OF fighting was known by
Willis and he was not expecting to do
much rushing; but he forced the fight
from the very start. He rushed Willis
dUu WucucNCI uO COuiu SCb Nv
close quarters and beat him with ease.
Willis struggled hard TO hold out against
the colOred mans 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 de-
feat earlier, but after being knocked
down in the first round and unmerci-
fully pounded in the four following
rounds he was greatly weakened and
the blow which sent him out was light
one compared to dozen others he had
received. Dixon was apparently unin-
jured, and as soon as he saw that Willis
could not rise in the fifth round the
colored man gave, leap almost half
across the ring, while the spectators
cheered him wildly.