Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-18
PURELY SCIENTIFIC.
A Prize Fight Of Seventy Six
Rounds.
Tommy Ryan Now the Cham
pion Welter-Wei
Danny Needham Fought Gamely But
Got Knocked Out.
Fought in the Ring-Ryan's
Friends Jubilant.
Associated Press Dispatches.

MINNEAPeLIs, Feb. 17.-Twelve hun
dred people gathered in the club rooms
OF the Twin City Athletic club tonight,
to witness the -talked-of fight be-
tween the welter-weights, Danny Need
ham, Of California, and Tom Ryan, OF
Chicago, for purse of $1,000, $500 to the
winner, Queensberry rules, to finish.
Needham weighed in at 1879 and Ryan
at 13934. Charley Kemmick and the
Australian, Smith, were Needham's Sec
onds, while Billy Myer and George Sid
dons acted for Ryan. Joe Mannix was
chosen referee. Four-ounce gloves were
used.
There had been much talk during the
day about Needham's hands being in
bad shape, and that he would fight with
them in plaster. The Ryan men siren
uously objected to this, but the direct
ors of the club, at conference just be-
fore the fight, to the surprise of every
one, allowed the plaster to 90. The
men entered the ring at 9:15. Betting
then was about even, and both appeared
in good condition.
When the men entered the ring, the
question of plasters for Needham's e
hands was not raised, as it had been de.
cided to abandon Needham's claims.
The first round ended in Needham g
favor, after sharp interchange of
blows, with no harm done. Ryan then
forced the fighting, but Needham coun-
tered successfully, and SO the fight went
on, round after round, without any
great damage on either side
In the fifth Ryan poked his left into
Needham's left eye, partly closing it,
and thereafter persistently tried to dis
able the other one, his tactics evidently
being to blind Needham. The latter
was guarded, however, and kept play
ing for Ryan's wind. There was much
sparring and many good blows inter
changed, Needham devoting most OF his
favors to Ryan's body. They took
changes at chasing each other, 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
against the ropes. Needham at this
time, and for several rounds after, was
not using his right.
In the thirty-frst Needham forced the
fighting, and clinched. Ryan tried to
throw him. Needham received hot
right-hand smash, which swelled his
upper lip.
In the thirty-fourth Ryan opened
with an awful right, which sent Need
ham to the ropes. The latter then be-
gan using his right again freely, and
there was some vicious fighting.
In the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth
Ryan got in two more good smashes on
Needham's ribs, but without doing
much apparent damage. In the thirty
seventh, the fighting was fast and furi-
Gus, but ended in Ryan's favor.
Needham's face showed evidence of
severe punishment, but both men, aside
from that, appeared in good shape. So
it went on, many blows being exchanged
without visible results, each taking
turns in rushing the other, until the
SD round, when Ryan rushed Needham
TO the ropes without effect, and narrowly
escaped knockout blow, getting two
good smashes in the neck.
Up to this time sporting men pro-
nounced the fight one eff the most sci
entific ever seen. Not foul had been
hit or claimed.
At the end of the sixtieth round, at
l 80 a. M, the referee announced that
he understood the fight was to be to a
finish, and that he would make the men
fight. This stirred up the audience, and
bet OF 500 that Ryan would win found
no takers at even odds. The men re-
sumed fighting with vigor. Up to this
time Ryan did not show mark of pun
ishment.
J. 20 a. m. President Harris OF the
Twin City club announced his intention
of making the men fight to finish. Up
to this time seven ty-three rounds had
been fought, and the men were simply
walking around each other.
In the seventy-fourth round Needham
forced the fighting, but did little dam
age. He got in smash on Ryan's face,
and Ryan returned it, almost scoring
knock-down.
In the seventy-fifth the fighting was
hot and fast, and Ryan scored first
blood. The audience went wild. Des-
perate in-fghting followed.
In the seventy-sixth, Ryan knocked
Needham down with his left. He rose,
they clinched, and Needham went down
again. Ryan then upper-cut right and
left, knocking Needham down repeat
edly, and only the call of time saved
him from being knocked out. As it was
he was carried to his corner in dazed
condition.
Before time was called again his Sec
onds threw up the sponge. Ryan's adj
Imirers went wild, and as the audience
dispersed, were hugging and tossing
him.
| Needham's friends, who had been ex-
ceedingly confident, are down hearted.
Tommy Ryan is now the champion
| welter-weight Of the world.
Half-R0und Knockout.
| SAN FRANCrsco, Feb. 17.-Tonight at
|, ~ A t,.>