The morning call., 1891-10-28
RIORDAN BESTED.
Billy Smith Stops Him in Twenty.
six Rounds.
A Rafting Mill Between the City and Aus
tralian Heavy Weights at the Cali
fornia Athletic Club.

Good, square fight" was the opinion Of
the thousand men who witnessed the en-
counter between Con Riordan of this city
and Billy Smith of Australia at the Cali
fornia Athletic Club last night 1t was a
fight to finish for purse of $500, and
the men both fought for all they were
worth.
Before the big event of The evening there
were four-round bouts between soldiers
from the Preside. Sergeant Owen Davis
faced Private Tug Wilson, and Corporal
al Stern, the Black Point Spider, stood off
Billy Walker, 1.-THE lazy boy" The lazy
one had everything his own way. and
"spider cried quit during the third round.
There was considerable applause when
Referee Hiram Cook, very neat as to dress
and waXy as to mustache, stepped alongside
the ring. President Fulda stepped into the
squared circle and made his regulation four
rounds with the English language with the
usual result.
When the heavy weights appeared IN
their corners both seemed to be in the pink
of condition, Smith weighing 172 pounds
and Riordan TO Before the battle the city
boy was the fav0rte, and odds of nearly
to were freely wagered upon him.
THE OPENING ROUND.
As early as the first round Riordan
showed his clinching tactics. Both men
spared cautiously for an opening. They
clincEed and broKe away very neatly, as
they did throughout the battle. Three times
did RlOrdan clinch to save punishment be-
fore tap on the right side OF his head just
over the ear sent him Sprawling on his
knees. He was promptly on his feet how
ever, and seemed none the worse for the
fall during the remainder of the round.
Smith did heavy work at the opening Of
the second round, Riordan standing on the
defensive. Several left-handers landed on
Riordan's head and again sent him to his
knees. He boobed uD serenely before
"ten" had been counted, and chased Smith
half way around the ring. After several
clinches and graceful break-a@ays Smith
received two heavy body blows, but aD-
peared to have the best OF the encounter
when the bell rang.
Rordan opened the third round by swing
ing his left in such a bewildering manner
that it landed half dozen times on his op-
ponent's ribs. Smith returned the compli-
ment by some neat lunges for the fayorte's
wind. Both men were still as fresh as
daisies when the round ended in a cllnch.
LOOKING FOR A KNOCKOUT.
During the fourth and fifth rounds Smith
fought with an ''I'll-knOck- YOU -if-I can"
air. Although the Australian lost first
claret, and little of the ruby trirkled down
from his nostrii5, he was frequently en-
couraged by such cries as Go in and finish
him, Billy"
Many harmless exchanges and clinches
characterized the sixth round, and it was not
until the seventh that the men became fairly
warmed for the fierre work that followed.
Smith was temporarily dazed by receiving a
singing left-hander in the jaw, but rallied
and retaliaed by backing and almost clos
ing Riordan's left eye. By this time blood
was flownng in little rills from Billy's nose
and mouth, and his vicious work frequently
caused cheering.
Tie eighth. ninth and tenth rounds were
without startling incidents and the specta-
tors began to settle down in anticipation of
an ail-nght battle Riordan had several
opportunities to snow his ability to guard
off terrific upper cuts and swinging left
handlers. Backers Of the favorite were more
hopeful in the eleventh round, when Rior-
dan began TO work in earnest. This made
Smith more cautious and he resoried to
mora nf his riphf-hand unner cnts