The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-18
FOUGHT F0k SIX HOURS
L
Dannie Needham Whipped by Tom
Ryan in Seventy-Six Tire
some Rounds.
A Good Deal OF Time Wasted in
Walking Around tho
Ring.
Noedham Allowed to Fight with His Hand
In Plastsr-Ryan Had tho
ISst OF II.

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 18.-Twelve hundred
people gathered In tho club rooms Of th
Twin City Athletic club last night to wit
ness the much-talked-of fight between the
welterweights, Danny Needham, Of Cali
fornia. and Tom Ryan, OF Chicago, for
purse Of $1,000. $500 to the winner. Queens
berry rules. finish. Needham weighed i,
at 1871 and Ryan 1897. Charlie Kemmicl
and Australian Smith were Need
hams seconds, while Billy Myel
and George Siddons acted for Ryan
Joe Mannix was chosen referee
Four-ounce gloves were used. There had
been much talk during the day about Need.
hams hands being in bad shape and that
he would fight with them in plaster. The
Ryan men strenuously objected to this, but
the directors of the club, at conference
just before the fight, to the surprise ol
everyone, allowed the plaster to 90. The
men entered the ring at 9:15. Betting then
was about even and both appeared in good
condition.
| The first round ended in Needham'e
favor after sharp interchange of blows
with no harm done. Ryan then forced the
| fighting, but Needham countered success
round, without any great apparent damage
on either side. In the nth Ryan poksd his
left into Needham's left eye, partly closing
it, and thereafter persistently tried
to disable the other one, his tao
tics being evidently to blind Need.
ham. The latter was guarded. however,
and kept playing for Ryan's wind. There
was much sparring and many good blows
interchanged, Needham devotinR most Of
his favors to Ryan's body. They took a
change at chasing each other and Need
hams face began to show signs of punish
ment but both were pretty fresh.
In the twenty-seventh round Ryan rushed
right and left, getting in three good blows
Needham, at this time, and for several
rounds after, was not using his right.
In the thirty-nrst Needham forced
the fighting and in clinch 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 handler, which
sent Needham to the ropes. The latter
began to use his right freely and there was
some fierce fighting. In the thirty-fifth
and thirty-si1th rounds Ryan got in two
good smashes ON Nssdham's ribs without
doing much damage.
In the thirty-seventh the fighting WAS
fast and furious but ended in Ryan's favor.
Needhams 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 a turn in rush
ing the other until the fifty second, when
Ryan rushed Needham to the ropes without
blow, getting two good smashes Ill the neck.
Up to this time sporting men pronounced
the fight one of the most scientific ever
seen. Not foul had been hit or claimed
At the end Of the sixtieth round, at 1870
a. M, the referee announced that he under
stood the fight was to be to a finish, and
that he would make the mon fight. This
stirred up the audience. and bet of 800
that Ryan would win found no takers at
even odds. The men resumed fighting with
vi0or. Up to this time Ryan didn't show a
mark Of punishment.
At 2:2O a. IN. President Harris, of the
Twin City club, announced his intention of
making the men fight to a finish. Up to
this time scventy-tbree 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 damage. |
He got in smash on Ryan's face and Ryan |
it, almost securing knock down. |
In tho seventy-fifth the fighting Was
hot and fast and Ryan secured first blood.
The audience went wild. Desperate in
lighting followed.
In the seventy sixth Ryan knocked Need
nam down with his left, clinched and Need
aam went down again. Ryan then upper
,ut right and left. knocking Needham
1oWn rapea te0ly and only the call of TINA
Iaved him from being knocked out. As il
vas. he was carried to his corner in dazsd
condition. Before time was called again
lis seconds threw up the sponge. Ryan's
riends went wild and as the audience dis
,ersed were hugging and tossing him.
Needham's friends, who had been exceed
ngly confident. are downhearted. Tommy
tyan is now champion welter- weight Of
he world.