St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-28
DIXON is CHAMPION.
The Little Black Boxer ES-
tahlishes His Claim in a
Hard Battle.
England'S Crack Feather
-t3U
weight Finished in Four j
teen Rounds.
Js
Fighting Was Fast and Furi-
Gus From the Opening
to the Last Blow. h
John L. Sullivan Drunk and
Jim Corbett Sober Saw D.
the Contest.

of the world is now thing of the past,
as George Dixon. the colored boy from
Boston, has won the title by defeating
Fred Johnson, the featherweight cham-
pion of England. The contest was wit
messed by large and enthusiastic
crowd of sporting men from this city
and various other parts of the country.
Dixon is the acknowledged champion
featherweight of America, and as this
was an international battle, there tas
an immense crowd, and great interest
was taken in the fight and betting was
exceptionally high.
1t was an unquestionablygre battle,
and one that Will be long remembered.
Coney Island was crowded all the after
noon with prominent sporting men
eager to get their money upon the man
they could get the best lines on. Both
Dixon and Johnson were weighed in
under 1T pounds. and there was con-
siderable surprise at the Englishman'S
ability to get down to that weight and
still loOk
Strong Enough to Fight.
The latter's train came down heavily
loaded. and as it drew toward the time
for beginning the rush for seats became
something astonishing. The seats were
S. and $40 each, but that cut no figure
with the bulk of the sports, as they put
up their money as though it had been
blank paper. There were fully 6.00U
people present by the time they were
ready to put on the first bout, and there
was so much Dixon money in sight that
InI Il n
to back their man at even money, were
soon compelled to drop down to $50 to
500 and then to SO to 500, and the
reef had to be taken and the odds fell to
500 to $50 on Dixon with but few takers.
The first pair of bruiSers, Kelly and
Sullivan, hoped upon the stage at $40
p. III. The boys. who are in The 105-
pound class. were evenly matched.
sullivan and. COrbett
John l.. Sullivan came in a most
hilarious condition and attracted no
little attention. He was so much inter
eSted in the rafting rounds the boys
put up, in which knock-dOwnS we're
conspicuous, that he did not see Jim
Corbett come in and walk past him, de-
spite the fact the crowd cheered him
heartily.
Neither of the lads was knocked out.
but Kelly was declared the winner on
scientific points. :
Then came the star performance of
the evening, and everybody settled
themselves to enjoy what proved to be
an excellent exhibition of science, skill
and strength.
1t was Just $50 when Dixon came
down the aisle and climbed upon the
stage. He was accompanied by Tom
O'Rourke, his manager. and two sec
onds. Fred johnson was very slow
about making his appearance in the
ring, but when he did show up he re-
ceived hearty welcome. He was ac-
companied by Charles Norton and three
handlers.
A Flying Start.
It was lust $50 o'clock when the men con-
fronted each other. The start was fast and
furious. Dixon doing all the work and land
ing right and left on the stomach and head,
forcing johnson to the ropes and Furnishing
him terribly. y great shout went up. for all
thought johnson was going out in the first
round but he pluckily stuck to his work and
took his medicine. The gong sounded time.
and thus saved him. His seconds had him
in shape in less than the minute, and he
came up strong.
hOulQ IWO-DlXOn IOrceQ the HSHtlIlS,
which was fast and furious, and did the
bulk of the leading. johnson at one time
seemed TO be gone. His leads with his left
were always short and he appeared unable
to give any severe punishment. Dixon
continued 10 play for the body, repeatedly
landing hard with his right. johnson was
laying back for in-fighting. in which he ex-
celled, but George hit, stopped, and got
away too quick for him. When the bell
rang Johnson was very weary.
Round Three-Both men were strong and
spared for an opening. johnson was the
first to lead, but fell short of his mark, and
Dixon came forward with great rush, land
ing hard and often. Johnson gained
strength. however, and again led. As before
he fell short. but when George rushed him
he planted his right full in Dixon's face. and
in the clinch which followed. punched him
hard in the stomach. After the break-away
Dixon was more careful, finding that his op-
ponent was great infighter, and capable OF
getting away from punishment.
Round -Four - johnson came up very
strong. which forced Dixon to be a little
more cautious. They spared few seconds
for an opening then Dixon came in with a
rush and planted his left on Johnson
stomach, and with The same swing landed il
right-hander in the neck. johnson planted
his right heavily on Dixon's ribs and some
hard in-fghting followed before the call of
time.
A Hog for Fight.
Round Five-Johnson was full of fight and
he followed Dixon all over the ring, looking
for an opening. He led lightly with his left,
but got stiff counter on the jaw for his
pains. Dixon then rushed him and landed O
good left only to receive a blow twice as
hard on the side of his head from Johnson's
right. They came to close quarters number
of times during this round and cllnched re,
Deatediy. They had to be separated nun.
r. 4 49, - S.
of Dixon.
Round Six--Both men came up strong
johnson led with his left on Dixon's chest.
Dixon on rush swung his left on Johnson's
stomach and again in the face. On the next
rush he landed again the same way, but got
a stineing clout on the side of the head with
Jobneon's right hand tina: made the smile
disappear from his face. He tried to gel
square, rushed his man and fought like a
tiger with both hands. johnson held his
own in pretty good form and did not seem
to mind his punishment in the least but
banged away with both hands like a great
gladiator. .
Round Seven-Both men were eager to get
to work. Johnson's mild lead was followed
by swinging right, which made his head
go back quick. Dixon used both hands to
advantage. landed many goods blows, and
would doubtless have finished his man had
it not been for the clever dodging of the
English lad.
Clever and ForcefuI. 4g-
Round Eight-Dixon started to do his fght-
ing with the left hand, but after receiving
two or three swinging right-handed blows he
came to his senses. aud was forced to use his
right hand for all it was worth Both fought
we'll all through the round and it is difficult
to tell which man had the best of the round.
1t was clever work all the way through.
Round Nine-DiXon was not over anxious
to get into close quarters and spent as much
of the round as possible in walking around
and sparring. He only fought when he get
good opening or was forced to do so by his
opponents attacks. johnson used his right
hand to advantage and landed several blows
on Dixon's head with telling effect If any
hing Johnson had shade the best of the
round.
Round Ten-Dixon held off until he got
good opening. Then he landed on his oppo-
nent with both hands and fairly staggered