Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-29
It WAS DESPERATE.
Plimmer Defeats McGrath
After an Extremely
Brutal Battle.
IT LASTED EIGHT ROUNDS.
LeedOm and Boyle Are the Other
Two Defeated Contestants.
GASTRIGHT SIGNS HIS CONTRACT.
Interesting local Swimming Contests
This Evening fer Amateurs.
IT LASTED EIGHT ROUNDS.
GASTRIGHT SIGNS HIS CONTRACT.
Interesting local Swimming Contests
This Evening fer Amateurs.
RESULTS OF THE GUTENBERG RACES

CoNEY ISLAND, n. Y, Dec IA
large and enthusiastic crowd of sporting
men assembled here tonight to witness the
boxing entertainment given under the
auspices of the Coney Island Athletic Club.
The event OF the evening was finish light
between Billy Plimmer, champion bantam
weight of the world, and Joe McGrath,
champion llO-pound man of ireland. Prior
to this, however, there were two prelimi-
nary bouts, one of ten rounds between
Hughey Bowie, of Elizabeth, n. j., and
Connie Sullivan, of New York, and the
other Of eight rounds between Billy
Leedom, of Philadelphia, and MohAt Fla
herty, of Boston.
BOYLE and Sullivan fought ten rounds for
$500 purse. The contest was tame, and
the referee, P. j. Donohue, awarded the
victory to Sullivan. The loser got 500.
McAuIiffe Makes Statement.
After this bout MeAuliffe stated that it
was not his fault that the proposed battle
between himself and Burge mad fallen
through. He had agreed to everything, and
now stood ready to fight any man in the
world at 133 pounds The Coney Island
Club Endorsed all he said
The second bout of the evening, that be-
tween Leedom and FlBherty, was then
called. The men weighed 154 pounds each.
This was fight from start to finish.
FlahertE had his opponent groggE and
down in the first round, but Leedom was
sufficiently recovered in ten seconds to do
some good stiff punching. In the third
Flaherty dropped his man again with a
straight left, and then came near losing the
fight by making three fouls. From then
until the eighth and last round it was give
and take, with Flaherty's work a shade to
the good. Each man waited for chance
to use his right, but it came not. They pun
iEhed each other severely, Flaherty, how
ever, getting in more telling blows, and the
referee awarded him the contest. They,
too, fought for purse OF $500
The Big Battle starts.
The fight of the night then took place
The referee was johnny Eckhardt; club
timer, Bob StolI OF New York. The con-
testants were Billy Plimmer, of England,
champion bantam of the world, and Joe
McGrath, champion 110-pound man of Ire
land. They fought for a purse of s., 500,
the winner to take $1,000 and the loser
$500. Plimmer was seconded by Charley
Norton, of Newark, Bennie Murphy and
Harry Evans, of Birmingham, England
Joe Connolly, of Newark, was his bottle
holder and Alf Jewett, of Philadelphia,
held time for him. McGrath was looked
after by Martin Murphy, of San Francisco,
Peter Maher, of Dublin, ireland, and
Jimmy Carroll, OF Brooklyn. His bottle
holder was John Brady, of New York, and
his timer Jack Sheehan, of race track tame. !
Plimmer was strong favorite among the |
betting men, as most Of them had seen HIM |
fight on one or two other occasions and |
knew well what he could do, while no one
had the least idea OF McGrath's ability.
Err1,4 aa1 hon 0.20
Very Easy for PIimmer.
First round-The referee called the boys
into she center OF the ring and they got at it.
Plimmer led with his left which was short. |
McGratn knew the game he was up against |
and kept away. Plimmer played for the |
stomach and McGrath for the head. Each |
got in few light taps and were shy in the |
opening.
Second round-PIimmer forced matters |
and punched McGrath whenever he pleased. |
Billy continued to punch McGrath. leading
with light left and forcing his right on Nc |
Grath's eyes. McGrath looked to be a very
much OutclaSsed lad.
Third round-McGrath has n reputation
for taking punishmenta and be ably sustained
his record. Plimmer kept ja0bing mis- lett
into McGrath's mouth and soon had that
opening full of blood. McGrath began to
improve however, and landed two or three
hard blows, which made Billy vince.
Round four-Plimmer forced the fighting |
and landed lust when and where he saw fir |
In swinging his right Plimmer missed his |
mark and slipped and fell. McGrath also |
went partly down, but neither man struck a
blow. Piimmer was up quickly and from
this out he had everything his own way,
chopplng the Irish lads face into jelly and
knocking him down twice. The Irish lad
was game and stood his punishment man.
fully. Plimmer was cool and landed every
blow good and solid.
Round fve-McGrath's face was covered
with blood and Pl1mmer forced him to his |
knees. McGrath deliberately butted Billy |
in the stomach, but Plimmer did not want |
the fight that way. He brought McGrath to |
the floor with right swing on the jaw, but
the lad was game as pebble, and although |
Knocked down, he got up and
took his punishment. Plimmer landed mis- |
right and left and had McGrath streaming
with blood, and the gameness OF the boy
was something marvellous. McGrath STAG | !
gered to his corner when the bell rang
Sixth round-This round was almost sick.
sning TO behold. 1t was extremely brutal |
n McGrath WAS pounded until he was so
Sro.gy that ne could scarcely stand on his
feet. He was knocked down four times bur ]
yamely got up each time before he could be
counted out. Had Peter MaheF hair his
yameness, he could now be one of the cham
pions of the world. 1t was only the gong
hat saved nim the last time he was knocked !
iown. ,
seventh round--This round was another
exhibition of gameness, and although forced
20 the floor repeatedly, McGrath kept at his
work, although fighting without the slight
'epeatedly knocked down and each time I
eemed to be the last, but taking advantage | j
If ten seconds, he arose just before being s
,ounted out. Cries OF take him off," etc |
we're heard. Accepting his punishment he
rept pegging away, but he had no strength | s
eft and was bound to be defeated for the c
lrst time in his life | /
Round eight-Plimmer tried to bring the | i
ght to hasty finish, and went at his man
With right and lett, and showered blow i
fter blow upon his battered and bruised /
ace, but even then he could not put him s
ut. McGrath was knocked down repeat I
dly, but bobbed up each time before he |
fas counted out 1t was so extremely brural
hat the crowd yelled, "Take him off" and L
ut of pure charity Jimmy Carroll threw up | !
be sponge. 9
Peter Maher distinguished himself by ?
unning away from McGrath's corner in the Z,
Ixth round McGrath got mad at his Sec G
nds for throwing up the sponge. h
Rowan Won