Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-04

A fair sized crowd assembled at the
Pastime Athletic club last evening to
witness the lightweight fight between
Billy Maber of Australia and Johnny
Lawson, the colored pugilist, also from
Australia. The principals entered the
ring at 8 80. Lawson, solid and chunky,
was the first to step through the ropes.
Maber soon followed, his slender shape
being hidden from the inquisitive gaze
of the spectators by a night shirt.
Shannon and Childs were in Lawson's
corner while Purcell and Manning were
behind Maher. Mort Curran officiated
as referee and Tim Rodman. and Joe
Manning were the time-keepers.
At precisely 9 :45 pm. time was called.
Maber would never take first prize at a
show for his shape. He is as thin as
match and his legs might be mistaken
for broom handles on dark night. He
lowered over his dusky opponent, as the
colored man is rather thick set. No
time was lost in getting to
work. Sampson opened the hostilities
by rushing Maber. He led frequently,
the white man avoiding punishment by
his shiftiness and not making much ef-
fort to reach his opponent until the lat
ter part of the round, when he shot
them into Lawson as if from cannon.
There was considerable applause at the
call of time.
The second round was the best of the
fight. Lawson came up full of ginger
and there was plenty of hot fighting
from the start. The colorM man tried
hard to land. He swung both his right
and left and tried hard to land on vul-
nerable spot, but Maber was too clever
and easily eluded his antagonist. Mabel
conteuted himself with an occasional
jab, and they counted, judging by the
lack of ginger displayed by the colored
man. There was plenty of rapid fight
ing near the end of the round, which was
clearly in Maber's favor. The third round
was decisive one for Maber. The fact
that Lawson could not reach Maber dis
couraged him. A Highlander on the
neck sent Lawson down. He stayeG
down until nine seconds had been
counted and time was called just after
wards. Lawson, who looked distressed
few seconds before, walked to his cor
ner full of vigor. The fourth round was
peculiar one. Maber kept jabbing Law
son on the heart and the colored mai
must have gone down at least five times
and as he generally stayed down nin'
seconds, he managed to pass away a
least third of the round. He wal
groggy when he went to his corner al
the end of the round.
| Lawson got hard smash on the mech
in the fifth, but prevented Maber get
ting in effective blows by clinching.
In the sixth and last round. a speedy
Highlander sent Lawson down. HI
twisted over on his belly, but did moi
get up until he was counted out.
Lawson made a plucky, uphill fght
for the other rounds, but he saw it. was
hopeless battle, and he quit some
near the end, going down once or twice
without being hit very hard. At the
conclusion of the fight Maber announced
that he had broken his left hand early
in the fight, which accounts for hi
using one hand during the last thre,
rounds. Maber is extremely clever
undoubtedly the cleverest man eve
seen in the local ring, He is an artis
at avo ding punishment, and when HI
jabs there is plenty of steam at the bacl
oft. All his blows count, as he inva
riably makes connection and rarely lett
90 without landing.