Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-28
DEADTOTHEEA
Johnson BrutalIy Knocked Out
by Dixon
INATERRIfIc BLOW AND FALL
The EnslishmAa Nc Match for the Nim-
Die Champion Drzon-A Vicious
Fight From the Start

CLuB Horsx CoSEx Island, June n.
AT last the Coasy Island Athletic
club got together large crowd tonight
a. the prize fxht between Fred john
soa OF Birmingham, England. and
George Dixon, the festher-welght
champion OF the world. There must
have been 5000 people in the house.
J0nn L. sullivan arrived at naIf-pAst
o'clock. and was loudly cheered as
be sas recognized. All the we'll
known sporting men of New York.
Brookiya and Their vicinity were pres
ent, as were delegations from Boston,
philade!phla aud other cities The
lighters weighed in At A O'Clock this
III pounds aud neither man drew IL,
that Is. nelther made It move. II Was
plain, however. that Johnson vas fully
a pound the heavier. Dixon seemed
10 be at about ll5 pounds. The bet
ting was pretty lively during the
afternoon and evening on the ruling
lavOrite Al 100 10 20 and slmetimes l05
20 20. The Johnson party took four
bets at the latter figures al p. NJ. The
tgnt was for g. 800 purse. James j..
COrbeIs entered the hail shortly after .
O'c.ocx and got a roaslng reception.
Ia fact the crowd made more noise for
hIm than they did for sullivan.
the bsg hight was begun ~ s:43. Al
Smith, the regular official OF the club.
Was the referee. The crowd Was de-
hgnted with the contest from the very
start. Dixon IN the first found opened
proceedings IN 4 Characteristic manner
and rushed Johnson against the ropes.
playing At the sanie time with his left
on the EngIIshman's stomach and his
right on the Jaw.
Johnsen Was Surprised.
Johnson was surprised at the sudden
attack and did not rally before Dixon
MAS on top of hIm again IN the same
way. The spectators nearly raised the
roof with their yells at this, but John
son now somewhat recovered his senses
and in the fighting that followed
planted his right couple of times on
Dixon's ribs. The second round was
almost a rephtion of the first except
that Johnson began TO duck in front
OF Dixon's rusncs and Dixon twice
caught him I'm the face with
lefthAnd upper-cuts. Clinch followed
chnch, Dixon dong all the rushing and
the lnhghting Was fast and furious.
IL MAS the same in the third round and
she excitement in the hall was terrific.
Johnson stood the gait and came up
for every round with thoroughly
game manner. Round after round
went on IN the same program.
but in the seventh il was
seen that Johnson could take y
terrible lot OF punishment and
Tim ORourke advised Dixon to be
cautious with MS hands no less than
four times. Before the seventh round
Johnson became groggy under the
conDle-handed blows ne received on
the stomach and Jaw, but he held his
feet and never failed to come out look
ing fresh A. the next call of time. The
ElglIshman had poor left hand.
lie frequently, IN leading Tor Dixon's
face, jabbed the ar two feet away
from the champion. His right was
good at inhghhng and may be will
enough for his purpose when he swings
IL on the other fellows jaw. but Dixon s
face was never ~ the way OF It.
The Final Knockout.
The colOred boy was nimbler than
ever and when the battle was over had
no severe marks ON his cinnamon skin
except about the body and these
we're not sufficient 10 be-
in sight at distance. They
no douDt told upon the champion
for be was not so fast toward the end
of the tight ss at tho start From the
eighth 10 the twelfth johnson seemed
20 be getting little stronger, although
Dixon did SOME rusnIng during the
period. Johnson proved TO be fighter
alter the Austin Gibbons order, siow in
movement bot capable OF taking enough
g. TIRE most men out. In the thirteenth
Dixon began TO grow lively again for .
m.,ment aud make smother OF his
effective rushes 10 the fourteenth and
last round Dixon axain flew At his man.
He thrust = wicked left into Johnson's
ssanacn. and as the Euglisnman bent
forward under the blow Dixon's right
met him savagely IN tie jaw. lt was a
jsb which Knocked nim down, and as
ne fell J0hnson's left had caught
Dixon's rignt ard the Englisbmsn
pulled ths cOlored boy over him. They
feii with Dlxon's head on tor Of John
sons. ADD "a the lsttsr's struck the
stage IL vas with great force. The re-
port nssie en- the platform was SO loud
that some people thought that the un-
der mans skull bad been fractured.
DIXON wss up IA y ffy.
POOR Johnson dft NE hest 10 get up.
He vas on hls feet once. bat be resled
ard fell Tie tried sgasn and got "a his
knees. but he was completely dszed
ard fcli over on his side. This time he
was unconscious. His sscoads csaimed
that ths Dixon man had back -heelegi
HIM. but the referee would not
allow q. Johnson wss dead 10 ths
world for Heariy minute aud
Dixon ven the decision. Itwiil always
BE- a question whether the blow or the
fall dsfeated Johnson. HIS friends -.
ssrs that Ia had received many of the
ssnis kind during the fight, and AWAY.
recovered; bat there eau be no douhs
tng the Grgl'snman Was no match for
go -