Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-27
IN ELEVEN ROUNDS
Dick O'Brisn, Of Lewiston, Ne, De-
feats Billy Hsnnsssy, of Iowa.
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Of the United States Settled by
the Contest - The Iowa Man
Started in Like a Winner, But
He Gould Not Hold Up to His
Gait and Lost in the Later
Rounds.

BosToN, MASS, March 26.-Dick
O'Brien, OF Lewiston, Maine, met
Billy Hennessy, of Clinton, Iowa, In the
most scientific boxing contest this city
has seen for years and defeated the
champion of the Northwest in eleven
closely and hotly contested rounds. His
victory gives him the title to the middle
weight chan pionship Of the country and
$500 of the $3.50 purse offered by the
Charter Bank Athletic Club for the
fight.
In the first round the man from
Maine started in like cyclone from
the other fellows section Of the country,
but did no special damage. He got his
antagonist against the ropes and gave
him one or two love taps, which
Hennessy repaid with interest
Hennessy warmed up to his work and
ended the first lesson with a
terrific smash on O'Brien's jaw. At the
beginning OF the second round 0'Brien
was a little groggy from the blow Of a
minute before. HeBnessy followed his
advantage and by battery work soon
had the Lewiston man at standstill.
Hennessy was tired and just as the
gong struck went to the floor, almost
by the touch OF
A MIsSPENT BLOW.
At the opening of the third round,
O'Brien got in a soaker in the ribs Of
the Westerner, who retaliated by pok-
ing him in the left eye. A second blow
in the same place brought the blood
and third one nearly knocked Dick of
his feet The striking of the bell was
clearly the only thing that saved
O'Brien from losing the battle.
In the next two rounds
things looked better for Dick.
He gave William an upper cut that
made that gentleman look sick and
chased it up with some very effective
infghting. In the sixth a series Of
rights and lefts worried 0'Brien exceed
ingy and be was forced against the
ropes and badly punished. he escaped
by running duck. In the seventh and
eighth rounds OBren braced up and
forced the fighting. He rained blow
after blow upon the dizzy head of Hen
messy, who saved himself from a worse
fate by his tactics Of falling upon Dick
and thus closing. Ia this round the
referee had difficulty
TO KEEP THE MEN SEPARATED,
as they were so exhausted that they
fairly leaned against each other for sup
port. In the ninth round O'Brien rained
blow npon blow upon Hennessy's neck
and jaw and many of them came near
bling knockouts. Hennessy went to
the floor twice in this round, and stag
gered on his feet not moment too soon
TO save himself from being counted out.
In the tenth the Waterloo OF the man
from Iowa was assured. O'Brien caught
him under the jaw and supplemented
the poke by horribly severe blow In
the neck.
In the eleventh O'Brien smashed
Hennessy at the outset and sent him to
his knees, and as he staggered TO his
feet gave him a settler. Hennessy did
not go 10 the floor, but remained droop-
ing on his hands and knees. Referee
Daily awarded the bout to O'Brien.
The big event was preceded by a
twenty round bout between Dave Ross,
OF Cambridge. and Mike Sears, OF Lewis
ton, Maine. The battle was declared a
draw