Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-26
MAHER won WITH one PUNCH
WHIPPED STEVE o'DONNELL IN
TwENTY-SEVEN SECONDS.
Beat the Australian Down With n
Shower of Hard BlOws-Race
Winners Mt New Orleans
and san Francisco.

New York, Dec. 25.-It took just twenty
seven seconds time for Peter Maher the
Irish pugilist, to again demonstrate his SUI
periority in ring tactics and hard hitting
qualities over Steve O'Donnell, the Aus
tralian boxer, in the arena of the Greater
New York Athletic Club, at Coney Island
Both men were in excellent condition and
trained to the hour. Each of them was
confident, but Maher's hackers made him a
hot favorite by laying odds ranging from
3 to to l on the Irishmans chances of
winning.
From the outset Maher never left the re-
suit in doubt. He rushed at O'Donnell the
moment the referee called time. and O. Don
nell assumed the defensive. The big Aus
tralian led his left for Maher's body but the
Irishman blocked the blow with his right
hand glove. Then Maher sent his left to
the chin and swung again with his left on
the face. He put O'DonneI to the floor Il
second later with left on the chin. and,
after the Australian regained his feet, Ma
her landed left smash on the jaw, follow
ing il quickly with a left half-hook, which
sent ODonnell down in q heap.
Steve rolled over on his back in a help
less condition and the referee slowly count
ed him out. The big Irishman stood about
twelve feet away from his fallen opponent
while the referee was counting off the Sec
onds, and as soon as the referee tailed ten
tremendous shout went up from the 1,SOO
people who had watched the brief en-
counter and the band played THE Wear
ing of the Green" in honor of the victor.
Thirteen months ago Maher and ODon-
,111, . L mi. lott Tlt1h
peth, l.. L, and on that occasion Maher
knocked out the Australian in siXty-three
seconds. Since that time O'Donnell and his
followers have frequently said that Steve
would not rest content until he had another
try at Peter.
ODonnell was the fist to enter the ring
He climbed through the ropes at $3.50
o'clock, clad in gray colored bath robe.
His seconds were Sam Fitzpatrick, Billy
Madden, Mike Butler and Gus Rubin, the
Canton, o., giant. When Maher emerged
from his dressing room five minutes later
a cheer went up which shook the building.
AS soon as he got into the ring Maher
bowed his acknowledgment for the warm
welcome extended to him, and he never
looked better in his life. He was escorted
by Peter Lowry of Dublin, Pete Burns of
Harlem, his sparring partner, and Jack
Quinn of Brooklyn. Maher when weighed
tipped the scales at 1771A and O'Donnell at
1Sl. The men shook hands at 3:46 and Ref
cree Alec Brown lost no time in bringing
them together. There was dead silence
in the house when the men put up their
fists and Maher rushed across the ring al
most to ODonnelrs corner. Both spared
for a few seconds and ODonnel led his
left for the body, but Maher blocked the
blow with his right glove. Peter then
jabbed his left hard on the chin and land
ed q heavy left swing on the face This
staggered O'Donnell and he seemed to be
unable to avoid Peters ruShes.
Maher sent ODonnell to the floor with
hard left on the chin and the Australian
stayed down four seconds.
AS soon as he got to his feet O'Donnell
assumed defensive attitude, but Peter
quickly sent his left once more on the chin
and as ODornell was falling, caught him
quickly with left half hook, knocking
the Australian down and out. ODonnell
was counted out according to the rules,
and Sam Fitzpatrick ana Madden, assisted
by Lowry, carried him to his corner.
AS soon as it was seen that the Irishman
had won tremendous shout went up, and
the spectators rose as one man to their
feet and hats, caps and umbrellas were
thrown into the air. The official timer told
the announcer that the time of the con-
test was ninety seconds, but John ]. Quinn,
of Pittsburg. who was keeping time for
Maher, as well as many others, who held
watches on the contest declared the actual
time to be q seconds.
Before the spectators left 1t was an
nounced that in all probability the next
contest to be brought off in the Greater
New York Club would De between Peter
Maher and Tom Sharkey. Maher will leave
for Pittsburg tomorrow, and tomorrow
night will spar with Joe Choynski at that
DlaCe.