The San Francisco call., 1897-02-13
Egan, Reay, Reno and
Cathcart Come Out
Victorious.
A Most Successful Conclusion
of the First M. A. A.
Benefit.
Kennedy Knocks Maher Out in the
Third Round, After a Most
Unequal Contest.

WOODWARD faYlliOn was crowOeQ last
evening with those interested in the
manly art to witness the series of four
round bouts, six in number, carried out as
a benefit to the Manhattan Athletic Club,
in order to raise funds for a change of the
clubrooms to more commodlous quarters.
During the event of the evening there
was one knockout, when Joseph Kennedy.
the champion amateur heavyweight of
the Pacific Coast, put Joseph Maher to
sleep in the third round. The two men
were very unevenIy matched, and it was
the unanimous consensus of opinion that
the fight should not have been permitted
to last longer than the first round.
]. J. NJ. Killeen acted as referee, G. j. Y.
Ferris as master of ceremonies, and Phil
Wand and ]. Nolan as judges. Time was
kept by Professor Thomas Killeen, Joseph
Hilton and Edward Coleman.
Captain Gillen was on hand with nine
men 10 preserve order. Four were left at
the gate and FIVE kept inside.
Perfect order was maintained, and the
harmony of the affair was helped wonder
fully by the presence of brass band at
Young" MitcheiPs suggestion.
the first event was between J. Kenney,
NJ. A. A, and James'Lawler. unattached.
Both weighed in at 125 pounds. They
were both inexperienced and hoped
around in a comical manner. Honors
were about even and no decision was
given.
The second event was very spirited.
The principals were M. Egan, NJ. A. A,
and George Fletcher, o. A. Both were
supposed TO weigh 130 pounds. Fletcher
was clearly outclassed, but fought gamely,
though f1oored nearly every round. Egan
was given the decision.
The third feature was a set-to between
EhnrIaQ CathRQrt q a. and
c. c. Cathcart weighed about 135 pounds
and Ely much more. Cathcart proved
the cleverer man and punched Ely's face
with straight righ t-hand iabs till it was
almost unrecognizable. Ely went to the
floor in the first round, but was up and
fresh in three seconds.
In the second round Ely started in with
furious rushing, but was foored and con-
clu1ed to fight at long range. He tried
the same tactics in the third round, but
series of ieit-hand face jabs made him
more cautious. Cathcart had the best of
the battle. though Ely managed to get in
two hard left-hand body blows that must
have hurt In the last round. Cathcart
was given the decision.
Chas. Reno, amateur champion feather
weight of the coast, went UP against Rob.
ert McCrossen of the Manhattan Athletic
Association in the fourth event and came
pretty nearly meeting his match. Reno
weighed about 125 pounds, but McCrossen
was at least ten pounds lighter. The lat
ter is only 10 years OF age, while Reno is a
fighter of wide experience.
Reno had the advantage in the first
round, though McCrossen gave him some
good left-handers in the face and was
heartily cheered.
In the second round Reno rushed his
man 10 the ropes aud delivered some
good body blows. He was Kissed vigor-
ously for hitting in a ciinch. His youth
full opponent was daZed, but proved a
good ring general and kept away till his
senses returned.
AS the bell rang he uppercut Reno in
the right eye with his left and cut an
ugly cash, from which the blood flowed
profusely.
Tb" third round was about even. If
anything Reno had a small advantage,
delivering slightly the most blows, all of
which were light.
Both men were tired in the last round
but kept at their work we'll. Reno rushed
McCrossen twice and delivered some
heavy blows, but received some hard
right-hand hooks on the body and jaw in
return. One judge decided the bout a
draw and the other declared in favor of
Reno. The referee awarded the fight to
Reno.
The fifth event was between Gus Roster.
NJ. A. A, and Joseph Reay, o. C. Reay
hdN VIC Dlo OWN way, the M ell
being evenly matched in weight-about
100 pounds. Roster was knocked down in
the first round and had repeatedly 10 clinch
to avoid punishment. He fought gamely.
though groggy at times, and though his
face was the hue of a redskins he was still
| in it at the finish. Reay was given the de-
cision.
The last event was one of the kind that
competent judges say does so much to
| prejudice the public against all forms of
! boxing. 1t was between Joseph Maher of
the Manhattan Athletic Club and Joseph
Kennedy, the champion amateur heavy
weight of the coast
Maher was fully ten pounds lighter than
his opponent, and clearly outciassed. He
was sent to earth at the start by right
hand swing on the jaw, but managed TO
continue. Kennedy gave him such ter
rife body blows, however, that he was so
sick he could hardly reach his corner at
the sound of the bell. The fight should
have been stopped then.
In the second round he was downed
twice, was twice on the ropes and again
nearly out. He managed to keep in the
! fight by active running.
In the third round Kennedy punished
him so severely that he took pity and gave
him chance to rAst, then stepped in and
with a right-hand swing on the jaw
knocked him down. He weakly rose in
the ten seconds allotted, and was again
sent to earth. this time for good.