The herald., 1897-06-30

BOXERS NIGHT
Exhibition at the Athletic
Club Rooms
ALL ENDED IN DRAWS
THE PURCELL-AGNEW MATCH
A DISAPPOINTMENT
Cut Down to Ten Rounds on Account
of the Salt Lake Man Being
Over Weight

Frank Purcell Of Salt Lake failed to
put Lon Agnew of Oakland to sleep last
night before the moderate sized audience
who had gathered for that purpose in
the gymnasium of the Los Angeles Ath-
letic club. But then Mr.. Agnew was
equally unsuccessful in his designs upon
Mr.. Purcell, and, after ten lively rounds,
Referee John Brink declared the contest
a draw, which, under all the circum-
stances, was fairly satisfactory. The
contest had been advertised as fifteen
round go, but for a time it looked as
though the match would fall through
and there would be nothing at all.
Under the terms the men were to weigh
in during the afternoon at 140 pounds,
and if either exceeded the limit he was
to forfeit so per cent of the purse, in case
he won. Agnew weighed in at 1S9
pounds, but when it came Purcell's turn
to step on the scales he positively re-
fused. He claimed that he weighed 144
pounds the afternoon previous, but it
was stated by Secretary McStay that he
was 12 pounds overweight. Under these
circumstances the match was really off,
and even when Agnew conceded nine
pounds Purcell still refused to weigh.
After long wrangle, rather than dis
appoint the crowd, Agnew consented to
go against Purcell for ten rounds After
three rather tame preliminares the men
entered the ring about 1876 o'clock. Pur-
cell looked all of the overweight he car
ried, but was in good condition, thanks
fn bro To, ;r
much the smaller man, and when he
came on he was received with applause,
evidently being the favorite Purcell
was seconded by Harry Jones Joe Cot
ton and Billy Gallagher, while Agnew
was looked after by Professor Van
Court Dan Long and Patsy Doyle
Harry Monahan acted as time keeper
for Purcell, Carl McStay for Agnew and
]. Phil Percival for the club. President
John Brink officiated as referee.
The referee announced that the match
was under Marquis of Queenbery rules,
no fighting in the breakaway, and pivot
blows barred. The men went to work
with will, but from the first it was ap-
parent that Purcell was too big for the
clever little Oakland lad. Agnew dem
onstrated that he was a game, hard
fighter, while the referee was compelled
several times to caution Purcell against
foul tactics. The ten rounds were COM
paratively featureless, there being only
one knock down, in the third round.
when Agnew was down for six seconds.
The bout closed with both men strong.
and neither showing much evidence of
punishment, though Purcell had slightly
the best of it. The men mixed I'D very
lively on several occasions, but for some
reason could not inflict much damage.
The exercises opened with a liyely
pout between Cresson, one of the COL
ored rubbers of the club, and Bill AID
rich of Phoenix, Ariz. The white man
was clearly over-matched, and a draw
was declared at the end of the second
round.
Grimes of Santa Monica and Carter
OF Arizona followed in a three-round
sprintlng match, in which they devoted
themselves almost entirely to keeping
out OF eoch others way. The preliminar-
les closed with hot bout between the
colored pugilists, Hank Griffin of Los
Angeles and Massey, the Black Dia-
mond, of Downey. There We're several
not lnterchanges. and if the blows had
oeeh as strong as the scent there would
probably have been two funerals.
"A new departure was the use of cleo
trio fans in the corners, which were q
great improvement over the old-fa ash
Toned towel and fans This is the first
time that electric fans have been used
in this way, but they will probably here
after be a fixture.