The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-17
FEARS OF FAKE
Kept the Public Away From
the Fight
EDDIE CONNOLLY LAY DOWN
BUT NOT TILL HAWKINS HAD
HIM KILLED
Vreedon and Mccoy Will Meet Tonight
to Slug for the Middle-Weight
Championship
associated Press Special Wire.

Annotated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. io.-Llke
other pugilistic shows promoted by the
Knickerbocker club. composed Of ward
politicians and race track followers. to-
nights much-advertised contest be-
tween Eddie Connolly Of New Bruns-
wick and Dial. Hawkins Of this city was
what. in popular parlance. could be
termed q "cold FROST"
For several days rumors had been 60
ing the rounds to the effect that the
light would be a fake contest; that one
Of the principals. Just which one it was
not stated. would lie down to his oppo-
nent, thus allowing the club or its
friends who were on the inside to re-
coup themselves for the lack of patron
age by betting on q sure thing.
The preliminary between Tom Lans-
ing and Joe King was delayed for some
time. owing to the fact that King at
tempted to make rush" at the door
and force in a dozen or more Of his
friends without the admission fee. The
hoodlums were stopped by the police.
however, and King was arrested and
taken across the street to the police sta
ton, where he was quickly bailed out
by the club officials and finally got into
the ring. The fight lasted two rounds,
Lansing knocking King senseless with
Z right hand smash on the jaw. He was
unconscious for ten minutes and was
finally carried from the ring to his dress
ing room, where he came around In the
course Of a few minutes.
At 0 o'clock there were more than 500
people on the main floor and about the
same number in the galleries. 1t was
the poorest crowd that ever attended a
prizefght between well-known perform
ers In San Francisco. The poor patron
age was due in great measure to the
lack Of confidence on the part of the
public In the organization known 40 the
"Knickerbocker club"
The Hawkins Connolly contest opened
UP at fast clip. with Connolly on the
aggressive. In the second round Hawk
FMS went to his corner groggy, while Con-
nelly had q very bad eye from Dal's
left hooks. From this point UP to the
seventh honors were easy. Both men
seemed willing to mix It. and the in
fighting usually ended In Hawkins
favor. At the end Of the seventh Hawk
FMS was again groggy from a right hand
smash on the jaw. He came up strong
for the eighth. however. and went after
his opponent. He forced Connolly about
the ring, using his terrific left hand half
swing with effect on the easterner's face
and neck, but was unable to put 1t on the
Jaw. In the tenth Connolly received
vicious left swing on the temple, which
left a cash and from which the blood
flowed freely. The eleventh and twelfth
were Hawkins rounds. In the thirteenth
Connolly rallied and forced Hawkins
about the ring in desperate attempt
to end the fight, but the round ended
with hard left on Connelly's face, which
staggered him. In the fourteenth and
last round Connolly rushed and was met
by stiff left on the face. In hot rally
Hawkins sent in a smashing right on the
Jaw and Connolly went down and out.
rONIGHTs BATTLE
NEW YORK. Dec. 16.-The most i'm
portant middle-weight battle fought in
this vicinity since the days when Jack
Dempsey, Johnny Regain, George La
Blanche and other ring notables strug-
gled for the championship honors will
be decided in the arena of the Long Is
land City Athletic Club tomorrow night.
The men will fight at catch weights and
neither will be down to strict middle
80
The contest means much to both men,
because the middle-weight champion
ship and a purse Of $500 are involved.
Each man appears supremely confident
Of the result and as both are reported
to be In the best Of physical condition
great battle Is expected.
Mccoy IL unquestionably the best mid
die weight in America. while Creedon is
the best Australian now fighting in the
neighborhood Of 1853 pounds. Both men
have many friends, McCoys being
slightly in the majority.
When the match was made three
months months ago many good judges
were Of the opinion that Mccoy would
enter the ring to favorite, and the
fact that odds OF only 10 to are laid
against the Australians chances indi-
cate the high regard In which he is held
by the wise ones
Creedon and Mccoy are as unlike in
their style Of fighting as two men could
possibly be. The Australian is short
and chunky, while the American Is tall
and wiry. Creedon Is Of the old school
Of boxing. He fights on the hurricane
order and depends more on the force OF
Awarded
Highest Honors-WOrld's Fair,