The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
CURRENT SPORTING TALK
The Four Meetings of Peter
Maher and Steve 0'DOnnell.
MAHER THE BETTER FIGHTER
The Battle of Wednesday Should Rid
the Australian of the Notion That
He Is In the Irish Champions
Glass Baseball News Turf
Notes.

The opinion expressed by nearly every
prominent ring follower in the country,
that Steve O'Donnell would again prove
an easy mark for Peter Maher, was FULL
justified by the outcome of their meet
ing at Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
The event on Wednesday marked the
fourth time that this pair have come
together Each time Maher has demon
strated his superiority over O'DOnnell,
but the latter has always chung to the
notion that he was the better man, and
after each drubbing went after the irish
champion for another go.
The first time Maher and O'Donnell
met was at Maspeth, when Maher won
in a jiffy. 1t was after their one-sided
affair that Corbett crowned Maher
champion heavyweight. Bob FitZsim-
mons then took Makers measure for the
second time. 1t took the present cham
pion a few seconds more than one min
ute and half to punch Maher into
oblivion. This gave O'DonnelI courage
for the second meeting with Maher. This
time the pair came together at Coney
Island on Christmas Day. 1896 and again
the Irishman won hands down. A few
months ago OiDonnell and Maher faced
each other for the third time in the
same ring where the battle of Wednes-
day night took place. In that bout
O'Donnell made his best showing with
Maher. He knocked him cleanly and
fairly down with a terrific jolt on the
jaw. But Maher in the fight of We'd
nesday more than paid the Australian
back for that humiliation.
That the fourth meeting of these giants
was clinking exhibition is a certainty
with Maher far and away in the lead
The fight lasted only twor ounds. ODon-
nell was not knocked out, but he was
squarely knocked down six times-three
times in each round-and the referee
wisely stopped the contest.
O'Donnell, to the surprise of the spec
tators, started off like quarter horse
He sent Peter to his knees with a we'll
delivered right-hand cross-counter on the
very first lead. The blow dazed Maher
but he had sense enough to rest on one
knee until he got his wind back. When
Peter got up he had no difficulty in land
ing a left on O'DonnelPS chin, sending
him to the floor. When Steve got up
Maher smashed him on the jaw with his
right and down he went again. On thu
next get-up O'Donnell danced away from
Maher, who let go left and right without
conencting. O'DonneIl stuck his left into
Peters face, and ducked away. Maher
followed him to the ropes, hitting out
viciously, and finally landed on the jaw
with his right, and O'Donnell went down
again. Steve waited the full limit, and
when he got up met Makers rush with
a straight left in the face, which stag
gered the Irish champion. Then the bell
sounded, and the spectators breathed
easy once more. 1t had been one of the
| hottest first rounds ever witnessed al the
Arena, but one in which very little
Science had been shown.
The seconds worked with q will on their
principals during the intermission be-
tween the first and second rounds, and
both men came up looking strong. Mahec
! went right in and met Steve's straight
! left. Maher kept on boring, but missed
with a terrific left aimed for the jaw.
| The next time Peter was more success
| full landing fair in the face with his
| right and sending O'Donnell to the stage
| in a sitting posture. Steve scrambled to
/ one knee and remained in that position
| until nine had been counted. Then he
| got up and stuck his left into Makers
race, but not with much force Peter
| rushed and caught Steve on the jaw
! with his left. scoring another knock
| down, O'Donnell making no effort what
| ever to guard himself. Again the falleT
man took the full time limit In getting
| up. and then met Maher with straight
| left, but ne was ready to quit, and wher
! he got another knockdown he seemed Sc
! groggy that Referee Schlichter stopped
the contest O'Donnell at once became
very strong, and stepped quickly to tn,
| center of the ring. expostulating witt
Maher and the refree, but no more boxing
| was allowed.