Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-29
D||ll lg|IN.
oas nors Stsp Win Make Gardner
Champion Of the World.


IN THEIR BATTLE BEFORE THE
IENOx A. G. LAST NIGHT-THOSE
AWFUL JABS IN THE STOMACH
DID THE WORK-INTENSE LOCAL
INTEREST IN THE RESULT OF
THE CONTEST.
Never except during the Sullivan
Corbett and Corbett- Fitzsdmmons bat
ties for the heavyweight championship,
has a greater degree of interest in, pu-
gilistic contest been shown, than was
manifested concerning the outcome of
the fight between Oscar Gardner and
Sammy Kelly last night, for the 116-
pound championship. The battle was
fought in the arena of the Lenox Ath-
letic Club in New York, and it was
received by rounds at Bader & Maurer's
saloon on Market street. This resort
was crowded, and many who were I'M
able to get inside, stood upon the pave
ment. All were admirers of Oscar
Gardner for his unquestioned ability,
tor the mpdesty with which he bears
his ring honors, and for his gentlemanly
department at all times. Besides, there
is feeling of local pride due to the
fact that the Omaha Kid" calls Wheel
ing his home, and has determined to
reside here permanently.
Leslie Pearce read the bulletins to
the crowd There was encouragement
in them from the first round until the
finish, and they put the crowd in good
humor throughout the evening. So
many persons were present, that after
reading the bulletins in the rear of the
bar-room, Pearce went around to the
front door and read them there. A glad
shout went up when the bulletin was
read announcing Gardeners victory
The Wheeling friends of Gardner
who went over to New York will come
home at least $500 richer, if they sue
ceededI in placing their money on Gard
ner. There is now but one obstacle in
the way of Gardeners asserting his in
disputable right to the worlds cham
pionship. That is George Dixon, who is
matched to fight Gardner in Cleveland
on Thanksgiving eve. The battle will
be witnessed by the biggest crowd
Wheeling ever sent away from the city
to see boxing contest.
New York, October 2S.-Oscar Gard
ner, the Omaha Kid" knocked out
Sammy Kelly, of this city, in the four
teenth round of what was to have been
a twenty-five round fight, at 116 pounds
before the Lenox Athletic Club tonight
Gardner, proved himself to be Kelly's
superior in \hard hitting and bulldog
tenaMy. Kelly undoubtedly was tn
~Defter ring general, but it was a Gaze
OF boxer against fighter and the
fighter won. Gardner left himself wide
open and drew Kelly's leads only to
counter them with babs, chop blows and
right swings viii h played havoc with
n1allssdaltyy naSty-aspearance.
When Kelly was taken to his corner
after being counted out, he complained
of his left side and said that he thought
some of his ribs had been broken in
the third round.
There was only one preliminary
bout, the contestants being "Cip" Nor
rison, of Cincinnati, and Bob Dryer,
of this city, they meeting at 80 pounds
and fought ten rounds to draw.
Gardner and Kelly weighed in this
afternoon and neither turned the scales
at the allotted weight-116 pounds
Gardner was the first to enter the arena.
When Kelly reached the ringside there
was ripple of applause.
Round kelly was first to lead, but
missed with his left and Gardner coun-
tered him with the right on the jaw
The ''Kid" forced Kelly into neutral
corner and administered let's and
rigts on chest and jaw. They then cir
cled into Gardner's corner, where, as
a result of a mix-up, both went down,
Kelly seemingly having the worst Of
the encounter.
Round 2.-Kelly led and landed a
rafting left on the jaw, following it up
and a tattoo of rights on the body.
Gardner met every lead with a left hook
and right swing, which cut consider
able ice. They were fighting fast at
the bell. Kelly struck a blow on the
face two seconds after the gong sounded.
Round 3.-Gardner led off with left
swing on the neck and kept after his
man, each, fighting fiercely at close
quarters until ordered to desist. Kelly
kept breaking ground, but meanwhile
getting in leads to which Oscar re
sponded with left hooks and right
swings.
Round 4.-Gardner held his arms wide
open and drew Kelly's lead, and they
got in a hot mix-up in corner where
Kelly slipped to the floor. Gardner as
sumed low, crouching attitude, which
puzzled Kelly, and kept throwing his
right over continually and Kelly fell
twice through sheer weakness, brought
about by Gardeners onslaughts.
Round 5-Kelly opened with left
hook for the head, but Oscar blocked it
and jabbed his left to the face and
swung his right over to the body
Gardner put in terrific right hand
punch over the heart. The referee
thought the blow landed rather low and
cautioned Gardner to be careful.
Round 6.-Kelly swung hard right
on the jaw. Gardner then forced Kelly