Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-12

FOURTH TIME THE MEN HAVE NET
IN THE RINGBEZENAH HAD A
VERY DECIDED ADVANTAGE OVER
HIS OPPONENT IN H ZIG H T,
WEIGHT AND REACH = FAST
FIGHTING FOR TWBNTY-FOUR
ROUNDS DID MOST OF
THE WORK. s.s.-
Oscar Gardner has found EAgene
Bezenah, of Cincinnati, the toughest
proposition which he has encountered
in this section of the country Their
contest before the Bridgeport Athletic
Club last night, was the fourth meet
ing of the men in the ring. Their first
two battles were drawn. In the third
Referee Simcoe gave the Omaha
Kid" the decision in twenty rounds.
Last night they fought forty rounds,
| and the contest decided nothing For
twenty five rounds it was a hard bat
tie, in which both contestants received
severe punishment. From that time
until the men shook hands, it was
very tame. 1t was clean contest
| throughout. So much friendliness was
manifested by the boxers towards each
other, that this fact, In connection with
other alleged circumstances which
shall not be mentioned here, caused
many of the spectators to look with
suspicion upon the contest. However,
there are always people ready to cry
flake" but the charge should be made
upon more tangible evidence than was
furnished by last nights battle Wheth-
er fixed" or ION the up and up" the
spectators got value received for their
money.
Gardner may one day learn a lesson
from giving his opponents the advan-
tage of superior weight. Twelve pounds
were conceded to Bezenah, but he enter
ed the ring weighing not less than 1856,
While Gardner would not tip the beam
at 123. Bezenah is plucky and game,
and terrific puncher. He has both
capacity for punishment AID ability to
infiict it. Nevertheless, he is not as
good a fighter as Gardner, who did
| most of the work in the forty rounds.
and left the ring as fresh as his oppo-
! nent. Oscars stomach punches were
not effective against the Covington
boxer. Bezenah and O'Keefe ought to
| make things very interesting for each
other, and incidentally the spectators.
A fair sized crowd saw the battle.
The curtain raiser was a lively four
| round bout between McNamee and
Neal, two Bellaire boys. 1t was fol-
lowed by four scientific rounds be-
| tween Kid" Wonco, of Washington,
! Pa, and Eddie Gardner. No decisions
were rendered in the preliminaries
Hackett's band played patriotic melo-
dies during intermissions.
Shortly after ten O'Clock Gardner
crawled through the ropes and was
warmly applauded. He was followed
few minutes later by Bezenah
Bezenah won the toss for choice OF
corners. Behind Gardner were his
| brother Eddie, Walter Campbell and
| George Nau. Attending Bezenah were
kid" Wonco, Cavanaugh and Gala
han. Gardner conceded ten pounds tc
his opponent, and BeZenah's superior
height and weight were apparent when
the two men stepped to the centre OF
| the ring to receive. their instructions
from referee Murphy. The two men
weighed in at four o'clock. Bezenah
tipped the beam at 1852 and Gardner
at 1221s. The Covington boy was
| therefore more than three pounds over
weight, and there was a wrangle which
was perfectly justifiable on the part
| of Gardner His ultimatum was thai
| Bezenah must reduce to 1872, or there
| would be no fight Bezenah took of
some weight In the intervening time
| but weighed probably 1876 pounds wher
| time was called.
| First round-After cautious sparrine
| Bezenah put his left on the neck
| Gardner mixed up, and Bezenah hug
| ged. Bezenah put light tap on neck
| and Gardner countered with swinging
! right on jaw Gardner put severa
| blows on face while Bezenah was trying
| to get out of a corner. Exchange o.
| rights on face. BeZenah swung LEFT
| viciously and Gardner ducked. Gard
ner jabbed left in face.
| Second round-Exchang Of fast
rights and lefts against the ropes with
out much damage. Gardner rushes
Bezenah into a corner. Gardner put
terrific right lab in wind while Beze-
nah was holding his neck. Gardner
| forcing the work Bezenah placed hare
right on jaw, and Oscar smiled
Bezenah put right swing on Jaw.
Round three-Bezenah led off with
light taps on face, and fell short on
three right hand swings in succession
| Bezenah ducked a left lead for the
Jaw. Oscar put right on face and jab-
| bed left in stomach. Bezenah placed
right on head and Gardner iahbed in
ribs. Gardner put right twice on
body. the second blow staggering his
opponent. Bezenah Tented with left
and Oscar put right on jaw. Bezenaf
was cornered and put a hard right or
! the jaw which sent Gardner TO MS
| knees as the bell sounded.
Round four-Bezenah Jabbed Dotf
hands in face Bezenah swung let
on Jaw and right on body. Oscar pu
left on breast Gardner put stingins
left swing on the jaw, staggering Bee
nah. A mix-up at close quarters II
which both men landed terrific blows
ON the face. and Bezenah brought frs
| - Ill tho mont h