The record-union., 1899-06-24
Fighting Exceedingly Deliberate for Fiji
teen Rounds.
The Last Five Rounds Were Hot
and Heavy and Practically an
Even Exchange, Neither One Be
ing Able to Land Knockout
Blow-Kennedy the Aggressor
Throughout and Landing Two
Blows to Ruhlin's One.

SAN FRANCISCO. June 23.-Tom
Sharkey haughtily officiated as time
keeper in the fight between Gus Ruth
lin of Akron, o., and Joe Kennedy OK
San Francisco, at Woodward's Pavilion
tonight, and from his seat above the
press stand, disdainfCilly overlooked
the contest, which was exceedingly de-
iberate until the sixteenth round, but
which after five concluding rounds OF
heavy pounding was decided in favor
of Kennedy by Referee Dewitt van
Court The decision was enthusiastic
cally applauded by the crowd, for al
though Ruhlin was to l favorite IN
the betting, Kennedy was for the most
part the aggressor, and taking round
by round, landed almost twice as often
as his opponent. The last five rounds
were hot and heavy, and practically an
even exchange of trouble, neither be-
ing able to deliver knockout blow.
Until the sixteenth round the little
encounter between the big men had
rather too anicable an aspect, although
that defect was remedied later on. II
any serious idea had Judgment in the
minds of Ruhlin's friends before the
fight that he would become a formid-
able opponent of Champion Jeffries,
that delusion was effectively dispelied
by his poor showing with Kennedy To-
night. At no time was Rubin master
of the situation, and during the major
part of the fight he played an lnd11-
ferent second to his younger opponent.
Neither of the big fighters was bad
ly punished Each operated with such
excessive caution that in the effort to
avoid receiving a nasty jar, neither
had time to administer decisive blows.
Once or twice Rubin was momentar-
lily staggered, but he was some distance
from queer street Kennedy's defense
consisted of ducking and diving From
repeated clawing, Ruhlin's shoulders
suggested a lobster, but his critics were
unkind enough to say that the compar-
ison need not have been confined TO
the Oaioans back.
They met in twenty round contest
under the auspices of the Excelsior
Athletic Club. Rubin was the raw
orite in the betting at odds OF z 10
1. The Ohio man weighed 100 pounds
and Kennedy 1876. Dewitt Van Court,
boxing instructor of the Olympic Cub,
was chosen referee.
Before the big bout began Billy Otis
of San Francisco and Charley Tye OF
Oakland fought ten hard rounds, at the
end of which Otis was given the de-
cision by Referee Al Neill. They ham,
mered each other like a brace of boil
ermakers. Tye being the aggressor, but
Otis the more clever fighter.
Kennedy and Rubin then stepped
through the ropes, the former being
criticised as looking little too bee1y
Behind Rubin were Billy Madden,
Charley Golf and Billy Otis. In Ken
nedy's corner were Spider Kelly, Tim
McGrath and Soldier Walker. Tom
Sharkey acted as timekeeper for Joe
Kennedy. After the articles were read,
there was a dispute over the terms, but
Referee Van Court decided that the
Oueensbury rules should be lived up
to literally, the fighters to protect
themselves in the clinches and break
on order of the referee.
Time was called at $3.50 p. m.
Round 1-Ruhlin was the first to lead
but Kennedy got inside right. Rubin
nut both hands on the neck and missed
a left swing for the body. Rubin
scored a left on the body. Kennedy S
first try was left for the body which
Gus blocked. Rubin put left on body
and lifted it to jaw Kennedy swung
vicious right for the ribs, but it was
short. His next land was on the
breast. Kennedy put both hands hard
on either side.
Round Kennedy put left on neck
and Gus crossed with a right on
stomach. They exchanged fefts on the
body and Joe got in light left on the
throat. He rushed Gus to the ropes.
Joe scored a good left on the neck and
another on the forehead. Gus pushed
light left to the mouth and a second
to the throat Joe planted right on
the neck and left on the shoulder as
the gong tapped.
Round 3-Both missed lefts for the
body. Joe scored on the kidneys and
Jaw with the left. Kennedy sent in a
hot left to the mouth and Gus swung
both hands hard to the neck. His next
left went high and Gus ducl<ed and
caught him with right over heart. Ken
nedy caught stiff left ON the chin and
returned it with, interest. Kennedy got
in another stiff left on the neck as the
gong tapped. The round was Ken
nedy's.
Round 4-Gus srnothered a left for
head and put good right on Joes ear.
They slugged with both hands on the
neck until parted by the referee Gus
put a heavy right on the neck in re-
sponse to similar blow from Toe. Joe's
left landed on the neck again, Gus
countering on the kidneys. Joe pokea
hard left to the chin and the bell
found them clinched. Kennedy had a
little lead in this round.
Round 5--Kennedy missed left for
the head Another try caught Gus on
the cheek. A third left found Ruhlin's
neck Gus kept playing for Kennedy's
heart with the right Kennedy got in
on neck with both hands and Gus paid
him right back on the ribs. They are
continually running into clinches and
break slow. Kennedy put a solid left
on the ear, but Gus beat him off with
good rights on the body This was
Ruhlin's round. If anything.
Round G--Kennedy swung hard left
to the neck and another to the face