The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
CLEAN SPARRlNG MATCH
GARDNER-BEZENAH WILL MADE list
PRETTY EXHIBITION.
me Usual "Draw- Decision Rrourbt
out-Gardner Forced the
Fighting.

IL was a clean exhibition, and not much
more that Oscar Gardner and Eugene
bezenah put up az the Empire Theater last
night The house was crowded Referee
Creasey announced that the men had agreed
mat IL they were both on their feet and in
equally good condition at the end of the
tenth round neither should be given the de-
c1sloh' The two men were good humored
throughout the contest. Gardner showed
hirnset more Of fighter than Bezenah. and
IL was easy TO see that he was capable Of
DONG a quick Knockout II he had the oppor-
tuhity and the intention, but at no time did
Dezenan give him the opportunity and
there was no intention. The management
Oh the theater had been warned that Indian
apoIis would not stand for a Knockout. and
II would probably mean no more boxing con-
tests II Knockout happened"
Gardner Is known as a fighter who would
ralher train in the ring than with a spar
ring partner. and when he stripped in his
corner 1t seemed that his skin was stretched
over hard muscles with no flesh between
Bezenahs body was smooth and looked
softer than his opponents. Both men
weighed under 135 pounds. From the first
Gardner was the aggressor. The men had
fought four times before and Bezenah was
wary His admirable footwork he used TO
the best advantage. He lodged again and
again as Gardner tried 10 keep him in "A cor
ner of the ring and land with one of his
swings o. jabS. Gardner walked after his
man, laughing. At the end of the first
round Bezenah poked Gardner smartly in
the face. The second round saw the men
well mixed up, but with little effect 1t was
al mitigating. at Gardeners pleasure. Card
ner went after Eezenah liz the third and
fourth rounds with the apparent intention
OF getting him in a corner and furnishing
nm. bezenah hoped about. sparring rap
Adly and with good taste One spectator
sad II %as like Gardner were trying to
catch a chicken. BeZenah suddenly became
confident and created surprise by striking
came back at him nercely and was met with
TWO stiff blows in the face in quick success
SION As the bell rang the crowd cheered
wildly Tor BeZenah. 1t was all his.
fhus encouraged BeZenah came up ag-
excessively in the fifth and succeeded in land
ing several hot ones on Gardner's face.
Gardner smiled as If II were play for him.
Bezenah gained more favor from the spec
tators. IL was noticeable that his wind was
not as good as Gamers. Between rounds
Gardner sat down on his chair with the
air that IL was only custom, and he didn't
need the rest. Bezenah looked grateful for
his seconds work on him. Gardner took the
thing a little more seriously in the sixth
round and punched Bezenah all round the
ring. Bezenah could not make stand. His
lShment that would have befailen him had
Gardner caught him right 1t was Gard
ners round. Both men boxed through the
seventh. neither landing effective blows.
The eighth. ninth and tenth rounds were
all fast. Gardner forced Bezenah into a
corner and BeZenah, in worming out, gave
IL to his opponent hotly There was an old
cut over Gardner's right eye and Bezenah
opened it. Blood flowed down over Gard
nerS face and breast. and IL excited the
crowd until those who had seen the cut ex-
planned. 1t was give and take through the
ninth. and the hardest blow in the tenth
1t was probably the hardest blow of the
contest 1t was not followed up and the
round and the contest ended quietly. Card
ner had been the steady, eager prize fighter.
with pistOnlike arms BeZenah had been the
shifty boxer able TO take care OF himself.
II was Gardner fighting Bezenah all the way
John Cramer was given the decision in a
ten-round contest with kid Lefeber,
which was pulled off as a preliminary TO the
principal match. Both men were from Gin
cinnati. They had met several times before.
Cramer was fifteen pounds the heavier and
could hit harder than Lefeber Lefeber was
twice the better boxer. He found ii hard
to stand the pace. and at one time II looked
like another of Cramer,s heavy swings IN
The crowd liked the contest because 1t was
warm. At several points II was like the
battle royal that preceded II. IL was Lefe-
bers match until the sixth round. Cramer
could not land q blow that amounted to
anything. The men became sore at each
Lefeber into the rattleS by throwing his
weight him There was nothing clever
to be seen.
The crowd roared with laughter ut five
negroes-one so big that he did not know
his strength and had bovine awkwardness-
hammer each other around the ring, rolling
in the resin and breathing like engine puffs.
Two boys about twelve years old We're put
in the ring for three rounds. Spindle-leSged
and thin-armed, they SWelled about like old
time ring men and fought with the airs of
''scienced pugs." kid Sapperstein, who is
credited with licking every boy on Eddy
street" and whose style of fighting had been
tigerish, cooled greatly b. strong
youngster who was said to be 'Sappy' 5
sparrin' partner"