Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-22
HANDLER WHIPS O'BRlEN.
The Lewistonon Loses One OF Fiercest Fights
Ever Seen at New York.

New York. April 2l.-One of thr
| hardest and fastest fistic battles which
has ever been seen in a roped arena
vas witnessed. tonight. by the patrons
If the Broadway Athletic club. Jim
my Handler Of Newark. who is a pro-
eye Of Bob Ftzsimmons. and Dick
'Brien Of Lewiston, Me. We're match
ed to fight - rounds at 1j3 pounds.
The match was made at catch weights.
Handler saw his adversary turn the
scales at l6l pounds against his 149l2
ma at first refused to 90 on. Each Of
hem stripped in splendid condition.
- Brien's handlers We're Jack Burke.
Frank Rose ana Jimmy Lane. Hand
Ter was attended by Florrie Barnett
Fred Ryan and sam Goodman.
In the opening round O'Brien went
al over his man. forcing the lighting.
abbins his left To the wind ana chest.
and ineffectively trying to cross his
right. Handler in the meantime paid
attention to the adversary's stomach.
and sent a couple Of right handlers
which fell too far back to he of any
account. O'Brien later landed two
harp rights which sent Handler 10 the
loor on each occasion, but he came
Handler sent right and left swings Ia
the head and neck. In the third round
O'Rrien sent Handler down with 4
tight swing. but he was up immediate
y and such q smuggling match ensued
hat the sports We're betting that bOtn
contestants would go out on counter
blows. The fourth round was in
O'Brien's favor. but when the fifth
opened Handler landed a hard left on
me stomach, following With q right
cross on the head, and at the close of
the round a left nook on the jaw sent
o. Brien staggering.
Hard fighting marked the fifth round.
with Handler doing the better work.
In the sixth a right from Handler seem
ID to stagger O. Bricn. but the Maine
man came back With A left uppcrcut on
The chin. At the close quarters O. Brien
proved the better man. Handler tried
several kidney blows ana towards the
end Of the round o Brien went to his
| corner very weak. Opening the sew
! cnth round they ciashcd together ana
! in Z; mixup. Handler had the advan-
/ taEn. getting his right over on the but.
! If Tho clr. Both were tired ana gro@-
~ Whcn the bell rang. The opening Of
4 The eighth was tame. but half way
! through the round it looked as though
| Handler had "cinch,' as he bore
| D'B!iun ID tho ropes, but the latter
! WriEglrd out Of the corner and seemed
70 take on new life. Dick then assum-
va the aggressive ana forced Handler
to the ropes and when the bell rang
| re- was landing left ana right swings
! IN Handler. Both We're Wild in the
rinth. nat in the loth, Handler did the
! better work. IN the llth round odds
were even.
When time came up for the 12th
| round, which proved to ID the last
! p'Bricn made a good showing. forcing
\ Handler to the ropes in his own cor
r~r. They exchanged lefts and right.
ut will, not doing much harm unit
Handler sent left To- the chest, follow
ing it Up "a the cheek. He repeated
the thus double blow and staggered
D'fricn To the ropes. He tried righ
swing which went wide ana O'Brier
got in heavy body blow, sending
Handler 10 the opposite Of the ring
Handler was quick to recover and raj
back again to clinch. out of which h
managed to land left and right on tn.
, jaw which dazed his opponent. O'Briei
: was clearly i'm queer street, but h,
I threw up his left guard and backed
: away while in a groggy condition anc
, the bell saved him from a clean knocl
4 out. O'Rrien staggered to his corner
while Handler walked to his. Whe.
4 the gong sounded again. for the begin
i ing Of the 18Th round, OBriens second
. threw UP the sponge, saying that thei
I man had had enough, and Handler wa
II declared the winner