The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-19
THE FIGHT TONIGHT
Big Crowd Going to
Hartford to Cheer
LaWler.
BETTING is LIGHT.
Lawler and His Contingent
Seem Lacking in
Confidence.

more interest in Worcester than any
match that ever took place, is on the
card for this evening at Hartford. The
contestants are John j. Lawler o
Worcester and Patsy Sweeney. They
are scheduled for a Is or if necessary
2O-round go at 128 pounds for a purse
of 5000, and a side bet of $500, making
$1,000 that the men battle for.
The principals have had over three
weeks of careful preparation anC
should be in good form. There have
been unfounded rumors regarding the
condition of both men, and maybe
some people believed them. But there
has been absolutely no cause for them
A Boston newspaper which is usually
regarded as good authority on sports
unfortunately printed an item day OF
| two ago that Sweeney could not get to
weight and might have to throw ul
the sponge.
William L. Crowley, manager Of the
Nutmeg Athletic Club of Hartford, be-
fore which the fight takes place, tele-
phoned The Spy yesterday that there
is not the slightest foundation for such
a statemeIa. Sweeney has been in
Hartford for over a week, training
there. Mr.. Crowley SAID he is in good
condition, and there is not the re-
hottest possibility of his being obliged
to throw up the match. He says
Sweeney will undoubtedly weigh in be-
low the required figures. Mr. Crowley
added that Sweeney had a task TO get
down. and will undoubtedly be a trifle
weak. He thinks Sweeney should never
attempt 10 fight as low as the figure
al which he meets Lawler.
LaWler and his party 60 TO Hartford
on the 1912 o'clock train this morning.
He took his last days work yesterday
under the direction of Joe Flaherty,
The work was light in order to save
him for the match this evening. He
simply punched the bag and exercised
with the bells. He is in good condition
according to the statements of his
trainer, and feels well himself, which is
the best thing to go by.
No special train will run to Hartford
but a big delegation of Worcester
sports is sure to attend. Already near
" 200 tickets have been sold by Jere
F. Reagan. The latter was given a
| number of the best seats in the house
to dispose of to Worcester people in or
| der to give them chance to get good
seats. Mr.. Reagan intends to go tc
afternoon. He will be convenient tC
| the centre of the city nlvst of the time
today in order to sell tickets to any
who wish them. He will also sell them
at the train. The prices of tickets are
81, 50 and SO and as the coliseum at
Hartford in which the light takes place
is built with circus seats, every seat
is a ring seat.
There has been money talk in plenty
/ I ~ Low, Il
not appear to have the confidence they
had when they made the match. The
reason is not apparent as Sweeney has
done nothing since to warrant them to
change their confidence. LaWler him
self does not appear to have much con-
fidence as he had a few weeks
ago, which may be even better for him
in his battle tonight. There were those
among Worcester sports who thought
Lawler had too much confidence when
the match was made.
The Worcester sports will go to Hart
ford on various trains. The LAWYER
party goes on the early train in order
to rest after the ride. He will weigh in
under the prescribed figures without
any trouble, but when he enters the
ring he will be near 12S pounds if he
is not above 1t. His trainer, Joe Fla
herty, knew it was the best thing to
get LAWYER as nlSn as possible on aC-
count of the weight of Sweeney. The
men behind Lawler begin to realize
now that their talk of his fighting at
1870 pounds and the talk of a certain
newspaper that he could fight at that
weight was worse than childish. Law
Ter would be badly handicapped weigh
ing a pound less than he does a. pres
ent.
The pricipal bout Of the evening will
be between Jack O'Brien of New York
and Dave Sullivan of Boston. The lat
ter is a brother of the famous Spike
Sullivan who is backing Sweeney in his
fight with Lawler. They will fight %
rounds at 1876 pounds. O'Brien recent
ly secured a draw with Oscar Gardner
which puts him well up among the men
OF his weight. Sullivan is a good man
and used to be a crackajack. Whether
he is as. fast as he once was is ques-
toned and it is on that account that
O'Brien is rated as good as he.
The curtain raiser viii be a six round
go between Haynes of Springfield and
Dunleavy of New Britain.