The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-18
BLACKWELL GOES DOWN
WHEN ROBERTSON PLANTS HIS
CLEVER RIGHT on HIS CHIN.
The Indianapolis Man Stands Up Less
than Two Minutes-AIl the Prin-
cipals Arrested.

serious Idea tnat ne Was d hShtoA' Ac
surely had those ideas taken away from
him last night when he met kid Robert
son at the Cleveland Club. The bout was
scheduled to go ten rounds. but 1t only
lasted one minute and twenty seconds,
Blackwell being completely knocked out.
There was no question as to who was the
superior boxer and again Robertson mani
tested the business of his claim of being
the best lightweight fighter in this part
of the country.
The Cleveland Club hall was crowded to
the doors long before the main bout Of the
evening was called. Here and there in the
audience were representative business men
of the city who were anxious to witness
the clever fighting of the colored man. A
number of strangers were also in the
crowd. There was nothing brutal about
the fight but the knockout was clean and
so quick that Superintendent Quigley
thought it best to order the arrest of the
entire crowd of principals, seconds. time
keepers and referee.
Robertson entered the ring dressed in
his street attire and when the crowd recog
nized him he was greeted with a round of
applause. He weighed in at 134 pounds.
Blackwell and his seconds stepped onto the
stage few minutes later and he was also
greeted with cheers from his friends. He
claimed to weigh AS, but his appearance
showed that he was heavier. Robertso
said that he never felt in better condi-
ton in his life, while Blackwell also claimed
that he was In condition TO go the ten
rounds.
REFEREE CHOSEN.
Marion Scott was chosen as referee and
after short consultation the men agreed
to break away from clinches freely. Cap
tain Dawson gave the referee his instruc-
ton to stop the fight in case the men be-
| came brutal. But the work Of Robertson
was so fast that the referee hardly had
time to think Of separating the men be-
fore Blackwell lay prone upon the floor
from the result Of quick series of jabs on
the chin and jaw and heavy right-hand
| swing on the jaw which did the work.
When the men shook hands they retired to
their corners, but were quickly called to the
| center Of the ring for the beginning of hos
| tilities. Robertson had no sooner stepped
forward and assumed his guard than he
made a rush at Blackwell landing a stiff
| left jab on the jaw which stunned him
This was followed Immediately by another
| hard left on the same spot and Blackwell
was rushed on to the ropes. Robertson
backed to the center of the ring and
spared for a few seconds. Then he made
| another lead with his left, catching his
opponent on the side of the head Black.
| well swung widely. while Robertson plant
| ed hard one over the heart, causing
Blackwell to gasp. Blackwell swung his
| right for the head, but Robertson ducked
| cleverly and came UP with a stiff right or
the mouth which sent BlackwelIs head
| back with jerk. 1t was plain to be seen
| that Blackwell would not last long. Rob-
ertson did not use his right the second
time until he had planted another left OF
with his left and followed quickly with q
right-hand swing which caught Blackwell
| squarely on the point, sending him to the
/ floor. He fell face downward and his chin
striking the floor rendered him unconscious
He was counted out by the referee, while
| the crowd cheered wildly for Robertson
| Blackwell was carried to his corner and re.
| vived within few minutes. Superinten-
| dent Quigley then ordered all of the prin-
| cipals Of the bout placed under arrest.
| PRELIMINARY BOUTS.
The main go was preceded by three tame
| preliminary contests. Kid Meyers anc
Jack Layden fought four rounds to 9
draw without either one displaying much
cleverness. Jim Murphy and Dave Dillor
went on for three rounds, which resulted IL
a draw. The last preliminary was between
Kid Hutsell and Joe Walker for si1
| rounds, the decision going to Walker.
After the affair was over Robertson said
"I have trained for the fight with JOE
| Cans and was never in better condition
/ in my life. / could have gone fifty round:
| If necessary. AS soon as / faced Blackwell
| I knew I had the best of it but thought
| that he was enough of fighter to stan(
| harder punch than l gave him at first
He. did not land squarely on me at ali
| just one little right counter reaching my
body after grazing my guard. He laid him
| self open repeatedly and when / swung my
/ right to his jaw it was with more fore,
| than intended and he ran squarely into i
and went down"
Blackwell said: 'Robertson can hit &
/ harder blow than any man I have evel
| faced, / believe. When he rushed me a.
| the opening and planted a left on my
jaw / could not see him after that. knew
| that 1 was done for then. He is a very
| clever boxer"
| The bout was advertised as a sparrins
| contest, but Blackwell showed that he wa.
| no match whatever for Robertson, and wa.
| clearly out of his class. Had a man NOR,
| fit to fight been in the ring the contes
| might have lasted longer. There wer,
| eleven of the principals of the af
| fair taken to the police station and mos
of them were released on bond. They
| were charged with engaging in a prize figh
| and their cases will be heard this morning
Kid Bradford, of Chicago, has ISSUED
| a challenge to fight Robertson and has s.
| to post as a forfeit.