The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-27
Latter Meets with Defeat for the First
Time Since He Left the Sea
for the Prize Ring.
RUHLIN INITIATES KID MCCOY
USES HIS FEET Tb ADVANTAGE AND
ESCAPES PUNISHMENT.
Both Are Nearly Worn Out Mt the Fin
ish, but Ruhlin's Vitality En-
ables Him to Floor His Man.

COMFY ISLAND, June 26.-For the first
time in his pugilistic career Tom Sharkey
went down to decisive defeat tonight In
the historic arena of the Seaside Athletic
Club, and big Gus Rubin. the Ohio pugil-
list, was his conqueror. 1t was a clean
Knockout after fifteen rounds of fighting
that made a memorable ring battle. Save
in the matter of aggressiveness, Rubin
led from the face-off. in every feature of
the game, and at all times had the fight
well in hand. Sharkey did not give up his
place in the line of first-class heavyweights
without a desperate struggle. No soldier
ever gave more desperate battle. no man
sinking to unconsciousness ever chung more
determinedly to his vitality. Even at the
end, when blinded by the blows of his pow
erful opponent and dulled mentally by the
battering of his foe, he chung instinctively
to the massive frame of the man who was
his master.
The decisive battle and unexpected re-
suit were truly a surprise for the sporting
public. No line of form that could be fig
ured gave the Ohioan more than a one to
two chance. Sharkey had met and at least
stood off all Of the leading heavyweights
now in the ring. He was known to be a
giant in strength, courageous to a point be-
| yond discretion. and aggressive. Rubin.
on the other hand, had never made a par
ticularly good showing against any man of
reputation and was regarded as a second
| rater of a pronounced type. Hence there
was apathy as to the fight, and while there
was some spirited betting, Rubin never
shovel better than 10 to z, and it was even
money that he would not last ten rounds.
The management, in fact, decided to put
the general admission down to 81. There
was a big crowd on hand, however, and
they were treated to a rafting good fight
with surprising results.
Sharkey was the first man to come, and it
was 10:06 p. m. when he appeared. The i'm
patient crowd gave him a fair volley of ap-
plause and was not specially enthusiastic
when Rubin came a minute later. Rubin
showed to great advantage from the spec
tators' view point, when the men stood UP
together. He had height, and weight, and
reach, and looked big and muscular. His
condition seemed perfect and his work, as
the battle progressed. showed that it was.
Sharkey was not lacking in the matter of
condition either, and that cannot be urged
In explanation or e~xtenuation. At 1918.
| when the men, answering the gong, came
to the center, spectators went through the
crowd, offering 2 to / on Sharkey. AT these
figures there was a heavy play, and the
talent did the paying.
RUHLIN WAS CLEVER.
As the men spared to an opening it could
be seen that Rubin showed improved foot
work and greater c-leverness in avoiding
punishment. Ability in that respect,
coupled with his natural advantages. gave
him a superiority in which he never
wavered. He also showed fierce Furnishing
power, and it was only Sharkey's superb
vitality that kept him from defeat earlier
in the battle. He used his right and left
with equal facility and made them both
count. He rather lacked in aggressiveness
and If he had gone in could have finished
the battle much earlier than he did. He
allowed Sharkey to make the pace, and al
though he met him determinedly enough
when he came in. he did not press all of
his advantages. He used his reach to ex-
cellent advantage. and time and again step
ped in after the chunky Irishman had
swung at him and made his blow count.
Sharkey, with that marvellous aggressive
ness which has made and marked his pu-
gilistic career, made the pace from the
square-on until he was helpless. He had
met his match. however. and defeat, al
though slow, was Inevitable. Each round
brought him closer to II. Rubin kept away
from his wild swing and desperate leads
and kept hammering his left and right into
the face and body. He cut the sailors face
until 1t was bathed in blood and marked
his chest and sides where he planted his
powerful punches. They clashed in desper-
ate clinches and were broken time and
again. Sharkey showed an inclination to
rough it and wrestle in the clinches. and
the ~unsympathetic crowd Missed and hooted
crowd, but the referee refused to interfere.
The finish was dramatic. Sharkey had
struggled through the fourteenth round by
desperate effort, and was but little revived
when he came up for the fifteenth. He
made a wild try with his left. Rubin
sprang in and beat the Irishman down to
the floor with a volley of punches. The
resolute fighter struggled to his feet, and
when Rubin came in clutched him around
the waist. Rubin shook hin of and drop
ped him again.
A thousand men, frenzied In their excite
ment. surrounded the ring. and there was a
din of hoarse yells. Sharkey scrambled up
again. and then staggered against the
ropes. Rubin seemed unable TO finish him,
and that would have been a charity. Shar-
key went down for the third time. but with
logged determination staggered to his feet.
He was blind and unsteady. and a punch
put him down. The referee stepped in and
ended the contest. Sharkey was helpless.
Billy Madden sprang into the ring and
kissed his protege. and then aided In car
rying him from the ring. He was un-
Marked, While oHdrhey pore q score OF
bruises.
The Fight by Rounds
1t was exactly 10 o'clock when Sharkey
entered the ring, attended by Tom
O'Rourke, Jack Sullivan. Jimmy Buckley
and George Dixon. The sailor was clad. as
usual, in green trunks with the American
flag as a sash. Rubin entered a moment
later, with Billy Madden, Kid Mccoy, Char
lie Gonf and Jim Corbett as his seconds.
The men tossed for choice of corners and
Sharkey won. taking the corner he occu-
pied when he met Jeffries. Both wore
bandages, and little time was lost In put
ting on the gloves. Both men looked 70
be in excellent condition. but when they
shook hands in the center of the rims
Rubin showed a remarkable advantage in
were met with loud cheers when intro
duced. Referee Johnny White gave the
men their instructions and the gong rams
for the fray.
Round ~i-Sharkey Immediately assumed
the aggressive and rushed Gus TO a neutral
corner, where they clinched. Tom rushed
and led again. sending both hands TO the
himself and landed hard with n stra!gh,
TO the body, but was short for the head
and Gus again nailed hin with both hands
on the head, shaking Tom up. but he came
back with a rush and was mixing 1T ur
when the bell rang.
Round 2-Tom rushed over TO Ruhlin's
corner and swung wildly for the head. Gus
planted a right over the heart and O
a. -