The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-02
The KID WAS CONFIDENT
TOOK THE OFFENSIVE IN THE
FIRST ROUND.
BATTLE HARD FOUGHT FROM THE START
In the Second Round Both Came Up Laughing,
But in the Third Maher Began to Lose
Confidence. The Fourth
Round Was His.


New York, Jan. 1.-"Kid" Mccoy
again placed himself in the champion
ship class by defeating Peter Maher in
brisk, we'll fought battle of five rounds
before the Coney Island Athletic Club
this afternoon. The fight was scheduled
TO last twenty-five rounds and the purse
was to have been $4,000, but the at
tendance was not as large as had been
expected, and before the fight was be-
gun the principals agreed that the Win
ner should receive the gross receipts.
The battle was hard fought from
start to finish, but Mccoy was far the
cleverer man in ring tactics, lodging,
sidelStepldng and hitting powers. He
showed himself to be a good ring gem
eral, ever watching for an opening, and
never failing to take advantage of one.
Maher. although credited with being a
heavy hitter, did not get in many etfec-
tive blows. His footwork was poor, and
at times he did not appear 10 have per-
feet control Of himself
When the men entered the ring and
stripped for the battle, Doth looked TO be
in perfect condition, and they were greet
ed with tumultuouS applause. Under
Marquis of Queensberry rules, new
gloves, provided by the club, were hand
ed 10 the referee and he IN turn gave
them to the boxers seconds Maher don
ned his quickly, but Mccoy claimed
that the gloves did not fit him, and stub
bornly refused to use them. He insisted
on wearing an old pair which he clniined
suited him, but the referee was obdurate
and Mccoy gave in.
The knockout blow came in the fifth
round. Mccoy sent a right which fell
a bit short, ana then dropping his left
to the body, tried Il right swing, and as
Peter side-stepped the Kid met him with
Il full swinging left, which landed on the
point of the jaw, and the lrishman went
down, resting on his right elbow, and
was counted out in this position. 1t was
a terrific blow and landing right on the
mark, an OK could scarcely have with
stood its force 1t was the cleanest
knock kOut ever seen III a ring fight and
while some people were unkind enough
to say that Maher could have gotten up
again. those who were nearest to the
fighters and saw the force of the blow
were of the opinion that Sullivan, in his
palmiest days could not have with
stood it,
Probably in the history of ring fights
in this vicinity there has never been
such a quick change in the betting as
that which occurred during the two
hours preceding this fight. For some
days past Maher had been the favorite,
as good as 100 to so being bet on his
chances. One hundred to 70 on Maher
was the ruling price when the club
house doors opened this afternoon, and
in the different sporting centers this
price was maintained until within an
hour of the beginning of the contest.
Then q peculiar condition of affairs oc-
CURED, and. for no apparent reason
Maher stock was beared, while the Kids
was bulled, and when the men got into
the ring their positions in the betting
market were reversed, with the Kid the
favOrite.
The fight by rounds follows:
Round 1.-The Kid Immediately took
the offensive, Peter breaking ground.
Kid feinted with left. Kid then sent
left hook to jaw, flooring Maher MahLr
up in two seconds. Kid tried cross but
missed Maher tried left swing for III"
head, but the Kid side-stepped lightly.
Maher again tried left, but the KM
again side-stepped Mccoy sent left to
body and Peter in an attempt TO return
the blow slipped and fell, but regaIned
his feet quickly They came to
clinch. Maher forced the Kid to the
ropes where he put right on Kids body.
Kid broke away nicely and after little
sparring put a left to Maher's stomach.
Round 2.-Both came up laughing,
Peach sparring for opening. Mccoy feint
ed with left. Peter made a vicious right
and left swing, neither landing, and az
close quarters the Kid put right and left
to body As they broke away tha Kid
put left 10 jaw. Then they mixed it ur,
Maher landing right and left TO the
body In the breakaway Maher put his
left to body Coming together again the
Kid measured his man and sent right
to the jaw, putting Maher to his hands
and knees. Maher was up in four soc
onds and rushed madly at Mccoy, getting
to the body while Mccoy jabbed his left
three times to the face. Maher forced
the Kid to the ropes and the Kid slip
ped to the floor. As soon as he got rp
he sent his left to Mahers face. sending
his head hack. The Kid sent two lefts
to the jaw of AIaher, following it with
his right over the jaw which turned
Maher's head sideways as the gong
sounded
Round 3.-MeCoy came up more conf
dent than ever, while Peter wore an