The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-26
LAFoNTIsE PUT JOHNSON OUT
IN TWENTIETH ROUND.
MANY WITNESS CONTEST
Programme Opened With Minor
ment for Crowd.

FROM Wednesday, 5 daily GdZSIlC.
The 20-round glove contest between
Nose LaFontise pf Butte, and Chas.
johnson of Philadelphia, which was
pulled off in thie CITY, last night, re
suited in Johnson being knocked out
in the goth round, after fighting a
gamey battle from the start.
The contest was witnessed by not
less than 500 people, including many
prominent business men and officials,
and was as hard and as spirited a
contest as was ever fought in the
state, so say old frequenters at the
ringside.
While the crowd was waiting for the
big mill to begin an entertaining cur
tain raiser was furnished by the club
management in the form of a four
round bout between Jack Wade of
Butte and Kid Oglesby of Helena.
This was followed by a hot go between
Col. Storm Cloud Jones and Col. Bill
Jefferson, two colored heavy weights
Of Billings, resulting in the somewhat
inglorious defeat of Col. Bill.
Just before II o'clock Duncan Nc
Donald, referee, entered the ring and
announced the big contest, stating
that it was to be a rs round fight, or to
a decision. The announcement was re-
ceived with cheers.
At 11:01 the principals entered the
,,iro civ, ,1+oo 0,,~11, o-l 4~11- 4L>s~
respective corners. In J%ohnson's cor
ner were "Kid" Smalley, Frank Free
man and Eddie Croak, while LaFon-
tise was supported by his brother
Jack LaFontise, Jack Wade, Kid o.
lesby and Professor Langdon.
Walter Searles was chosen as Of
fetal time keeper and DR.. Ironsides
held the watch for LaFontise and
VIM. Aughy performed a like service
for Johnson.
1t was 11:17 when Referee Johnson
called time and the men stepped to the
center of the ring and shool.. hands,
Both appeared to be confident of win
ming the battle. The fight by rounds
was as follows:
Round 1-LaFontise landed light on
face. Same swings right to J%ohnson's
face. johnson landed on breast and
Jaw. LaFontise upper cuts stiffly and
lands on Johnson's jaw. Johnson
goes down on a trip. Clinch as gong
sounds.
Round 2-.LaFontise lands on jaw
and face. Clinch followed by body
blow by LaFontise in the break away,
LaFontise lands left to face. johnson
sends left to jaw. LaFontise follows,
suit. johnson lands right and blocks
left lead. LaFontise misses left lead.
Johnson upper cuts. Honors easy.
Round 3-Clinch in center. Johnson
lands body blow, and lodges vicious
upper cut. LaFontise plants a hook
and lands on Johnson's jaw with left.
johnson blocks upper cut. Exchange
OF blows as gong sounds. Very lit
tie fighting in this round and still no.
body's fight.
Round 4-LaFontise forces fightinr
lodging right to face. Johnson reaches
lace on upper cut. Close in-fghting
men. Johnson lands vicious
blow on neck. LaFontise lands right
n left, lodges rush and lands left
TO face Johnson puts in left hard
oVef heart. LaFontise lands to face
twice. Johnson blocks vicious right
swing, followed by rapid exchange.
Round slightly in favor of johnson.
Round 5-LaFontise lands on Jaw
and tomach johnson again down on
a slip; no damage. Johnson lands
lett and gets L~aFontise's right in ex-
change. Mixup as gong sounds, john
son sick at stomach.
Round 6-LaFontise continues tn s
lan on jaw, and Johnson returns with j
stlH punches on Butte mans neck.
lands repeatedly with left I
right to head and body frequently
falling short. Johnson shows slight t
groggyness. T
Round johnson up fresh
ana left to body. LaFontise {
lands on head. Clinch. LaFontise i
sends left to face. johnson down !
LaFontise lands right and left on head S
ana body and Johnson puts in two t
stlngers on face and neck. LaFontise
lands hard on jaw as gong rings. I
Round 8-Johnson leads off with t
stih punch to head. LaFontise swings e
lett effectively, and again lands right
and left. johnson returns forcing
LaFontise to ropes. Exchange of
blows. Both men go down. Honors E