Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-19

Before a crowd of about 900 people,
last night, Mike Donavin, of Rochester,
put out australian Billy" Edwards,
after five rounds of the fiercest going
ever witnessed in the Metropolitan
ring. This is the second time in three
months. The fighting was clean, hard
and fast from the first gong, with al
WAYS a shade the better for the Win
ner. Although Edwards is a game
fighter, no man living in that class
could have withstood the rushes OF Don
avin. The boy from Rochester went
after his man in realistic Terry Nc
Govern style. AT all stages he was
there at the right time with the right
punch.
The result was entirely unexpected.
In fact, Donavin was lucky, although
the result would have been the same
in. the end. In falling Edwards head
struck a ring post, which aided mater
fally in the knockout. Edwards was
game and came back just as long as
he could get on his feet, but it did no
good. Five times he took nine OF the
count. and then stood up to get knocked
down again. The sixth time Referee
Joe Gardner completed the ten counts
and the battle was over.
There was little betting in sight.
What there was was Donavin at II
to- 10. Before the main bout started
Announcer BUGGY challenged Jack NC
Clelland, who was in Donavin's cor
ner, for Eddie Gardner, at anywhere
from 122 to 124 pounds. Billy Cor
coran, McClelland's manager. accepted,
stating the bout could not be made I'm
.4 April list, as McClelland has n
bout on that time. Corcoran also
stated that he would make a side bet
OF from $3.50 to $500 on the outcome.
The preliminary event of the even
ing was a battle royal between Reese
Cavanaugh Rainbow, and Bordy, a To-
cal colored boy. 1t was fierce and
funny. They parted of branching off
at times. Bordy, the winner, was the
smallest in the bunch. He went after
Rainbow, putting him out after five
rounds. In the same round he rushed
to the other two, and seeing Cavanaugh
first, handed it to him on the jaw, and
Cavanaugh went out first. The two
that were left were about all in. In
the seventh Bordy developed a little
speed, and with the same old hook he
sent the last of his opponents out
amid cheers and laughter. The audi
ence showered coins into the ring and
there was another scrap for the
money.
1t was $50 o'clock when Donavin ar
rived at the ringside. He was follow
ed twenty-five minutes later by Ed
wards. In Donavin's orner was Billy
Cochran and Jack McClelland, of
Pittsburg. Edwards seconds were
John Simcoe, of Cincinnati, and Buzz"
Auber, of Wheeling, and Frank Collier,
OF Brooklyn.
Round 1.-The men came briskly into
the ring at the bell. They spar con-
siderably. Donavin forces and they
clinch. They clinch again and there
is fast mitigating. Donavin misses
Ind Edwards sends him back with a
right to the body. They fell in a
clinch, Edwards under. Danavin helps
Edwards up and they shake ~hands.
Donavin misses a straight left. Don
Avin sends right to the heart. The
bell finds them sparring.
Round Edwards sends left to eye.
There is fast infighting and they clinch.
Donavin leads, but Edwards got away.
In close quarters, Edwards falls
through the ropes. Donavin helps him
to his feet. Donavin lands twice on
the face. Donavin rushes, but Ed
wards meets it with a straight left.
Donavin lands a right on the body be-
fore the bell.
Round 3-They clinch and Edwards
again. No damage. They mix. Ed
wards makes a vicious swing. Ed
wards sends left to head. Donavin