The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-23
Fight was Desperately Contested from
Start to Finish, with Honors
Fairly Divided i'm First Half.
SINGING LEFT ON THE JAW
SENT SULLIVAN TO THE FLOOR,
THEN HE TRIED TO RISE.
But Went Down Again and was
Counted Out-Many Indianians
Saw the Battle.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Sullivan went to the floor in the fifteenth
round OF the greatest battle either he or
McGovern had ever fought. 70 be counted
out by Referee F'itzsimmOns. the crowd
fairly went wild as both fighters had fought
SsrneIy throughout. In every part OF the
auditorium boxes ringside seats and stage
seats indianapolis and Indiana people were
in the front rows. The Indianians almost
TO man had picked McGovern as the
winner and had come 10 Louisville with to
money TO back their favorite but could
find but few takers Even in the fourth
and fifth rounds when Sullivan made the
best showing. the indianapolis men did
not weaken I'm their belief that McGovern
would be The victsr.
When the end came in the fifteenth IT
was not unexpected. Sullivan had grown
perceptibly weaker under the punishment
administered by McGovern. Dawes right
eye was nearly closed, his left eye badly
damaged. his left ear split and he bled pro-
fusely fToJi the nose and mouth. Nc
Govern I'd not show a severe mark, al
though a slight bruise appeared on his
forehead. and his shoulders were raw where
Sullivan had struck him with gloves COW
cred with rOsin after slipping TO the floor.
In the fifteenth a left to the jaw. followed
10y right sent Sullivan 10 the floor. He
up after being counted out Referee
FttzsimmOns s;id: HE fell. and. it would
have been a brutal act TO have to let Nc
Govern beat him again" The decision met
with general favor
The NEST interesting occurrence before
the fight started was when Fitzsimmons
walked over 10 Sharkey. spoke and playful
~ tapped his right on the sailors ribs.
Sharkey looked around and greeted "Fitz"
pleasantly. All during the battle Sharkey
was excited and he fought the battle for
Sullivan. the latter constantly looked to
MIN for instructions.
There We're loud cheers as Bob Fftzsim-
mons stepped through the ropes to referee
the preliminary event and urgent calls
for a speech. After some hesitation Fitz-
simmons advanced TO the ropes and said !:
II thank you very much for this outburst
of enthusiasm and assure you I appreciate
II very much. L also appreciate the honor
Of refereeing this fight tonight and will do
my best 10 be fair TO both the boys. I
suppose you know [ am matched to fight
Mr.. Jeffries some time in May. l shall
train as 1 have never trained before and
Will do my best 10 DO him"
The last sentence greeted with hOwIs
of approval. The gong then rang for the
preliminary contest between Kid Sparks
and George Schulz, both of Louisville, who
s.
men weighed in the neighbOrhOod of 140
pounds. The decision a draw.
DESPERATE FIGHT.
As stated. the fighting was desperate
from start To finish From the first tap
of the gong until the end il was slam-bang
hammer and tongs nearly every second
both men working away with all the energy
they possessed. There has seldom been
seen battle where the issue was more in
doubt. In one round it would be Sullivan
and in the next McGOvern. Then Sullivan
would come strong again and even things
up once more.
McGovern knowing that the fight meant
his position i'm the front rank as a fighter
was after his man every second. In the
majority of the rounds he was on the ag-
gressive and Sullivan was forced to. DO far
more defensive work than his opponent He
put up a wonderful fight, however was
game to the core and lost the fight more
through blunder OF his own than because
ne was knocked cut When the finish
came, however. he was groggy and going
fast. The chances are that he would not
have lasted many more rounds even had
he risen TO his feet before Fitzsimmons
called ten
In the fifth round Sullivan was at his
best. He forced the fighting especially III
the last half and had McGOvern plainly
going The latter walked IN very I'M
steady fashion as he went TO his corner and
nothing but his splendid recuperative power
enabled him TO come out In shape for the
sixth FOUND He came out strong, however
although there were times when Sui
livan seemed about to turn the tide his
kept steadily but very slowly gaining the
upper hand He fought ever forward and
Sullivan was gradually but surely going
backward. Sullivan was badly finished
his left ear being split oDen, his lips
cracked. mis- nose well pounded up and his
right eve partly closed. The latter hap
,aI N MCtnONeTn
particular attention TO Il throughout
During the twelfth. thirteenth and four
teenth rounds Sullivan was slowly going.
McGovern was going at him ike q Wild
cat every instant. He gave him no rest.
and Sullivan was, whenever possible hang
ing for his NE The end came when
the fifteenth round was nearly over. Nc
Govern had forced Sullivan into a neutral
corner. He landed a storm of right and
left swings and. catching sullivan with the
left flush on the Jaw, sent him down on his
back Sullivan VAS up ike 2 flash. but
did not rise from ms Knees: ~ was con-
fused grCggy and nearly out Fltzslmmons
counted nine. and as he uttered the last
word sullivan started TO rise. but did not
get highcr than low crouch. The instant
- Lrfe v-aS OF the floor NcGOveru came
at hin and Sullivan. hardly knowing what
he was about, went down again Inc rel
cree promptly declared aim out and McGoV-
ern the victor. sullivan attempted TO ques-
ton the decision. but F1tzsimmons would
not listen 10 MIN
said. sullivan was down more than ten
seconds before ne tried 10 rise. He was
on his knee fully five seconds before / be
gan 20 count. and had he stood up when |
said nine and been saved BY the song
would stiu have declared him out lie was
down and out for keeps.
Discussing the hgh.. Fitzsimmons said;
1T was the greatest battle or little men L
ever saw. McGovern Is certainly a Won
derful fighter. but lie has q great deal yet
10 learn lie took an Immense amount or
needless punishment tonight. and had he
been more careful he might have won the
fight rounds earlier than he aid. .
McGOvCTn said. From start To hnish IL
was the harde - fight I ever had. and Sui
Ivan Is the toughest man ] have ever been
Up against.
Preceding The fght challenges 20 the win
ner were received from Eddie Gardner,
Austin Rice Harry Harris Young Cor
belt and Abe Atteu Sam Harris, MCCOY
Crn's manager said McGOVerns next night
would re with young Corbett II the lat
ter held TO his challenge.
FIGHT 81 ROT NDS.
II Was Give aud Take ct FIRST. with