The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-11
FIGHT ENDED in A DRAW
"I<ID" BLACKBURN MADE A GOOD
SHOWING AGAINST CROSBY.
Blackburn Timid at start, but Gained
COnfidence-CrOsby Landed Hard
Blows on the wind.

kid" Blackburn. the young colored
lightweight fighter of India napolis, Sc
cured draw in his ten-round contest with
Steve Crosby at the Cleveland Club last
night. The decision met with general IA
vor, because Blackburn displayed clever
ness in the latter part of the bout and
forced the lighting. He was timid when
the men went to the center of the ring to
begin hostilities, and during the first
round he was made the stopping place for
a number of swings and jabs sent out from
Crosbys powerful shoulders. During the
latter part OF the opening round Re sent
home a few jabs on the face and this gave
him encouragement
Blackburn met a man who is a better
ring general and who has spent greater
part of his life in the squared circle Cros-
by was cool and reserved throughout the
fight, while Blackburn was more or less
nervous and lacked generalsnip Crosby
possessed a stonewall guard through which
it was nearly impossible for Blackburn to
send home blows on the face and he seldom
tried for the wind Blackburn landed many
blows during the course of the argument,
but they lacked steam, while Crosby S
rights and let's on the wind caused the In
dianapolis man to puff for wind. During
the latter part of the encounter Blackburn
was able to block many of the vicious
looking swings and jabS and by going I'M
der and countering with his left and right
on the face secured draw. Referee
Creasey was applauded when he gave his
decision.
1t was after midnight when the men en-
tered the ring, there being a long and tire
some wait after the last preliminary, dur
ing which time two colored men wore out
the patience or the crowd singing i'm
promptu verses Blackburn objected to GO
ing into the ring because the manager OF
the show and Crosby's manager had count
ed the receipts and prepared a statement
without giving him an opportunity to count
the tickets taken in at the door. Blackburn
believed that he had been given the worst
of it, but agreed finally to 20 on with the
bout. According to the agreement both
men were 10 weigh in at o'clock in the
afternoon at 13S pounds. Blackburn was
Welgheo ana was under the limit, while
crosby refused TO mount the scales. He
forfeited the money deposited TO weigh In
at l53. In the ring last night he said he
weighed ia, but he looked heavier.
blackburn was seconded by Fred Black
burn and Punch" Campbell while Henry
Seaners and George Ross were in Crosby :
corner. While the gloves were being ad-
juSted Blackburn displayed signs of un-
easlness. he was about to face the best
man with whom he had ever donned the
gloves, and he realized he had a strone
argument on his hands. All through the
early part or the first round he was back
ward, and allowed Crosby TO rush him
around the ring and jab him in the wind
AT the close of the round Blackburn sent
in right and left on the face and lost the
timidity that for awhile had threatened
linn with sure defeat
ACTS OF KINDNESS.
Throughout the rest of the fight Black
burn permitted Crosby to rush him against
the ropes and around the ring, and many
times received hard punches in the wind
right on the nose and a stiff left over the
eye. Blackburn improved rapidly and met
his antagonist with stiff punches in the
face, which lacked the necessary speed tC
do any damage. His guarding became
much better, and the swings that haC
winded him in the early rounds were wei
blocked in the last few rounds. Twice dur.
ing the night Blackburn slipped TO the fiool
because the ring was not sufficiently
him 10 his feet. Crosby slipped once jus
as Blackburn started a right jab toward
the face but the hand that was intended to
score a point for Blackburn was used il
assisting Crosby TO his feet. The act caused
the crowd to applaud.
1t was believed that Crosby had the bes
or the nght as far as landing hard blows
was concerned, but Blackburn's friend:
greatly admired his gameness in the latter
part OF the encounter and believed that q
draw was the only just decision.
The preliminary bouts were refereed bN
Jack Cullen Fred Elliott and the Ken
lucky Rosebud went four tame rounds
but John Henshaw and Isaac Upshav
mixed matters in the four rounds the!
were in the ring Shine Stanly wOI
/ the decision in a four-round bout witt
/ Ernest Partley, big cOfee-cOlored heavI
weight who calls himself SLOW Drag.
/ Roy Brown and Kid Jones went fou
rounds TO a draw. Jesse C'kid'D Clark ant
~ Dung Bybee furnished 1--WE rounds Of IN,
/ fastest kind of boxing