The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-18
FIGHT WAS A FIZzLE
EXHIRITION Or FAKE SPORT Al
PHILADELPHIA.
REFEREE CALLED IT OFF.
SHARI<EY AND MAHER HIT EACH
OTHER LOVE TAPS.

Not Blow struck That Would
Have Jared Bantam's Head.
Crowd Yelled Take Them or
and "Fake"-Spectators Broke
Chairs and Benches to Get Even
and WouId Have Gladly MObbed
the Fighters-Excuse of Fighters
Is That They Had Been Arrested
and Had Given $4,000 Bail TO Keep
the Peace.
Philadelphia, Jan. 17.-Tom Sharkey
and Peter Maher, who were heralded
to fight six rounds before the Indus
trial Athletic Club for the champion
ship of Ireland, at the Industrial Hall
tonight we're stopped by Referee Ro-
cap in the middle of the third, in one
of the poorest exhibitions ever given
in this city. The men had been ar
rested early in the evening and bound
over in $4,000 bail TO keep the peace,
and this dampened their vigor and re-
duced the steam of their blows.
There was not blow struck which
would have Jared a bantam's head
When the bout had progressed for two
and half rounds amid ncessant cat
calls, Kisses and yells of Take them
off" and fake Referee Recap
stepped to the side of the ring and said
that he had been engaged to referee a
contest. This is no contest, he con-
cluded and the men took their corners
and the contest was over.
Both Sharkey and the president of
the club attempted to address the an
CRY crowd, but neither was permitted
to speak. The spectators were worked
up to such a pitch that they broke
chairs and benches in their desire to
get even. 1t was little satisfaction for
the 1000 persons who had paid So, So
and IS for seats.
An attempt made late in the after
noon to prevent the fight by the arrest
of both Sharkey and Maher had no eff
feet on the attendance, and the big
barn-like structure was packed when
the first of the three preliminaries was
called.
1t was 9:15 before the first of the pre-
liminaries began. There was just
enough pepper in the opening bouts to
whet the appetites of the crowd for the
big fellows. kid Fitzgerald. colored,
of Baltimore, met the Kentucky Rose
bud" of Philadelphia. 1t was a good
draw.
Jack Hagerty of Trenton bested
'I<id" Fisher of Brooklyn.
Lew Ryall and Young Kelly, both
of this city, fought six tame rounds
to draw
Fighters Got Their Money First.
There was tiresome wait OF forty
minutes, the fighters insisting on see
ing their money before entering the
ring. 1t was 11:40 when Sharkey made
his appearance. He was followed a
moment later by Maher.
Both men were greeted with tre-
mendous applause.
Seated close to the ring were cham
pion James ]. Jeffries and former
Champion Robert Fitzsimmons.
The men quickly donned the gloves
and at 11:45 the fight began. IN
Sharkey's corner We're Dave Sullivan,
Jim Buckley and ALI King while Tim
Callahan, Peter Lowrey and Mike
Campbell were behind Maher.
First round, men SPARED for a few
seconds. Sharkey being the first to
lead. Maher rushed to a clinch 1t
was evident the, men intended to obey
the mandates of the court. for they
merely tapped each other. There We're
many of the spectators started to
leave the building.
There was not a blow in the first
round hard enough TO jar the teeth
of feather weight. When the men
took their corners the hall rang with
Kisses and cries Take them off," and
"Fake."
Round Two-After iddling for mo-
ment Maher led light left on Shar-
oh aIs H..
Sharkey slapped Maher on the face
with the open glove and the men
Wrestled over the ring. Sharkey led
with his right and Maher ducked into
light left uppercut. The men con
tinued their love taps and the crowd
continued to hiss. Sharkey landed a
light left and Maher countered with a
good stiff right over the heart. Shar-
key landed his open glove on Makers
face, but the blow was not hard
enough to shake Peters head. The
men were dancing about the ring when
the gong sounded.
Round Three-Sharkey led for the
wind. but fell short, and Peter tapped
him on the face. Peter landed n light
right on Sharkey's ribs and received a
gentle tap on the back of the neck as
he ducked. Maher led for the head
and the men clinched and wrestled.
ShafkeN tapped Mdner on tne nead ana
got light blow on the stomach in re-
turn. In the middle of the round Ref
cree Recap walked to the side of The
ring and said: Gentlemen. l was asked
TO referee a contest; this IS no con-
test" The men took to their corners,
and Sharkey attempted to make a
speech but the crowd was so boisterous
that his words were lost among the
catcalls and Kisses. The contest was
then abandoned.
AN ATLANTA FINANCIER.