The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-19
SAVED A KNOCK OUT
BY McMURRAY THROWING UP THE
SPONGE FOR FAIRBURN
IN THE SIXTEENTH ROUND
TO PREVENT HIS DEFEAT BY ED
LENNY.


Though at Times Fairburn Held
His own and Gave Severe Pun
ishment Lenny's Eye Cut, but
otherwise Neither Man Was In
Iured-A Large Crowd Attended
the Bout Which Was Decidedly
Interesting-YOun JOIlie and
Jack Dempsey Boxed an Exciting
Eight Round Draw.
After fifteen rounds of the hardest,
earnest and best boxing ever witnessed
in Savannah, AL McMurray, acting as
one of the seconds for Joe Fairburn, in
his match for twenty rounds to a de-
cision last night in the ring of the Sa-
yannah Athletic Club with Eddie Len
ny, threw up the sponge for his man a
few seconds after the beginning of the
sixteenth round, as from all appear
ances Fairburn was done for and it
was only question of a round or two
more, and possibly in that one, that a
knock out would come.
In this McMurray was commended,
as at but one stage of the bout did
Fairburn have anything like an advan-
tage, though in several he held his own
and gave as good as he received. He
was always forcing the game and COM
pelling Lenny to lead which he did eff
fectively in most attempts, though by
clever ducking many vicious swings
went wide of the mark and Fairburn's
left shoulder was raw from contact
with his opponents glove.
Cut Lenny's Eye.
In the sixth round Fairburn cut a
cash under Lenny's eye from which
the blood flowed copiously. Several
times after that he landed on the dam
aged optic and started the claret
afresh, and at the finish the eye was
completely closed. Outside of this
Lenny was uninjured, and Fairburn
left the ring without mark except for
the red places on his shoulders where
he had avoided Lenny's swings for his
head He took a good, sound thrash
ing however, and less game or less
conditioned man would have forfeited
long before.
There were no clean knock downs,
though Fairburn went to his knees
several times and took the count. Once
he was showed down by Lenny after
an exchange of blows, and once Lenny
went down by missing a vicious swing.
Lenny landed two blows to Fairburns
one throughout the contest. He play
ed both for the body and head and
landed wallops to the jaw that looked
like winners, but in each case Fair
burn came back strong and willing,
and at the close was fighting gamely,
though 1t was being put
all over him. The body
blows had weakened his strength
and McMurray by throwing up the
i - fO,.
his man. Both boys were in the pink
of condition. Fairburn appeared the
larger and heavier of the two, and it
is this fact that enabled them to stand
the hot and continuous pace, Fair
burn, if anything, was the cleverer of
the two, but Lenny, by his willingness
to lead and mix it up, offset this and
Joe was unable to keep him away.
One of the largest crowds ever wit
Messing glove contest in Savannah
was present. The hall was packed.
The men were scheduled to meet at 126
pounds and woth were within weight,
though Fairburn appeared the larger,
stronger, and heavier of the two. 1t
was a good contest, clean boxing and
clever work by both. Fairburn had in
his corner Al McMurray and Jack
Sheehan, while Lenny was looked aft
err by Pat Raedy. Pete Mamie and
Golden Curry. They entered the ring
at $50 o'clock, and five minutes later
had started the contest that was to
make one the winner and the other
looser.
JOIIie and Dempsey Draw.
Previous to the main bout Young
Jollie and Jack Dempsey went eight
interesting rounds to a draw. Demp-
sey was the taller and heavier of the
two by several inches and pounds, and
also had the advantage in reach. He
looked like a winner, but Jollie, by his
superior cleVerness, was there at all
stages of the game, and at the close
had his man in anything but a comfor-
table condition. The last two rounds
were decidedly in Jollie's favor.
The main bout started off by Lenny
landing twice to the jaw without a re-
turn, and repeating it several times
more during the round. Fairburn soak
ed the body a number of times and
damaged the left eye. They were
clinched at the end of the round which
was slightly in favor of Lenny. From
this on to the sixth round there was
practically any advantage, though Len
ny continued to land on the jaw and
body while Fairburn came back good
and strong each time, and put some
telling raps to the body and face. He
was ducking cleverly right swings that
frequently went around his head or
landed on his shoulder.
In the sixth round Fairburn started
out with a right to the body followed
up with a clip to the jaw, and a mo-
ment later another right to the face
and left to the vulnerable spot. Lenny
also planted on the jaw, and in hot
exchange Fairburn reached the left
eve and started the claret. He then
rushed Lenny about the ring and had
decided advantage on points, though
he had done no damage.
Lenny the AggressOr.
Lenny came up fresh and aggressive