Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-13
THE PUGILISTS.
Tommy Ryan Is Working the
 Same Old Bluff.

He Says He Is Willing to Meet Fttz-
 sinnmons-Gus Ruhlin Hurls Chal-
 lenge to the World-Dan Duane
 Furnishes Kid Griffo, But Gets Only
 a Draw.
 Boston, March 13.-Danny Duane of New York and Kid Griffo of Philadel- phia met in the feature bout last even ing at the Essex A. O., and although Duane had all the better of 1t barring a couple of rounds, the event was called a draw because of Griffo's refusal to go the ten rounds for a decision. The New York lad was heavier, stronger and.cleyerer than his opponent, and al- though Griffo put up game fight, he was practically unable to penetrate Duane's superb defense. Jack Mack, Duane's manager, came here expecting to go for a decision, but Tom McGuire, who is handling Griffo, refused to ac- cept anything less than knockout as convincing evidence of the New York mans superiority. After q long wait the pair went on. Tn the second round Duane blocked the blows off and sent in his own left very effectively Duane had the better of 1t in the third and fourth rounds, after some cry fast work, Griffo resorting to clinches to save himself. Tn the fifth Griffo had a trifie the better of the exchanges. Tn the sixth Griffo came back strong and split Duane's left eye with hard right. Tn the seventh and eighth rounds Duane had the better of it, but in the ninth Griffo landed with his left in good shape. In the tenth Duane tried hard to finish his opponent, but Griffo was game and the pair mixed 1t up in hot style, each landing some vicious punches. The great surprise of the evening was the second prelim- mary in which Kid Murphy, the 1O0- pound champion of New York, met Patsy McKenna, the 1O0-pound cham pion of New England. The latter had age, weight and strength in his favor, but Murphy who was a mere slip of q lad, with hair so long that 1t got in his eyes. received the decision at the end of six rounds Albert Belmont of Med- ford met Joe Wagner. the former anna teur, in the semi-fnal bout. The pair went six rounds and Belmont got an easy decision.
 New York, March 13.-Word was re- ceived in this city yesterday from Tommy Ryan that he stands willing to fight Bob Fitzsimmons for the middle weight championship, but stipulating that the weight must be 154 pounds. Foxy" Tommy writes at great length on his readiness to meet FitZ, and says that the talk of his retiring from the ring is all bosh. 'I will fight Fltzsim- mons at the middleweight limit at any time and before any club offering a suitable purse,' writes Ryan. and then he starts on long argument in favor of 154 pounds at the ring side. He says that when he beat Kid Garter in Fort Erie he weighed 1461a pounds, and re- minds Fitz that he won the middle weight championship from Jack Demp- sey at 154 pounds. Ryan thinks that yFitzs would be getting big pull in the weights to enter the ring at the latter figure, as Tommy says he would not raise the scale at more than he did when he fought Garter. 1T play no fa- vorites," says Ryan in conclusion. T am willing to fight Fftzsimmons as any other middleweight in the country. Any stories to the effect that I am in clined to sidestep him are not true. If there is any sidestepping done in this case 1t is by the other fellow" Sport ing men were inclined to treat Ryan's letter lightly. Tommy is always look ing for a loophole when he's up against the real thing" said one fight follower, "and he thinks he's put too hard a proposition up to FitZ by insisting on 154 pounds. But that argument won't hold. He'll have to fight at 15S pounds or be accused of the sidestepping he talks of. And that's good joke about Tommy weighing 14615 when he whipped Carter: he looked over 150 if he was a pound. Tommy is wise matchmaker He can find a way out all right, and I'll bet dollars to dough nuts you'll never see him in the ring with Old Freckles until Fitz Is going about on crutches."
 Billy Madden, yesterday, on behalf of Gus Ruhlin issued challenge to match the Akron Giant against any heavyweight pugilist in the world. This is how Billy puts 1t: Gus Rublin, in spite of his record as consistent and honest fighter, has been unable to se- cure matches, and rather than have him retire from the ring I have de cfded to issue another challenge in his behalf. Ruhlin is ready and has all ways been willing to meet any heavy weight in the world provided he is a white man. We are prepared to bet from $1 to $5.0O0 on the side and fight before any club offering the best in ducement Ruhlin, in his last fight in Philadelphia. showed that he still has the pu2ch. He knocked Mexican Pete Everitt out, and the latter did not quit, as reported. The trick was done with a left to the nose and right on the jaw. Ruh1in wants to box either FitZ-