The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-28
ANDY TOKELL BESTED
HARRY FORBES STILL THE WORLDS
CHAMPION BANTAMWEIGHT.
EngIishman Was Severely Punished,
but Faced the American Till the
End of the Tenth Round.

DETROIT, Feb. 27.-England tried for
another championship tonight and suf-
fered another defeat. Her champion ban
tamweight. Andy Tokell, was beaten by
Harry Forbes, the champion bantamweight
of the world
Forbes was given the decision at the end
of the ten rounds. He won the fight from
start to finish and had the better of every
round, with the possible exception of the
seventh, in which he held his own. and
proved himself the superior of the English
champion in everything that goes to make
champion with the exception of courage,
and in this he was equal TO Tokell. The
latter was something of a disappointment.
He showed himself a strong. rugged young
ster with a world of power behind his
blows, and proved himself game to the
core. He took heavy punishment and came
back every time in every round willing
and eager to fight again.
In skill Tokell was outclassed by Forbes,
who hit him where and how he pleased
and as many times as Tokell would take
without coming to clinch or breaking
ground. He pounded the Englishman's left
eye shut and cut the left side of his face
until it looked like the aftermath of a
session with a sausage machine, while
Forbes had not a mark. He drove Tokell's
head back with straight lefts, turned him
round with right hooks and back again
with left swings. He fought always on
the aggressive and from the second round
until the end there was never a doubt of
the result.
Tokell twice wrestled Forbes to the floor,
he
territorial. For both performances he was
Kissed by the spectators and warned by
the referee. In addition, when Forbes was
on his feet he pounded the Englshman
with little additional vigor.
Tokell was somewhat cast down by his
defeat. but took it philosophically. II was
in good shape" he said, land did the best
L s could: That's all l could do. ~,
thought he could have ended the fight be-
fore the tenth round had he tried to do so.
1t was too important fight for me to
take chances, he said, so / fought care
fully. / think now that If l had cut loose
L might have won out earlier. Tokell is
strong fellow and willing fighter, but
1t seemed to me that he lacked skill. If |
fight him again l think L could make 1T
somewhat shorter"
During the fight Forbes was seconded by
Fred Nottingham, Tom McCune, Will
Campbell and julius Franks. In Tokell S
corner were Con McVey, Jim Kelley, Ray
Welsh and Danny Mcmahon. McVey. who
has acted as second in some of the greatest
championship contests in the country, de-
clared after the fight that in his opinion
Tokell made an excellent showing. He was
new to American ways" said McVey, land
! he felt little strange. He is a strong
| fighter and next time he will do better"
There was never a fight better conducted
| than to-nights contest The spectators, 81
| 500 in number, were warned i'm advance that
| they must be quiet and make no demonstra-
| ton during the progress of the rounds. TIC
| enforce such an edict upon $500 enthusiastic
| spirits during a hot and exciting fight was
| cruelty, and the spectators made picture
| of pathos as they smothered their shouts
| at the order of Manager Considine 'KeeI
| quiet or the police will stop the fight" In
| the one minute between the rounds permits
sion was given to yell, but everything had
| to be quiet at the tap of the gong there
| will be no fight"
| The men fought at lis pounds at clock
| both being exactly on the limit George
| Siler refereed all the contests of the even
| ing.
| In the first preliminary Of the evening
Artie Black, of Detroit, and Johnny Whit.
| taker. of Akron, o., fought ten slow rounds
| to draw. The men fought at 127 pounds.
The second event was between Warren
| Zurbrick, of Buffalo. and Billy Moore, OF
Syracuse, at l3S pounds. Zurbrick was
given the decision.