The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-29
SPORTING NEWS.
The Fight at Kansas City Went
Twenty Rounds.
Kid Herman Given the Decision
Over McCleiIand.
WAS A FIERCE BATTLE.
Herman Administered Punish
ment in Early Rounds.
McCIelland Was Stronger at
Close of Bout.


Kansas City, Jan: 2s.-In their fight
before the Missouri Athletic club last
night, 'Bilr' Herman, of Chicago, was
given the decision over Jack McClel-
land, of Pittsburg, at the end of the
twentieth round. The fight was a fierce
one all through, both men fighting
hard. McClelland held off and fought
on the defensive until the sixteenth
round, when he began mixing it with
the Chicagoan. In the nineteenth and
twentieth rounds he fought viciously
and tried hard for knockout In
these two rounds he wore his opponent
down more than in any of the previous
ones. James Mason, McClelland's man
ager, when the decision had been an
nounced, denounced Referee Porteous
to the crowd, calling him thief.
The spectators were divided in the
opinion about the decision. Herman,
by his past work here, has established
himself in the favor of the local fight
fans, and had the call in the matter CT
popularity, though there was large
contingent in favor of McClel1and.
When the referee made his announce
ment these latter raised a howl and
demanded draw decision.
While McClelland was the stronger OF
the two men at the finish, the punish
ment Herman administered in the first
IS rounds of the fight counted, and
though McClelland had the better of
the last three or four rounds, this was
not sufficient to offset the drubbing he
TOOK earlier in the game, and Referee
Porteous gave his decision according
~.
The fight, taken as whole, was one
OF the cleanest and best battles ever
seen in the city. The men were both
trained up to the acme of perfection.
McClelland had the advantage in
height and reach, but Herman, a YER
liable stone WALL seemed the stronger.
He carried the fight to McClelland all
the way, and while he received some
severe jabS for his temerity, he also
delivered some hard punishment to the
boy from the Smoky city. At the end
of the fight McClelland's face and body
bore evidence that he had been in
bruising mill, while the Hebrew boy
had few marks on him.
McClelland was the more scientific of
the two and time and again escaped from
severe lunges by. his quick footwork and
saw an opening, he went after his man
like a bolt of lightning When he land
ed his blows meant much, but most OF
the time Herman met his punches with
the glove. 5s1 p
ing all the time. He never let up. He
kept right after MeClelland and landed
frequently, but did not seem to have any
steam behind his blows. Several times
he caught McClelland in rushes and sent
him to the mat with light blows. The
lack of strength on Herman's part is
perhaps the cause of the fight being
drawn out because if he had handed Nc
CleIland punches hard enough to bring
him out of his reserve, the Pittsburger
would have begun his camp sign earlier,
and there might have been a knock out.
AS It was, McClelland felt sure that he
knew just when to open up. But he wait
ed too long.
But withaI McClelland made good
impression on the crowd. He is a clean,
heady fighter, and owes his defeat only to
mistake in calculations. He. used the
wrong tactics and discovered his mistake
too late. Had he fought in the tenth
round as he did in the nineteenth and
twentieth he would have handed Herman
a sleep tablet Herman is a fighter who
has the blocking game well learned, and
he is fighter in all that the wSrd i'm
plies. He is hard to wear out and always
keeps his opponents working. For man
of his apparent strength it is surprising
how little effect his blows have
Clarence Forbes challenged the winner
to fight at 126 pounds. A challenge was
also received from Battling Nelson to
fight at 100 pounds. In the preliminary
before the main bout last night Wink
field of Olathe had Williams, the Denver
ite at his mercy. He beat him almost to
a pulp in the first three rounds and when
the fourth opened sent his man to the
floor with a straight left to the jaw.
While Williams was down WINFIELD
struck him and the fight was awarded to
Williams