The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-28
CHAMPIONSHIP is
STILL UNDECIDED
After Outpointing Tommy Ryan
Jack O'Brien Barely Es-
capes Knockout Blow.

PHILADELPHIA Pa, Jan. 27.-Jack
O'Brien and Tommy Ryan fought one
of the fastest six-round bouts ever seen
in this city tonight and the Philadel-
phian had slight advantage.
O'Brien clearly outfought Ryan in
the firsta four rounds and in the fifth
dropped him with hard blow to the
law. Ryan took the count of eight
and came up groggy. He saved him
self by clinching until he had regalned
his bearings. A moment later Ryan
drove a vicious left to O'Brien's stom-
ach, which sent the Philadelphian to
his knees. Ryan seemed to regain his
wind as the round progressed and land
ed repeatedly on O'Brien's stomach
with vicious lefts. 1t was only the
gong that saved OBrien from being
knocked out.
In the sixth round honors were about
even, both men having received severe
punishment. When the gong sounded
ending the fight both men were in
very bad shape. Near the close of the
fifth round while O'Brien was on the
floor one of his seconds threw a sponge
full of water on him. Many persons
were of the opinion that this ended the
fight, bat the referee said no.
outstanding that the authorities
permit only six-round bouts in this
city, the fight between Ryan and
O'Brien created more interest in pugi-
listic circles than any similar event
held here for several years. For three
years the two fighters have been en-
deavoring to arrange battle in order
to decide who was entitled to the mid
dleWeight championship, but some un-
foreseen hitch usually terminated the
negotiations until the present match
was arranged in Chicago three weeks
ago.
The men agreed to meet here in a
siX-round bout for a $4,000 purse, split
equally, and under the laws governing
boxing in Philadelphia no decision can
be given.
O'Bren established training quarters
at Tumbling Run park, near POttsviile,
Pa, and remained in that mountainous
region until this afternoon, when he
came here and went at once to the
home of his parents, where he remain
ed until shortly after o'clock, when he
left for the ringside.
Ryan, accompanied by Hugo Kelly,
reached this city yesterday afternoon,
and after registering at a hotel went to
the local gymnasium and put in half
an hour punching the bag. He rested
today until the hour of the fight.
The National Athletic club was taxed
the main event to take place.
Two siX-reund bouts were put on as
the preliminaries to the stellar attrac-
ton and Notwithstanding that they
We're both interesting, the big audience
waited patiently for the appearance of
Ryan and O'Brien.
OBrien came into the ring at 1917
accompanied by his seconds. He was
given tremendous ovation.
PWaO cal11a info tho ring at 10. 81 He
was also given a great reception. Both
men were in the pink of condition.
In O'Brien's corner were Kid Mccoy,
Joe Hagen and Billy McLarney, While
Hugo Kelly. Spike Sullivan, Frank
Barthey and R. Ferrety attended to
Ryan. Lew Durlacher was the time
keeper. 1t was 1925 when Referee
Crowhurst called the men to the CEN
ter of the ring for instructions. A mo-
ment later the gong sounded and the
battle was on.
Round One.
O'Brien led for face and missed;
he then put left to Ryan's nose.
Ryan backing away O'Brien landed a
light 1T right over the heart o'Brien landed
it again a moment later. The men then
rushed to clinch. O'Brien landed a
hard uppercut on Ryan's chin and landed
left hook on the jaw not moment
later. He then drove another left to
RyanS face without an exchange. Ryan
had not led once. O'Brien forced Ryan
around the ring and his footwork seemed
to myStify Ryan. The men were clinched
at the bell. This was clearly O'Brien's
round.
Round Two.
Ryan rushed and landed a left hook
on O'Brien's jaw: o'Brien then drove
hard right to Ryan's stomach
The footwork of the men was marvellous.
o. Brien rushed Ryan and Ryan slipped
and fell, but was up in a moment.
OBrien rushed into a neutral corner and
sent left straight to the nose. Ryan led
with left, but fell short and OBrien drove
a harG left to the face O'Brien landed a
left straight on the nose and got away
without return. O'Brien landed right
hook on the chin and Ryan landed a light
right on Jacks body. O'Brien then cut
Ryan's left eye with a right drive and
got away without return. 1t Nas first
blood for OBrien. The men rushed to a
clhch as the gong sounded. Again this
was clearly o Brien's round.
Round Three.
O'Brien sent a straight left to
Ryans face and repeated it again
a second later. Ryan was swinging wildly.
OBrien missed left uppercut and the
men clinched. O'Brien uppercut with his
landed straight left to the jaw, and re-
peated the same blow, driving Ryan's
head back. Ryan broke repeatedly to get
away from O'Brien's straight lefts
O'Brien drove Ryan's head back with a
bard right and the latter landed hard
left on OBrien's stomach The men
rushed to clinch. o'Brien drove his
left into Ryan's nose and the latter
clnched. The men were fighting at a
terrific pace. Ryan did not show his cley-