Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-08
ny ED. MORTALITY.

ldSL nlBnt a1ter IOTn1ny BuIIls hdu
raise his arm in token of victory over
frankie Neil at the close of their
twenty round battle.
To say that Baker sprung the sur
prise of the decade is putting 1t mildly.
Not only did he outpoint the game little
San Francisco boy, but he withstood
the full force of more than one body
and face blow that Neil drove In dur
ing the terrific onslaught, which
thrilled the crowd gathered at the ring
side.
The II told you so crowd" which in
cluded practically every follower of the
game in Los Angeles, must needs be
very meek this morning. Baker turned
a trick that had the wisest all to the
bad. He took the "gaff" such as Neil
was able to deliver and earned for him
self a top notch place among the galaxy
of clever artists that has won fame be-
tween the ropes.
Although the battle was not such a
deadly combat as the Attell-Neil con-
test because of the fact that Baker
fought different fight, the game went
fast and furious and exchanges oc-.
Cured which would have put weaker
men and less skillful down and out
long before the limit had been reached.
Small dissatisfaction was to be heard
after the decision had been given. Neil
boxed in whirlwind fashion and ap-
peared impervious to the singing wal
lops which Baker sent home At times
he thrust his face forward and allowed
Baker to dive in with his tantalizing
left as though the blows afforded him
pleasure. On the other hand Baker ac-
cepted without wincing terrific drives
which have sent high class init artists
to the floor and builded up worlds
title for frankie Neil.
Baker CIever
When the battle ended Baker had
done the most landing, had swelled
NeiPs eye and had drawn torrents of
blood from Frankie'S nose. Harry went
to his dressing room minus a scratch
and apparently strong. Viewing both
men as they hesitated for the decision
and studying the rounds, the first de-
cision rendered by Tommy Burns at
Maud Junction appears as a fair one.
Burns version of why he awarded
the battle to Baker was as follows;
with the exception of the first, the
eleventh, the nineteenth and the twen-
tieth rounds l think that Baker out
pointed Neil. Many of the blows which
Neil apparently landed were blocked by
Baker. 1 consider a blocked blow as
a point in favor of the man avoiding it.
While Baker skipped away lot of the
time. he came back and landed by far
the majority of blows. That little Neil
is certainly game as they make them,
but l thought Baker had way and
ahead the better of it,
The battle was one of the prettiest
witnessed before the Pacific Athletic
club, and, bringing as it does a new
luminary upon the scene, will neces-
sarily be recorded as a memora BILE
affair In the history of the Los An
geles ring.
Similar to the Attell-Neil battle, the
contest witnessed frankie constantly
boring in from start to finish. Baker
time and time again fell away and
Neil was forced to follow.
Hell get him before five rounds"
was heard about the ring during the
opening round, when Neil forced a
terrific pace. But the Baker boy was
there and boxing when the sixth rolled
around. 1T can't go longer than the
tenth" was sounded when Neil sent in
vicious uppercut in the NINTH Cool
and collected. however, Harry bided
his time and withstood head and stom-
ach punishment as though veteran
at the game.
Baker played a hit-and- getaway
game, but he played it we'll and his
clean cut thrustS were as effective as
NeiPs harder blows, which came less
often than those of his opponent. Those
who believe that iab-and-get-aWay
should not be rewarded may balk at
the decision, while those who hold that
whatever tactics which bring about
the desired results should be accepted,
must agree with the decision.
After the prelininaries had been de-
cided upon amid no end of excitement
frankie Neil climbed between the
ropes. His first act was to reach over
and shake hands with Charlie Eyton,
who had waived his determination to
referee in order to avert possible dis
agreement at the ringside. The two
had little heart to heart talk and all
was well so far as they were con-
cerned.
Harry Blake, Frank Mcdonald and
Jack Nolan were in NeiPs corner.
Baker came in a few moments later,
followed by Van Court Kid Dalton and
Montana Kid. The bandages were ap-
piled without any squabbling as to
thickness, and during the wait Mon
tana Kid and Cyclone" Thompson
were introduced by Announcer Cook as
boxers agreeable to the Pacific Athletic
club for another meeting
The irrepressible Kid Solomon chal-
lenged the winner of the Baker-Neil
go and appeared delighted at the re-
ception accorded him.
Tommy Burns was called for and
stepped to the front. He had been
selected as referee earlier in the day
arter Charlie Eyton decided not to Of
ficiate owing to the objection of Jim
Neil. Tommy, husky and debonair,
with his hair parted squarely in the
center, was greeted with acclaim and
stripped off his coat.
Neil Starts Strong
With an earnest expression on his
face Neil demonstrated, as in the open
ing round of the Attell battle, that he
intended going for q knockout, and
forced Baker across the ring with
powerful rushes that swayed but did
not disconcert the new conner to pro-
fessional boxing. Just before the gong
Baker slipped to the floor as a result
of the impact with which Neil came on.
Harry proved from the first that he
could cover in The cleverest sort of
fashion when occasion demanded.
The second round witnessed furious
hghting and between times Baker
glided away, Neil following, watching
for an opportunity to send in a de-
cisive blow. Baker used his left re-
peatedly to the face.
Baker sent his left with piston-like
regularity In the third, when of a sud
den Neil forced the battle IN dangerous
fashion and Baker appeared to tire for
a moment, but came back strong at the