Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-24
SULLIVAN BESTED
HONEY MELODY
Loser Had Best of Early Fight
ing, but Winner Came Back
Strong in Closing Rounds.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

LOS ANGELES Cal, April 24.-After
twenty rounds of fierce and desperate fight
ing here last night Mike (Twim Sullivan
won a verdict from Bill (Honey) Melody.
The contest took place in the ring of the
Pacific Athletic Club, and was witnessed by
crowd Of fight fans that filed the amphi-
theater. Referee Charley Eyton had no
hesita ton in declaring Sullivan the winner.
for he had the best of the argument at
nearly every stage Of the bout During the
early rounds Melody had an even break
with his clever opponent, and at one stage
of the game apparently had the Twin
slightly groggy. This did not help the
case. however. Sullivan came back
strong, and from the twelfth had 1t all his
own way. At the close OF the fight Melody
had both eyes nearly closed and his face
chopped to pieces and was still trying hard
for knockout, but his efforts were inef-
fectual.
During the first five rounds the fighters
went at it at pace which presaged a short
encounter. In the first Melody swung his
right to Sullivan's face. causing the blood
to flow In the sixth and seventh rounds
Honey forced the fighting and once he
caught the Twin off his balance. causing
Sullivan to slip to the floor. In the eighth
round Mike smashed Melody in the left
eye and partially closed It, Mikes fighting
so rough that the crowd Kissed and hOoted.
but Honey came back and outfought the
Twin at his own game.
Honey Broke Ground.
Sullivan tore loose In the eleventh and
forced Honey to break ground for the first
time during the fight. He had Melody
worried. and cornering him in a neutral
corner showered blows the Honey boys
face and body until the latter was badly
dazed. Mike started a hit-and- getaway
game again In the twelfth. and kept Honey
at his distance. His jabs soon. had Mel
lody bleeding freely. Honey kept boring in
however, and while it was Sullivan's round
Honey ran to his corner strong at the bell.
In the thirteenth Sullivan nearly put
Honey out with short hooks, but Melody
superior strength asserted itself. and he
went to his corner apparently strong. Mike
fell into a hard right in the beginning Of
the fourteenth and nearly went down.
Honey followed the advantage with the
left to the body. and Twins seconds yelled
to him to keep away. The advice was fol-
lowed. and Mike came back in time to
damage Honey badly before the close.
The fifteenth period was fast round.
each man being weakened by the force Of
Shift to advantage. while Sullivan con-
tented himself with jabs and occasional
hard swing.
Sullivan's Terrific Smash.
The sixteenth saw Melody with a slight
advantage, but not enough to offset the
lead which Sullivan had already gained. In
the seventeenth Mike started by jabbing
and Honey backed away. Mike finally saw
his chance and drove his right to Honey's
jaw with great force, sending Melody from
the center of the ring to the ropes in one
rush. Melody was weak when the gong
rang and welcomed the bell
Mike started the eighteenth with we'll
timed jabs In coming out Of a clinch
Honey landed his left to the face. but Mike
stood him off with jabs until the effects
Of the blow had worn away Mike was ap-
parently content with the lead already OBJ
tanned and kept Melody at arms length
during the nineteenth. Honey tried hard
all the time, but Sullivan met Mellody's
rushes with jabs which stopped them in
short order.
The last round opened with rush on the
part Of both men which brought them up
standing in the center Of the ring. Know
ing that it his last chance Melody
worked all his energies for a knockout. but
Sullivan avoided the swings, at the same
time jabbng steadily at Mellody's face. 1t
seemed to be hard for Sullivan to place
knockout blow as 1t did for Melody.
Sullivan took hard right to the body as he
delivered three lefts to the face. and fol-
lowed them with uppercut. which landed,
but not heavily enough. He followed this
with a right jab to the body and a left cut
up to the face, while Melody still swung
wildly, and the bell rang while they were
still at the game of give and take.