The Washington herald., 1907-12-03
BURNS BY KNOCKOUT
American Wins Clean Vic
tory Over Englishman.
FIGHT ENDS IN TENTH ROUND
Gunner Moir Gives n Game Exhibi-
tiOn and Lands Often, hut His Blows
Lnck FOrce-ElurnS Spars to Find
Opponents Weak POsnts-FinaIly
Sends BritOn Into DreamIand.

London. Dec Tommy Burns, the
American heavyweight pugilist. who
claims the championship of the United
States, Canada, and Australia, knocked
out Gunner Moir. the English champion.
in the tenth round of their battle before
the National Sporting Club Of this city,
tonight The fight WIS supposed to be
for the heavyweight championship of the
world. the club offering purse Of $500,
while the men made a side bet OF $500
each
Burns went into the ring in the pres
ence OF a big crowd the favorite at 10 to S.
He wanted to bet 5000. but found no
takers. After the fight had begun his
manager placed a part of this sum at
evens on the proposition that Moir would
be knocked out inside of ten rounds.
BritOn the Taller.
The fight was scheduled for twenty
rounds with hve-ounce gloves under
Queesberry rules. with Eugene Corri, the
referee. sitting outside Of the ropes Moir
tipped the scales at about Isl pounds
while Burns weighted $50. The English
man was three inches taller than the
American, both men stripping I'm perfect
condition, and also equally sure OF sue
cess. The interest in the fight, which was
the most important held here since the
Jackson-Slavin affair. some years ago,
was widespread throughout the country
The streets about were so crowded that
a large force OF mounted police was called
out 10 maintain order.
MOir Is Warned.
Hundreds of Americans saw the mill and
treated Burns to an ovation when he
pulled OFF his sweater and displayed the
stars and stripes around his waist. Moir
also got a royal welcome from the crowd
as he was recognized as possible heavy
weight champion.
The men shook hands at about $50
o'clock amid great excitement. Burns
appeared 10 be sizing up AIoir at the out
set. for he SPARED lightly, and did not
attempt 10 land a heavy blow. He land
cd several light jabs. however. and SEEM
ed to gather confidence. In several
clinci.C, Moir was warned by the referee.
refusing free nald, while Burns fought
clearly and cleverly, having the better
of the first round on points.
Moir forced the fighting In the third
round. but his blows lacked force Burns
finally Jared him with a hard swing
on the head and a solid body punch.
from which MOir fell to the floor claim
ing foul. which was not allowed.
Burns had II all his own way in the
third round, and began the third by
blocking a number of dangerous swings
for the jaw. Moir continued TO force
matters, however until Burns stood him
off with some upper cuts that clearly
winded the Englishman.
Fourth Round Even.
Moir kept on forcing matters in the
fourth round but Burns put up a splen-
did defense, blocking many blows that
looked dangerous and landing effectively
on the body and jaw, with the result that
the round was about even In the fifth
Moir rushed and landed a great left on
the nose, which drew first blood, but
Burns blocked body punches. and also
avoided a solid left for the jaw. Then il
was that Burns decided to do some hot
work on his own account. He sailed in
hammer and longs until he succeeded
in drawing Moir to the ropes. where the
man was in serious trouble at the sound
of the bell
The fighting had been so fast in the
fifth round that both men had bellows to
mend in the sixth, during which few
blows were struck. MOir recovered his
speed temporarily In the seventh and cut
out a fast clip. but Burns met him with
great defense and soon had the Briton
weary. As the round closed Moir was on
the ropes in a clinch.
The moment the eighth round started
Burns was all action. He rushed in with
a storm Of jabs and swings. nearly all Of
which landed on the head or stomach.
Moir seemed dazed. and rolled to the
ropes in agony, but he was game and ral-
lied splendidy Just before the bell sound
ed. Burns continued to hammer the gun
ner all over the ring in the ninth. so that
1t was apparent that Moirs defeat was
close at hand
As Moir came up for the tenth round
Burns rushed to corner and sIugged
him with both hands. Moir finally went
down with a hard jolt on the point of the
jaw. He waited nine seconds when ne
staggered 10 his feet. Burns was right on
top Of him in second and with a heavy
body punch and swift smash sent the
English champion into dreamland.
Burns was formally declared the win
ner and was wildly cheered for his clever
performance. There were no excuses for
Moir.. who was beaten on his merits.
Fight disappointment.
The fight was one of the poorest cham
pionship contests ever witnessed. Moir
profoundly disappointed his supporters.
His blows were bewilderingly weak. and
when he did get home on his opponent. he
made no impression. He fought stub
bornly and courageously. but without
science.
Burns. on the other hand, was alwavs
confident. and always there. He had Moir
guessing all the time. and beat him lust
when he thought he would.
Almost all interest in the fight was dead
by the eighth round, when il was seen
that despite Moirs courage Burns was
greatly his superior as boxer. it looked
as IL the American could have won as
easily then as he did later
In the course of the fight the referee
cautioned both men more than once. and
in the eighth round he had to frequently
separate them.
By the end Of the eighth round Moir's
face was smothered in blood. Burns prac-
ticary made a chopping block OF Il.
The tenth round saw the Englishman
knocked down by terrific hook under
the chin and he was counted out.
Crrrn or,r~r.- II