Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-09-06
GREAT BATTLE
WELTERWE|GHTS

Admirers of the fistic art all over the
land will talk for a long time to come
of the great battle between Joe
Francisco Monday in which the welt
er-weight championship changed
hands in the 23d round. w. w.
Naughton, the sporting authority in
sizing up the victory, says:
Joe Thomas was fairly beaten down
by an opponent who was his master
at pretty we'll every stage OF the
Queensberry game.
In the throng which surrounded the
ring were men who have been sup
porters of pugilism for years, and as
they filed out of the big Enclosure they
said it was the grandest contest they
had ever seen.
Imagine a battle of the gloves in
which the interest was maintained the
full 80 rounds, an affair the result of
which was still in doubt until the last
furious onslaught which laid poor
Thomas low.
When Joe went down indeed there
wasn't the usual uproar and snarl of
satisfaction that greets the finish of
fight. AS a matter of fact, both lads
had fought themselves into the affec-
tions of the crowd, and if through
some unforeseen occurrence II had he
come necessary to call the event
draw, the chances are there would not
have been a murmur OF protest. 1t
was one of those things in which the
greatest sticklers for full measure at
prizef1ghts felt they had had an ample
run for their money.
There was nothing to choose be-
tween the men when the 32d round
started. 1t was Ketchers habit 60
fight in spurts, and in the last round
he started one of his furious rallies.
Left and right caught Thomas on the
sides of the head and then hard left
jab caught Joe on the stomach. AS his
head came forward Ketchel smashed
/ him with each glove in turn on the
lower part of the face, and Thomas
sank to the floor. He arose bravely
and tried to continue. but he measur-
ed his length on the mat four times
in all.
Just before the final knock down
, KetcheI sent in a brace of lefts and
furnishing smashes they were. When
| the second of them knocked Thomas to
the floor Harry Foley, his principal
second, jumped upon the platform and
waved a towel in acknowledgment OF
defeat for his man.
KetcheI's Fists Both Deadly.
| Ketchel caused a sensation, and the
city rings with his praises as ring
man. He is ambidextrous, and If any
thing his left hand carries a more
damaging punch than his right He
is holy terror in clinches, wrenchine
himself until he stands sidewise to hi:
opponent and shooting in uppercut
and jolts with whichever hand hap.
pens to be free.
At times-most of the time in fac
he pegged at Thomas midsectioI
with a straight left. 1t was a blow
which Joe seemed unable to devise {
guard for and there is no doubt tina
the acoumulative effect of the jail
had some bearing on the final result
of the encounter. At word from hi
seconds Ketchel would change off to {
straight left lead for the face. and tn,
way he battered poor Joe's mouth witt
this cruel delivery was q sin and {
shame.
When tired of straight punches tn,
Montana whirlwind would start swing
ing with both hands, and 1t was will
a blizzard of this kind that he con
trived in the end to work Joe's undo
ing.
Thomas fought a heady fight ant
one that would have won, probably
with nine opponents out of ten. Ketch
ell, however, was the tenth.
unHaR AH~A~ wAn