Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-09

The long expected bout between Hon
ey Melody Of Charlestown. Mass, and
Terry Martin Of Philadelphia, for the
welterweight championship of Ameri-
ca, came off last evening at city nall
and after 10 rounds of what was in the
main a hugging match, Melody retains
the title. being given the decision by
Referee Mahaney.
The battle was fought in the pres
ence Of the largest audience which ever
assembled at City hall to witness box
ing exhibition some 1900 people being
presert. and according to the rules
which governed the contest IT was
good one. but they were not the rules
which are popular with an Augusta
audience 1ne battle was fought under
straight rules, and both men We're In
perfect condition, and during the prlei
intervals in which the two were apart
,hs. work done by them was some OF the
fastest ever seen in Augusta. Had they
been required to break clean the Dout
would have. been RATHER.
The men entered the ring at ahout
,h,. same time. Martin climbing
through The ropes and Melody one
minute later. and each was given an
ovation that was most nearly IL
Martins corner we're HIS manaS"r'
Johnnie McGann. his trainer George
Hyers and his brother, Oscar Martin,
willie Melody wa; looked after by ms
manager. Johnnie Mooney. his trainer,
Yankee Mack. FeliA Talbut and George
Arata. The usual prelihinari'S were
gone through AMI time was called at
SO.
During the Il rounds which tn" bout
lasted the maJorlt.' Of the time ~ cach
round was devoted to ciiching, though
at times the men would break away,
and during these brief periods the work
was fast and furious. Melody fore
ing the fighting for the greater part Of
the. bout his tactics being those Of
,.rowdinr his man ANA working rights
and lets in the WAY that would hay"
.ilSpoSei Of i less Shifty opponent. bur
Martin proved himself one of tn" best
of BOXERS. and in several of the rounds
got IN some blows. cSpe cially III ne
fifth ana sixth round. chat Sur'-l%
gave him the advantlg" in those
rounds
Throughout the balance Of tho bout one
round was very much like another, both
boxers landing some telling blows ut
times but missing moro. and when ~ the
close the referee announced NJ pil'"iy 4" be
the winner Of III. bout Ync decision was
probably all right, although tn" audi
encc was gomewhlt d.vii.% in opinion
il is safe 70 say. however, that had ~"
bout been pulled off under rules which
required the men :, prrak clean he an
d:cncr would hay" he"n far better salts
fed.
Previous to the main bout GeorE" Gil
bert and Young Mari appeared in what
WAS to have been four-round prclimna-
ry. but Gilbert 50 plainly outclaSsrd his
man that the bout wa3 stopped
Tie semi-fnal was between Young Shea
Of Hallowell and Danny Ryan Of Cam
bridge, who were to have gone eight
rounds. This bout furnished sorue Of lhe
liveliest work of the evening. but Shea
was too many for the Cambridge lad and
the boat was stopped in the fourth and
the decision awarded to Shea. Between
the bouts Master Courtney of Boston sang
two solos which We're finely rendered and
much enjoyed. and that they We're appre
ciated by the audience was shown by the
money which was tossed to the vo,,ngster
as he stood in the ring.