Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-07
THOMAS OUTPOINTED
CHAMPION MELODY

PHILADELPHIA. March 7.-William
tHoney) Melody Of Charlestown. Mass
was completely outpolnted by Joe Thomas
Of San Francisco, In six unsatisfactory
rounds at the National Athletic Club last
night. That the bout did not please the
spectators was no fault of the man who
claims the welterwelght championship. Mel
lody forced the fight from the first tap Of
the bell until its tinkle ended the contest.
He landed a dozen right-hand swings. sew
eral of which staggered his opponent. but
he was never able to land the punch on the
right spot. Melody, for his earnestness in
public. received severe lacing. His blind
Ike PUSHES In each round when he swung
his arms wildly. were met by Thomas with
straight ieft-hand Jabs. and early in the
and later on his lips pulled out. and before
the bout ended q big lump was raised under
his right eye.
1t was the GOODNESS of Thomas and his
unwiliingness to mix things up that not
only exasperated Melody. but provoked
the derision Of the spectators. The crowd
began to hiss the bout in the fourth round,
continued 1t In the fifth. and when the bell
the echo for his sameness, while Thomas
was Missed and booted for his pulling
Trained Too Fine.
the Frisco boxer had trained down too
fine, and was fearful of taking a chance
in any one round with an opponent as
sturdy as Melody. AS result. the crowd
left the building Disguised with the Pacific
coast mans exhibition.
Melody started out in the first round to
end the bout with a single punch. He
caught Thomas with right swing on the
jaw, which sent him staggering to the
ropes. The New England man then fought
his opponent clear across the ring. when
Thomas cut loose and dropped Melody with
left-hand jolt which landed squarely on
the jaw. Melody was up in an instant and
forced Thomas to the opposite side of lie
ring, but each of his rushes was met clev-
erly with left-hand jabs. Melody landed
two more right-hand swings. but neither
did any damage. Thomas kept sticking his
left Into his opponents face and the bell
rang with the New Highlander trying his
best to land knockout punch.
In the first two minutes of the second
round Thomas met every rush of Melody
with straight left-hand punch. Many Of
these blows were scarcely hard enough to
dent butter, but they caught Melody COM
their force. The New Highlander missed
four vicious right-hand swings in success
sion and three-left-hand jolts aimed at
Thomas jaw. The men then clinched. and
as they were torn away by the referee
Thomas caught Melody q short right-hand
punch on the chin. Just as the bell rang
Melody staggered Thomas with a right to
the cheekbone.
All One Way.
Thomas turned the tide completely In his
favor in the third round. He landed jab
after jab. while Melody could not get in
an effective blow. The men ran into a
clinch at the beginning of the fourth round
and as Melody forced the fight Thomas
simply stuck his left in his opponents face
1t was evident to the crowd that the Frisco
weiterweight was pulling" and the spec
tators Missed their displeasure Thomas
paid no attention to the derisive yeils. but
continued jabbng and meeting Mellody's
PUSHES without once countering with his
right. :.- -.-......-.s
The fifth and sixth rounds were a repeti.
ton of the fourth, Melody being willing
to END the contest with punch, but never
being able to land it.
The men weighed in at 1i5 pounds at
o'clock. Melody was just within the limit
while Thomas seemed to be trained down
too fine. The men fought straight Queens
berry rules. taking care Of themselves al
all times The incessant cifnching w.licf
characteristics the bout will likely prove the
Ideathkneli Of this Interpretation of the rule,
| In this city.