Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
STAYSWITHcHAMP
Owen Moran, the Englishman
Earns Draw in 25-Round
Fight with Abe Attell. I.
VISITOR SHOWS CLEvERNEss
IWeakens American Featherweight
Title Holder by Fierce Jabbing
in the CIinches.

| fight between Abe Attel of San Fran
cisco and Owen Moran of England
Yesterday afternoon proved to be the
igreatest featherweight battle seen here
in years, and went TO the limit, ending
/ in a draw. The decision pleased the
crowd, as it was the only one Referee
Jeffres could have given.
1 Moran showed unexpected clever
ness in blocking Atters leads, and he
4 was the aggressor in most of the
rounds. Attel repeatedly tried Joe
Cans favorite device of measuring his
man with the left and then trying to
bring over a right counter He sci.
dom succeeded, as the little English
man invariably blocked his right and
frequently came back with vicious
fright or left slap to face or neck. Abe
was a much better judge of distance
than Moran, as the Briton missed
more than dozen left and right
swings. some of them nearly carrying
him off his feet
Il Is a Fierce Infghter.
Moran was a fierce infghter, and in
the clinches he hammered Attel over
the kidneys until Abe's back looked
like piece of raw beef and he WINGED
whenever hit there. Otherwise Attel
didn't show mark after the battle
Moran had badly swollen left eye
and bled at the mouth, but he ended
strong, and at no time was there any
danger of a knockout
! The men We're remarkably evenly
matched in strength and reach, and.
though Attel showed superior ring
generalship and was more cunning
boxer, the Englishman proved a cool,
scientific fighter and had the sympa-
,, thy of the crowd from the outset.
Attel tried several foul tactics, but was
warned by Jeff and Kissed by the
crowd.
Moran was not only hard put to
make the weight, but he never came
closer than a couple of ounces OF 120
I pounds. which difference nearly caused
the wrecking OF the bout and ended in
Attel claiming $3.50 of the forfeit
money. That and the general condi-
| ton of Moran proved he found weight
making a killing proposition. With
more vitality there might have been
! another champion in this country
\ when the bout was finished. Moran
y had to make five miles on the road
yesterday morning and his face looked
drawn when he entered the ring
i, Without this forced reducing at the
|, last minute he would have been faI
( stronger.
5 The house was worth fully $4,000
< The day was pleasant. but Coffroth had
3 provided for rain by stretching a huge
Z tent over the inclosure
2 Abe Finds Equal in Britisher.
While Attel apparently held Moran
( safe at all times to the extent thai
!, Owen could not land decisive blow
( and while he did less scampering abou
9 the ring than had been expected. Abe
( stalled when he should have cut loose
3 evidently being satisfied to take mat
Z tiers as they were. His boosted clever
2 mess found its equal in the Britisher
= who blocked with Attel, ducked will
z him and frequently landed telling
: left or crossed with his right to thu
Z jaw. The close of the fight saw
< Moran cut about the mouth and will
x his left eye almost closed, but he hat
3 punched Attel about the kidneys will
< such persistency that Abe was wei
3 marked around his back.
Z Viewed from fight standpoint, Their
8 have been many contests better dis
< playing the spectacular and arousin;
8 excitement, but to the man who enjoy
= boxing there was plenty of pretty work
s shifty ducking away from swings, an
3 blocking of straight lefts. And the SUI
8 prise of it was the showing that Moral
6 made. He was figured to have tn
* physique, but was not granted tn
8 cleveness of Attel. This was wher
x ne changed some opinions. Abe, wit
6 all of his lightning left, found himsel
= unable to reach the Britisher, and Of
ten when he did, the other was Their
with a block to the blow.
Waigast knocks Out PIoteII.
st. Joseph. No., Jan. 2.-Ad. Wo
CAST. the Milwaukee featherweigh
knocked out Buck Plotell in the fit
4 round of the windup bout of the boxin
3 show here last night. The Milwaukee
3 scrapper had the better of the bout a
the way. He showed more cIevernes
and had more driving power in hi
punches. Plotell was in distress afte
the second round.
MOTOR BOAT SHOW OPEN