Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-18
ROCHE WAS EASY FOR
AMERICAN CHAMPION
Burns Put The |r|shnan Out OF
Business with One Blow on
The Jaw.
FIGHT LASTED ABOUT one MINUTE
It Was All Done SO Quickly That
the Audience Gould Not Realize
at First That Roche Had Los, the
eastlc-Dick Croker an Interested
Spectator. ~
tBy Associated Prcss.)

VIZ huSONiuiNu tltStsJ
DUBLIN, March i7,--Tommy
Burns. the American heavyweight
champion. made short work of lem
Roche. the Irish champion. In the con
lest ionieh; nj the Thcatcr noyal for
the worlds heavyweight champion
ship.
Practically one bnow was struck
Burns knocking Roch out when hardly
more than Il minute OF the first round
had been consumed, by short hook
10 The Jaw. So quickly did the end
como that the great crowd which MI.
ed the thcater In the excitement of
seeing the lrishman put out so quick
ly could hardly realize what had hap.
pcncd. When the men entered the
ring II was evident that the sluggish
Roche was no match for the active
Burns. They spared for less than
II minute, the lrlshman acting alto
gethcr on the defensive and the Amerl.
can cndcavorlng TO find All opening.
lhen Burns fclntcd and quickly put
short. sharp righ, TO the Jaw and
Roche Went down, He was badly
dazed and although he struggled TO
regain his feet. was unable To do 90
before the fatal ten was counted.
Immediately after the count Roche
got to his feet, but staggered about
the stage.
When he had rcgaincd himself he
went ovcr smilinsly to congratulate
the winner
The fight tonight was for purse
OF $500 which was put up by SYM
nlcatc of which Richard Croker. the
former Tammany leader was mem.
Der and side hct of $4,000. In
addition. Burns had $1,000 on him.
sen nj odds OF 3 to l. The ring sldc
betting was TO . on the American.
Only One Blow Needed.
The blow which decided the fight
was the only ono of any consequence
during the minute and tbirty-cieb,
"egohus me men were in the ring.
ihc crowd. which shortly bcror..
had enecred Roche to the echo and
greeted him with applause. was so ia :
Ken back that after few angry hiss
., ,hey went quietly from the thoatcr
Burnes said of the fight that II was
me easiest he had ever had.
lie had expected that tho 6,b.
would so n few rounds. althourh he
WAS never In doubt as to Tho Anal
,csun- burns stated he was wlllinp
~ give Roche another chance. He
~ now considering an offer provision.
any made by the Dublin syndicate for
Il match with "Bill'' Squires under
similar terms.
There were seats in the theater fo..
.nree thousand and every one was oc.
Roche received IL great reception
when he entered smiling and with
confident air.
Roche Was the Favorite.
Burns. who had been watching tho
preliminary bouts. strolled casually To
the ring to the air of Star Spangled
Banner"
we was well received. but the ro.
ception was insignificant with that
given Roche when the master of cerc.
monies announced that il was largely
through The former Tamrany lcadc,
mat Burns was entered in the con
test
Mr. Croker who was in box. had
w "N"'l'Nic"Sc INC cnccrS.
On the stroke of the gong Burns
Jumped TO the center OF the ring.
winch was an ls foot affair. ana start.
cd his usual tactics of trying to draw
out his opponent
rms seemed 10 annoy Roche WIN
ansrlly struck down Burns arm, md
then covered his face with hotb
gloves to protect It from Threatened
blow. '''u
Burns. moment later Tented with
MS loft and shot his right over 70
the jaw which was entirely unprotec.
ted. The freshman went to the can
vass but not heavily. He slid on his
side and then rolled over ON his face.
Very few of the spectators. even those
tn,thc stage. were quick enough 10 SCI.
now II WAS done and there were cries
of fake"
There was no doubt. however. that
/ Roche won't IL 10 do his best but he
was outclassed
Roche said tonight. lie did it too
quick; that's ALL"
4