Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-11
O'BRIEN OUTPOlNTED
BY JACK BLACKBURN

PHILADELPHIA, June u.-Jack Black
burn. conceding more than fourteen
pounds to Jack O'Brien. outpointed the
great middleweight in a six-round contest
at the National Athletic Club last night.
OBrien clearly had the better of the first
and third rounds, in which he rushed the
mulatto, using his weight in the clinches.
The second, fifth and sixth were all
Blackburns, while honors were even in
the fourth
OBrien started in to fight Blackburn,
body which always landed. Twice he
used double blow, right to the body
and the same blow to the chin. These
tactics kept his opponent at bay and pre-
vented him from using his straight left
hand Jab. O'Brien lost his balance in the
first round, going TO the floor to his
knees. Immediately he arose and rushed
Blackburn across the ring and forced his
opponent to the floor by his superior
weight.
Both men fought hard in the second
round. But Blackburn caught the mid
dleweight champion repeatedly with left
hand jabs. and as O'Brien stepped in he
stopped right-hand swing which opened
up cut over his left eye. The third
round was all in O'Brien's favor. He
played for his opponents body, catching
him half dozen times with right-hand
punches under the heart. The principals
were in fast mix-up as the bell rang
ending the round. and they laughed at
each other they proceeded to their
corners.
Honors Even.
OBrien, by his right hand blows to the
body, had the better of the first part of
the fourth round. but he slowed up be-
fore the three minutes had expired and
after every lead he was obliged to clinch
to save himself from the rght-hand
shift which Blackburn repeatedly tried
TO land.
When the men came to the front for
the fifth round it was evident that
O Brien had lost his speed. He was
troubled by his trunks slipping down and
by the continuous left hand abs which
Blackburn gave him in the mouth. His
head went back a half dozen times and
once, b.rnrc he could get away, Black
burn landed a stiff right to the jaw. The
blow. however. was d trihc toe high to
do serious damage.
O'Brien undertook TO make Il grand
stand finish in the final round. But
Bac kburn proved himself to be I'm better
condition, and he possessed more speed.
As O'Brien rushed Blackburn would catch
him with tantalizing lefthand jab in
the mouth. which cut his lips, making the
blood trickle down his chin. The middle
weight made frantic effort to reach
Blackburn's jaw with a right-hand swing
ing lead. and once the mulatto went down
on his knees in corner of the ring to
avoid one Of these punches. He was on
his feet Immediately and continued to
jam away The men ran into clinch as
the bell rang ending the bout.
1t was evident that OBriens weight
and speed We're big handicap for Black
burn In the clinches O'Brien seemed to
be able to slam his opponent around to
his hearts content. and 1t was not until
after the third round that the mulatto
realized that he must box and not fight
his larger opponent. Blackburn proved
to be the better boxer of the two and fin
ished the stronger, as at the end the only
marks he showed was a cut lip and his
face gave evidence OF the frequent jab-
bling of which he was the recipient.
Biddle Seconded O'Brien.
O'Brien was the first to enter the ring
at 1911 o'clock, accompanied by A. j.
Drexel Biddle. Frank J. Floyd, Billy Nc
Carney and Jack Eagan. Blackburn am
bled through the ropes six minutes later
attended by Fred Blackburn, Lew Bailey
and a retinue of other seconds. Twenty
minutes We're consumed in the men
wrangling over what each should wear
on his hands. the articles OF agreement
calling for soft bandages, but O'Brien
wore pair of heavy kid driving gloves
with the fingers cut off, while Blackburn
had his hands bound with adhesive tape
At first the mulattO refused to allow
O'Brien To wear the driving gloves. but
the latter was obdurate and refused to
take them off. The club gave the men
fifteen minutes TO begin the fight threat
enins to dismiss the spectators and re-
turn all moneys. Blackburn finally agreed
TO allow Q Brien 10 use the gloves. 4