Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-15
BY JAY DAVIDSON

Freddie Welsh gave Johnny Murphy
a most decisive beating last night at
Vernon and while the Frisco boy
stayed the limit of twenty-five rounds
it is seriously doubted whether he
would have been able to do so had the
mat not been so slippery that Freddie
could not set himself for putting over
the winning punch.
It was a one-sided fight all the way,
yet, despite this fact, it was not
poor exhibition. Welsh thoroughly
outclassed Murphy and there never
was moment from the first tap Of
the gong until the end when the Eng
fish champion was in any danger Of
losing tho fight. He was so fast and
clever that Murphy could not reach
him effectively. while he played a tat
too on Murphy's face with his left and
peppered rights and lefts to the jaw
in every round.
Welsh hit Murphy a sufficient num-
Der of times and to the right spot to
have ended the fight long before the
limit, but the falling dew had settled
upon the mat and made the "going"
so slippery that the fast little Welsh--
man could not stay In his tracks and
he would slip and almost fall every
time he would attempt to land hard
punch. At that, Welsh showed up as
the equal of Murphy at the slug game
and it became evident early in the
fight that the Frisco boy would be
lucky to stick out the limit.
Welsh so thoroughly punished Muir
ply that after the tenth round the
northern boy would have been forced
to score knockout in order to win.
welsh started blood from the nose in
the early rounds. and from that mo-
ment until the end of the fight Muir
phys face was srneared in crimson.
bis lips were pulled and swollen, his
left eye was closed In the final rounds
and his right eye was blackened and
fast closing at the finish.
At that, only the gameness of the
northern boy permitted the battle to
go to the limit. Few other fighters
would have stayed in the ring and
taken the punishment he accepted after
it became apparent he had no chance to
win There is no chance whatever of
accusing Murphy of having any yell
low in his makeup. He fought the
same kind of a battle that the average
slugger puts up against clever and
speedy boxer and he was beaten.
Eddie Graney, the veteran fereree,
considered by all well INFORMED puBlilS-
tic fans as the peer of all the referees
of this day, officiated as third man in
the ring and gave the fans a beautiful
exhibition of how to referee fight. He
never laid hand on either fighter dur
ing the battle, wore his entire street
costume, including hat, throughout, and
the fighters obeyed his every call for q
break in the clinches- Graney had not
refereed in two years and is not to be
considered as candidate for Local
jobs, serving last night as a courtesy
TO his friends. Jeffries. Long and CO.
ings, of the club, and would not accept
a fee therefor.
After a delay of fifteen minutes the
fighters entered the ring. Freddie
Welsh was first in, but was quickly
followed by Murphy and Eddie Graney
Welsh was attended by Billy Aldridge
Danny Webster and the TattOoed Boy
mot the kidd. Murphy was seconded
by Dewitt C. Van Court, Dick Sullivan
Monte Robinson and Milton Whitner
The ring was mopped up by force OF
boys after it had been sprinkled thor
oughIy with rosin. Announcer Leslie
introduced the fighters and followed
with a neat little speech in introduc-
ing Eddie Graney, the Tuxedo Kid, and
he was accorded an unusual reception
from the fans, who appreciated the fact
that the Little HOrseshoer was to make
his debut in the local ring, although
only temporarily. Graney instructed
the boys that he would not do any
counting at knockdowns