The San Francisco call., 1909-02-20
~ WfLLian1 ]. SLatterv


his ring career, hammered the black
spider, Kyle Whitney. into submission
in the fourteenth round. The scene
that followed was like unto one Of
those that the dyed-in-the-wOol fans OF
the early eighties like 10 tell the pres
ent generation Of. Every man in the
vast crowd shouted and yelled and mo-
toned as though half-possessed- 1t
was the most popular ring victory of
the present decade, and it promises
TO be recorded in the annals of ring
history as an event that viii live in
the minds of the fans so long as the
game Of fsticuns prospers in San
Francisco.
The fights before and after this one
were wonders in their own special line
repIete with sensations and ring activ-
ity. but the crowd forgot all about them
in its ccstacy over the great event
Johnny Murphy was awarded the de
cision over Maurice Sayers in the last
event on the program, though Sayers
won a city block. and sam Nelson out
pointed Otto Fritch in the curtain
raiser
Neil won his wonderful victory when
Il appeared to all the spectators that
The hard hitting. aggressive negro was
= fast croWding the veteran TO the ropes
and wearing him down Up 10 this
time Nell fought a great night. but hlS
. strength was apparently being sapped
and his friends began 10 fear for the
worst
CHANCE FOR PUNCH COMES
Neil opened up the fourteenth as
usual by making a rush and landing
his left TO the negro stomach. Whit.
neT came back and forced the old boy
TO the other end OF the ring. All OF
sudden Whitney made one OF his
wild lUnges at the white man. Neil
sort Of half shifted and brought
great right cross flush TO Whimey's
jaw. Down went the black pug, his
head striking the floor with terrific
force.
In a twinkIing the house was on its
feet. Men cheered like mad things.
tossed their hats in the air and fell
over one another in their emotions.
Whitney lay prone for i've seconds
and then started TO get up. He finally
managed 10 get on his feet just at
the count of 10.
He ran at Neil and sort of half
cnnced, but the veteran put him down
for eight with left TO the Jaw. Mean
time. the crowd was still yelling itself
hOarse The black man got UP again
and started his wrestling tactics. and
Ia hls desperation TO save himself he
brought Neil to the floor with him.
Both got up in five seconds and Neil
began 10 set himself TO put in the fin
lshing Wallop.
Whitney staggered around the ring.
hoping 10 get another hold on his man.
but Neil met him fairly with a right
hook and Whitney sank TO the floor
once more. While Referee Eddie Han
Ion was tolling of the seconds, Neil
walked around IN a threatening man
ner Whitney was not out. but the tao
lies of Neil bothered him and he failed
10 arise at the count of 10. though he
probably could have got up and stalled
around
REGATNS LOST LAURELS
Neil was lifted on the shoulders Of his
seconds and carried out of the ring,
while his friends rushed At him, en-
deaVOring to embrace the idol. 1t was
case OF resurrection for the man who
was once great but forgotten during
the last few years Of adversely and i'll
luck. lie was a king of the ring once
more and everybody was paying hom-
Up 10 the time of the knockout Neil
probably had a shade on whitney. but
the lstters youth and strength were
beginning to tell on the older man and
it looked TO be but question of an
other round when the black gladiator
would land the white man.
Neil displayed much of his old time
cleverness and generalship and stepped
around the ring in a lively manner, but
the punch that he once possessed was
not in evidence till the knockout. Whit
ney punished him badly about the body
on several occasions and landed one
right swing TO the jaw that looked to
be enough TO settle poor AL
The white man saved himself time
and time again by his clever ducl1ng
and his quick, accurate work in the
ciinches His judge of distance was
10 the head going above their mark
Neil was hit low on several occasions.
and twice he claimed . foul. but this
the referee refused 40 allow.
Nearly every man in the house was
unanimous in the belief that Referee
Eddie Smith made a bad mistake when
Hefar 1F----
sion over Maurice Savers in their Ia
round setto. When Smith pointed to
Murphy 2 the winner 2 Volley OF Kisses
and groans greeted his action and it
was several minutes before the house
was calm. II was an unfortunate in
cident 10 say the least.
SAVERS u CLEVER
Savers fought as clever and as pretty
fight as any boxer who ever stepped
into local ring. He hammered Muir
ply necessarily for nine rounds tin the
crowd began TO extend its sympathy to
the little local boxer. Savers proved to
be marvel He showed pistonlike
left. lad a nice right whip to the body
and gave an exhibition OF footwork
blocking and ducking seldom equaled
in any ring. Had Savers been possessed
Of a good punch he would have Knocked
Murphy stiff inside of six rounds
Murphys only redeeming trait was
his wonderful gameness- The harder
and oftener his opponent hit him the
faster he came Nothing seemed to be
faDdDle OF Stopping nlHl his face was
rcd and swollen and his body marked
from the impact Of Savers gloves. but
Cor all this he proved a stayer who was
willing 10 keep on while their was an
ounce Of strength left in him. He was
always trying, but doing little good
Savers tired bit after the ninth and
Murphy gained a slight lead in the
tenth but Savers came back with his
clever tactics again in the eleventh and
had the local boy going south again.
Ssycrs showed that he was losing his
steam fast. but for all this he was land
ing very regularly and avoiding many
Of the hurricane rushes Of his opponent
DECISION NOT POPULAR
Murphy made a grandstand finish in
the last three rounds. but Sayers still
held his own. He chopped away and
danced around Murphy and shot in his
left every time the opportunity offered
The crowd could see nothing but vic
tory for him. though some of Murphys
admirers looked for a draw. There was
scarcely a man in that entire assem-
biage who figured that Murphy was
entitled to any advantage All he had
- his credit was his gameness and his
aEEresSiNcness. The Milwaukee bov
lad everything else.
II was certainly hard luck for Sa yers
lie gave the fans one OF the greatest
exhibitions Of science and ring skill
that they have viewed In q local ring