Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-27

A FTER being thoroughly punched
~ n then thrown to the floor by
his opponent to whom he was
clinging for dear life to save himself.
in the fifth round of his scheduled ten
round bout with Sailor Burke at the
Olympic Club yesterday, Jim Savage,
in an almost helpless condition and
with a broken wrist, refused to con-
tinue fighting. claiming he had been
fouled by Burke.
Whether Savage received his injury
by Burke jerking his arm In throwing
the Orange boxer, or whether he re-
ceived 1t in delivering a punch, is not
definitely known. Savage claimed he
was fouled, and is backed up in his
contention by the referee, Tom Mess
enger.
However, the bout vas unquestion-
ably n of the poorest exhibitions OF
boxing between men with the reputa-
ton of the participants that has ever
taken place hereabouts, and 1t was no
fault Of the club at that. To add to
the rankness of the bout, which at
times degenerated into a wrestling
match. the referee. Tom Messenger. in
troduced as q leading New Jersey
sporting authority" proved to know as
much about referring fights as he does
about managing fighters, and undoubt-
eddy the boxing fraternity of this city
are aware of his qualifications in this
Inc. Had h promoters beer fortu-
nate enough to have chosen other
than Messenger to referee the bout
certainly would not have ended in such
an unsatisfactory manner
Persistently hugging each other as
drowning men would their rescuers the
fighters resembled two longshoremen
struggling to get supremacy.
The End.
Jim was in a pretty bad way in the
fifth round n he was prone to clinch-
Ing. Burke, bearing Savage's extra
weight. was struggling to get clear of
Jim. The latter had his arms about
Burke's body. The Sailor got Savage's
left arm clear, but his opponents right
arm was still around the tar's body.
The latter pressed his left arm tightly
and lurched. throwing Savage to the
floor. He landed with a crash. Saw
age. placing his hands on his stomach,
yelled that he was fouled and stag
gered to his corner, while Messenger
waved Burke to his corner. Dumh
with amazement at the sudden ter
Of hostilities. the spectators,
who filled the spacious dancing pavil-
ion of the park. to its capacity, sat
almost motionless.
In the meantime the handlers of both
fighters jumped into the ring and ar
gued the case.
Many of the spectators rushed toward
Burke's corner and the hall took on
the aspect of a riot. Sizing the situa-
ton at a glance, Burk jumped from
the ring almost into the arms of his
manager, Tom O'Rourke. He was ush-
cred to his dressing quarters by police
men.
The crowd then turned its attention
toward Savage, who was being attend
ed by a physician, who was trying to
restore him to his senses.
Arguments Pro and Con.
Arguments began frequently between
spectators as to whether Burke had
fouled Savage with elaboration. De
sirous of obtaining opinions in the mat
ter, the writer interviewed several ring
critics that were present, and while
they do not care to have their names
mentioned, are willing to be quoted
that Savage was not fouled, and had
the bout progressed much longer he
would have been knocked out.
h Savage, Notwithstanding the fact that
he was outclassed by the tactics Burke
employed, might have made a much
better showing had he relied on long
range fighting.
When the men fought this way Saw
age showed superiority in boxing skill
and ring ~generalship. He relied much
of the time ON left jabs nd straight
rights. Many of the punches missed
their mark, but when they did land
they were effective. When the mer
went to the centre of the ring at the
start Savage seemed fully as strong and
more powerful than Burke.
II a different referee had officiated
in the bout there is no question that
Savage would have made a better
showing. Savage. was not an offender
as much as Burke at clinching. but
he nevertheless should have discovered
that his best chances of winning was
to fight at long range and not straight
rules.
During the third round after Burke
landed frequently on Savage's stomach,
1t was plainly evident hat Savage was
weakening. He exhibited signs OF
gameness, however, and by alternating
judicious clinching with fighting was
able to maintain his feet.
Neither weighed in, but Savage out