New-York tribune., 1911-09-21
WELLS WINS ON POINTS
Gets Better OF Abe AtteII in
Fast, Snappy Bout.
BIG CROWD IN THE GARDEN
Featherweight Champion Gives
Away Big Weight, but
Makes Good Stand.

~AUhNo oOOd
Matt Wells the lightweight champion Of
Great Britain, earned the popular decision
over Abe Attell, OF San Francisco, the
festherweight champion OF the world, in
ten-round bout at Madison Square Garden
last night. The contest was the greatest
exhibition Of scientific boxing that New
York has seen since Jem Driscoll. the
featherweizht champion Of England, out
pointed Attell az the National Club three
years ago. While the house was with At
tell at the end there were few who would
not admit that Wells had scored tho great
er number Of points IN the majority OF the
rounds
Wells was matched in science and skill
II was a case Of q good little man COM
petinE against clever. bigger man. Wells
had all tho, physical advantages Taller.
longer Of reach. more powerful and heavier
by thirteen pounds he was able 10 meet
Attell az every angle He landed many
clean blows. but the punches lacked the
Jar that knocks a man out
Forcing the pace from the start. Wells
/ took the lead away from Atte'l. He shot
! his left 10 the face and landed many sting
ing blows. Seldom. indeed. was II that lie
/ lead was loft uncovered. and while Afteil
| svayed away from many leads only 70
step in for q counter. tho glove ~ the
/ champion of tho British Isles was gen
/ orally I'm the way of the oucouinZ blow.
! 4 master I'm ring craft Atton was faced
/ BY a cool. calculating strstegist who made
! tho Frisco boy box his best At all times.
/ Tho crowd was late in arriving but few
of those who relish a bout wherein speed.
! science and skill arc placed on n higher
! plano than beef bravn and brutality
missed tho opportunity 70 witness q meet
ing NJ two mon who arc rated among the
most scientific boxers n the dav. Fully
six thousand persons were on hand whom
! tho boys entered tho ring
q John r. Brush owner of tho Nc- York
| Giants occupied n rnEsdo 7oat on ono
side Of the areua on tho other side Hsl
! Chase with a delegation u his Yankee
and some Cleveland PLAYERS. vcro intcre tod
. spectators The galleries filed carly and
ono enthusiast brought along pair of fold
gasses
Wells was the first 70 enter the rrS.
looking in fine condition. He weighed IN.
it was announced. at l34'. pounds. He was
: attended by George Mcdonald. his man
/
number Of assistants.
! AtteH followed close on the heels or his
I British foeman. The little featherweight
champion weighed l2iis pounds and ap-
Daared the same little wizard as Of old as
/ he sat in his corner His appearance was
the signal for a prolonged burst Of ap
plause. which continued for fully two
minutes AtteIl was attended BY Jim
F, Flynn. Lou Flynn. Kid Broad and Danny
/ Goodman. The men agreed 20 box straight
/ Marquis Of Queensbury rules.
. Cool ~ 2 cucumber the nimole Attell
, worked around his heavier toeman as tho
6rst round opened. His clever footwork
earned him the applause OF tho crowd and
made Wells miss several hard blows The
! Briton. however shook him up with
solid left I'm the head and a moment later
whaled over q tight Wells repaid Atteil
the compliment Of missing, and several ot
the latters blows went wild
Light exchanges and clever boxing and
blocking marked the second round, with
honors practically even. Several times
Wells drew forth the disapproval Of the
crowd for hitting in the clinches. At times
Attell cut loose with a furry OF inhghting
while i'm the cinches, but Il had little effect
'Bawx I'm. NIatty; bawX i'm" bawled
coclsney from the gallery in the third period
and Wells proceeded 10 earn the laurels
He sent the American head back rom
! solid right 10 the jaw and quickly shot
left 70 the face. The pace was furious.
| Every trick known 10 the art Of hit. step
and get away was brought into play by the
boys. Cp or their toes they led, blocked
and coultered I'm a never ceasing sequence.
In the nfth period Wells drew the blood
from AttelTs nose and had the better Of the
boxing II the foregoing rounds we're fast
the sixth was cyclonic. Wells smashed HIS
right tc the Jaw and. closing in whipped
home several snort-srTn punches 70 the
face and head Atten dove into a clinch
and landed some light taps. He worked NJ
a world OF power suddenly and walloped
the Briton in the stomach several times.
On the break Wells put over his right to
the law and followed with a stinging left
70 the face.
At long range Att-n iabbed Wells haI'
a dozen times with his waspike left, while
the famous old Garden rocked with cheers
In the next two periods Atteil had a little
the better OF the points. He gave mp the
plan OF fighting az close range and stepped
back Wells met him AT his own game.
and the pair did some OF the prettiest box
ing that New York has seen since Attell
was outpOnted by Jem Driscoll some
three years ago. DIcking. swaying and
slipping leads, the men pitted their skill
Abe was faster than the English boy, and
at the end had a little the better Of the
exchanges.
The nace told however. and in the ninth
and tenth rounds Wells gave his opponent
little cnance 70 stay on. He worked his
right hand in the breaks, and several times
rocked Attell with solid left hooks 10 the
head lie apparently had little steam be-
hind the punches and his lighter foensn
was able TO cut loose at intervals and box
with great fury.
In the tenth round Wells showed his
superior strength by catching a hard left
load Of Attells with his right hand and
slowly forced the hand up over his head 10
suan over a rgh. chop when the arm had
passed Attell rushed in TO close range,
and al the end Wells hooked over several
blows that counted materially I'm his favor.