Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-21
CROSS BEATS BROWN
Gets Better of Fast Bout at
the Empire A. c.
CROWD. STORMS THE HALL
Hundreds Unable to Jam Their Way
Inside the Casino to See
-. the Battle.
CROWD. STORMS THE HALL

NEW YORK, December 21-If there is
anything in the statement of Dan Morgan
that Knockout" Brown was defending
the lightweight title last night, then
Leach Cross is lightweight champion of
the world today For six Of ten furious
rounds at the Empire Athletic Club Cross
outfought and outhoxed Brown and beat
him in decisive styles. Brown was as wild
as March hare at times, and missed his
leads when a clean-cut punch might have
won fpr Aim@ sOf9sss on the other hand
was eeol and crafty, as II boxing an anna
teur. He met every move of Browns
with a counter.
- Not since Brown boxed Matt Wells in
Madison Square Garden. several months
ago, has any bout in New York attracted
such Widespread attention. Never has
such a mighty crowd gathered together in
the Manhattan Casino. The management
admitted that the building had a seating
capacity of $500 persons, but by the time
Brown and Cross entered the ring fully
$500 excited spectators occupied every
point of vantage. AT O'clock the build
ing was packed, and every car and IL
train discharged a full cargo Of eager
fans
One hundred police officers from the
fortieth precinct had their hands full
handling crowd of almost equal number
which tried it's best to gain an entrance
by any means. Several times they almost
succeeded in forcing their way in. but the
police repulsed their charges at every
turn. Just before the first preliminary
bout a crowd from the balconies rushed
the arena seats They were rounded up
and chased back to their places Dut not
without several lively free-for-all fights.
Despite the reports which stated that
Cross was having all sorts of difficulty in
making the we ght, the ghetto champion
never moved the beam set at 133 Iounds
at o'clock last night. He weighed in
stripped to his lighting toys. while Brown
was well under the limit. Both appeared
to be in perfect condition.
Cross missed a straight right for the
head as the men came to the center of
the ring and Brown banged a hard left
to the body. Cross ba ked away and tried
his left for the head. Brown avoided
cleverly and countered on the neck with
his left. Both then missed hard punches
for the head, and there was little dam
age done.
Brown took licking in the second
round. Cross slipped his left leads, and
once inside fought TO the body with both
hands. He also chopped short right to
the face that kept Browns head bobbing
back. The latters left hand was not do
ing much execution except when he
dubbed 1t to the neck in the clinches. -
left jolt raised an ugly lump under
Browns left eye. and Cross drew blood
from Browns nose and mouth with his
right hand.
With his eye almost closed and still
bleeding, Brown toed the marx for the
fourth round. Cross met him tn short
punches to the head and as Brown tum-
bled in hooked a left to the head. Cross
then shot a right hand cross to the jaw
and drove him half way across the ring.
Cross followed up with both hands to
body and head and had the better of the
round.