New-York tribune., 1911-12-21
CROSS 0UTPO|NTS 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.

II 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 to-day. For six OF ten furi-
Gus rounds at the Empire Athletic Club
Cross outfought and outboxed Brown and
beat him in decisive style. Brown was as
wild as March hare at times. and missed
his leads when a clean-cut punch might
have won for him. Cross. on the other
hand. was cool and crafty, as II boxing an
amateur. He met every move OF Brown s
with a counter.
Except I'm the sixth round Leach was
never I'm danger. In that period. however,
he came near being knocked out. but
stalled his way clear That was the limit
Of his stalling. toe. for in the other rounds
he fought and mixed in in approved style.
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
n mighty crowd gathered together in the
Manhattan Casino. The management ad-
mltted that the building had a seating ca
pacity Of $500 persons but by the time
Brown and Cross entered the ring fully
$500 excited spectators occupied every point
Of vantage. At S o'clock the building was
packed and every car and 81" train dis
charged a full cargo Of eager fans"
one hundred police officers from the 40th
Precinct had their hands full handling a
crowd Of almost equal number which tried
Its best to gain an entrance by any means.
Several times they almost succeeded In fore
ing their way in, but the police repulsed
their charges at every turn. Just before
the first preliminary bout crowd from the
balconies rushed tho arena seats. They
were rounded up and chased back TO their
places. but not without several lively free
for-all fights.
Despite the reports which stated that
Cross was having all sorts Of difficulty in
making the weight, the Ghetto champion
never moved the beam set at 1913 pounds at
o'clock last night He weighed I'm stripped
to his fighting togs. while Brown was well
under the limit Beth appeared TO be in
perfect condition.
Cross missed straight right for the
head as the men came to the centre OF the
ring and Brown banged a hard left 10 the
body. Cross backed 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 damage done.
Brown took licking In the second round.
Cross slipped his left leads, and once inside
fought to the body with both hands. lie
alos chopped a short right TO the face that
kept Browns head bobhing back. The lat
ter's left hand was not doing much execu-
tion except when he dubbed ii TO the neck
in the clinches. A 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 bleed
ing. Brown toed the mark for the fourth
round Cross met him with short punches
TO the head and as Brown tumbled 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 fol-
lowed up with both hands to body and head
and had the better OF the round
II looked dark for Cross in the sixth
round. and Browns body punches sapped
his speed and strength. crashing left on
the law dazed the dentist, and 1t seemed as
II a knockout was a matter of moments.
Where was the dread punch Of Browns?
Time after time he hit Cross with that left
hand. but Cross never left his feet He
was weak at the bell and wabbled to his
corner.
Leach turned like 4 wounded tiger In the
seventh round. and, catching Brown with
right on the jaw. sent him reeling. The
ropes alone saved "K. o. from going TO the
floor Cross went after him. and had all
the better Of the following exchange. The
eighth round was fast and even.
In the ninth and tenth rounds Cross went
at HIS man and drove him all over the
ring with short straight punches which
crossed inside the swings Of Brown and
beat him to the punch. Several times a
right hand counter hit Brown flush on the
chin. but although Re staggered he plunged
hack Willing TO mix at all times