The evening world., 1911-07-26
DID, Tine F~catherwcight Bat
ties Under London Prize Ring
Rules and the Introduction Of
Marquis Of Queensberry Reg
uIations in America Dis
cussed by Famous Referee in
This Chapter.
No. Feafheyweighf Division.


Copyright. 1911. by Tho Press Publishing Co.
THE New York WORLDLY
" ROM the timo that Charles Lynch
went over to England and was
defeated by George Holden. who
became the hrst fsatherweight cham
pion Of the world under London prize
ring rules In that battle. no American
fsatherw az far as I have been
able to nnd. crossed the Atlantic to pit
his skill against that OF the Englshmen
until little George Dixon went over to
London IN 1880 and defeated Nunc
Wallace there In eighteen rounds on
June n.
The frst American featherweight
champion under London rules was Dick
Hollywood OF New York. who gained
the title by defeating Johnny Heating
Of Jersey City at Longbeach. Canada.
along about 1865. for . purse Of $1,000 a
side. 1t was u very hard battle. lasting
many rounds. and was ended by Heating
breaking his arm.
later on when Marquis OF Q~ueensberry
rules began to come In a great many
fighters sttll stuck to the old London
rules. Even as late as Jack Dempsey's
time. contests were fought under these
rules. Jack himself and Brooklyn
Jimmy Carroll were experts In them.
Among the men who were prominent IN
the lighter weights along the 7os and the
sos were George Siddons Of Philadel-
phia, Barney Aaron. Billy Edwards.
John Clarke OF Philadelphia. Arthur
Chambers and many others. All these
men could train dow to the feather
weight limit II necessary, but many OF
their battles were fought around 1875
pounds. There were also Tin Collins of
New York and Patsy Shepard OF Eng
land.
The FIRST featherwelght fight under
Marquis OF Queensberry rules in New
York City tool place about 1880. A little
later. when boxing became more pop
ular in America. and particularly along
the Atlantic seaboard. most OF the
battles were pulled of In the sporting
houses and dance halls. where a ring
was generally TO be found In the rear OF
n room. Famous among these places
were the ones kept by Owney Georhegan
on the Bowery. between Grand and Hes
ter streets. and known as The Old
Place Mt Home.' Harry Hlrs place up
on Houston street. n the one kept
by Matt Grace on the Bowery near
Spring street. Grace had formerly
been a collar and elbow champion,
while Geoghegap had been a lightweight
fighter Of reputs.
PLENTY of EN- Then.
Billy Madden also used to keep . place
up on Thirteenth -treet. and The
Alien held forth down on Blocker
street. Owney Geoghegan's place had
two rings, one upstairs and one down
stairs. Later on Harry HIN went over
to East New York and for many years
kept a place near the Long Island Rail
road station there. Billy McGlory also
had a sporting house on the Bowery
The big hall there was used mostly as
a baalroom. and the fighters used &c
maj there in the middle OF the floor.
Oldtimers will remember the boys who
used to spar at these halls and g from
one to another-steve Taylor. John san
dses. Harry HllTs two boys. Dick ano
Billy; Butt Riley. Johnny Dwyer. FL
Tuohy, Cocky Turnbull. Pat Kelly OF
Brooklyn. noted as one of the stronges
mSu In the country; Fat" LanStry
VINO weighed $50 pounds; Tommy Green
Dan Dougherty. Barney Aaron, Bill
EDWARDS, Slddons Mouse, Teddy Me
CAuley. Mike Costello. Dooney Harris
George Rookie and Pete Mccoy. 10,
Goes. Tommy Forrest. Bait" Mullin
Ned O'Baldwin, the Irish Giant" MIX
Cleary, "Fiddler' Neary, Billy Dacey-
the list could be prolonged indefinitely.
OF course, a lot OF these Boys wer
NOT l!ghtweights, They were all size
md weights, n each was q wei
known character In his day.
The fights were usually pulled of
wGen Q Gro wd OF sports came aroun,
snd wanted to be entertained, Ate
d eeut the hat was passed around an
- 1GA1srs SsasesilY wsaA ~ Sbss
- "s