The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-30
Tony Refuses to Agree to
Draw, but Gives Exhibit
Before Knockout.
SEVEN-ROUND GO GOOD
Preliminary Event Saved Ell
tertainrnent From Failure;
Fans Get Moneys Worth.

When Tony Ceponi knocked out Rube
Smith III the last round OF their ten-rounG
boxing bout at Willard Beams athletic
entertainment. patrons would have been
dissatisfied if they had not already had
moro than their moneys worth In the
scyen-round go between Harlan Peyton
and Gus Buffmire. These boys intend
cd 10 box only six rounds. but their
fierce exchanges excited everyone so
much that everybody forgot about what
round it was and they were nor stopped
until they had fought seven fast rounds
10 a draw. Both boys were utterly eX
haustcd,
The main bout was spoiled by Smith
being out of condition cana being out
classed. Tony Caponi did the best he
could, which was TO refrain from knock
ing Smith out until they had given n
boxing exhibition, but IL was hard work
for Caponi to hold himself in check
AZ FIRST it looked as II the main bout
might not come OF. There was a pow
wow in the center OF the ring and Ca
poni strodc TO his corner shaking his
head ansrlly. Smiths manager had Just
draw. CaponI refused, but to prevent
the bout from being cancelled Caponi
did agree that If both men were on
their rcet at the, end of the tenth round
thought he could stay that long. CaponI
thought he could not,
II developed that Caponi could have
put him out at any time he chose 10
Bet on Draw and Loose.
II Referee Bean had chalked off a GER
tain spot In the ring and told Caponi
he must knock Srnith out IN that par
ucular. spot Caponi could probably have
done IL at ten seconds notice Smith
fui Her1s .
ltncs, but those who saw him last night
wondered how lie had done It. or course
lie was against clever man, but he did
not make as good a showing as Jack
Rogers did, Some wise bettors, being
sure d draw had been framed up offered
odds it would be a draw and lost.
to TO q draw, ridlculed Caponi as well as
When the tenth round camc on. started
night IN and after making all opening
down In as pretty Touchdown as one
could sec anywhere, FIe was so daZed
that lie scrambled TO his feet immed-
ately, Caponi landed few uppercuis.
when Bean. seeing Smiths helpless con-
dltion, awarded tho fight to Caponi.
counting it as knockout, which 1t prac-
Smith was lighter than Caponi. but
bad longer reach aud the difference in
weight vas no, so great that il would
have prevented Smith from winning if he
had the class Tho Denver pug Wanted
H week longer 10 train. but was at last
TO keep his engagement for to-
night
When Caponi conceded a. draw If botr
non were OH their feet at the end of the
bout. he was firmly convinced that Inc
,ouId put smith out. Right here is
Nherc the clever Chlcagoan made for
himself a much harder task than he an
lclpateds 1t was not difficult for him
% keep Smith from hurting him, but
I was hard for Caponi TO restrain him
self SO that he would not put Smith out
lntil the patrons had seen some boxing
Z no lighting. Caponi has never prac-
iccd "stalling,' and he was no good at
Tony Caponi Explains.
Everybody knew he was not doing his
best and wondered why Let Caponi
Explain in his own words;
Il could have put Smith out at any
inc during the bout, but IL seemed TO
nc the public would be better satisfied
/ We gave them little boxing exhibi-
ion. When | permitted the announce
nent that the bout would he A draw il
We were both on our feet, | Was sure II
'ould put him out, or l would not have
zone into such an agreement, When
hey first mentioned TO me that the,
wanted ten rounds TO Fl draw, I thought
ikely the box bout was of. Spectators
saw me walk to my corner
hakinG my head positively ] think too
much of my reputation TO 90 into such |
match. When We got to boxing /
wanted 10 give the patrons as good a |
how as l could, so l 6allicd along until |
he tenth round.
81 did not strike more than two or
hreo hard blows until the tenth round |
'hen ! went after Smith and put him |
ut. tie was easier than | thought"
smith, while outclasscd. was undoubt |
dly ont OF condition. in the second |
ound he was putting like Grampus ana |
he intervals between rounds did not sur- |
ice for him To get his wind. Capon
ad MIN At his mercy all the way. Tners !
vas little betting. hut Caponl was The
favorite,
The real sport Of the night was the |
* x,round r. 90 between Harlan Peyton
nd more experienced boxer. but Buff
uire was strong. Both were as game
s any boys could be.
Fight Hard All the Time
They had hardly shaken hands whc-7
hey went at il. They exchanged about
We good stiff blows every second, Right
wings. uppercuts. Iabs. and q queer
ock- landed slap used by Pcyton came
! quick succession When Peyton first
prung the slap with the back OF his
and eyerybody, thought it was mere
sed II as a feint with good SUCCESS
The second round of this bout was al
lost a 5 fierce as the first. although II
ID not commence quite so promptly. The
oys had learned 10 respect each other.
nj when they started 10 mix they did
OF uuit until the bell tapped.
In tho third round they began at once
nd fought all over tn" ring. They fell
lrough the ropes and We're pushed back
ITO the ring. bur they kept on striking
each other all The time, At the emo
{ this round neither boy would quit
hen tho bell tapped and the referee
ad To pry them apart besides caution
,G them not to fight after the bell rang
That Is the way II went all the way
trough. 81 the end of tho fourth round
ms were calling on Eunrdre 10 puI
oyton out and crying That Pcyiou was
Il In
In The sixth round opinion had been
,NcTscd and Peytou was told that he
AL his adversary beaten if he HoulG ,
1ly lead lie led but he ran into hard
DuDicrg. They were evenly matched, T,
Though they did not look to be. Fans ,
lccrcd them 10 the echo at the enc OF
'ery round. Ever body was so excited
i3t the bout. though achcdulcd ror ,
lly SIS rounds, was permitted TO 90
ven rounds.
Jack C3rpcntrr and Jack powuov