Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
KILBANE CHAMP;
ATTELL DEFEATED
Veteran Boxer 0utpointed by
Speedy Clevelander in 20
Round Battle.
BOUT IS ROUGHLY FOUGHT
Former King Butts, Heels and
Cinches in Trying to Hang to
His Title.

Los Angeles, Feb. 23.-Abe At
tells 11-year reign as king of the
featherweights was brought to a sud-
den end here yesterday when Johnny
Kilbane, the Cleveland speed mar
vel, outfought, outgamed, outsIug-
ged and outpointed the shifty He
brew in q whirlwind 20-round bout.
The hitherto invincible champion was
decisively defeated, Kilbane's vic
tory being clean-cut and without
question, and received by the 5000
spectators present with popular IA
vor.
Kilbane had the better OF every
round with the possible exception of
two. He left the ring with but one
mark, a bruised eye, where Attell
had butted him with his head. Attell
was cut about the face and body and
was sorrowfully marked by the jabs
and hooks of the Clevelander: Abe
seemed TO realize early in the battle
that he had met his master, for he
fought roughly, using every artifice
he could think of to hold on to his
lettering throne.
KILBANE COOL BOXER.
The new champion was cool, me-
tbodical and calculating, seldom
starting a blow that he did not land
and judging distances with an accu-
racy that was exceptional. He led At
tell into trap after trap and each
time administered punishment be-
fore the Hebrew could get into the
clear. Kilbane fought as though he
had planned his fight, rehearsed II
we'll and learned IL to spring on At
tell in the way II was sprung.
The work of Kilbane was surpris-
ing. He flashed about the ring at
such speed that Attell had trouble
finding him, and he never slowed up,
even going faster at the end if any
thing. His perfect footwork, elusive
defense and accurate hitting was
openly admired and cheered by the
fortunate ones at the ringside. Never
before in the history OF the sport
here has anything like the cleverness
OF Kilbane been shown.
Attell, whose ring knowledge has
been unparalleled for so many years,
was forced to bow to his superior. He
was outgeneraled in every round
AtteR even was outjoshed by Kill
bane, Johnny retorting with a hu-
morous remark every time Attell
gave vent to some thought, and John
ny usually followed the retort with
an accurate and singing blow.
CROWD Kisses ATTEIL.
Attell's rough work was Kissed by
the spectators in many of the rounds
and the referee also came in for some
criticism because he did not separate
the men and did not stop Attell from
butting. Abe not only butted but
"heeled" Johnny continually and
held the Cleyelander's gloves when
ever the boys clinched, which was the
greater part of the time.
Kilbane's most effective punches
we're straight rights and let's to the
face and body and short hooks, also
TO the face and body. He timed his
blows to a nicely and never wasted
a punch. He opened a cut over At
tells eye in the second round and
this optic received a drubbing ever
after until II swelled and nearly
closed. Attell was staggered several
times by hooks to the jaw which XII.
bane landed with force.
Johnny scientifically cut down Abe
starting in the first few rounds tC
mark the former champion about the
face, then singing Abe with body
blows, and in the last few rounds
trying for the jaw and a knockout
In the 10th round Johnny came a.
Attell with such a fusilade of blow.
that it seemed the sleep" punch wa.
sure TO land. but Abe successful,