Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-09
BY T. s. ANDREWS.<

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE,, Wis. December O.
When two star fighters meet and the
crowd expects great battle the result
is usually just the opposite. That is
what happened last Wednesday. when
Eddie McGoorty. the Wisconsin middle
weight. met Mike Gibbons, the st. Paul
sensation. in New York. The fight was
not up to expectations by any means. 1t
was a case Of one man trying and the
other apparently afraid to take a chance.
McGoorty did the trying. while Mike
fought on the defensive most of the time.
It was McGoorty's decision. had one been
given. Eddie had five Of the ten rounds.
Mike three and two were even. 1 have
claimed all along that the weight was not
to M.Goorty's liking and the fight seemed
to prove it. He made the weight easily.
in fact he was down too fine, for he
weighed in at ringside at 1o5 pounds. and
at o'clock Thursday afternoon he
weighed in for me at 1854. He was
drawn down as fine as a thoroughbred.
but the steam was lacking during the
latter part of the battle. but despite this
fact he set the pace. 1t was beauti-
full boxing match to watch, with both
men doing all kinds of feinting. but good,
hard wallops were sadly lacking. There
is no denying that Gibbons is wonder
fully shifty boxer and a great blocker,
but he found himself outboxed at times
by McGoorty. Many of Eddie's blows
went wild or missed through the splen-
did blocking of Mike, but he put enough
home to earn him the shade. Had Glib
bons taken a more aggressive part his
chances Of winning. or at least getting
draw. would have been much better.
There were only a few instances when
he cut loose and took a chance, but only
for a short space Of time. On the other
hand, McGOorty was the aggressOr from
the start, and at times tore after his
man. only to find him as elusive as
busy flea. The steam that was behind
McGoorty's blows when he fought Hugo
Kelly at Kenosha and also Smith and
Harrison was missing. but again he
found it a very different proposition try
jaw to the other men he fought. The
first round found McCoorty doing the
rushing, and Mike the footwork. In avoid
ing him. Few blows were landed. In
the third Mike acted better and fought
the Oshkosh man. even using his snap
left jab to good effect. Mike had the
margin at the bell. He also had the
fourth by a shade, Mike using his left
jab exclusively. while Eddie kept rush
but failed to land d, on the b light
The fifth was even. there being little real
fighting, and the crowd howled it's dis
approval. Gibbons blocking in this
round was superb. In the sixth Eddie
cut loose and rushed Mike all over the
ring and scored first blood, bringing the
claret from Mikes nose. Eddie did all
the leading. 1t was the same in the sew
enth with Eddie rushing and Mike coun-
tering at times, but not enough to get an
even break. The eighth was a repeater.
In the ninth Mike brought the claret
from McGoorty's nose. but Eddie only
rushed the harder. He was evidently
firing and, in fact. both were glad to hear
the bell Both tried hard in the tenth
to do any damage and the round ended
q shade McGOorty'a Eddie deserved the
verdict.
This contest will no doubt result in
McGoorty going to France. as he has re-
ceived two very good offers from the big
Clubs in the gay city. He has one offer
Of 5000, with the privilege of meeting
either Papke or Klaus. and he is anx-
ious to go over and meet one or both OF
them. McGOorty Is also anxious to have
another bout in New York and would !
not mind hooking up with Jimmy Clabby |
in ten-round bout 1t Is certain that
Clabby and McGoorty would show
to better advantage than McGoorty and
did for the reason that there
would be more action.
The announcement that Willie Richie |
the new lightweight champion. will raise
the weight limit to 1875 rounds. to suit his
own convenience, does not strike the box |
ing fans with the right ring Richie has
no right to raise the limit. However, I'M !