New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-19
SPONGE SAVES KENNEDY
Seconds Throw 1t Up in the
Eighth Round of Bout.
HELPLESS AT THE TIME
Bombadier Wells Rains Blow
After Blow on His Rival
in Fast Battle.

In a sensational battle, the equal OF
which has rarely been seen in this city,
Bombardier Wells. the heavyweight
champion boxer of Great Britain, defeat.
ed Tom Kennedy, Of this city. In eight
rounds at Madison Square Garden last
night. The end came toward the middle
of the eighth round. When the men went
enth session both were In distress, Ken
nedy from the terrible beating he had
received and Wells from his own efforts.
They had not been boxing long in the
eight round when Wells shot singing
left to the nose, quickly whipped over a
right to the chin and Kennedy dropped
like a log.
He crawled up on one knee and looked
about in a dazed sort of a way, but the
fighting instinct was there. and as he
shook his head to clear his brain he
nodded to Billy job, the referee, who was
counting OFF the seconds.
At the count Of eight Kennedy got to
his feet. Wells measured his man care
fully, and after staggering him with
left, stepped in close and shot over a
short righthook that did not travel moro
than two feet. The blow landed on the
right spot and down went Kennedy with
a crash, his shoulders striking on the
lower rope. There he lay with eyes
glazed, powerless to help himself. Before
the referee had tolled of the fatal ten
seconds a sponge was thrown In from
Kennedys corner, thus saving him from
q knockout.
When the big men appeared they looked
ready to fight for their lives, and, oddly
enough, both weighed exactly the same
1914 pounds.
Kennedy was the first to crawl through
the ropes, and he received a fine recep-
ton. but II was nothing as to the ovation
given Wells. The smiling Briton had to
bow his acknowledgements for couple Of
minutes.
AS ne sat in his corner waiting for ths
bell the Briton had his legs crossed and
looked as cool as could be. Kennedy had
n worried expression. From the moment
they put up their hands it was seen that
Wells was the superior boxer. In and out
with long, clean lefts, perfectly timed, ne
began 10 send Kennedy's head back. At
close quarters he crossed his man with 9
right, and down went Kennedy. For an
instant the spectators had views OF
rendition Of the Wells Palzer affair, but
thi. was different for Kennedy was un-
hurt, and jumped up quickly. They fought
hard TO the bell, with the honors N
wells's favor.
In the succeeding rounds Wells landed
lefts and rights so often that Kennedy
at times appeared bewildered, yet he al
WAYS fought back. sometimes taking
blow in the hope Of getting over the de-
sired WALTON, but the wary Briton wa2
never In the way.
In the fourth round Wells rocked his
man with a solid right to the mouth, ana
an instant later Kennedy spat out several
teeth. b
So fast was the pace that both vers
tired at the bell. At one stage It seemed
as II Wells, despite the hard and frequent
punches that he was landing, would %
unable 10 get" his man. The B7ton
wasted few blows. however, and when ne
did cut loose he rarely missed the marx
When he dropped Kennedy In the elshtn
round II was seen that the end was near,
for tho latter, although game as
pebble, was weak from loss Of blood
Just before Wells put over the finishing
blow he turned with an appealing ex-
preston TO the referee, as much as 70
say. Must do TT" job made no sign,
however, and then Wells continued about
the work with an air OF one who fen
sorry. He patted Kennedy sffectonatey
when the latter had recovered suffc'enuy
70 leave the ring.
There was another big crowd on hsnol
probably six thousand persons Most oa
those present discarded their coats ai'
though none suffered from the heat ~
the place was much mora comtorIaois
than during the last two shows. Aoous
the ringside were hundreds Of men prolnS
nent IN various walks OF life. Most OF tins
spectators arrived early to see ina pfo-
l,minaries, which were all we'll contested
The serni-AnaI bout OF six rounds proves
the best. The contestants were buu'.
Gordon, Of Milwaukee. and "s.e'
Brooks, Of this city. a pair OF lisht"e'sHuS
Gordon got to Brooks with series "
vicious body blows in the fourth rouho'
and for q moment had the local boy ~
trouble. Brooks came near turning '1o
tables In the next when he nan MS wy
nent bleeding from cuts under ooth ey..'
Gordon kept after the New Yorker, W.
was on the defensive at the bell IN Wv
last round Gordon cut loose with a rus'.
Iade of swings and uppercuts that sooa
had the other hanging on. Brooks was
beaten man when the final bell soundsu'