The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-23
BETS WERE ALL AGAINST HIM
Crowd ROasts Atten and Ref
cree for Dirty Work.
Official Stops Fight to Wipe
Grease From Abe.

Two wears ago Johnny Kilbane, the
new featherNeight champion, scarceIS
was known outside of Cleveland nc nc
nd been a contestant in minor bouts
since 1906 but it was not until tne
ffgbtine game opened in several nortn-
ern Ohio towns in the winter OF 1sVs-Io
that he really began 10 attract atueii
ton --.,,,.a5 the
host bovs of that vicinity When 4O.i4
McCarey in 1910 promulgated I-ls
elimination contest at Los Angeles py
which was to be decided who OF the
native fea sherweights should nave III
light to meet Abe Atten for the clain-
nionship. he was logical entrant;
Kilbane decisively defeated Joe HlN-
ers Patsy Kline and FRANKIE Gomez,
his closest rivals, thus eaFIins - -
right to meet Atte1 in the Dattle Aol
the championship .,,..7
n cleveland He will be e years GU
on April IS. He is married anu nag 80
babv daughter. His habits are OF lne
hest He is the support of blind tather-
los Angeles. Cal, Feb. ga new
champion was born IN puglilsln II -
Vernon arena when Johnny hllpal7,
If Cleveland O.. decisively out1ought
Ahe Attell in their 20-round contest
Nearly 10000 persons were 1amlneu
into the arena. which ordinarily sea-5
( Ao0 Fully 5000 others were luKASc
AWAY at the gates It was the SreateSt
s,o4t'd maj ever viewed a prize fight in
Los Angeles. The receipts amounted -
approximateIy $4,000. The men IouglI
for a nurse of $4,000. of which Attell
vas TO receive Sc, 500, win, lose or draw
and Kilbane $500
Besides. they agreed to divide evenly
20 ner cent Of the moving picture priv
ilege.
AtteII's Fighting Dirty.
Attell brought the wrath of the big
crowd upon his head by foul tactics
Time and again he would hold kilbane's
arms in a clinch. In the third he
..heeled'' the Cleveland boy While in 4
cIinch and in the seventh. when, after
rushing into clinch to avoid Kilbanes
1nerciless tattoo Of his face and body,
Atteu batted the Clevelander with his
head. opening a great cash over Kill
bane's left eve.
Al the beginning of the sixteenth
round Referee Eyton stopped the fight
and grabbed a towel, thoroughly wiped
off Attell's body It was seen to be COW
cred with some greasy substance. At
tell protssCes-. > 1T tie referee paid no
attention TO HIM
Kilbane's work was a revelation TO
his friends He was lightning fast
both with his hands and feet a
straight left jab to Attell's nose or sore
eye was his faVorite blow Attell seem
ed wild throughout the fight, but this
"a as due as much to Kilbanes footWork
as to any other cause
AS early as the third or fourth round
II was seen that Kilbane was winning.
Tine aud again the bewildered cham
pion tried to corner the Cleveland man
but Kilbane's speed was bewildering to
Atteu. The decision of Referee E1yton
was received With a Wild whocp md
I<ilbane was carried from the building
on the shoulders Of lis friends.
The Best He Had.
7 want to telephone to Mary" he
said. meaning Mrs. knbane.
hi draw nd
bleeding, left the ring alone As he
reached the edge of the platform he
said to a friend. We'll. I had to stand
for it; I couldn't do any better
Atten was a strong favorite. odds
slumping to to L with little Kilbane
money in sight.
Kilbane was first to enter the ring
He climbed through the ropes at 3:15