New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-28
WILLARD HAS THE PUNCH.
Knocks Out "Soldier" KearnS
in the Eighth Round.
FAST BOUT THROUGHOUT
Sheriff Hamburger Sits at Ring
side, Under Governors
Orders.


moved up several rungs nearer the top OF
the "vhite hope" ladder by knocking out
Soldier" Kearns in the eighth round Oh
ten-round contest at Madison Square Gar
den last night. The fight was sensational
from start to finish, but the result proved
the truth of the prediction recently maze
by Bob Fitzsimmons that wizard hau
the makings of a champion.
The end came about the middle OF the
eighth round Kearns tried to reach ms
opponent with heavy swings, when VIII
lard. who had for the moment been on
the defensive. suddenly cut loose with
whirlwind Of blows that nothing could
withstand A left staggered kearns, ana
before he had time to think right crashed
10 the chin. and down went the soldier IKE
a shot. the back of mis- head hitting the
canvas with a thud
As Billy job. the referee, started TO
count the seconds it was seen that kearns
was a beaten man. With eyes glazed, he
managed to raise his head, but that was
all. and he had to be carried to his cor
ner after the fatal ten had been tolled.
Early in the second round Willard
landed crushing right. and soon had the
former blacksmith wabblng. \ little
later Willard with let's and rights. shook
Kearns up. and he began to lose his
speed Some OF his rushes were made
with head down, and it was wonder that
Willard did not stop him then and there
with uppercuts.
After considerable fddling to start the
IL. Int did
damage \ few seconds later Willard
knocked him down with a right to the
Jaw and it looked bad for the soldier, who
was Keeling about the ring for the re-
mainder of the round.
Willard started the fourth session with
rush, and If he had landed right
uppercut that missed by a hairs breadth
il would have been all over for kearns.
The latter tried double swing, but fell
short.
Both sluggcd derceiy in the fifth round.
Before the bell they were tired from the
efforts but what honors there were be-
longcd TO kearns.
Kearns rushed wildly in the sixth. but
Willard stood him off and had the better
OF the exchanges. In the seventh ses-
sion Kearns landed two heavy swings.
but the big fellow showed 40 signs Of
distress, and just before the bell lie
nearly hoored his man with right. The
round was fairly even.
Immediately after tho eighth and last
round. which had already been described.
Julius Hamburger. the Sheriff. declared he
considered 1t "A wonderful exhibition Of
boxing. and that he intended TO report II
as such to the Governor.
Because OF a telegram sent 10 Gov
crnor Dix, i'm which the Kearns-W Willard
affair was referred t. as a "prizehSht,
and the prompt warning which the Gov
cruor sent back To Julius Hamburger. the
Sheriff. the boxing fans" gathered with
feeling Of uncertainty. Hamburger, who
sat at the ringside produced Mr. DiX's
messaRc, which read as follows:
II have just received from a reliable
source q telegram in the following terms !:
a prlzotghter. engaged to appear in
% public contest at Madison Square Gar
den tomorrow Ot'riday) night, has made
the following statement over his own sig
nature:
VIII I''h " lIdlu WIN lUt VI ~
puuch If | can. / hope to put one on mis-
Jaw or into his stomach in the first round.
and stor him az quickly as | did one
Round Davis / viii certainly try to put
inn to sleep as quickly as possible.
tSign.dD '"ALFRED j. HEARNS.
Il know that YOU will do everything
proper and necessary i'm relation TO this
matter in the line OF your official duty
Please acknowledge receipt OF this tc!c-
gram
(sgncD JOHN \. DIX, Governor"
In response 10 this Sheriff Hamburger
wired the following 10 the Governor:
Telegram received and matter therein
contained will be- attended to-
Before the heavyweights made their APP
pearance Hamburger declared To a repre-
sentative of The Tribune that he would
simply Judge this contest as he had many
others and would take no official action
unless in his Judgment the bout became
brutal.
The show opened with a siX-round bout
between pair OF featherweghts, Young
Ketchell and Frank Confrey. As ketchell
weighed about six pounds more than Con-
frey nc had something Of an advantage,
but the lighter man was the cleverer. ana
at the final bell had long lead on points.
In the second preliminary Bobby Moore
and Joe Grady. lghtweights. went five
rounds. when the referee, Billy job. put a
stop TO further proceedings. Moore knew
too much about boxing for his opponent,
and had the referee not interfered Grady
would nave been ncedlessly punished.
The semi-final bout Of the night con-
sisted OF ten-round clash between
Frankie Fleming. former amateur cham
pion lightweight of Canada. and kid"
Black. of this city. Both boys Weighted
about i26 pounds I'm the cary rounds
Fleming boxed rings around Black. who
missed his swings for the head by wide
margins.
At times the affair became too tame to
suit the gallery gods, one OF which shout
ed out. Sing song. Julius!" Even the
Sheriff laughed. What hOnors there were
AT the finish belonged to Fleming.
N--