New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-03
Jersey City Boxer Wears
Briton Down with His
Hard Body Blows.
WINS EVERY ROUND
EXCEPT THE TENTH
Lightweight Champion Retains
Title Only Because of Law
Barring Decisions.

Joe Shugrue. the clever young light
weight from JERSEY City, is not light
weight champion Of the world simply
because n referee cannot give de-
cision in a professional bout held in
this state. Freddie Welsh, the light
weight title holder, may thank that
same law that he is still monarch in
his class. These men met in ten
round bout at Madison Square Garden
last night, and Shugrue won with ease.
In fact, Welsh failed TO win round,
with the possible exception Of the
tenth, in which both fought at top
speed
There could be no doubt in the mind
Of the crowd as to who was the win
ner. Once Shugrue got his bearings he
went after the champion and fought
him off his feet. The Wanted skill OF
Welsh availed him little. Shugrue
stood up with him at long range and
held his own. The inhghting ability
of which Welsh boasts was onset by
the ferocious attack of his opponent,
who tore into close quarters, dealing
sledgehammer body blows that Slapped
the strength and speed In fact, IL
was Shugrue's infghting which won for
him. He hit harder than Welsh and
wore the Briton down.
There were no knockdowns, and
neither man was really in dire straits.
Welsh was slightly cut above his left
eye. and his lips were lacerated by the
snappy lefts which crashed through his
guard at intervals, all too frequent Tor
his comfort. His pride was shattered
an injury which he tried to hide be-
hind a disdainful smile, but it was
not long before he realized that this
was no smiling matter, and the grin
disappeared and a look of grim de-
termination replaced IT, Later look
of patient suffering mingled with the
determination. put even that failed TO
help. Shugrue was unmarked.
The Jersey rooters cut loose with
wild demonstration when Shugrue was
introduced. He weighed 1877 pounds in
full ring costume and was trained TO
the minute. He was ready, this square
iawed Jersey lad, and confident in his
own ability Welsh did not look so
good 1t may have been that he under
estimated the ability of his rival, for
he looked an ashy gray, and his eye
was not so clear as II usually IS. HIS
weight, 1874 pounds stripped, satisfied
the crowd that he was ready, but no
fighter is stronger than his stomach.
The humor of the entire situation
appealed to the bland Britisher. He'd
crush this presumptious Yankee youth
and give him neat little boxing les
son. So out ne came, his teeth showing
through a pleasant smile, guard high
and ready for action. His left found
resting place. and then he sprang to
clinch. Some desultory infghting
followed. On the break Welsh tented
but he might have made motions at a
wooden Indian. Shugrue watched him
with a sneer of contempt and belted
left 10 the head that put an end to
the feinting. In the clinches Welsh
smothered his opponents efforts at in
fighting and the round was about even
BY the time the fourth round wore
around Welsh ceased to see the funny
side of the battle. He had stopped
numerous left-hand jolts with his face
and somehow those right-hand digs IN
the short ribs were far from comfort
ing. bu. what Of that? He'd go in close
and hammer at the wind himself. So
he tried 20 get in. But just as he was
in the middle of his maneuvres Shu'
grue smashed him In the Jaw with Q
right uppercut and drove him back
with the sheer force of his attack. To
add TO his troubles, Welsh was miss
ing badly.
A cold, calculating little Yankee lad
sat in his corner at the start of the
sixth round. Are you tired, Joe ?" his
manager asked. NO" replied the
boxer easily, al could 60 on with this
fellow all night"
He proceeded TO prove his assertion
and from then on until the eighth
round he had all the better of il. Every
time Welsh tried to duck in close
Shugrue uppercut him with the right
When he tented Joe beat him with 8
left to the head. Il was quite dis
tressing TO the champion From tim,
20 time the men stood head TO head
hurting in punches, but for the MAR
part il was Welsh who first held on Of
broke. To be sure he drove his mar
back from time 70 time
And so il continued until the end
In the tenth round Welsh made a de
spairing effort, but il was fruitless.
In the semi-fnal Gene Moriarty de
feated Bobby Moore in a whirlwin,
bout.
II was announced at Madison Squar
Garden last night that "Gunboat
Smith would meet Jim Cofiey in ten