The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-19

HBntS. ingenuity Oh Tue sports
was greater than the vigilance of the
authorities, however, and in the battle
was staged at Moulsey Hurst-the
first of many notable battles fought on
that spot. Pearce bested the copper
smith In thirty-fve minutes. In spite
Of the prohibition of the King-per-
haps because OF it-Sthrce other bat
ties for the championship, as well as
scores of minor bouts, were fought in
that memorable year Of 1905. And
Napoleon never set his footHo on Brit
ish soil.
Benny Yanser, One Of Best Italian
Boxers, SO Today.
Although no Italian has ever won
a worlds pugilistic title, many Of the
sons OF sunny Italy have been game
and clever boxers. One of the best
OF them was Benny Yanger. who re-
tired from the ring about six years
ago, after a long career as q feather
weight and lightweight. Yanger, who
was sometimes called the ."Tipton
Slasher." was born In New York city
thirty-three years ago today, Febru.
airy IS, 1882. He stood only a little
over five feet five inches.
Benny was about seventeen when
he started fighting, first as a bantam
and later in the feather and light
weight divisions. He won many Of
his early battles by knockouts, and
among his victims were several boys
who later held championships. In
1900 he knocked out Harry Forbes
In the fifth round Of a bout in Chi.
cago, shortly before the Rockford boy
won the worlds bantamweight tito
In the same year he stopped Young
Corbett-and the next year tie Dem
yer lad annexed the fcatherweiglt
title by knocking out Terry McGoyern
at Hartford. The little Italian also
administered the sleep dope to
Tommy Mowatt. the famous Chicago
boxer, and battled draws with George
Dixon and Young Corbetta
AT that period .Yanger looked like a
coming champion. but the hoodoo that
prevents Italians from reaching the
top of the pugilistic ladder was still
at work. Yanger defeated Young
Corbett and Harry Forbes shortly be.
ofre they became champions. and in
1901 he whipped George Dixon short.
" after the Chocolate Drop had lost
his featherweight honors to, Terry Nc.
Govern. The italian %outpointed the
clever negro In fifteen fast rounds
at st. Louis. In 1902 Yanger stopped
Abe Attell In nineteen rounds, not
many months before the little Hebrew
claimed the featherweight title.
Benny, also defeated Austin Rice, the
veteran Iron Man" at Chicago, and
Kid Herman, the Montreal Hebrew,
was knocked out in the third round
by the little Italian.
In 1903 Yanger whipped Kid Broad,
the C~ornishman, In a ,twenty.round
bout In Louisville, and defeated Hugh
McPadden in Detroit. Yanger then
went to the Pacific coast, where he
was matched to fight Eddie Hanlon,
the little California ""phenom" who
had made such a brilliant rise in the
fistic profession. In their first battle.
pulled of in San Francisco, Benny
held Eddie to a draw after twenty
rounds. OF. brilliant work. They were
matched again a few months later,
and this time Hanlon received the de-
cision, although Yanger went the full
twenty.round route, and made a good
showing. This was the first time In
his career the Italian boy had tasted
defeat.
Yanger then returned to Chicago
and fought a draw with Aurelio Her.
rera, the Mexican lightweight. He
then defeated Charles Neary in NIL.
waukee. after which he was again
matched with Herrera. His second
session with the Mexican took place
in Butte, Mont, and Yanger was
knocked out in tho eighth round. II
was the turning. Of the tide for the
little Italian, and he was never as
good again. He geereated Maurice
Sayer in Milwaukee. and then went
East and was stopped in the first
round by Harry Lewis at Baltimose.
In 1906 he was knocked out by
Tommy Murphy at Philadelphia, and.
lost to Kid Herman at Indianapolis,
to Sieve Kinney at Davenport, and
to Matty Baldwin at Boston. In 1907.
he fought his last important bout
when he was knocked out by Packey
Mcfarland at Fort Wayne, Ind! Al
year or two later he tried to pull q
comeback, but met only inferior men.
In his prime Yanger was a great
ittis boxer, and he ranks among the
best Of the nearsehampions.