South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-20
PHINNEY BOYLE
PROMISES To BE
RIVAL FOR BELT
Lad Got In Fight Game on AC-
count of His Name and
Fought His First Battle for
Sis After KiIbane.
BY Frank G.. Menkc.


NEW YORK, May 20.-There are
two reasons why Phinney Boyle of
Lowell. Mass, became a prize fighter.
One IS because his parents hitched
the name of Phinney onto him; the
other is an offer of 50 that lured him
INTO his first professional engagement.
An now, less than two years since
he climbed into a prize ring for the
first time, Phinney has risen to such
heights in the featherweight division
that the ring experts are predicting
that with another six months of eX-
perience he will dethrOne Johnny Kill
bane-if Johnny gives him battle.
The parents of Phinney thought
Phinney was a very pretty monicker
to hang onto their offspring. The boy
hood acquaintance thought it pretty.
too; in fact, they thought it too pretty
for a boy and called its owner a
"cisSy' But the majority called
Phinney a 'cissy'' just once.
Phinney fought in defense of his
name-and he fought often. Constant
battling gave him quite a reputation
as bare knuckle battler from Lowell
and before he donned long trousers
Phinney was immune from further
kidding abO'l his first name
Phinney had just celebrated his 18th
birthday when a friend slipped him a
ticket for a prize fight that was sche j.
uled by one of the clubs in Lowell.
That was in September, 1913. A
tough young battler by the name or
"Sykie'' Evans was slated to meet a
boxer from Boston.
When the time for the scrap came
along, the manager of the club got
into the ring and announced:
Boyle Substitutes.
The boy who was to fight Evans
has crawled out of the match. Is there
anyone in the crowd who would like
to go on with Evans?"
For a moment there was silence in
the crowd and then one of the audi
ence jumped up and said:
IT guess I can find a boy"
Then he rushed over to where Phin-
ney was sitting.
Say. you 90 in and fight that guy"
said the friend TO Phinney.
Phinney looked at him in puzzled
way.
What for? He amt been kidding me
about my name. has hep"
mo. but you'reliable TO get the So
if YOU box him" said the friend.
Three dollarsi" gasped Phinney.
Say. you amt kidding are you?"
mo. Come on up TO the ring. I'll
see to il that you get the money
And Phinney. led by the hand, walked
up 10 the flflB anu was Ahbl OuuNCN ~
the club manager.
Here's a boy that will fight Evans,
said the friend.
"WiT you fight?" asked the man.
Eyes. if I get the money. This fell
low says you'n give me SO. Was he
kidding?"
mo. I'll give you 50. Hows that"
Phinney is Amazed.
al n
ager in Amusement.
Lets see the money" demanded
the skeptical IriShman.
Here il is" and the manager eX-
tracted So from his jeans and handed
it to the amazed Boyle.
Boyle hoped into the ring and
wan+ed the fight to start at once. He
feared the manager might change his
mind. He wanted to fight in his
street clothes and with bare fists. But
he was provided with trunks and box
ing gloves were put on his hands.
Phinney BOYLE walked into the
center OF the ring as the first round
opened Evans rushed him, landed a
couple of light punches and then
made a swing for Phinney's jaw.
Phinney moved out of range and then
sent a right to the jaw of Evans
The fight was over.
Before the end of 1913 Phinney
fought 16 battles under the direction
of Joe Levins. a prize fight manager
who saw him the night he beat Evans
with one punch. OF those 16 fights
he won seven via the knockout route.
In 1914 Phinney added To his
knockout victims and developed from
a ring novice 10 a nifty boxer He has
met-and beaten-some Of the best
men in the featherWeight division,
and those who have seen him in his
1915 fights say that before the year
is over he VIII have earned the right
to battle Kilbane.
And when he does" said Levins.
"there1l be a new champion