New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-29
'COWLER TAKES
A BAD BEATING
in RING CAMELY
Corbett's Heavyweight
Shows to Disadvantage
Against GunbOat Smith.

Tom Cowler, Jim Corbett's Austria
liam heavyweight, must be numbered
in the ranks of the those who tried and
failed. He met Gunboat Smith at the
ST. Nicholas A. G. in ten-round bout
and came off decidedly second best.
He was game, but aside from that very
necessary qualification and an excep-
tional physique he showed little to
recommend him to the crowd. He was
green as new mown hay, and while he
hit hard lacked the skill to make his
hitting ability count. Cowler earned
an even break in two rounds-the
fourth and the seventh. The others
were Smiths by a wide margin.
COwler assimilated punishment
enough to test the courage of a Spar
tan without finching At the end he
was dripping blood from a deep gash
over his left eye and from his nose
and mouth as well. Time and again
the Gunner ripped home right hand
uppercuts to the chin, but he failed 10
make any lasting impression on the
Australian. Tom took il all and tore
back for more, which he got without
fail.
1t was not for lack Of encouragement
that COwler lost. The house was with
him to man, and every move he made
was cheered by the crowd. But not
even popular demand could supply that
which was totally lacking. Cowler has
the foundation TO make a fighter, but
if he hopes to advance he will have 70
kOx
His defence consisted chiefly OF
formidable pose and a dark scowl. He
was a mark for left hand hook, and
Smith, though awkward, landed time
and again. Against an overland right
Cowler had good guard, but when
Smith began looping them underneath
and using an uppercut he scored times
almost without number. Cowler's foot
work was heavy and awkward, and he
found ali manner of difficulty in keep
ing out of danger when hard pressed.
COwler missed his vocation in becOm-
ing a boxer. He showed a profound
knowledge of every japanese wrestling
hold ever invented, and his ability 10
clinch and hold tight no doubt saved
him from defeat.
On the attack Cowler showed to adj
vantage only on close range. He could
punch faster than Smith, and on those
rare occasions when he elected 10 box
rather than to hold he did well. But
these occasions were isolated. Cowler,
perhaps, was justified IN holding 10
some extent, for those rib-roasting
body smashes and crushing punches 20
the jaw which he received might have
caused any fighter to resort to the first
law of nature.
h. m
marched on TO victory uninterrupted.
1t was not long before he had the
Australian seeking safety in flight or
hanging on desperately. At the start
of the fourth round Smith bounded
out of his corner, swinging both hands
high for his head. Cowler ducked
under these, however, and escaped
harm. Then, after the break, Smith
began uppercutting.
Devoid Of science, Smith forced the
fight, and the sheer ferocity Of his at
tack made his blows effective. Cowler
fed The boOs of the crowd, which
had cheered b n, meant
nothing to him. He sought safety
from the man who confronted him His
smile was wan, and his hat-footed
walk showed just how weary he was.
But suddenly, as Smith rammed home
another punch, Cowler seemed TO draw
on some reserve force, and for a mo-
ment he stood and held his own.
The semi-fnal bout brought together
Dick Peters and Young Otto, the
former won handily after ten rounds
of lively work. He had a narrow es-
cane from defeat IN the earlier round
when Otto foored him with a right =
punch on the chin, but Dick got up
and fought harder after the accident
than before.