The Washington times., 1915-03-18
Kilbane Leads Rival
In Five Out of the Six
Featherweight Champion Wins From Kid Williams
In Battle of Champions Before Four Thou-
sand at Olympia Club, Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, March 18.-I
Johnny Kilbane, fighting Irish lad
and holder of the worlds feather
weight title, picked out his dearest
of all green holidays-St. Patrick's
day--to defeat Kid Williams, the
worlds bantam king, at the Olympia
last night.
Kilbane won five out of the six
rounds.
The closest that Williams came to
having a round was in the third,
when he held the Cleveland lad even.
Four thousand fight fans paid
prices all the way from 81 to $3.50
to see the two worlds titleholders
exchange wallops at the rate of more
than So every second.
Philadelphians were not used to
the sight of Kid Williams taking a
beating. He has always trotted
through his bantam rivals here and
came through with Victory, but last
night he went out of his class and
had to take second honors. But it
was not an inglorious defeat. He
fought a real champion, Kilbane be-
ing a marvel in ring generalship.
Johnny held the Baltimore lad at
arms, length on any number Of occa-
sions and then jabbed away With his
left. He Jared Williams in the clos
ing rounds and williams head was ac-
cidentally cut.
Manager Harris cleaimed that Will
liams was butted by Kilbane in the
third round, but Referee Frank O'Brien
passed 1t by. At any rate. kilbane was
fighting hard and waded In at every
opportunity.
There WITS not much action in the first
and second rounds. but the little fell
lows made up for 1t in the remaining
time. Kilbane wanted to see II VIII
liams would tear into him at first The
Baltimore lad did attempt some Of his
fast stuff, but Kilbane smothered him
with tabs and hooks.
1t was case Of Kilbane knowing too
much for Williams. who was aggressive
enough. but had the majority of his
hardest punches swept aside by John
Once in the sixth Kilbane almost put
Williams down. 1t was a right and
caught tho Kid as he was coming in.
leave the floor. He was as though sus-
pended in the air, but quick turn Of
the body brought him down on both
feet, and Kilba.ne backed up to see what
damage nc nad done
Kilbsne left the ring without a mark,
and had to acknowledge the plaudits of
thousands Of his friends. His Cleveland
pals were the drst TO rush to his cor
ner. Williams head was cut, and he
appeared ured. 1t was something new
to see the bantam dictator let his head
fall on his chest between each round as
early as the fourth.
A big delegation of Cleveland fans
were ON hand to cheer their favorite
lad. and Baltimore also sent a party
of williams rooters They were headed
by Al Herford. the former manager
of the late Joe Cans.
New Yorkcrs were also over in large
numbers. and there were hundreds Of
prominent fight fans from up State.
Both boys had no trouble making the
weight. The requirement was that they
We're TO make l22 pounds at 9:45 O'Clock.
ped into the ring and invited all the
, newspaper men to see the weighing-in
process In one Of the dressing rooms up
stairs. About twenty Of the scribes left
their seats and filed up the winding
staircase.
Kilbane came into the room at $40,
and after looking at the scales said he
| just wanted to weigh himself for his
| own information. The scales were
| placed at l22 pounds, and the feather
| weight champion failed to move the
| beam.
| Led by his manager. Sammy Harris