New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-10
'hargin of Victory Narrow
and Many Give Briton
a Draw.
JERSEY LADS SPEED
GAINS HIM THE DAY
Champion In Perfect Condition
and Shows Mastery Defence
for Rain of Blows.

Joe Shugrue, Of Jersey City, had the
better OF Freddie Welsh. the worlds
champion lightv eight, and holder OF
the Lord Lonsdale belt, emblemstie OF
the championship Of Great Britain, in
. fast and interesting ten-round bout
at Madison Square Garden last night
The margin OF victory was not wide
and In fact there were those among
the spectators who believed that Welsh
at least should have received draw
Shugrus earned sufficient points 70
give him a reasonable margin at the
end. Joe was the sggressor for the
most part. but his opponent was not
IN the least backward in taking the
lead. Il may be said in passing that
lust so long as Welsh forced the mill
Ing he showed 10 greater advantage
Il was Shugrue's greater speed that
carried him 10 victory. He was never
faster, never better in his life, and II
was well for him. 1t was different
Freddie Welsh who faced him than the
one who met the rushes of Willie
Beecher two weeks ago. The Briton
WAS right on edge. His defence was
little short Of mastery, and many =
well meant punch Of Shugrue's fell
short, or was stopped by glove or
shock absorbing elbow. But even so
mastery a defence could not with
stand the whirlwind attack and the
never eessing hail Of punches that
were hurled at him. Many wallop
thudded home.
Il was indeed 8 rain Of punches that
,howered on Welsh. Thtre was scarce
" n moment. except when discretion
that ever better part Of vslor-called
for a retreat, or tactics demanded that
he break ground, that Shugrue took
backward step or ceased 70 try. lie
landed many a left hand jab, and
toward the end of the battle his one
two punch was much in evidence.
Welsh, in perfect condition and hard
as nails, did not mark, but right IN
the second round Joe raised q welt
over his right eye with a left hand
uppercut that Jared, although It car.
ried no lasting effect Shugrue tshed
with the work anyway, and It seemed
as il Welsh's blows were the more pow
erful Such was hardly the case.
Welsh ruled in a royal way IN the
ffth and sixth rounds. and If anything
had somewhat the better Of the closing
chapter, when he made one Of those
rallies so popular with fighters in these
ten-round, no-declsion contests. In the
fifth and sixth rounds he waded into
Shugrue and mauled him all over the
ring.
lie was the champion working with
a sparring partner in those particular
rounds The blue funk that enveloped
the yelping Jersey City fans was as
thick and heavy as the mist that the
summer sun rolls back off the Jersey
meadows, II seemed as if Welsh could
not be stopped in his drive to victory.
Then for the moment the tide turned,
Shugrue came out in the seventh round
ard the fight was faster than ever.
Without parley the boys tore at each
other, lashing out with savage intent
and seeking the vital spots. They
landed. too. and back and forth across
the ring the dance of battle went. The
crowd was in an uproar, cheering the
men on TO still greater effort, but 1t
was beyond the power Of human beings
TO fight any harder
There was no fuss and feathers at the
start Of the first round, and the Brton
went right after his man in a business
Ike manner. lie ripped home couple
OF body punches and jammed q left 10
the face, while he blocked the well
meant returns Of the Jersey boy.
Shugrue charged, but his blows land
cd on Welsh's elbows and gloves. Joe,
however. was not discouraged. He
charged in again. and finally raised a
welt over the BritOn's right eye. Welsh
won the round by handy margin.
The Garden rocked with cheers as
Shugrue forged to the front in the sec
ond round He had orders to 60 after
Welsh, and he carried them out to the
letter II may be said that he found
willing mate in the champion, and the
pair stood in midring and fought Ike
wildcats.
Shugruc found the way TO the body
with several driving punches, and the
Jersey contingent cheered like madmen.
That round really marked the begin
ming Of the battle. From them on
until the end the pace never tagged, as
first one and the other held forth Both
reeled at times under the impact of
punches, but neither would give an
inch, and the mad whirl Of battle con
tinued. Shu.rue surprised even his
friends by making Welsh miss fire.
quently. and in the close work il was
Welsh who held on.
Up to the fft hround Shugrue had
some slight margin on points, but in
the fifth and sixth rounds ne came by
the cudgels. The sixth round, how
ever, about wound Welsh up. so far
as a possible winner might be consid-
cred. To be sure, he was in there, al
ways doing his best and making his
man travel vt top speed. There was
always that about his work that con-
veyod the impression to critical eyes
that Freddie was not quite the dash
ing lad who snatched the champion
ship laurels from the brow Of Willie
Richie.
He was quite jaunty in running TO
hi. corner al the end Of rounds, while
Shugrue walked over soberly. In the
corners was a different scene, for while
Welsh's seconds we're hard at work,
those Of the Jersey lad were not I'M
duly busy. -,
As told before, Shugrue held forth
{, the seventh round, and by a fair
margin. He was placing his punches