Evening journal., 1916-05-29
KEATUCKEY Rosebud
SURPRISES dixon
Edgerton'S Recent Mill in
Philly Brings to Fore His
Bout With Champion
SCORED K. 0. IN
THE EXHIBITION

The fact OF Walter Edgerton, the
Kentucky Rosebud boxing a sixround
bout with another ancient negro
scrapper in Philadelphia a few days
ago has brought to the fore the recol-
lection Of his knockout Of George
Dixon at time when Lutte Choco-
late was the featherweight champion
and at the top of his career. The
Rosebud confesses TO hfty-six years
in this vale OF tears but his perform
ance in the ring with an opponent who
had reached the hfty-yoar mark would
indicate that Edgerton has lasted
much better than the average boxer.
While the Rosebud is by no means
alone in handing out knockout wall
lops in supposedly exhibition bouts.
still the manner in which he dropped
Dixon for the full count was a piece
OF black ingratitude In an effort to
give the affair a humorous aspect,
Eugene Lutz, of New York, who was
present at the bout says:
81 am sure Dixon was led 10 believe
that il was only friendly exhibition.
Dixon started in to do some fancy
work. when he discovered that he
could not land sQuarely on the Bud,
who jumped around like a grasshop-
per 'Lookee yeah, Mistah GeorgN,
shouted the Rosebud 'dey done tod
me dat you wuz q real ftah My
oh my. how some white folks kin liei'
Shouted the Rosebud.
This made Dixon angry and he
started to go after him. This was in
the third round. Dixon missed a
swing and the Bud swung his right
and down went Dixon for the count
The contest took place In Philadelphia
on March 26, 1894, at the old Indus
trial Hall"
I.utz is wrong in essential details.
The bout took place March 22 1894,
and the sleep punch was delivered in
the second round The records de-
clare that the bout was merely an
exhibition and that ii lasted two
rounds AS matter Of fact. after
Dixon had been revived the bout was
resumed and continued two more
rounds without any more x. o. wal
lops being delivered
The champion had accepted the in
viiation of the promoters of numerous
Entertainments for the heneht Of the
bread fund 10 box an exhibition bout
of four rounds the proceeds TO so TO
the fund. and Edgerton was selected
as DiXon's opponent Il was definitely
understood that the bout was TO be
an exhibition one. which Of course
precluded any hard hitting,
So confident was Dixon that there
was 20 be only tapping. that previous
10 the bout he took copious draughts
OF his favorite beverage. and by the
time he got into the ring he was in a
halmy and carefree condition
In fact. Dixon was not I'm condition
10 box. and the Rosebud, after being
convinced on that point, laid for a
chance TO put a swing on the cham
pions jaw The opening came in the
second round and Dixon was flatten-
ed and unconscious for two minutes.
He was dragged TO his corner. and
after hard work revived. The ref.
cree. who thought the OueensburS
rules did not apply TO an exhibition
bout ignored the knockout. and as
soon as Dixon could get up on hi,
feet, ordered a resumption of the bout
When Dixon awoke the next day ans
realized how he had been treated by
his colored brother, he swore ven
geance But try as he would, he nevei
was able to get the Rosebud into IN,
ring with him again, and the indig
nifty was never avenged
The insistent clamor of j. Ertle. o
st. Paul 70 the effect that Kid VIII
liams is not a bantam. as he cannot
weigh 116 pounds ringside. has finally
brought forth a jolting reply from the
Kid. He calls attention TO the fact
that the weight OF the st. Paul bout
in which Ertle insists he won the
bantam title from Williams. was lis
rlngside. and that If man cannot win
me bantam title at any weight save
JIG ringside, then he certainly cannot
lose the title at any other poundage
However, the Kid says in order "a
settie the question once and for all he
Will consent TO another match. any
number OF rounds at 11S ringside
which figures prevailed in the frsi
meeting. On the whole. Ertle. with hi,
claim Of winning what he calls m,
"116-pound titleH at 11S ringside. as
referees decision in a no-decisio,
bout is humorous to say the least.
nHIIUer rRTuun name