Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-08
NEW YORK, Jan, 8

NEW YORK, Jan, s.
! TTHEY never come back,
i Tradition of the ring once more as
serted itself in the Madison Square Gar
den last night when Jim Coffey, the Dub
| lin giant, succumbed to the terrific wal
| lops OF Frank Moran and was led to his
corner in the ninth round beaten man,
after Billy Gibson merclfully ended the
one-sided contest by tossing a sponge into
the ring.
Coffey was stin on his feet. He had
taken the count four times and arose to
his feet reeling and dazed, anxious to
continue. Moran set himself to launch
his terrible right on the weak. unguarded
, chin of his opponent. Gibson tossed n
small sponge in the ring. 1t was not
seen by the referee. Just as the victor
was about TO land the blow that probably
would have ruined Coffey as a boxer for
ever. n second sponge, soaked with water,
landed Mt the feet OF Referee Brown.
That ended the contest. Brown grabbed
Moran's arm in midair and then pushed
Coffey to his corner.
II was a repetition of the first battle
staged two months ago when Moran won
In three rounds, and although Coffey was
still on his feet last night, the battle will
be recorded as a technical knockout.
When Coeffy faced Moran in the first
round. he had full knowledge that the
man before him had knocked him out
once before He knew the power of that
wicked right hand and he also knew that
It would land like the hammer OF Thor
on his jaw If the slightest opportunity
presented itself.
He was up against that in .islble handi-
cap of a former defeat. He tried hard to
overcome 1t. but that lurking fear always
asserted itself and slowed him down. In
the very first round Moran rocked Coffey
E1 1..I -tfrl,N
wabbling at the end of the session. That
one blow won the fight for Moran. He
showed Coffey that he was dangerous and
the big Irishman knew in his heart that
there was no hope and 1t was only ques-
ton of time.
One thing demonstrated by last nights
battle was that COffey never was or
heavyweight title. Neither Is Moran.
Judging from the form shown, Willard
could have beaten both men In the same
ring, one after the other. Coffey while
clever, lacked the punch. Moran had no
defense. He stood there left arm ex-
tended and right fist doubled up, waiting
TO land the telling blow and taking every
thing Coffey had TO otter. He was jabbed
all over the ring and made no effort to
escape the right-hand smashes sent in
by the Roscommon man. COffey couldn't
hurt him and he took chance by keep
ing himself wide open.
The winner is considered the logical
opponent for Jess Willard. but the choice
will be a poor one. Willard can hit, pos
sessing a knockout wallop In either hand,
and would have an easy time OF 1t II
Moran fought the same as he did against
Coffey.
1t was fairly interesting bout, and It
pleased the huge crowd that packed the
Garden. Until the ninth round the spec
tators We're with the man from Dublin.
| Coffey took the lead at the end of the
| first and had wide margin at the begin
ming OF the eighth. He kept jabbing his
long left into the face of his opponent,
keeping him at a safe distance, where
that right hand was ineffective He
gained confidence as the battle pro-
gressed and looked like an easy winner.
But II was youth and inexperience. with
a fervid desire to make good. against a
| cool. deliberate antagonist who had years
Of experience behind him. Moran knew
that he could win with one punch IL 1t
landed on coney's jaw. He merely waited.
Beginning with the sixth round, Moran
began TO play for Coffeys body. Time