Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-05
KILBANE DEFEATS
RAY IN TAME BOUT
Featherweight Champion
Tries Hard, but Pitts
burgher Plays Safe
BY ROBERT w. MAXWELL

It is the easiest thing In the world to
accomplish something If you keep your
mind on your work. Johnny Ray. of Pitts
buEgh, was determined to sit up with Johnny
klbane at the National A. c, Saturday
night, and remained awake the entire eight
cen minutes with little difficulty. lie kept
his mind on his work and his arms in
front of his head and body, until It virtu-
ally was impossible to hit him unless one
used a hammer or baseball bat. Ray also
INDUCED in some fancy sprinting and
showed wonderful speed every time danger
threatened. At the end he was tired from
his mental exertions and his wind was bad
but that was all Of the punishment he suf-
fercd. He realized too well that Eilbane
was his master and was content to just
stick around, regardless as to who won
the decision. The featherweight champion
won the bout by whatever margin there
was
1t could not be called n brutal contest
nor could we go so far as to even call it
rough From the start Ray threw up his
defense and was as impenetrable as the
rock OF Gibraltar Kilbane tried every
trick he knew-and he knows several-to
draw his opponent out of his shell, but
there was nothing doing. In the third
round, the Pittsburgher opened up for just
second and received staggering left hook
which sent him to the ropes.
Back Into Shell
That was enough for this Ray person
and he drew back into safe territory. Be-
fore he received this wallop, Ray tried to
rush the champion and left an opening for
a right.hand punch, but Kilbane was not
set in proper position to deliver the blow.
In the fifth and sixth rounds, Kilbane
tried to talk his foe into opening up, but
the conversational stuff fell fiat.
Come on, Ray" urged Johnny, Tets
fight little and please the crowd Open
up and let me see what you can do"
DO you think I am crazy?" retorted
Ray. "If | start anything ! will get my
block knocked off. 1 am perfectly satisfied
as L am"
Crowd With Kilbane
That ended Klbane's efforts TO make a
good bout of it. Ray showed nothing but
arms and elbows and Johnny couldn't take
a chance on injuring his hands. lie did the
best he could and the crowd realized 1t. OF
course, the crowd was anxious TO a
knockout, but apparently was satisfied to
watch the defensive work when it could be
seen that there wasn't a chance in a mil
lion of either man taking the count.
Ray, however. Is very clever boy and
has a brilliant future before him. He has
all of the actions of a topnotcher and he
probably adopted the proper course. He
knew that Kilbane would inflct consider
able damage If he tried to mix it and re-
fused to mix. Kilbane's right hand con-
stantly was before him and he watched it
carefully throughout the battle.
Downs Is Surprise
The real surprise of the evening came when
Johnny Downs. Of Cleveland, appeared in
the semlwind-up with Barney Dugan. Downs
IL one of the cleverest I30-pounders we
have seen in some time and performed beau
tfully He is unusually clever and has a
good walop with either hand. His work
thrilled the spectators, and no doubt he
will be seen here often in the future
Downs is Kilbanes sparring partner and
has picked up many of the champions
tricks. He is only eighteen years old and
was the former amateur champion Of
Cleveland.