The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-10
Coffey And
~
Brennan In
Draw Bout
Roscommon Giant, Nearly
Knocked Out in Early
Rounds, Battles Desper-
ately Enough to Even
Honors = Brennan Loses
Chance for Knockout.

New York, Nov. 10-Bill Brennan
tossed off a golden opportunity last
night at the Harlem Sporting Club by
allowing over-anxiety to get the bet
ter of sound ring judgment when he
had three or four opportunities to
floor Jim Coffey in the second round
of their ten-round fight. The RIOS
common giant was prtmed for a K.
O., but Bill got buck fever and al
lowed Jim to escape.
| Jim. by sheer grit and determine
ton, overcame Brennan's sudden adj
vantage and by the most desperate
sort of fighting held Brennan to a
draw. Each man had four rounds
to his credit and two were even.
Ii ever two men fought ON even
terms Jim Coffey and Bill Brennan
did last night. A prettier bout be-
tween big chaps has seldom been seen
and surely none ever was faster
They set a pace that was terrific
and superb condition made it posi-
BILE for both men to shake off the eff
fects Of full right handlers to the
! jaw.
| Brennan was really going through
his first big encounter and that made
his showing rather remarkable one
When the chance came In the second
| and he had chances in the fifth and
seventh. William got a gTfevous at
tack Of the rattles
Three times he planted his right
clearly to Jirn's chin, but the spectacle
of Jim Coffey groggy and on his
heels right there in front OF him, the
chance for fame and a healthy for
tune seemed to blind Bill momen-
tartly.
1 M
How he did howl for his youngster to
step in and measure him" That was
all that was necessary. but Sir William
couldn't think fast enough. When
poor Leo's frantic instructions were
finally branded on his muddled wits
the fast recovering Coffey was able
to take care Of himself.
Leo Flynn, Brennan's manager, was
so positive that William would win
that he wagered. $1,000 of his barn
storning takings that James Joseph
would not hear the merry tinkle, tin
kle of the final gong.
Coffey weighed 203, while Brennan
tipped the beam at 1877. Joe Hum
! phreys called for the ayes and noes
on the mater of introductions. The
Irishman's "ayes'' had it. and it was
/ .tCah-fee foirst" Brennan srinned
all over when Jim got the preference.
Jim Buckley refereed, both men hav-
ing agreed on jovial Jeems as third
man.
Brennan ran out and poked left
into Coffeys face as the first ball
rang. Jim's right eye was cut with
the punch, a mishap that seemed to
disturb the Irishman's usually cool
idemeanor.
Jim fought hard at the start of the
second and had it all his own way
until Brennan sent him Keeling to
the ropes with rights and let's. 1t
looked for a moment as II Jim would
go down, but he came back with a
remarkable burst OF fighting and man
aged to stave off a knockout, II it
was lurking about.
Coffey was in bad way for time
in the third, and then swarmed all
over Bill. A right shot to the jaw
sent Jim back on his heels early in
the round and he was bswildered un-
til his seconds called for him to
clinch. Jim.s head cleared quickly.
and then he returned some Of Bills
compliments. Jim pulled the round
out of the fire by outdghting Bren-
nan.
Coffey kept up hurtfui bombard-
ment to Brennan's heart in the
fOurIh. II was q tight uanO uPpdECut
delivered at close quarters. Bills
ribs were raw as a result of the
frequent visits of Jim's hard fist.
Brennan had Coffey groEgy again
in the fifth. Jim's jaw seemed to De
a mark for Bills right, but he fool
ishly tossed off his chances by step
ping out of range and turning to his
corner for instructions
! 1t was right for right in the sixth.
Both men simply waded in and
! CHANGED everything in single
punch. At times both men were
punch drunk at the same time. It
was a question it seemed which would
hit the floor first.
Coffey's body blows slowed Bren-
nan up to such an extent that VIII
liam kept aloof in the eighth Even
though he hit Jim one right hard
enough to spin him he was SO fearful
Of Jims right hand body thumps that
he failed to follow up his advantage.
Jim whipped Bill soundly in the
ninth. It was the round IN which
he surely proved himself the better
fighter. Bill had no taste for jim .
4 right hand heart punch.
| SvRACTISE cuT2S RFgATTCN