Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-20

JOHNNY KILBANE HAD TO DO MORE
THAN ONE BOXERS WORK AGAINSr|
FRISCO SHANNON-AND JAWN WON
By LOUIS II. JAFFE

| rNHEY do say that it takes two to make
l. fight one willing boxer never will do.
And it was proved correct at the olympia
Club last night, when featherweight cham
pon Johnny Kilbane, instead of being fifty
| per cent of the final fracas against Eddie
| Shannon, of Frisco, really had to be sew
| enty-five per cent more or less. to make the
| contest worth while. Kilbane won; he
| fought harder than he ever did In any OF
| his Philadelphia engagements, yet SHAM
| mons almost continual holding marred the
| bout.
But Shannon was in there to stay the
! limit and he deserves lot of credit for
| succeeding. This goes even one better for
| young Mr.. Shannon when It Is taken into
consideration that Kilhane scored vicious
knockdown in the third round and there
after was unable to locate a vulnerable
spot, The punch that sent Shannon almost
spinning his head was a straight right
handler to the jaw. Eddie was backing up
at the time and the wallop did not connect
with its fun force.
Eddie Brings Self To
AS Shannon Topped to the floor he almost
completed somersault his forehead and
feet touching the mat. A second or two
after Referee O'Brien started to count the
Californian pulled himself together, dizzily,
on his left knee. Then Shannon showed
what it was 70 keep his head. Instead of
leaping TO his feet, Eddie remained on his
left knee, shaking his head in jerks from
side to side in an effort to gather his scat
tered senses. Not only that, but Shannon
also punched himself with both gloves
lightly on the chin, about six blows to the
second, to clear his head. And Eddie made
no effort to gain his balance until after he
heard O'Bren shout Mine" in his ear.
kilbane stood by as Shannon took the
full count allowed him. AS Eddie stood up,
backing against the ropes. the champion
tore into his man. But Shannon is great
ring general, and it wasn't to be taken for
granted, either; he proved it, Instead Of
shooting out punches, Shannon covered up
well, and when kilbane got in close Shan
non fell into clnch. In his fierce effort to
floor Eddie again j. Patrick half wrestled
Shannon to the floor. Then tho bell rang.
Kilbanc the AggrcssOr
When the opening gong sounded It was
evident that Shannon was in the squared
circle to be there when "Spicket" Purcell
dropped his hammer on the bell at the
conclusion of eighteen minutes of action. AS
some one with leather lungs in the two
bit" section shouted, "Gaon Kibane you're
getting the money; show somethin' -; it
WAS up to the champion to show some
thing.
With the exception of only few left leads
satisfied TO plaX tho part of defender. He
waited for kilbane to come to him. Kill
banc did, and when at close quarters johnny
found himself locked safely. The titled
Irishman tried his best to loosen his arms
but the other Trisher held on like grim
death. and the crowd guyed Kilbane for
his anXiousness.
Opening Unexpected
The knockdown scored by kilbane--this
right-hander being the only clean hard
wallop of the bout-rcally came as a sur
prise, as Shannon was keeping himself we'll
out of kilbane's reach. Johnny watched
for right-hand opening, then shifted as
if he were about to hook His left, and
finally tore in with n straight right-hand
punch from the shoulder, as Shannon be-
gan to back up. The blow popped off
Eddies chin as the latter threw both arms
around the champion, but the punch, al
though robbed of a great deal OF it's power
found its mark. and Shannon went kerr
plunk to the mat.
The great attendance, although not as
big as the week before was up on its feet
with the falling of Shannon. But Shannon
was not in the rosin to stay He was
cheered Justify as he began shaking his
head and punching himself on the chin, and
the crowd still was with him when he go.
up to resume hostilites.
Good Story Spoiled
y perfectly good and interesting story
went to smash after Shannon had gone
along the first two rounds. Johnny Eilbane
is great home man. He thinks more Of
his wife and two kiddes than of his pugl-
listic laurels and money-accumulating abil-
ity. Before the bout he said that he was
anxious to make the 1875 tain for CIeve-
land, and as the windup did not get under
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