Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-24
FLIGHT NIGHT"
DRAWS CROWD
TO FORT OMAHA
Boxing Fans Brave Blizzard
to Attend Amateur Con-
tests Conducted by
Soldiers at Fort.

tests Conducted by
Soldiers at Fort.
The classieSt amateur boxing and
wrestling card ever presented to the
people of Omaha, was the verdict
of $500 fans who braved the biz
card to attend the Fight Night" en-
tertainment at Fort Omaha Monday
night. The crowd more than reach
ed the expectations CT the manage
ment and emergency seats were
pressed into service.
The absence of "roughnecks" COM
monty associated with enterprises of
this kind was noticeable and the
benefits to the boxing game by strict
regulation made the entertainment
enjoyable to all. Wives of officers
and civilians were sprirkled through
the crowd and nothing on the card
could in any way offend the most
effeminate.
Colonel Wuest and his staff 'of
assistants who conducted the con-
tests are entitled to great praise
for the orderly manner in which the
show was given. A large delega-
ton of commission men from the
stock exchange, healed by General
Manager Everett Buckingham and
Gene Melady, and a delegation from
The Chamber of Commerce mar
shalled by Randall Borwn, occupied
ringside seats.
Between Mills and "Melady" box
ing bill was a favorite topic of con-
versation. 1t was practically unan-
imous that boxing under the strict
regulations imposed in the bill would
prove one of the most instructive
and entertaining forms of sport Ne
braska could have legalized.
Melady Praises Card.
Gene Melady author of the bill and
Carl Marfisi, sporting promoter,
were enthusiastic over the card pre-
sented by The soldiers. 1T was one
of the incest cards | have ever wit
messed" said Mr. Melady. while
many Of the boys are still green in
ring tactics they show great promise
and | was surprised at the gentle
manly manner in which they con-
Quoted themselves. 1t is uncommon
to find boys of their experience who
show no signs of bully in their ring
tactics. Army training has certainly
been a wonderful benefit to them.
1t is evident that the days of the
roughneck pork and beaner" is past.
| trust that the legislature will see
fit to legalize boxing mills of this
character"
While the crowd was assembling
the Fort Omaha band gave a con-
cert and also livened up the crowd
during the intermissions between
mills. Denny Ryan, Knights OF
Columbus secretary at the fort. ref.
creed the bouts and gave universal
satisfaction.
Dempsey Beats Erickson.
Young Dempsey won the decision
in four lightning fast rounds from
Erickson a local boxer. Dempsey,
an army man, weighed in at l2e
pounds and Erickson at IFS.
Round lin terrific infighting Demp.
sey carried away the honors in the first
round by a shade. although knocked tc
his knees by straight right
Round 2-The honors were evenly di.
vided in the second. Both men struggled
for knockout blow and were wild.
Round 3-Dempsey shed a rain Of blows
to the head like water. Both boys stood
flatfooted in the center Of the ring ant
engaged in a smuggling match. Erickson
wins round by a shade.
Round 4-Dempsey rushed into tn,
center of the ring at the tap OF the gont
| and had the best Of the entire round
Erickson was groggy and leaning agains
the ropes as the gong ended the match
Dempsey easily won round and match.
Smiley" Laird Wins.
Smiley" Laird, weighing l6E
pounds, won a four-round decision
from Holman, weighing $50, in thu
heavyweight class. Both men ar,
stationed at Fort Omaha. Holman
opened fast and won the honors il
the first round. He tired after tn,
fast fighting and secured draw il
the second. The third and fourth
rounds both went to Laird, his op
ponent being badly winded at the
close.
Myers and Barney Barnham, loca
boys, wrestled 20 minutes to a draw
The men were evenly matched and
gave an interesting exhibition. Cohn
a local wrestler, although out.
weighed, won the decision in a 20,
minute wrestle from Stensbol, ar
army man. COIN was fast and the
aggressor throughout the match
The army man was frequently
Kissed for failure to mix things.
Kirby Lacks Punch for X. O.
The six-round bout between
Young Kirby, of Fort Omaha, and
a local boy named Gates was a
classy go all the way. Kirby
weighed l2o pounds TO Gates l3o
the difference between the men be.
ing made up by the speed Of the Fort
Omaha man, though he lacked the
punch to win by a knockout, and
the referees decision giving the bout
to Kirby on points was we'll merited.
Round /. Kirby started mixing from
the start, doing practically all OF the lead.
lag. About the middle of the round Gates
crossed his arms allowing Kirby to hit
him twica fat N ba faNo M
| round ended with both men mixing freely
Draw.
Round 2. Gates rushed Kirby TO the
ropes, both men mixing fiercely, Kirby
showered blows to Gates head and body
forcing him TO clinch repeatedly. Gates
was driven to his corner Kirby's.
Round g. Kirby landed left and rights
at will. but was unable to damage his