Evening journal., 1919-03-12
echoes OF BiTILE
FROM MUSTY PAST
John c. Heenan Beat Sayers
to Pulp, But British Sports
Jobbed Yankee
REFEREE LEFT
THE BATTLE RING

10 Is not entirely beyond beiief that
lome one can be found 10 say a good
FOrd for Capt. Kidd and Jesse James
md this view OF the case Is strength
Rned by the fact that an apOlOgist has
been found for the disgraceful manner
n which John c. Heehan was deprived
4 his cleancut victory over Tom Sayers
t Farnborough, England, April g.
$50.
70 is questionable II any pugiist ever
wffered @ more thorough drubbing than
slyers, champion Of England, received
rom Heenan, champion OF America. on
he above date. Yet the records OF pu-
Eilism contain the statement that the
aattle was a draw after forty-two
POUNDS Of lighting. Instead Of being de-
Elared the winner OF the fight. and gain
,ng the wold's championship, which
As so fairly had earned, the American
siant was cheated OF his victory and
M that went with 20.
Herewith Is a lsbored attempt TO pal
tate the unscruplous action Of Savers
Ind his adherents:
Heenan loomed up head and shoul-
1ers over the English champion. But
,he latter, known as the gamest and
5ravest pugilist England had ever
Known, put up a wonderful battle
against his American opponent.
In an early round Sayers broke an
irm, but hiding his disability he fought
IN, although falling repeatedly as q re-
suit Of Heenan's blows.
1T was while the fight was stin in
progress, with each man doing his best
hat was 10 him, that a crowd Of roughs
cut the ropes, broke into the ring and
ended the battle To this day both
sides have claimed a victory and the
question Is sim fought over"
Several American writers who were
20 the rinsside and one English critic
Nho had the courage to tell the truth
are on record with complete exposures
= the scheme. The British ringside ex-
pert frankly admitted that Heenen was
-0bbed and gave the details OF the af-
'alr. He said that not only did Heensn
beat Savers % a pul2, but that the Eng
ish fghtes was unable 10 rise from
his corner at the close OF the forty
iscond round, and that his roughneck
'rIends then broke into the ring and
topped the slaughter OF their fsvorite.
According % this critic. Heenan
1oored Sayers in every round OF the
battle. and st the close Of the thirty
leventh round 10 was evident Sayo7s
vas about done Tor. His adherents then
started q riOt0us demonstration. but
Heenan ignored them and continued 70
ISN'T with accustOmed vigor.
In the thirly-eighih round Frank
Dowling the referee, for some unac-
,ountable reason left the ring and dis
appeared. The Sayers gang evidently
thought this would bring the battle 20
an end, but Heenan insisted on lighting
without q referee and resumed knock
Ing Sayers all about the ring.
As Savers declined % answer the call
for the forty-third round, Heenan's sec
0nds demanded Of Savers hackers that
they acknowledge defeat. They refused
and Heenan then made a rush at Sayers
IN his corner and a free fight ensued In
which Heenan disabled several OF the
packers Of the beaten boxer. When this
subsided Saye-s was carried from the
ring by his helpers, and Heenan leaped
over the ropes and ran a distance to
show that he was stiil In lighting trim.
There was no referee in the ring az
the close 70 give his decision. but in
spite Of the fact that Sayers by refus-
ing 10 come out OF his corner for the
foriy-third round had under the London
rules lost the 1ght the contest was de-
clsred by the English newspapers 10
have ended IN a draw.
As indicating the guilty feeling Of the
Enslishmen. they had two belts made
and presented one Of them TO Heenan.
The fact that Sayers never again went
into the ring after the fearful beating
he received from Heenan bears testi-
mony 10 the severe character Of the
thrashlng.
Although Heenan was a SIX footer, a
good boxer and a heavy hitter. Saye0s,
q smaller man but clever boxer. was
shought so well Of that he was a 1 10 >
favorite in the betting.
The Heenan-Sayers swindle was one
Of the blackest PAGES in the history OF
pugilism, and any attempted defence OF
the English action fans dat