Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-26


YOUTH wasn't served here last night
i in SO far as a decisive victory was
concerned, because both Johnny Kill
hone' who has started his ninth year as
featherweight champion, and Benny
Valger. of New York. were on their
feet when the gong tingled at the finish
~ the eight scheduled rounds. How
ever. had Slim Brennan had the au-
thority to raise the winners right arm
there was no doubt whatever It would
have been that of the contender.
A summary of the contest showed
that yalger was the winner on points.
Al no time was there the evidence
~ A knockout wallop. However, the
younester referred to as the French
Flash held the upper hand in hve
rounds, while the other three were even.
In other words. the champion did not
have an edge in a single session.
Tries Poppy" Swing
Kilbane tried his utmost to topple
valgcr into the land where the poppies
dream and cuckoos sing, but time after
time yalger's cleverness in evading the
titlebolder's terrific right smash was
evident. He either pulled his head back
Gar enough to make Johnny miss or
dropred It forward. taking the blows
n,o,,nd the neck Several times VAL
.er's chin was clipped. but on each oc-
cssion Benny was going away.
On tue other mitt. Kilbane's jaw
vas found in the range OF a number Of
Valxer's right handlers, but none Of the
blows had the power behind 1t to spill j.
Patricius.
From the outset it appeared as If Val
ger was working TO bring down Kill
b,ne's guard, so that he could get
- E;Ihopp'a chin lIC COp
t;nually jabbed stifHy to the champs
body. following up occasionally with
right handler to the midriff. But never
was Valger able to get Kilbane,s arms
down nor make John stand still long
enough to drive home crusher.
Valger stepped into the lead by out
pointing Kilbane in the opening round.
The Cleveland veteran was contented to
plsy the defensive and permitted the
New Yorker to do all the leading. This
valger did. shooting in straight lefts to
Kilbape's body.
More Jabs
Kilbane also ran second ip the second
frame. Valger continued to Jab to the
body, and when Kilbane fell into
clinches, Benny pumped away with both
hands at close quarters. Just before
the bell. as the men were about to break
from a clinch, Kilbane scored with his
first hard punch of the bout-a terrific
right handler on the cheektone. But
yalger only smiled; the blow did not
feaZe him.
The third round found Kilbane dart
Ing from his corner with rush He
started a vicious left hook, but Valger
wasn't there to stop the punch. and
Eilbane all but fell off his balance. When
they got to close quarters Benny
punched away with left and right to
The body. Aud the bell found Kibane
holding on tight. This round ended
even. Kilbane continued to. do a
lot of holding 10 the fourth frame after
Valger had opened up with left hook
10 the jaw. Then Johnny got his left
contender wary. There was very little
action, and this period also ended even.
Both appeared to have warmed up
beginning with the fifth, which went to
valger mainly through his aggressive
ness and the punishment he dealt out to
Kilbane's body. In the sixth they
again slowed up. and after a listless
three minutes, with one waiting for the
other to lead, there was little to choose
between the gladiators.
Vnlger's Best
Valger's best rounds were the seventh
and eighth. In both periods Benny
brought into play his best blows,
Switching his attack into the head, the
New Yorker attempted to clip Kilbane
with left hooks, but John managed to
take the blows high and ducked them
entirely. The champ crossed right to
Valger's chin as Benny slipped inside.