New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-18

Championship
Battle Nearly
Ends i'm Riot
Challenger Kicks Cleveland
Veteran in First Round;
Is Kicked in Retaliation

: CLEVELAND, Sept. 17.-Johnny Kill
bane is gray-haired. thirty-two years
cid and has look of age around his
eyes, but he still is the featherweight
champion OF the world.
The Cleveland veteran of the ring,
defending his championship for the
first time in FIVE years, knocked out
Danny Frush, of Baltimore, a ehallen-
ger ten years his junior, in the seventh
round of a scheduled twelve-round
championship contest here this after
noon.
The match was fought in the CIeve-
land American League Baseball Park
before q crowd cf $4,000, which uaid
approximately 100000 to see Kilbane.
who has been titlehoider for nine wears,
defend his title.
The fight developed into one of the
toughest and most exciting contests
ever staged in the featherweight divi
sion. 1t came near being ended in a
near riot in the first round when Kill
bane deliberately hit Frush in the
groin with his knee in retaliation for
. punch that Frush had landed low.
Refused to Stop Fight
Kilbane, his face Redeemed with left
iabs, protested to the referee. Walter
c. Kelly, who paid no attention to him.
As he fell into clinch Kilbane brought
his knee up sharply, and Frush fell
10 the canvas, apparently in pain. Ref
cree Kelly allowed him to lie there
and walking to the edge of the ring.
raised his hand for silence and an
nounced:
II am not going to let this fight end
q, Ar,lro
and you're going to see one"
Kelly then ordered Frush's handlers
TO carry him to his corner, and after
a minutes rest the second round start
ed as if nothing had happened. Frush
carried the fight to'the gray-haired Kill
bane and staggered him with a left
hook to the chin. 1t was the only time
that kilbane was in danger during the
fight
After boxing cautiously for the first
two rounds kilbane opened up with
desperate attack that brought a roar of
cheers when the bell sounded. Neither
apparently heard the bell, and they
continued to fight until the referee
stopped them.
Drops Challenger in Second
IN the second round Frush was
hoored for count of nine with a right
and left to the jaw. When the chal-
lenger struggled to his feet the stout
hearted kilbanc rushed at him and was
again guilty of fighting after the gong.
Frush was knocked down three times
in the seventh round. He had opened
a cut over Kilbanes left eye which
brought stream of blood that quickly
smeared his face. This served to an
ger the champion, who caught Frush
with terrific right to the chin. The
dazed Frush fell in a heap but managed
! to struggle to his feet If the count of
nine.
With victory within his grasp, Kill
hsne piled into Fgush with series of
right and left hooks that dropped him
Maneutral corner for the second time
Flush tottered TO his feet at the count
Of nine and swayed into the ropes.
kiibane tore into his dazed opponent
SIS he hung on the ropes, his arms
hanging Imply at his sides The cham
pion showered him with rights and
let's and Frush slid off the ropes, fall
ing to the floor of the ring, completely
knocked out. Referee Kelly started to
count, but did not finish, waving Kill
bane to his corner as sign of victory.
Police Used Their Clubs
Thousands Of ringsiders swarmed
INTO The rin, congraJulaJlng kllbane.
The fans fought with the police, who
were obliged to use their clubs to clear
the ring. Press tables were torn down
by the frenzied crowd in their wild
scramble to greet Kilbane
The match was fought in drizzle.
Dark clouds began to gather before the
preliminaries were finished, and these
were cut short so the main bought
could be staged before the rain. Big
drops began to splash into the ring
during the first round.
Kilbane received $4,000 as his share
OF the purse. He was guaranteed $780,
o0o win, lose or draw. and was given
an additional $4,000 as a bonus for
signing.s Frush 80. $4,000 - merely
enough TO cover mis- training expenses.
Kilbane did not weigh in for the
fight, but his handlers said he was
about 128 pounds. Frush was obliged
to make 1875 pounds half an hour be-
fore ringside.