Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-19
Kilbane Stops
Frush in Seventh
in Rough Scrap

Cleveland, O., Sept. 1.-Johnny
Kilbane is gray haired. 50 years old
and has a look Of age around his
eyes, but he still is the feather
weight 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, chal-
leger 10 years his junior, in the sew.
enth round of a scheduled 12-round
championship contest this afternoon.
The match was fought In the Cleve-
land American League baseball park
before a crowd of $4,000, which paid
approximately 100000 to see Kilbane,
who has been titleholder for nine
years, knocked into the pugilistic
scrapheap.
The fight developed into one of tho
toughest and most exciting contests
ever staged in the featherweight
division. 1t came near being ended
in the first round when Kilbane be-
liberately hit Frush in the groin with
his knee in retaliation for a punch
that Frush had landed low.
Kilbane, his face Redeemed with
left jabs. protested to tho referee,
Walter c. Kelly who paid no atten-
ton to him. AS he fell into a clinch,
KiIbane brought his knee up sharply
and Frush fell to the canvas, appar-
entity in pain. Referee Kelly allowed
him to lie there. Kelly walked to the
edge of the ring, raised his hand for
silence and announced:
I am not going to let this fight
end in a f1ulle. You came to see a
fight and you're going to see one"
Kelly then ordered Frush's hand
lers to carry him to his corner and
after n minutes rest, the second
round started as if nothing had hap
pened. Frush carried the fight to the
gray-haired Kilbane 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 a desperate attack that rbought
a roar of cheers when the bell sound-
ed. Neither apparently heard the
bell and they continued to fight until
the referee stopped them.
In the sixth round Frush was
fioored for a count, of nine with a
right and left to the jaw. When the
challenger struggled to his feet, Kill
bane rushed at him and again fought
after the gong.
Frush was knocked down three
times in the seventh round. He open
ed cut over Kilhane's left eye
which brought n stream of blood
across his face. This served to anger
the champion, who caught Frush
with a terrific right to the chin. The
dazed Frush fell in a heap. but man
aged to struggle to his feet at the
count of nine. With victory within
his grasp, kilbane piled into Frush
with a series of right and left hooks
that dropped him in a neutral corner
for the second time. Frush tottered
to his feet at the count Of nine and
swayed into the ropes.
Kilbane tore into his daZed onpo-
nent as he lay on the ropes, his arms
hanging Imply at his side. The
champion showered him with rights
and lefts, and Frush slid to the floor
of the ring completely knocked out.
Referee Kelly started to count but did
not finish, waving Kilbane to his cor
ner as a sign of victory.
Thousands of ringsidcrs swarmed
the ropes to congratulate Kilbane.
and fought with the police, who were
obliged to use their clubs to clear the
ring Press tables were torn down
in the wild scramble.
The match was fought in drizZle.
Dark clouds began to gather before
the preliminaries were finished, and
these were cut short so the main
bout could be staged before the rain.
Kilbane received $4,000 as his
share of the purse. He was guaran-
teed $4,000 win, lose or draw, and
was given an additional $4,000 as a
bonus for signing. F'rush got $500,
merely enough to cover his training
expenses. Kilbane did not weigh in
for the fight, but his handlers said he
was about 12S pounds. Frush was
obliged to make 126 pounds half an
hour before the match.
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