The New York herald., 1921-09-18
Johnny Kilbare Knocks
Out FruSh in Seventh
Fight Nearly Ends in Riot
When Veteran Kicks Rival
in Groin.

CLEVELAND, Sept. 17.--Johnny Klbane
look of age around his eyes. but he still
is the featherweight champion of the
world.
TIE Cleveland veteran OF the ring,
defe:- ding his championship for the first
time In five years. knocked out Danny
Frush of Baltimore. a challenger ten
years his junior. in the seventh round
Of a scheduled twelve round champion
ship contest here this afternoon. The
match was fought in the Cleveland
American League baseball park before
a crowd of $4,000. which paid approx
mately $4,000 to see Kilbane. who has
been titleholder for nine years, knocked
into the pugilist scrap heap.
The fight developed into ,one of the
roughtest and most exciting contests
ever staged In the featherweight -divi-
sion. 1t came near being ended In the
first round when Kilbane deliberately hit
Frush in the groin with his knee In
retaliation for a punch that Frush had
landed low.
Kilbane, his face reddened with left
ja5s, protested to the referee, Walter z.
Kelly. who paid no attention to him. As
he fell into a cllnch, Kilbane brought
his knee up sharply and Frush fell TO
the canvas, apparently in pain. Referee
Kelly allowed him to lay there. Kelly
walked to the edge OF the ring, raised
his hand for silence and announced:
Referee Explains.
81 am not going to let this fight end In
a fuke. You came to see fight ana
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 started
as II nothing had happened. F'rusn car
ried the fight TO the gray haired Kilbane
and staggered him with a left hook to
the chin. 1t was the only time that Kill
bane was in danger during the fight.
After boxing cautiously for the first
two rounds. Kllbane opened up with a
desperate attack that brought roar OF
cheers when the bell sounded. Neither
apparently heard the bell and they con-
tinued to fight until tho referee stopped
them.
In the second round Frlish was foored
for a count of nine with u right and left
10 the jaw. When the challenger sttug-
gled to his feet. Kilbane rushed at him
and was again guilty of fighting after
the gong.
F'rush was knocked down three times
in the seventh round. He had opened
cut over Kilbanes' left eye which
brought a stream of blood that quickly
smeared his face. This served TO anger
the champion, who caught Frush with a
terrific right to the chin The dezed
Frush fell In a heap. but managed to
struggle to his feet at the count OF nine.
With victory within his grasp. Kilbane
piled into F'rush 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.
Frush Knocked out.
Kilbane tore into his dazed opponent
as he hung on the ropes. his arms hang
ing Imply at his side. The champion
shewered him with rights and lefts, and
Frush slid off the ropes, falling 10 the
foor OF the ring completely knocked out
Referee Kelly started TO count but did
not finish. waving Kiibane to his cor
ner as a sign OF victory.
Thousands of ringsders swarmed into
the ring, congratu,ating Kilbane. The
fans fought with the police. who were
obliged to use their clubs to clear the
ring. Press tables were torn down by
the frenzed crowd in their wild scram-
BILE to greet kilbanc.
The match was fought In a drlzzle
Dark clouds began 10 gather before the
prellminarics were finished, and these
we're cut short so the main bout could
be staged before the rain. Big drops OF
rain began TO splash into the ring dur
ing the first round.
Kilbane received $4,000 as his share OF
the purse. He was guaranteed $50 1000.
win. lose or draw, and was given an
additional &3,cco as bonus for signing
Etf.uh rot a. zoo merely enough 10 coyar