The Washington herald., 1921-02-04
1000 FANS See
fine CARD STAGED
in FORT MYER RING
Costa Has Edge in Head.
liner, Despite Referees
Verdict.
by IL. NJ. HELGESEN.

Shorty McCann, "the pride of Fort
Myer." took a ten-yound beating at
the hands of Mike COSTA, of Camp
Meade, but by the grace of a ref
eree's decision was given a draw
in the headhner Of the boxing show
held under the auspices Of the Fort
Myer Athletic Association in the
Riding Hall at the post last night
In the neighborhood of 1000 people
attended the show and everyone OF
them, some of them of the fair sex
got their moneys worth.
Costa, despite the referees deci-
sion. got the edge in six rounds
other was even.
McCsnn Had Hands Full.
1t was evident that Mccain, short,
stocky. well-knitted and husky for
his l2O pounds. as announced from
the ring, had his hands full with the
taller, slightly heavier and faster
opponent. Costa weighed in at I22
ringside. In addition to weight he
had a three-inch reach on the Fort
Myer boy, and this, added to his
speed and science, is what gave him
the edge.
The first round was even. Neither
battler opened up. but even this
early the Camp Meade boys longer
reach made 1t evident that Shorty
would have to bore in IL he was to
retain his honors at the Post.
The second stanza was undoubtedly
the Camp Meade boys as he opened
up and hit Shorty with everything
but the ring posts and the bell,
which were tied down.
In the third McCann showed at his
best and but for the bell probably
would have won the battle, as the
referee failed to allow a claim of
foul which Costa made. Eight sec
onds before this round ended Costa
doubled up like jack-knife and
fell to the resined floor, claiming
he had been hit below the belt. He
was out to all intents and purpoces
and would have been counted out
had not the bell saved him at eight.
The referee declared the blow in
question was not low and that NC
Cam must be credited with a
knock down. This was Shorty's
only chance of winning except in
the final session, when in a last
round effort to knock out his man
he won the round and a draw from
the referee.
Last Round whirIwind.
This last round was a whirIwind
From bell to bell it was Madison
Square Garden stuff and though
Shorty's effort fell short he must
be given credit for a wonderful
comeback.
Before this final session ended
Costa was on the verge of being
groggy and if Shorty had had a
r"aI punch reserved for the final
stanza he probably would have been
returned the winner. However. he
lacked the drive and failed.
But don't let anyone tell you
that Shorty can't take punishment
He took it last night and showed
his real class in that final effort
which fell short.
This Costa. a protege of Banty
Sharpe, boxing instructor at CamI
Meade, is a clever boy and un-
5oubtedly deserved the decision
But he, too. lacks the final punch
Roy Snyder, subbing for Johnny
Conroy, of Camp Meade, who was
injured yesterday and failed tc
show up for the fight, and Stanley
Trazach. OF Fort Myer, put up the
best argument next to the mair
bout. Snyder was given the decI'
sion
Five other fights were on the
program, all of them ending in
knockouts, three of them technical
Lightning Sparks got a technica,
X. o. over Pug Afford after two
minutes of fighting in the first
round. Battling Reynolds K. or
Corp. LaMotte in the first minute
of the second round.
Paul Hafft got a technical knock
out verdict over Hard-Boiled Kettle
when Hard Boiled's second. threw in
the sponge in the second round. Kid
Halderman, of Fort Myer, X. o. d
Young Bonner. of Camp Meade, aft
er two minutes and FIVE seconds
fighting the first round.
Battling Myers, of Camp Meade,
scored a technical Knockout over
Irish Flynn, of Fort Myer, when the
Irishman had his hand broken in
the first round. Nick Altrock ref
creed the first bout. Johnny Con-
roy, Washington fighter, refereed
the next four, and Stanley Burdick
refereed the semi-final and the main
bout.