The New York herald., 1922-05-03
Californian Feather Good
Leader Until First Sent Down
for Count of Six.
WINNER PROVES A TIGER
Champion Johnny Kilbane One
of the Thousands Packing
Great Boxing Arena.
ny CHARLES F. MArH1soN.

by CHARLES #. MATHIsON.
With Johnny Kilbane, the feather
weight champion of America, looking
on, In addition to crowd that
jammed Madison Square Garden last
night, Vincent Pepper Martin, the
featherweight pride of Brooklyn, and
one of the leading rivals of the cham
pion. scored remarkably quick vic
tory over Babe Herman of California
Martin knocked his opponent com
pletely out after l minute and As
seconds of fighting in the first round.
Up to the time of the first knock down
Herman had all the better of the con-
test. The coast boxer danced gayly
around Martin, jabbing him in the
nose with his swift left hand and oc-
casionally hitting him on the jaw with
right hook.
The Californian was scoring points at
a great rate when suddenly Martin un-
loosened one of his left hand swings
and put him down for a count OF six.
This was so unexpected that the crowd
was thrown into furore of excitement.
Martin, scenting victory, rushed to
where his PROSTATE opponent lay ready
to strike again the instant he arose.
Patsy Healy. however, pushed Martin
to neutral corner and held him there
until the Californian arose to his feet.
AS soon as Healy released his hold
the Brooklyn tiger made cyclonic
rush at Herman and beat him
10 the floor with a succession of heavy
rights and lefts. the final blow being a
left swing to the jaw. II was quite
evident that Herman would not get on
his feet. No one expected Herman to
get up after that last punch, for he
laid perfectly motionless on his back.
Kubane to Meet Martin.
While Martin was known to be a
g dangerous puncher few expected he
would reach the Californians Jaw SO
early In the game. At the same time
1t was known that any man he landed
on at almost any stage of the bout
would be pretty sure to take the count.
M view OF his quick victory over the
clever Californian Martin 10 now rated
as the logical contender for a title
match, with Kilbane. The champion
prefnised the Garden management that
hf, would meet the winner of this bout.
I Kilbane watched the two boys very
= ASlosely while they were preparing for
the contest. and he smiled as he noted
the speed with which Herman danced
around his opponent, peppering Martin
with lefts to the face. The work OF the
Pacific coast boy seemed to have Kill
bane's approval, but when the Brook
Ignite registered his first knockdown the
C1evelander regarded Martin with con-
siderable interest.
When Martin had dealt Herman the
final knockout punch there was slight
smile on the champions face.
Aside from the spectacular knockout
the most noticeable feature of the even
ing was Martins ring costume. 1t con-
sisted OF a green silk dressing gown
with his initials in gold letters on the
breast. On the back was large paint
ing of harp in gold.
Jimmy Kelly who handled Martin.
and all of the victor's seconds, wore
green sweaters with Martins name on
the breast.
The crowd In attendance appeared to
be nine-tenths Brooklynites and the
shouts for Martin when he was intro
duced indicated that his fellow towns
men were there. in great crowds.
Although the contest seemed to be
fought strictly on its merits, the loser
apparently being unconscious from the
time he got the second knockdown for
fully fve minutes later yet the scandal
mongers became active shortly after the
ring was cleared.
one man insisted that Herman had
purposely barred his jaw to Martins left
and had received $4,000 for so doing.
The person who gave out this start
ling Information had no proof whatso-
ever to back his statements and the only
comment on his mares nest was an in
credulors laugh from his hearers 1t
was pointed out to him that IL Herman
could have won the fight he would
probably have received $4,000 for
title match with Kiibane. Therefore IL
he sold himself for $4,000 It was de-
cidedly cheap.
The Fight, Blow by Blow.
At the bell TO begin Martin. shooting
iefts. fell short. Herman landed
straight right on the side of Martins
face. Herman jabbed Martin on the
nose half a dozen times without return
Martin swung n wide left that circled
through the air and landed on the side
OF Hernan's Jaw and sent him sprawl
ing to the canvas on his back. Herman
got on his feet at the count of six.
Referee Healy pushing Martin to a neu-
As soon as Herman was in fighting
position again Martin madea rush at
his opponent and swung with both
hands Herman tried 10 get out OF
range. hut the attack OF the Brooklyn
boy was so fierce that the Californian
was unable To defend himself. Another
heavy left hand swing collided with
Herman's jaw and once again he meas
ured his length on the canvas. This
time he laid quite still and at the end
OF the count of ten he did not move.
Iicrman's seconds dragged him TO his
corner Martin assisting him. and the
defeated man was dropped on his stool.
but was unable to sit up. His feet
doubled urder him and he would have
fallen TO the floor had not his seconds
held him In place. II was fully five
minutes before he recovered from the
effects OF the knockout punch and was
x%,s 20 leave the ring.
Martin ran across the ring and shook
tss defeated man by the hand. after
which the Brooklyn boy was carried to