The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-05

fights during his ring career.
 When asked why he was quitting the game, he replied. Its too rough game It's too much for me. I'm done." Saunders had made plans to l retire from the ring after his fight with James Pike, otherwise known as Battling" Kiirane. He had hoped to retire with a victory but fate was against him in his last fight in the ring.
 Started Sometime Ago A little over two years ago he be- gan to appear regularly in the ring. Each time he showed improvement and that he had the stuff in him and that he was game enough to come back for more. His first real fight was with Kid" Smith, Smith and Saunders fought for six rounds, bat tering each other terribly. They were fighting to settle the dispute who was the Boy Scout champion of Birmingham. Smith wn over Saun- ders, and became the champion.
 In a return bout. Saunders sent Smith through the ropes and took the title and up until today he still holds it. He proved he was the best man. for when he entered the ring against Smith in the return bout, he sailed into Smith and gave him a few les sons in boxing.
 Soon Popular l. Saunders rose to where he soon be- came a popular fighter. He steadily went up and whenever he went down in defeat, always made up the loss. j
 Saunders decided he would take a crack at the Bantamweight title of Birmingham which was held by Hor- ace Hooper. Boys club fighter. All that he got of the title was just smell-for Hooper sent Saunders down for the count in the third round. Saunders decided he didn't want the title.
 Another Scrap Next came the R. O. T. c. fight. For some time there was a big dis pute who was the R. O. T. c. cham pion. Saunders and Shook seemed to be claiming it. So they met. Shook, after taking a severe beating, when he seemed almost gone, made a comeback in the sixth round of their | fight and gave the K. O. punch and won the title. A return fight ended 1 in a draw. When Shook graduated. 1 Saunders was hailed as the R. o. T. c. bantamweight champion. For | nearly two years he successfully de- l tended his title and sent every one of his opponents down in defeat.
 Last Fight 1 Battling" Kilrane fought Saun- ! ders twice for the title and each time met defeat Then last Monday night | a week ago, he met Kilrane in a sec ond return bout and for the first time ! in two years Saunders was defeated. | Kilrane gave Saunders the K. O. blow in the sixth round of a ten round bout. Saunders had been the unde- feated R. o. T. c. champion for two years and he was hoping to retire from the ring still king of 'em all but Kilrane turned the tables on him. So he retires from the ring-never to ! return again-says he.
 Record
 Following is the record of his main | championship bouts:
 Kid" Smithr-6 rounds, K O.-lost.
 Kid" Smith-6 rounds. K. O.-Won.
 Horace Hooper, Boys club fighter l 6 rounds. K O.. third round-lost. James Pike. Boys club fighter-6 rounds. K. o. third round--won.
 James Pike-S rounds, decision-- won.
 Charlie snook-6 rounds. K. o. 9th | round-loSt.
 Charlie Snook--6 rounds-draw,
 Battling Kilrane--6 rounds-won.
 Battling" Kilrane-S rounds-won.
 Battling" Kilrane-l0 rounds-K. O. sixth round--lost
 Battling Fulton--6 rounds-won on l K. O.
 Kid" Lindbom--s rounds-won on i K. o.
 Battling" Young--s rounds-won decision.
 1 He has been in many other fights, but these were his championship l fights. His two battles with Smith | were over the Boy Scout title. His battle with Hooper, title of bantam