The New York herald., 1922-12-01
VETERAN IN LEAD
FOR SEVEN ROUNDS
Scores Knockdown in Third
and Outfights Youngster
Throughout Bout.
STRUCK Low 3 TIMES
STRUCK Low 8 TIMES
Victor Becomes Middleweight
Title Defender Under
Muldoon Ruling.
BY CHARLES F. MATHIsoN.

BY CHARLES +. MATHIsON.
Aided by q green dressing gown or
namented with gilded harps, pair Of
green shoes, green trunks and low
blow delivered by Dave Rosenberg In
the eighth round Of a bout in the Rink
Sporting Club, Brooklyn, yesterday
afternoon, Mike O'Dowd, former mid
dleweight champion, regained the
honors OF the class. In accordance
with the ruling of the New York Box
ing Commission, the veteran will be
required to defend the title against
challengers every six months or for
felt the championship.
Although ODowd gained the referees
decision at the expense OF a low blow
that laid him groaning on tho ring
floor, the old chap had won every one
OF seven rounds and was outboxing and
outfighting his youthful opponent in the
eighth--when the low blow was struck.
Referee Patsy Haley had twice pre-
viously warned Rosenberg against hit
ting low, once in the fourth and once
in the sixth, and when the Brooklynite
repeated the offense In the eighth with
such force as to completely disable
O'Dowd. the act was followed by gen.
eral outburst Of condemnation.
1t was several minutes before O'Dowd
was able to leave the ring. and then
he was cheered to the echo for the
courage and stamina displayed by him
in the contest.
To the astonishment OF The specta-
tors. a majority of whom thought
youth would be served, the aged but
still aggressive O'Dowd carried the
fight to the youngster with the great
est fury from the opening gong till the
foul blow brought the contest to a
close. O'Dowd sent Rosenberg to the
floor in the third round with a heavy
right handler to the jaw, and while the
youngster did not take a count. he was
plainly shaSy when he regained his feet
Round after round the veteran forced
the pace, bringing the blood to Rosen-
bergs nosa and mouth with stiff left
handlers and reddening the left side rib
section with swinging right handlers.
ODowd kept his opponent on the de-
fensive from start TO finish, and was so
far ahead on points at the time of the
foul that 1t was only a question Of hold
ing his own for the remainder OF the
bout in order TO be adjudged the WIN
ner. Although O'Dowd clearly was
trained fine CHS weight was 159
poundsy he did not impress one as
being over strong, and there cer-
tainly was something wrong with
left foot. as he did not seem
able to put.his weight on it when step
ping about the ring. He said he had
turned his ankle slightly in training. but
that 1t did not bother him any until he
Vat tn for
that he is nearly thirty years of age.
and has been fighting for more than
ten years he showed considerably more
speed than the twenty-five year old
Rosenberg.
O'Dowd took Rosenberg by surprise
IN the very first round, pouncing at him
and showering him with lefts to the
face and rightsato the body tlf the
Brooklyn boy backed away under the
bombardment.
The veteran continued these. tacrics
without the slightest hesitation in every
round and seemed as strong and speedy
at the beginning OF the eighth round as
when he started the battle. In view OF
the fact that O'Dowd was compelled TO
go to hospital for a serious operation in
March last year because of a series OF
foul blows delivered by Johnny Wilson
in Madison Square Garden March IS.
1921, the veterans condition was sur
prisingly good.
O'Dowd won his title by knocking out
Al Mccoy I'm six rounds in Clermont
Avenue Rink, Brooklyn. November Il,
1917. and he regained the honors of the
class in the same ring yesterday after
noon. O'Dowd proved his superiority
over Mccoy by knocking him out a Sec
ond time, the bout being staged in st.
Paul. July II. 1919. the end coming in
the third round Mike lost the title to
Wilson in twelve round bout In Bos-
ton March 6. 1920. the decision being
disputed by Impartial spectators.
Following the action of the New York
state Athletic Commission in revoking
the license OF Wilson and declaring his
title void Rosenberg was named to de-
fend the class fonc-s, and for the first
tnqe yesterday ne accepted the respon-
sibility. proving conclusively that he
was not r. worthy title holder. ODowd
can be depended on to fight anybody
who challenges, and while there are
men in the class who should defeat him
he will not sidestep any of them.