Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-17
vANERbItT BEATS
LEONARD; Wills and
CoRb|N FIGHT DRAW

George Vanderbilt of Fall River hit
Young Leonard of South Boston with
every point he had when they opposed
each otherin the main event of the Au-
gusta Athletic Club show last night at
the city building, but was unable to.
put him out. Vanderbilt led through
out the fight and had Leonard pretty
we'll out at several stages of the fight
but the little chap would come back
strong and surprise the fans by his
ability to slip through Georges guard.
1t was a good fight and the fans were
yelling from bell to bell. Chick Wills
of Augusta and Young Corbin of Halo
well went through six rounds to a
draw, in a semi-final that was fast at
times. More gloves were mixed in tho
preliminary than in any other bout of
the evening and as result Sob Mes
senger of Augusta lost to Kid Chase
of Gardiner. a technical knockout be-
ing awarded the latter when Messcn
gers seconds threw in the sponge in
the fourth round. A, good crowd wa
present and everyone was more than
satisfied with the entertainment.
Eddie Polo. champion of Maine. New
hampshire and Vermont in the ban
tam class. announced from the ring
that he was ready to meet the winner
of the fight. and the management inn
mediatcly took steps to arrange the
details. Eddie wants to post forfeit
of 500 for weight of 100 pounds at ,
o'clock on the afternoon of the fight.
and Vanderbilt signified his readiness
to meet that condition. This bout
probably will be arranged for the Goth.
The main bout started tamcly with
both boys feeling out their opponent.
Vanderbilt had the reach on Leonard
and the latter decided to keep away as
much as possible. After a few OK
changes George shook Leonard with a
left to the chin. Leonard shot across
couple to the feet but Nandcrbilt's
reach protected HIM from damcsc.
Vanderbilt drove rights and lcfts to
the stomach while LEONARD was trying
to clinch. Leonard jumped up~in the
air to get to Georges chin. but Vans
left to the chin in the last minute
gave him the round.
Leonard shot a couple to the fact but
took Il barragc of blows to the body in
exchange. They snapped blows to the
face and Van slid in an uppcrcut at
the close taking the round.
Vanderbilt opened UP in the fifth and
sixth and used everything he had.
Leonard rushed. getting lcfts into
Georges face a few times in the
fourth and figth but doing no damage.
He kept pcgGing at every opport unity.
but these were few and fer between.
a. Vanderbilt did most of the leading
and followed his leads up. putting
Leonard on the defensive. In tho sixth
it seemed to many that Leonard was
foulcd as he lcaped in the air to get in
on George. TIE youngstcr was in Ggony
and tool, all that Vanderbilt could give
him but vas on his feet ct the close.
Vanderbilt had the lead all the way
in the second six. polIng his left
through to tic face time after time.
knocking out several teeth and blood
was flying in ell directions in the sec
ond. Every round was Vanderbilt s.
but the South Boston boy would draw
the crowd with him every time he took
the offensive and landed q number of
worrying blows. But that IVES all they
were and there vas no question about
the outcome. Leon2 rd seemed stronger
in the fifth and sixth than in any pre-
iiouS round and drove the more cXrc-
licnccd boxer around the ring several
times
Scmi-Final a Draw
Wills did the leading in tho first
rounds of the scmi-tinal and his foot
work kept him out of trouble in the
last rounds of the cemi-final after Cor
bin had absorbed all the punishment
the local boy could deliver and was
trying to deliver some of his own.