Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-19
WILDE LOSES fly
CROWN TO VILLA IN
WH|RLW WIND FIGHT

IoiO NTOuHus, ~. l., June lc.-tby
A. P)-Pancho Villa. fighting dynamo
from the Philippines, who was de-
throned as American fyweight title
holder but few months ago, rose to
worlds championship heights when he
knocked out Jimmy Wilde. British
holder Of the crown, in the seventh
round of a battle that was spectacular
from start to finish, despite it's one
sidcdness. A crowd estimated by the
promoters at 10000 witnessed the sec
ond worlds title to change hands at the
Polo Grounds within few weeks.
flushing and slashing with ter
rife assault that had Wilde groggy
and reeling in the first round, Villas
victory was one of the most decisive
in the annals Of worlds championship
history.
Wilde was but a shell of the once
great boxer who had held undisputed
sway among the little men Of the ring
for years. Only his marvellous game
ness and the heart of a master ringman
enabled him to last as long as he did
He stood up under the most deadly of
attacks for six rounds, bleeding from
Noeo upOut IIioulIl anu CHtchS, ana
with his right eye practically closed.
Occasionally he took the offensive but
his punches were feeble and failed to
shake his opponent.
But though his legs sagged at the
knees and his body wavered under a
devastating attack. Wildes bulldog
courage kept him in the thick of the
fray. bloody and hopeless, picture as
he was.
Time after time Villa tried to meas
ure Wilde for the county of 10, but
the Britisher took his hardest punches
without going down. 1t was but a
question of how long the titleholder
could hang on. At the end of the
sixth round Wilde rcclcd into the
arms of his handlers in his corner and
the crowd pleaded with Referee Patsy
Haley to stop the fight. But the little
Wclshman. nearly blinded and all but
out shook his head as his seconds urg-
cd him to quit and staggered to his
feet to answer the bell for the seventh
round.
Sensing victory. Villa sprang from
his corner like a wildcat. He drove
rights and lcfts to Wildc's head as the
BritisEer gave ground slowly, still
trying gamcly but incffectivcly to fight
back.
The Filipino. amazed that his op-
ponent could stand up under such an
assault, drew back and then shot over
right cross as Wilde's guard dropped
momentarily. The mighty atom" fell
like a log to the canvas ard never
quivered as he was counted out. Help
less. he was carried to his corner and
there it took strenuous work for few
minutes to revive him. lie was car
rio 20 IL,
dazcd and sblind he was unable even
to recognize his wife, who rushed to
him.
1t was another victory for youth
over age Wilde. the 31-ycar-old title
holder, was attempting come-ba ck
after two and half years of ring
idleness and he failed in the same ring
where another veteran, Johnny Kill
banc. recently lost his feathcrweight
crown TO Eugene Criqui of France.
Hardly had Villas first character
istic rush subsidized in the first round
when it was apparent that a worlds
championship would change hands. The
little Welshman seemed sluggish and
powcrlcss to check the little brown ,
fighters rushes. His eye was not clear
and he seemed bewildcred.
Wildc's knockout which came after
anu ~ StCoIuS Oh inc sew |
enth round. was the second q his ca
reer. He took the count OF 10 in his |
last fight. in January, 1921, at the |
hands Of Peter Herman, former ban
champion. in London. But |
then Wilde was outweighed more than
10 pounds
Round One-Thcy exchanged light |
swinging lefts to the face. Villa swung
hard right and lefts TO head. Wilde |
did not seem to mind the blows Wilde |
pokcd straight lefts to the face. Villa |
swung two rights to the head as the |
round closed.
Round Two-Villa staggered Wilde |
with right to the jaw and savagely |
attacked the body. Villa hit Wilde at !
will. The little Filipino was staggcr- |
ing the champion about the ring with |
blows to the head. Wilde's swings !
went wild. Villa knocked Wilde to the |
with a swing to the jaw after |
the bell had sounded and the champion |
was carried to his corner in a daZc,
Round Three-Wilde blinkcd his eyes |
and came out ready for fight. The |
champions punches lacked steam. He |!
hled at the nose. Villa evaded the |
champions blows cleverly. They ex-
changed hard punches to the body in a |
neutral corner.
Round Four-Wilde began slugging |
with the little brown boy. Wilde took |
the offensive. Wilde drove Villa to |
the ropes in rush. Villa fought him |
back with rights and lefts to the body |
and the champion was staggering again |
but he fought gamely. Wilde landed |
an avalanche of blows on the Filipino's |
head but Villa never blinked.
Round Five-Villa landed lefts to |
stomach and jaw. They engaged in a !
heavy exchange to the head. Wilde's !
sluggshncss was leaving him. Wilde's |
right eye bled. Villa swung heavy |
rights to stomach and chin. Wilde |
landed stiff right to the jaw as the |
round ended.
Round Six-The game little English |
man took heavy. punishment on the |
body. A left to the face sent Wilde |
into neutral corner. Villa |
landed blows to the body. Wilde pro- |
tested against Villas backhanded blows |
but the referee said they were fair. !
Wilde staggered from lefts to the face. ,
His face was covered with blood He |
could hardly stand. Villa rained blows |
to his head. He fell into his stool |
when the bell sounded.
Round Seven-Wilde staggered out |
He could hardly raise his hands to !
stem the tide Of Villa'e blows. He |
fought back feebly. His right eye was
closed. The stubbornness of the Eng
lish bulldog kept Wilde standing. After
taking terrible punishment, with both
eyes closed and swollen, Wilde dropped
his guard. A straight inside RICH,
swung to his jaw and he fell fiat or
his face unconscious. He was carried
to his corner and brought to his senses
after five minutes of hard work. II,
was barely able to lifht his hand. bu,