Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-01
YOUNG STRIBLINC SCORES CLEAR
WIN OVER LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
CHAMP, But CANNOT have TITLE

Newark, March 31-(By A. P.)-
schoolboy boxer. decisively whipped
Mike McTigue, worlds light heavy
weight champion, in 12-round
match tonight before crowd of
more than $4,000 in the First Regi-
ment Armory.
Stribling battered the champion
from start to finish and had McTigue
on the verge of a knockout in the
10th round.
Although he gained the unanimous
verdict of newspaper men at the
'ingside, the victory did not give
;tribling possession of the light
heavyweight crown. under the New
Jersey no-decision laws a title can
not change hands except by knock
out or foul.
The fierce attack in the tenth that
almost beat McTigue into submission
followed a whirlwind ninth round in
which two sharp rights to the head
Jared the champion to his heels and
had him visibly groggy. Near the
close of the tenth, Stribling suddenly
dashed with his right as they we've
battling at close quarters. 1t land
ed flush on McTigue's chin and the
veteran rolled partially through the
ropes and to one knee. He was bad
ly hurt but rose before the referee
had counted three and rushed into a
clinch. Desperately, Stribling swung
with right and left, but the cham
pion hung on, blocked most of the
blows aimed at his head and backed
ground while he tried to rally.
Stribling. sensing that he had the
~ oh l. 4sss@
peatedly to break through McTigue's
guard but the veterans resourceful-
ness and shifty defense saved him
from further damaging punishment
until the bell.
Throughout the closing two rounds.
Stribling carried the attack in an
effort to finish the title holder but
McTigue, having tasted of the young
ster's heavy artillery, kept out of
range, blocked the Georgian's rushes
and stayed completely on the de-
fensive.
Stribling, setting a dazzling pace,
was the agressor from the opening
bell in bout that was repeatedly
marked by rough tactics, frequent
clinching and holding.
The rangy southern youth .convinc-
ingly demonstrated his superiority
over McTigue, thus settling a dis
pute that has existed since the pair
staged q riotous braWl at Columbus,
Georgia, last October, but at the
same time he demonstrated that he
lacks, now at least, a punch decisive
enough to land him in the champion
ship class.
Stribling. whose victory was a
distinct upset to the dope" that had
established McTigue a . to ! favor
lite in pre-battle wagering. outfought
the champion at the latter's own
game. The youngSter, speedy afoot
and displaying a clever defense, out
boxed as we'll as outfought his rival,
to whom he conceded ten years in
age and six years in fighting exper-
fence.
Throughout the first part of the
fight, Stribling led in with a light
ming left jab, pounded McTigue's
head and ribs at close quarters and
drove the champion about the ring
under fury of his attacks. But
though the youngster steadily piled
up points, with his over-aggressive
onslaughts, he did not seem to dam
age the champion badly. McTigue,
dancing in and out of reach, block
ing many attacks and clinching as
the other threateGed, but seldom
taking the Offensive, proved a diff
ficult target.
Once in the third and again in the
sixth Stribling rocked McTigue with
rights to the head. The champions
first real blow, a right cross, checked
one of Stribling's rushes in the sixth
and in the seventh, the Irishman
opened up with q brief drive, but
his attack was short lived
Stribl ng. who seemed to grow
stronger as the bout progressed,
while McTigue obviously grew slug
giah. forced the battling at every
stare of the last four rounds but his
best was just short of the heights he
sought.
Round One-Stribling led twice
with his left but missed. He landed
two le'is 10 the head at close quarters
and McTigue shot over his right.
Striking shot in 4 right to the jaw
and McTiSue was wild in a counter
attack. The younSster hinged in with
his left landing lightly but McTigue
came back with right to the ribs.
The youngster took a hard right to
the head after one of his lunges was
blocked. They were sparring at long
range at the bell.
Round Two-McTigue landed n
right and left to the body and they
clinched. The youngster drove in a
left to the stomach and followed with
a battery of lefts to the jaw that
drove the champion to the ropes.
Stribling blocked n right to the head
and they both protested to the ref
cree after clinch, each claiming the
other was hitting unfairly. Stribling
landed left to the jaw and they bat
tied furiously at close range. McTigue
clipped Stribling on the head with
a right but took several stiff lefts to
the body and head. The bell rang as
they were sparring.
Round Three-Stribling rushed Nc
Tigue but missed. the champion land
ed his right. Stribline snapped Nc
Tigue'S head back with a left and
easily lodged the champions counter
as they came to grips the youngster
pounded McTigues head. McTigue
took the aggressive but was set back
with a stiff right to the head and the
crowd was in an uproar. The cham
pion was missing repeatedly as they
came to close quarters. They were In
a clinch at the bell.
Round Four-Stribling stung Nc
Tigue with left jab and pounded the
champion fiercely as they came to
close range. McTigue gave ground
under the Georgian's siashing attack
but did not seem badly hurt. .strb-
ling missed right swing and took
n left hook to the ribs. McTigue took
two lefts to the head and failed t.
and a counter blow. Stribling forced
the champion to the ropes with wild
rush, landing his left several times.
McTigue was jabbing the youngster
back when the gong rang.
Round Five-They spared at long
range and the champion blocked two
OF his rivals rushes. They clinched
amid the boos of the
cra1,d AfnTicrtto 10 Mad s.irrI,4