Imperial Valley press., 1928-08-04
By JIMMY GREENE

Shades of Joe Brown, Pat Nc
Nulty, Georgia Goodrich and a few
ore stalked through the boxing
arena last night as Homer Gaines,
Imperial colorcd flash and Billy
West, late of Pittsburgh, put on u
slashing main event, which, un-
fortunately, ended in the ninth
round when West unintentionally
fouled Gaines, giving the latter the
decision
Up to the time of the finish 1t
was Il nip and tuck battle, with
West having a shade of the best Of
it, but at the same time getting all
the battle he wanted from the little
colorcd lad who was fighting his
first main event.
There was little to choose bctWcca
the boys in the first round though
Gaines hy his aggressiveness, had
somewhat the better of it. West
worked best in tie clinchcs and beat
steady tattoo ON Games ribs, but
the Imperial boy scored few him
self, playing for the head.
West took the lead in the second,
tying Homer UP in the clinchos an |
repeating his machine-gun like
work in the ribs. BY the third round
Gaines had learned his lesson and
switched the tying up process, win
ming the round without question. An
overland right landed beautifully
time and again on the Pittsburgher ),
Jaw, .iarring him but not seriously
i hurting him.
They battlcd on even terms in the
fourth and had the crowd yelling
+ like mad as they stood toe to toe
and slugged the greater part of thu
round. West tried hard to get n
Gaines ribs again, bHt the colorod
boy held his opponent 5 arm off and
protected himself.
The fifth was West S round,
Gaines seeming 10 tire somewhat and
doing considerable holding on. Tht
i pace Of the fourth round was telling
on both boys and they slowed up
IN this chapter.
+ Gaines came out to take the sixth
i by Il wide margin and had West
looking bad as he cuffcd him here
and there, thither and von with lefts
and rights TO the head. Gaines had
regained his speed and kept away
from the Pittsburghcr, dancing
about him and refusing to be drawn
N close.
The seventh went to Wesr whc
tlied Il little long range stuff him
col Il fl.t,t ~ - 1nf
Homer in close and resumed pound
/ ing on his side. The boys were
travelling at fast gait and Wcsl
ripped half dozen terrific body
/ punches into Homer and they hurt
The eighth was rloso and went =
West by a shade. Gaines was stand
ing Up well under terrific bonn
hardmout TO the ribs and side in tn,
clinchcs. The colorcd boy forge
himself a few times in this round auo
made the mistake of shipping, hi.
greatest fault. His blows to West :.
head aud body sounded bad but die
! little damage.
Gaines Makes Coed
With the gong for the ninth rount
f'bl II 'hN > tdiIt OUT WIN Il bdu
They appeared to be somewhat
trcshencd and battlcd in the ccntc'
of the ring ON even terms. Wcs'
drove Gaines to the ropes with
series OF hard punches and Home
clincbed, West trying hard to shak,
HIM off. The end came in anothe,
cNchangc Of slugging. Both boy
started righthand uppcrcuts, West !
travelling from the floor It landc'
on tiaiurs' cup with whacE tha
could be heard all over the ringsi L.
Gaines sank to the floor writhing il
pain and Referee Tarkrtt pirkc,
him up and carried him to hi
corner, raising his hand rs the win
ncr.
Wha' the outcomr Of the figh
would have been is something TO
the fans to debate over. None ear
deny however that il was might,
good scrap, even, fast and gay
everyone a run for his money
Gaines stamped himself rs res