New Britain herald., 1928-02-21
MAYS GIVEN DRAW WITH KID KAPLAN
5000 Fans Dumbfounded at
 Referee MCAuints Decision

| New Haven, Feb. 21-Six thous- and fans sat in gaping amazement in the New Haven arena last night and saw Referee Young" McAuliffe, of Bridgeport raise aloft the arms of Louis (Kid) Kaplan and Bobby | Mays in token of a draw-one of the most astounding and inexplicable decisions the Connecticut ring has seen in many months.
 For moment the packed arena was silent. And then came a storm 1 of boos and jeers as the realization struck home that kaplan had been deprived of a well-merited victory. chorus continued and the huge throng was still muttering to itself as it moved toward the exits. i Decision Cruel Blow The decision came as cruel blow i to Kaplan. starting back up the comeback road after three months and a half of enforced idleness. In the opinion of majority of ring side observers the Meriden battler | had clear margin on points. Rap Ian was generally given six rounds with Mays getting two-the first and second-with the ninth and tenth even.
 Mays, a gangling left-hander from New London, fought a cautious bat tie from start to finish, refusing to mix it with the aggressive Meriden boy and running away and holding at every opportunity. At times he would flash out with left-hand at tack to kaplan's chin. but the former featherweight champion was never in danger.
 l By the way of contrast. Mays was in trouble several times. In the fifth round Bobby went to the floor for a count of eight from left hook to the jaw. In the sixth Kaplan right to the chin set the New Londoner back on his heels and threatened to send him to the canvas. And in the third and eighth Kaplan's vicious body attack had the New London boy holding tightly-knees sagging. Kaplan Forced Fight
 From any angle the decision ap- peared decidedly sour. From the start it was Kaplan who forced the fight and made the fight, such as it { was. Nays southpaw stance and holding tactics slowed the action to a walk in several rounds. and the crowd booed it's disapproval. Kaplan was away to a slow start. failing to find the range in the first and second rounds which went to Mays. Bobby jabbed effectively with his extended right and kaplan's left hooks shot over his head.
 The Meriden Mauler located his target In the third and began to pile up a margin. Starting with the third Kaplan won six rounds in 6 row with a punishing body attack that had Mays in distress several times. Mays came back toward the finish to hold Kaplan even in the ninth and tenth rounds.
 Bobby Takes Count
 In the fifth. after one of the few exchanges of the bout. kaplan stepped in with a left to the jaw that appeared to catch Mays off bal ance and the New Londoner tumbled to the canvas He immediately climbed up on one knee and, ap- parently unhurt, took a count of eight. Kaplan battered him around the ring when he arose but Bobby managed to survive the lombard ment.
 Kaplan continued to hammer the body effectively in the seventh and eighth but Mays came back Tn the ninth to hold kaplan even. In the tenth Kaplan had wide margin for half the round but Bobby. taking glance at the clock midway in the session. started to make a belated bid for the decision. Two Jabblng rights found Kaplan's chin and sharp left to the jaw spun kaplan around t-nhurt. Kaplan went wad- ing into action and was ripping a tattoo of lefts and right to the body at the bell.
 McAuliffe. rated the best referee on the Connecticut staff. stepped to the center of the ring. seized Rap lan's arm. pushed it aloft and then while the damned arena gasned if surrrise--took Mays arm and raised it over his head.
 A draw the referee ruled. and a draw it will go into the records, but it was a Kaplan victory in the eyes of the 6,nN0 who watched the mill ing.
 The PrcltminaricS
 Art Dc Champlain of Walling- ford. now under the colors of Denny McNIa hons stable lost an eight round decision 10 Mike Esposito of Stamford in the semi-final. Espos1to won four rounds. with two for the borough boxer and two even, ring side observers agreed.
 Tn the prclininarics. Bat Battalino of Hartford oltnunchod Johnny Nicciono. game New Haven feather weight. in gory six-rounder. Fran kia O'15rien of Hartford trounced George Walker, New Haven negro and rabv Doll of Waterbury, s'lb- Sti'r+irg for Soldier T'uckley of New York. outpoi"'od Irish Tommy Jar r, 1t of New Haven.