The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-05-15
of other daus
EpWARD RoDDA VS.. J. A. MCDONALD

II By JOE L. MARhHAN' CnSif"Sn
EDWARD RODDA
Long ring battles, say 7O-round
or boxing commissions in these mod
found who would agree to 60 such
a 7O-round match, including minute
minutes. On Feb. l, 1884, Ed Rodds
rounds at the Olympic Opera house
The match consumed less than two
hours in time. Rodda won on 1oul.
And believe it or not, the boxers a1ter
sharing 60 knockdowns were fresh;
neither one showed signs OF severe
punishment; and for compenSaton
Rodda received 500 and Mcdonald SIS:
AS an additional reward, the title Of
heavyweight champion OF { Montana
was conferred on Rodda.
Both Had Big FOllowings
The Olympic was crowded: McDon-
aid had the support of the Irish fans,
and Rodda was favored by his fellow
Cornishmen. When the men signed the
articles of agreement, there was g
take place 80 days from date, with the
understanding that both men would
employ their time in the interval to
conscientious training. 1t was on 9
New Years day, that the men met at
a cafe to sign the articles. London PRIZE
rules were to govern with round end
ing when man was knocked GOWN VI
| thrown ito grass"
Doctor j. Gleason was referee; Sam
Reynolds acted as umpire Tor McDon-
aid, and Jack Jolley performed IN
like capacity for Rodda. Duncan NC
Donald, the best of Montana middle
WEIGHTS was chief second for his as
sistant. Ed Edwards and Joe Williams
were seconds to Rodda.
Needed No Preliminaries
There were no prelininaries; none
were needed to bait the fans; It was
a championship fight to the finish;
both were local men and were not
lacking in idolatry from their rsSpec-
tive Irish and Cornish groups;
A newspaper of that day attempted
to report the fight by rounds; a rev
ouence until the 18th round when the
Reporter began to chronicle four or
more rounds in groups. One paragraph
of four lines covered eight rounds. Inc
final paragraph covered ID rounds. Inc
round-by-round account OF the battle
is herewith reprinted in full:
Rodda Husky, Mcdonald Fast
they showed a marked difference IN
physique. Rodda Is young man apout
80 years of age, with massive shoulders
and chest, showing immense lung pow
er and capacity to strike terrible
blow. His weight is 100 POUNDS. his
antagonist, Mcdonald, though some
what smaller, is mpch 1,, hgh5er IN ma a.
active as a cat.
"First round-The men spared Tor
some time, each evidently measuring
the other and trying to find an open
ing for his mauler Mcdonald finally
found one, and landing quartz crush
er on Rodda's mouth sent MIN TO grass.
First knockdown for Mcdonald.
Second round-After two or three
light blows were exchanged Mcdonald
got in another one on Rodda's mug,
and again sent him to pasture: It now
looked as though Mcdonald would
have things all his own way and thaG
the Cornish boy would soon be used
up, but there was not only plenty OF
game in the lad, but tremendous pow
Third round-Rodda came to the
scratch Just a little groggy, but soon
recovered himself, and made for NC
Donald, clinching him, threw him heaV-
lily to the floor. -.
Fourth round-There was hard nit
Rodda being knocked down against
Fifth round-One or two blows
given and received by each-a Clinch
and Mcdonald thrown, Rodda falling
sixth round-was repetition Of the
Seventh round Cautious sparring
by both followed by sockdollager from
Mcdonald, which floored Rodda.
Eighth roundup to this round the
fight had been in favor of Mcdonald
but the Cornish boy had now evidently
caught his second wind and after
some heavy biting on both sides, ne
by his friends.
Ninth round-A few passes, a cllnch
and Rodda was thrown.
Tenth ro,tnd-Heavy slugging,
clinch and Rodda thrown heavily.
Eleventh round-Rodda still forced
as ever, while Mcdonald showed neither
signs of punishment nor loss of power.
This round was soon finished by Nc
Donald being knocked down.
Twelfth round-HeaVy fighting
giving and taking-and Mcdonald went
"Thirteenth round-A repetition of
"The 14th, 18th, 18th and 18th rounds
ended in Mcdonald going down each
Eighteenth round-A few passes, a
clinch and Rodda thrown.
The 10Th, Goth, 21st, 22d, 23d, oath,
25th, 26th and 9th rounds were all
in favor of Rodda, Mcdonald going
down or being knocked down.
"Twenty-eighth round There had
been some hard work during the few
preceding rounds, and each spared
some time for wind Finally, after some
hard hitting by both, Mcdonald was
knocked down.
"The 18th, 3Oth, 31st, 32d and 33d
rounds were all in Rodda's favor, Nc
Donald going down each round after
an exchange Of blows.
Thirty fourth round Both went
down in Rodda's corner:
In the 35th, Seth, 9Th, 38th, seth,
10th; 41st, 42d and 43d rounds Nc
Donald went down with but little pun
iShment from Rodda.
'Forty-fourth round Rodda was
thrown after a few light passes by each.
Neither Hurt, Foul in 10th
Forty fifth round-this was one of
the hardest fought rounds in the fight.
McDofia1d pOt I'm several very heavy