HOCK KEYS BEATEN.

NZ Truth, Issue 65, 15 September 1906, Page 3

HOCK KEYS BEATEN.

Englishman Fred Welsh Too Good.

Towel Saves Knock-out m 17th Round.

On ;July 24- the "Chicago Tribune" published the following :—

"Hock Keys, the Australian lightweight, is matched to fight 20 ' rounds with Fred Welsh, of England, before a private club a Dayton, 0., Friday night. "Young" Erne was selected to meet Keys, but as he demanded 500 dollars, win, lose, or draw, for his services, the promoters pass him up for Welsh."

Then came this despatch :— "DAYTON, 0., July 28.— Hock Keys, light-weight champion of Australia, was decisively beaten by Fred Welsh m this city, the former's seconds tossing m a towel m the 1-Tth round to prevent a knock-out. - v

"Keys was clearly outclassed m all departments, and after the eighth round, when he was almost out from a tain of rights -and lefts to the jaw, never had a chance. He went ■ down twice m the 16th, the bell saving a knock-out, and m the following round was sent down the same number of

times. ' . • > ' > . "He was practically- out on. his first down, nothing but grit .saving him. The boys weighed m at about 132115. Kid Black, of Chicago, and Billy Griffiths, of Indianapolis, fought an eight-round draw as a preliminary. 1 "

Writing under date Essington, Philadelphia, July 17, Jack McDonald, Hock's guide, philosopher^ and friend, says :->- .

"Just a few lines to let you know how Hock and I ate. We have been waiting m New York six weeks for the Courts- to -deckle whether boxing is legal, m New York State, and it went against us, but we can't help it. Hock was matched tb fight Jimmy Britt at Madison-square G-arden on May 16, but it; fell through owtag to the Governor's action m stopping glove contests all over the State. Now we are back m Philadelphia,

and.. Hock has a match on with Young Erne at Dayton, Ohio, and gets 1000 dollars' purse tor 20 rounds' before a. private club, and I think he can beat Erne. He had a six-round go m Philadelphia with Erne, and you can' see- by the papers I sent out that, on points, he beat Erne. Erne is the cleverest sir round boy m America, and the public here would like to see him m a 20---round go, hence the match.

"We intend going on to the coast (California), as there, is no big money here East for pugs. ; but at ' 'Frisco or Los Angelos we may pick up . some money. We have had a splendid trip and enjoyed ourselves immense. This is indeed a wonderful country. We came to New York from Chicago, and have been m Boston (Mass.), Buffalo, Washington, Atlantic City, Baltimore, and all the big cities m the East. We saw the In-ter-collegiate <boat races (Harvard v. Yale) on June 25, and it was a great sight. I don't regret the trip ', if we only get -back square, without any more than our exes.

"The experience of the earthquake was m itself enough to come over here' to i go through. It was the only time on record Hock got put of bed without being called. He nearly got smothered by the plaster., and ran' upstairs to me to protect him.

"The only wonder, m my opinion, m America to-day m the fighting .game is Joe Gans ; he has them all skinned to death. Hock is .cleverer than any of. the rest, and we have challenged Nelson (winner take all), as we are willing to gamble on pur chance. Nelson sent a fellow to see Hock spar, and he went away with his niout-h open and his mind full of, .gloves. He said he saw the cleverest man he ever saw m his life.

"I am pressing on Hock's mind the necessity of cultivating a punch, and what with the nice condition he is m and the sound bodily health he enjoys, he is getting that old wallop he used to have when he first came into fiie game, and I can assure you he will give a- good account of himself with any light-weight m Amer,ica, bar Joseph Grans, and Gans can't do i-33 ringside and Hock can. Hook has just come, m off the road ; he walks and runs with Al Kaufman, who is training here to meet O'Brien next week."