GIBBONS V. DILLON.

NZ Truth, 6 January 1917, Page 11

GIBBONS V. DILLON.

'An Amerioair Account.

In a St.^Paul ring, on {November 10, Mike Gibbons proved to the complete satisfaction of trie ringsiders that, as a 10-round' boxer, he is the, superior of Jack Dillon. When the men had completed their 5 scheduled journey there was no dissienting voice.;;, Mike ■ won, arid won so far that the boxing fans of this country are satisfied he is the man to meet Les Darcy . Gibbons won oh his cleverness. He was fast and scientific aU through the bout, and Dillon's wicked swings, were wasted because'he could not land : them effectively on the Sti Paul' phantom . And, while |ie was careful to keep' out of harm's wiiy when ,piUon was on the ■aggressive, Gibbons did so much telling landing jthat he had ; a big margin on 'points.-,';! '■■•;'. -;.-;'-■'*.:;. ■■ , . >■ . When it is considered that Gibbons had much the worst of the weights,, his showing is. remarkablie.; The men, were articled to weigh m at »3 o'clock on the. afternoon o| the battle/ Gibbons / balanced trie "scales at 153% pounds, while Dillon scaled IC2 pounds. By the time they entered the ring Jack was undoubtedly heavier,! while it is- not likely tliat' Mike gained anything, as he. is, just about right at 154 pounds.

Gibbons given sis: of the rounds and Dillon three; while one. wag declared even !i , The men ; fought at top speed, and' there te no question but that each was striving his hardest to win. Gibbons was the aggressor at the start, arid the only- time that, lie did riot, meet his adversary, at least half-way was m the iOte round, wheVcjpiilon ntade a fine showing, and had Mike on the defensive. Mike has an ingenious excuse for hisj apparently weak showing' in 'the final round. He claims that m the last'stasies of the ninth round a left heok from jbUlon caught him m the eye, which "y^as wide open, and that it blinded, him long enough for Dillon to get In several telling blows. When the tenth started a similar happening temporarily blinded his lettey© and interfered with his judgment of distance,

and' to this he atributes the fact that Dillon had the better of the milling m the last three minutes . Gibbons gave a wonderful exhibition. His attack has always been noted for its sjjeed and variety, and it was so a^iit^ Dillon . But few, even among hisSSsSs't intimate friends, believed that Mike had such a wonderful .defence. His blocking and ducking were bewildering, and he moved about the ring at a gait that would have made a featherweight envious. Mike's feints for the body had Dillon guessing, and many a blow that counted reached tlie Indiana-, polis boy while he was wondering what Gibbons' npiovements meant . „

The only blood, spilled during: the fracas was\ Gibbons'. It came from his •mouth when Dillon landed a hard left. Each boxer assimilated considerable punishment m Spartan style, and there were no knock-downs. Dillon carried his chin low,, thus preventing Mike from landing one of his punches with full force on that vulnerable point.

Naturally, there is. a lot of discussion as to the probable result of ia 20---rourid encounter between the' men. Dillon had a shade m the tenth round, arid this -has caused some -to argue? oat m a protracted contest he would be too; strong and enduring: for Gibbons. The friends of the St.' Paul boxer point out that Mike, was there to box 10 rounds, and that lie let out ait be had m that time. They say 'that. Mike would box with more consideration for his reserve 'forces if he had to go a longer journey. There has been no move made to re-ariatch them, the promoters probably figuring that an expensive bout like this cannot be staged too often.. ,<■■'■■. : BATTLE BY ROUNDS. Round One: Gibbons tore right into Dillon, and scored freely with a left poke to the face;, that earned him a slight edge on the round. Jack was there with a few solid body jolts at close quarters, but was outboxed at long range. It was a busy spell. .

Round-Two: Mike startled the crowd by mixing it vigorously with Jack m the second,- and won it easily. His left was popping into Jack's face, and his footwork and blocking had Dillon ing.' Jack got. m one corking right to the chin, but Mike took it with a smile. It was another good roynd.

Round ' Three: It was Gibbons again m the third.- His constant left-hand volleying angered the Hoosier, who punched, wildly and missed by wide margins. ' Mike was working at top speed, and was so fast that Jack simply could riot get hold of him With more than one stiff blow— a. left hook to tbtstomach. . ' / .

Round Four: Dillon held his 'own m the fburth, nailing Mike with one; right to the head that hurt. He also did some leading with short lefts to the body. Mike worked right along on even terms' vyith him, but appeared to slow up a bit under the fast pace.

Round Five: Mike added to his lead m the fifth;' giving Jack a r good cuffing with botli gloves for the first half of the session. Then Dillon came strong, getting home with a couple of wicked rights. But he did not go fast e.nough to catch up.

Round Six: It was Gibbons again m the sixth, though he took a left hand on the face that shook him up jrist before thebell. His speed had Jack dazzled during most of the Innings, however.-'/; '..;•. ..•■ ' '.-.. . : ... .

Round Seven : Dillon, missed so much towards the close of. the seventh that he had to laugh himself. Alike was slipping him a good pasting, but Jack was carrying his chin low, and was not bothered at all. Mike spat a little blood from a left to the mouth.

f Round Eight: It was Gibbons from gong to gong m the eighth. Dillon lost his good humor under a shower of punches, and tried desperately with right-hand swings for the k.0.; but Mike was never present when the haymakers were started. The crowd was howling m glee at the discomfiture of the Hoosier fighter. {^ ; Round Nine : Dillon, worked a\ji the way m the ninth, and made it hitesecond even round. He hurt Mi^with some body blows, but did not make him back up. The* Gibbons boy was m there fighting back and Sending back as good as he took, using a little short right ,to the chin,, as well as his great left. ' : ■•/■'. ■; : ;. ■••■ " ■■■■■„■

■ Round Ten: Mike did not look quite as pert at the finish of the tenth . Dillon was hammering away every second, and had Mike holding and stalling to go unscathed; ; Gibbons wobbled under a couple of left hooks to the body, one of which struck so flush as to redden his entire countenance. He; was m there, though, going strong at the bell, and there was no questioning his right to the popular decision.