Glove Fight to a Finish.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 114, 29 September 1892, Page 3

Glove Fight to a Finish.

PALTRIDGE AND O’BRIEN. Victory of Paltridge after Seven Lively Rounds. Great interest was displayed in this contest by a packed attendance at the Zealandia Rink on Monday evening. At 8.30 the order “ Pipes out” was given, and Foughey and the younger Paltridge gave a preliminary exhibition. The firstnamed jigged merrily, and visited his lighter opponent frequently and severely. The latter endured manfully the first round, but cried quits after some severe slogging in the second. At 9 p.m. Jack McConnell and Schofield boxed three rounds, in which the giant was merciful and the little one plucky. At 9.20 Paltridge, accompanied by his seconds Jack Nicholson and the Amateur Champion who had skilfully trained and coached his man, entered the ring. O’Brien, with the Burns brothers as seconds, speedily followed. Pickering, his trainer, was also handy. Paltridge won the toss for gloves, which appeared light and rather loosely stuffed. O’Brien scaled exactly gst, Paltridge Bst i2|lb. Jack McConnell was chosen referee, and Mr. Healey held the watch. Betting was about even,but O’Brien seemed to have the call, and money on him was going abegging. At 25 minutes to ten the men having shaken hands, time was called and business opened. Ist Round. — No time wasted in sparing Paltridge forcing from the start. Some smart counters and exchanges ended in O’Brien receiving a floorer from a cross-counter. O’Brien was on his feet quickly, and the men clenched repeatedly. Paltridge put in several good left hand stabs, but O’Brien retaliated with a good right hand swing on the cheek. When time was called Paltridge had the best of a merry round. 2nd Round. —Both came up fresh, but Paltridge continued to force, O’Brien’s policy seeming to be a waiting one. The latter tried the “ La Blanche,” but missed. Heavy exchanges, counters, and frequent clinches until time was called.

3rd Round. —O’Brien looked a bit the fresher of the two, and Paltridge sparred for wind a bit. More exchanges, clinches, left hand stabs from Paltridge and La Blanche shots from O’Brien ended in the the latter again being floored and taking his ten seconds. After some equal work time was called.

4th Round. —O’Brien again tried the La Blanche, and some quick exchanges ended in O’Brien being floored. Rallying after his ten seconds he made matters hum a bit, and the round ended with about equal points. sth Round. —O’Brien got in a heavy rib-roaster, but Paltridge replied quickly with a heavy left hander on the jaw. Both men now jigged hard, and give-and-take punishment left matters about even until after a clinch and wrestle both men fell to the floor amid loud appeals to the referee.

6th Round. —O’Brien opened with a La Blanche which just shaved Paltridge. Heavy exchanges and frequent clinches marked this round, at the end of which both men seemed good for several more rounds.

7th Round. -A sudden and unlooked for ending to the fight surprised everyone. Paltridge fought O’Brien into his corner, and landing several heavy ones, succeeded in dropping him with a real good one. O’Brien, whether from the blow or the the crash with which his head strnck the floor, did not come to time, and Paltridge was declared the victor. Remarks. That O’Brien, who recently when sick and out of form, lasted out eight rounds with Saxon, should be so easily defeated in seven rounds by Paltridge is not easy to understand. Paltridge is certainly a plucky fighter and a quick hitter. He showed coolness and good generalship throughout the contest. O’Brien, up to the last round, looked capable of repeating his great staying performance with Jack Nicholson. However, that the affair was no slint is proved by the lavish way in which O’Brien’s backers put up and lost their stuff.