THE CHAMPION PRIZE-FIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2204, 20 August 1889, Page 2

THE CHAMPION PRIZE-FIGHT

BRUTAL EXHIBITION. [From lt Press' " own correspondent 1 Melboubke, Aagust 14. The following has been received via Albany ;— London, Jaly 12 The long-expected and much-talked-of prize-fight between J. L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain, for the Championship of the World and 20,000 dollars, was brought off m the presence of three thousand spectators, at Richburg, a remote spot 103 miles from New Orleans, on July Bth, The fight lasted two hours and a quarter, and seventy-fire rounds were fought. It seems to have been a brutal affair all through, Sullivan, knocked Kilrain down m an early round, and after this the latter frequently went down to avoid punishment. In the forty-fifth round Sullivan stamped on Kilrain, who was prostrate. Ones of " foul " were raised, but the claim was not allowed. When the. seventy-fifth round had been fought Kilrain's second threw up the sponge, and Kilrain was carried off the ring m a very exhausted state aad had his wounds dressed. Sullivan was declared to be the victor amid great cheering. During the fight ha showed immense superiority to Kilrain, the only damage he received being a slight cut under the right eye and another under the left ear. Kilrain, on the other hand, was (terribly battered abont the body, and when carried off ho wag bleeding profusely. He pluckily refused to give m, and even when his chances were at the lowest ebb he persisted m showing a bold front. Sullivan was not knooked down once throughout the fight, while he managed to fell his opponent over a score of times. According to the " New York Herald," goon after the combatants entered the ring the Sheriff of Mariton County arriyed, and informed Sullivan and Kilrain that they were under arrest. Some of the New Orleans people took the Sheriff on one side, and their arguments finally prevailed with the official, who was unsupported and alone among 3000 determined men, who glared wickedly at the would-be destroyer of their sport. The result was that the Sheriff beheld the battle from a favored seat. Wheu the fight was over much sympathy was expressed by the crowd for Kilrain. He was regarded as over-matched from tha start, and the stout fight he made won him many admirers for his stamina, although his tactics m running away m order to escape Sullivan were not relished. He felt his defeat very severely, r and wept freely after he entered his car. The referee went through the train and took up a collection for the defeated pugilist, who netted £100. Sullivan has sinoe been arrested.