THE KILRAIN-SMITH FIGHT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 84, 24 December 1887, Page 3

THE KILRAIN-SMITH FIGHT.

THE COMBATANTS. Nothixo further has been received regarding the tough encounter between the two great pugilists. The following is a historical sketch of the men:— Kilrain, in his younger days, worked in a rolling-mill in Somerville, Mass., a suburb of Boston. He was a "gawky" country boy, and a mark for practical jokes, and this occasioned his first fight with Jack Daley, who he quickly put to sleep. His next encounter was with Jem Driscoll, a regular giant. Kilrain was badly punished, but at the conclusion Driscoll’s mother would not have known him. Denis Boach was then pitted against him, and it not until after a severe struggle that Kilrain came off the victor. The cham pion then took to rowing, and won many events. In 1883 he launched out as a professional pugilist. He was pitted against Harry Allen, but knocked him out in one round. George Godfrey, a coloured pugilist, also bad to succumb in three rounds. The next encounter, with Jim Goode resulted in a draw, as also did the combats with Charley Mitchel, Mike Cleary, and Jack Burke. After a long rest Kilrain met a giant named Jerry Murphy, who stood siz feet one and weighed 200 pounds. Kilrain almost killed his burly antagonist, and in the middle of the second round put him to sleep. In 1885 Kilrain knocked SherifP’insensible in two rounds. The match with Fryer, the British pugilist, resulted in a draw, and that with Jem M’Glynne resulted in the champion’s favour in three rounds. In 1886 he met Frank Herald, and knocked him insensible in one short round. The latter is the pugilist that at one time was going to meet bullivan. Boon after this Kilrain was hired to spar at the Theatre Comique, Philadelphia. The conditions under which he was to draw his salary were that he was to meet a fresh man every night, and. either best his opponent or send him to sleep. This he did inflicting severe punishment on those who stood up before him. Ashton the the victor of 15 battles, stood up before Jake but was easily defeated. Lannon, of Boston, challenged Kilrain to fight with skin gloves. The former was made a big favourite because Sullivan, the champion, had refused to meet him. Lannon stood up lor thirteen rounds, when a blow on the point of the jaw made him oblivious to the call of time. Kilrain’s backer then challenged John L. Sullivan, or any man in the world, for 10,000 dollars a side, the Police Gazette diamond belt, and the championship. Sullivan could not be coaxed to fight, and the match fell through. The match with Jem Smith was then arranged. It will thus be seen that Kilrain is an unbeaten man.

Jem Smith was born at St. Lukes, London, He made his advent in pugilism in 1882, when he won the boxing competition open to 140pouud pugilists in London. The same year he defeated Bob Preston, won the all England boxing competition, beat Liddord and Suavey. In 1883 he won the open boxing competition. In the same year he fought Bill Davis. It was a desperate battle, lasting nearly one hour, when Davis was unable to continue and Smith was declared the winner. Henry Arnold had, after lout teen rounds, to succumb. Smith was then matched to fight Bill Skidmore, who weighed sixteen stone. After three rounds Smith won. In the next match, against Bemioff, in 1884, Smith won alter twelve rounds. lu this battle Smith broke his arm. In 1885 he non the heavyweight boxing tournament. Smith was then matched to fight Jem Mace’s unknown, Jack Davis, for 1000 dollars and the championship of England. Four rounds were fought aud Smith was declared the winner. Thus Smith obtained the championship. Alf Greenfield then challenged him for 1500 dollars a-side. The fight took place in Pails, but Greenfield’s partisans broke in the ring, and though Smith had the best of it, the match was declared a draw, bmiih was then matched to fight Kingston, the 81-tonner. They met three times —twied in England, and once in France. The first Kington refused to fight, and on the other two occasions the police broke up the fight after two meetings. After trying to arrange another match with Greenfield, Smith issued a challenge to fight any man in the world, John L, Sullivan included. Richard Fox agreed to match Sullivan for 5,000 or 10,000 dollars and the Police Gazette diamond belt, which trophy was held by Sullivan and represented the championship of the world. When Smith accepted the challenge and agreed to meet the American champion, to the surprise and disgust of the sporting fraternity on both sides of the Atlantic, Sullivan lowered his champion colors and refused to fight the British champion, As has been before stated, the match was to have taken place in Spain, aud was to be of a very private nature. The majority of those who were to be present were distinguished Americans and a sprinkling of the nobility, including Sir John Astley, the Marquis of Queenabury, and other distinguished noblemen, Esch side was to be allowed 50 men, and the tickets were to ba £5O. Thia was the original arrangement but how far the regulations have been departed from cannot yet be said,