THE GLOVE FIGHT AT GREYMOUTH.

Kumara Times, Issue 2766, 3 August 1885, Page 2

THE GLOVE FIGHT AT GREYMOUTH.

[From the Grey River Argus.] The match for £lO a-side between Matthews, the American boxer, and Martin O'Louyhlin, of Brunnerton (the conditions being that Matthews was to knock hi?, opponent out of time in four threo-ininute rounds), came off at the Public Hall, Greyinouth, on Saturday evening, It was a very hollow affair,

O'Loughlin being knocked out of time before the second round was more than half over. It had been announced that the match, would be preceded by some sparring amongst local amateurs, but there are either none that affect that peculiar vanity in Greymouth or they are too diffident to set-to on a public stage. One frisky young fellow of about 70 summers gaily got on the stage and blandly invited any old chap in the room—"just for a turn." Not being able to induce any aged opponent to venture up, he used all the persuasion he was master of to prevail on some young man —anybody in fact, small or big, old or young, so long as he could get a set-to; but there was no response, and that veteran septuagenarian had to put on his coat and take his place in the crowd again. There was nothing for it then but for the two principals to go to work. Both made their appearance simultaneously on the stage, ready for the encounter. They were naked to the waist.

In the first round O'Loughlin seemed inclined to act on the defensive so as to feel what his man was like, but the American very soon went to work with his left, planting sharp straight hits one after another into O'Loughlin's face, and nimbly stepping back after each delivery. Matthews stood very erect, and was remarkably nimble on ■ his pins, apparently doing most of his work on his toes. O'Loughlin took his grueling very coolly, and pulled himself together before the round was over and began to let fly pretty freely, though he scarcely got a blow well home. The American then changed his tactics, and put a few into O'Loughlin's ribs with his right; but liis body blows were not nearly so cleanly given as his lefthanders. They were given under the guard, and he stooped to do it so much as to lay himself open to severe punishment from a smart man. However, he made it very lively for O'Loughlin, and squeezed as much hard-hitting into the three minutes as is seldom seen between two men any way well matched. Towards the latter part of the round O'Loughlin delivered one on Matthews' right jaw, at which the gallery cheered lustily; but it could scarcely be called a good square hit. O'Loughlin must have been pretty well dazed after the first round from the pommeling he had received, but he came up quite briskly for the second time. The second round was a very short affair. Matthews went to work still more vigorously than in the first, and began to show that he could fight equally well with both hands ; but the facers. were all still given by the left. When the round was about half over, and, after some sharp hitting, O'Loughlin presented the left side of his head unguarded, Matthews planted a terrific hit under his jaw which fairly lifted him off his feet and he fell full length an inanimate .mass—and the fight was over. O'Loughlin's brother immediately ran to pick him up. Matthews came forward and said that he was entitled to claim a foul for that, but he would allow plenty of time if it was wanted. When the time expired, and his opponent gave no sign, lie gave a general invitation to any of the audience who felt In the humor to have a turn. The polite request was declined with thanks, and the hall was soon empty, the majority feeling as if they had not received fair value for their money, though no one had the hardihood to tell the showman so after the sample he had given of his powei's. It was by a very long way the shortest entertainment on record in Greymouth; and the next traveling knocker-out who comes this way will probably have some difficulty in running his show at a profit.