Feather-weight Championship of the World.

NZ Truth, Issue 140, 22 February 1908, Page 3

Feather-weight Championship of the World.

Honors Even. Vancouver files, by this vreek's incoming Australian mail intimate that Owen Moran, champion feather-weight of England, fought a draw with Abe Attell, champion of America for the feather-weight championship of the world. Moran was strong and aggressive, quick as a flash, and kept after Attell all the time. Attell had plenty of opportunity ,to show his cleverness m keeping away from the rushes of the Briton; Attell's punches seemed to lack force, and he found it difficult to land a blow on a vital spot. Moran's eye was blackened and his nose bled, but punishing blows to the stomach and swings to the jaw were lacking. Moran's plan was to lead with either, tight or left, ami then close m. In the clinches he fought viciously, but he did not do Attell much harm. .The? final round was most exciting. Moran seemed to take" on new vigor, and with head down he went at Attell, swinging rights and lefts. When tlie gong rang for the cTosp both men kept on fighting fiercely.. Referee Jeffries had to separate them. Jeffries' decision was. received with approval. There came near being no fight owing to the fact that Moran was two ounces over-weight. Attell had to be paid '25.0 dollars for this over-weight before he would consent to go into the ring. Moran's manager stated ill at t lie I3nglishman had /ound it extremely difficult to get down to weight, and at 11 o'clock that morning, he was compelled to do two miles of vigorous road work. While interest m the fight was not particularly exciting, and it did not come up to the standard of a championship contest, between 7000 and 8000 persons witnessed it. Referee i Jeffries said that the fight was so close tliat be found it impossible to decide m favor of oither man. He .'though Attell had slightly tlvb better lof it on points, but not enough to ■jusiify a decision m Ins favoif. ! No match m \var.r; between small fighters aroused so tremendous an in-'

terest . locally as the reputes t . between Attell' and Moran ; and despite the livanv counter-attractions the attend- 7 ante was a record breaker for a tight of its character. Betting on the outcome continued; 'brisk all "the moi'ttr-.--iii- ■'■-,-.. ,'■ , '-■"-»■ ■''-„■ v; ' '"'