Coombe Woods, England: Bill Richmond made a second defense of his World middleweight title against former English champion Inniskillin Dragoon. The match turned out to be nothing more than an exhibition of the American's skill as Dragoon badly embarrassed his countrymen.
Dragoon took the opening frame in a most un-gentlemanly way. After taking a few stiff blows to the face, the challenger dug a fowl blow below Richmond's belt line that caused great distress for the champion. The act brought only a mild admonishment from the referee and allowed Dragoon to win the round by the slimmest of margins.
Recovered and furious by the time they came to scratch for a second time; Richmond began a pattern of punishment that went on well into the afternoon. The champ snapped Dragoon's head back with stabbing jabs, allowed his man to rush wildly and countered was devastating crosses. This pattern would repeat itself time and again to the point where everyone but Dragoon could predict the action. Richmond's jab opened a cut below Dragoon's left eye in the fourth and over his right in the sixth. The champion's fists opened and re-opened the wounds with precision throughout the bout leaving Dragoon's rather prominent facial hair caked with his own blood by the bitter end. Richmond on the other hand showed scarcely a sign of battle as the final bell chimed.
The decision was the most lopsided ever seen in a championship prizefight with Richmond taking fourteen to Dragoon's one. The champion would have taken even the one save for the unpunished low blow.
Other Doings:
Tom Cribb of Gloucestershire scored a rousing eleventh round knockout over Sam Martin to claim the English heavyweight belt. The young man now sports a fine record of six victories against only one defeat. Cribb and Bristol miller Hen Pearce (who also claims a 6-1 mark) are expected to work their way into contention for the world title within a few short years.
Richmond Superior To Dragoon