Blood and Romance at the Lightweight Prize Fight
A local lightweight bout at the Puget Sound Athletic Club draws crowds, fueled by rumors of a love triangle between the fighters.
Thirty Seattleites came over by the Greyhound last night to witness the Billy Scott-Ed Morrissey lightweight fight before the Puget Sound Athletic Club for a purse of $400. Dick Matthews, champion of New Zealand, announced before the fight that he would debt the winner of the Thompson-Corrigan fight, and Corrigan's manager replied that Corrigan would fight him at any time. In the Morrissey-Scott fight there was something of a romance, Burke, Morrissey's trainer, having the sympathy of his friends on account of Scott being credited with stealing his girl, Miss Richardson. John Considine was chosen referee. The fight did not begin until 1:15 this morning. Scott weighed 145 pounds. Morrissey 144. The opening was lively, in Morrissey's favor. Seventh round—Scott draws first blood from Morrissey's nose. Eighth and ninth—Morrissey punishes Scott, who cannot last long. Tenth round—Morrissey wins.
“There was something of a romance, Burke, Morrissey's trainer, having the sympathy of his friends on account of Scott being credited with stealing his girl.”
Prize fighting in the 1890s was a semi-illicit spectacle that often took place in private clubs to circumvent local moral opposition. This report highlights the blend of sporting competitiveness and tabloid gossip that defined the era's sports journalism.
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