The center of attention was the much-anticipated contest between Paddy Healy, renowned as the “Limerick giant,” a prominent international footballer and oarsman, and Constable Begley from Dublin, hailed as the heavyweight champion of the R1C. The crowd was fervent with excitement as the two heavyweights faced off in a six-round boxing match, promising an electrifying showdown.
As the gong resounded, both Healy and Begley took center stage, surrounded by an enthusiastic audience. The match’s preliminaries were swiftly settled, and the fighters emerged from their corners. Healy adopted a seemingly relaxed approach, while Begley seized the opportunity to land the first blow. Healy swiftly retaliated with a well-executed shoulder strike to Begley’s left jaw.
Throughout the match, the boxers engaged in heavy sparring, leading to clinches and moments of strategic maneuvering. The action-packed exchanges continued, with both fighters showing determination. However, Begley was cautioned for employing head tricks during the clinches. The first round concluded with Healy holding the advantage, delivering impactful right and left blows before the gong intervened.
The second round witnessed Begley striving to initiate aggressive tactics, but Healy’s cool and composed approach thwarted his efforts. Healy’s calculated strategy enabled him to land hits on Begley’s right jaw. The remaining portion of the round lacked excitement from a boxing perspective.
In the third round, Healy appeared to have grasped Begley’s style, and he capitalized on his left hand’s effectiveness. Begley found himself primarily on the defensive, repeatedly resorting to clinches for protection. The tactics seemed to frustrate Healy, who repeatedly urged Begley to “keep off,” a challenge Begley ignored. Despite Begley’s competent boxing technique, he was no match for Healy’s prowess in both offence and defence.
An unexpected twist emerged during the match. As the crowd cheered loudly, District Inspector Leatham addressed the audience, though his words remained inaudible to those in the rear. Meanwhile, Begley signaled to his seconds to remove his gloves, claiming that he would not continue fighting due to the crowd’s overwhelming noise. This decision, somewhat surprising given the boisterous atmosphere, led to a confrontation between the fighters.
With his gloves removed, Begley approached Healy’s corner and engaged in a conversation that was difficult to decipher from a distance. Healy responded, stating that they had agreed to fight out all the rounds regardless of the crowd’s reaction. Begley opted not to continue the match, and Healy’s second, Jim Dalton, proclaimed, “The worst man funked it.”
This incident stirred considerable excitement among the spectators, and Healy was hailed with enthusiastic cheers as he was lifted out of the ring on the shoulders of his supporters. The judges later unanimously awarded the victory to Healy.
In a surprising turn of events, the skilled pugilist Begley conceded defeat due to the enthusiastic crowd, marking a unique occurrence in boxing history. Despite the controversy, Healy emerged as the deserving winner, further solidifying his reputation in the world of pugilism.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 31 October 1905
