Shy of Smiting Force
Bob McAllister was the former Amateur Heavyweight Champion of the Pacific Coast, the idol of the Olympic Club, many said the true "Great White Hope." McAllister after clearing the ranks of "gentlemen boxers" had finally made the decision to turn professsional. His first three bouts he won handily against Willie Meehan, Paddy Lavin and Sailor Le Grande. But now he was set to fight a Sailor with a different cut to his jib and the distance was to be twenty rounds.
Ed Petroskey, formerly of the United States Navy, was as one might suspect no gentleman boxer, he was a rough aggressive fist fighter.
The bout took place 8 August, 1913 at Coffroth's 8th Street Arena and for twenty rounds McAllister landed three to four punchses to the Sailor's one.
"The trouble with McAllister is that his blows are too light to imbue an opponent with a proper degree of respect..In latter day boxing, cleverness only counts when it accomplishes something and the McAllister cleverness on that particular occasion compares to gold-bearing rock that shows the color and nothing more."
"When Petroskey smashed McAllister in the fifteenth round it looked to me as though the tide had turned in the Sailor's favor...As a matter of fact I felt sorry for the local lad with his distorted mouth and his deathly pale face...I was pulling for Master Bob to escape the distress and ignomy of being knocked out."
"He escaped and he earned the right to share a draw decision."
-W.W. Naughton. San Francisco Chronicle
Thus, the stage was set, for a re-match between the "gentleman" boxer and the Sailor.
"Weighed in the balance and found wanting. Such appears to be the verdict in the case of Bob McAllister, the crack boxer of the Olympic Club, who entered the professional ranks with such fanfare of trumpets and for whom such a glorius future as a ring-man was predicted."
"It took Bob's two contests with Sailor Petroskey to make evident that he is shy of smiting force...Bob ladled out raps and taps in the same fluffy manner. As an old timer remarked "There wasn't a headache in a ton of them."
"In the opening round the poor seaman's face must have been pushed aside a hundred times by straight lefts and right jolts, yet when Petroskey walked to his corner, the only thing that disfigured his mug was a grin."
"Petroskey who was agressive from first to last, sent McAllister to the floor twice in the nineteenth round. Each time McAllister arose he managed by squirming and ducking to avoid the majority of the sailor's fierce swings."
"In the twentieth and closing round McAllister steadied himself and while he did not punish Petroskey to any extent he fairly smothered him with hooks, jolts and uppercuts. He was so fast and effective that he kept the sailor from scoring. Bob did so well in fact that he evened the score and Referee Griffin's decision is regarded on all sides as the only one that have been rendered.
Thus, forty rounds, three knockdowns for Sailor Petroskey and both matches ruled a draw.
Vintage Original Full Ticket
Size: 1 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches
Condition: Fine
Price: $ 350.00
2000-3365
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