Mike McTigue Knocks Out Berlenbach in 4th Round by Rob Snell

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Manitoba Free Press

Saturday January 29, 1927

Mike McTigue Knocks Out Berlenbach in 4th Round

Veteran Boxer Beats Man

Who Took Title From Him

McTigue Uncovers Furious Attack in Third and Fourth; Sending Berlenbach to the Canvas Once in Third and Three Times in Fourth, Referee Stopping Bout to Save Berlenbach From Further Punishment—McTigue Shows Most Punishing Attack of Career.

(By FRANK GETTY)

Madison Square Garden. New York, Jan. 28. — Mike McTigue, the gallant old Celt who found a fountain of youth and a knockout wallop in his 39th year, knocked out Paul Berlenbach erstwhile "Astoria Assassin," in

the fourth round of their fight in Madison Square Garden tonight before a capacity crowd.

Before he put away the highly touted Dutchman. McTigue administered one of the severest beatings ever handed out in a New York ring, and Berlenbach was so terribly punished that at the finish Referee Kid McPartland stepped between Mike and his beaten foe and stopped the slaughter.From the start to the finish of the bout it was all McTigue.

The Irishman outpointed Berlenbach for two rounds. Then, when Paul opened up and started to mix things with Mike, the aging Celt swapped punches with his opponent, cutting loose with a series of right socks which

sent Berly to the canvas time- after time, until it was only the bell that enabled the New. Yorker to' survive the third round.

Paul was propped up in his corner and fanned back into shape between rounds, but in the fourth, McTlgue was over him like a tent. This was not the Mike McTigue that we knew in the old days, but a terror blown down from the Boyne .a slugger who laid in blows with both hands, careless of what little punishment the wilting Berlenbach still could inflict with his once terrible left.

McTigue the Killer

Bang, the ponderous Berlenbach went down for the count. As he struggled to his feet —sock, McTigue hit him again. Mike was a flurry of fists flying from every angle into the bewildered Dutchman's countenance.

Paul, with the cheers of a rather partial crowd still urging him on. kept struggling through the hail storm of blows, trying to land his heavy left on his tormentor.

But McTigue was not to be denied. Mike knew he had his man now and with a broad Irish grin that showed where the teeth of- his previous fights were missing, he leaped in at Paul. McTigue had declared he would finish

Berlenbach If ever the chance arose and he was seizing line opportunity with both clenched fists.

From every angle, he threw hooks and jabs as Berlenbach weakened and sagged and finally went down, helpless

in a corner.

Berlenbach Through

It was only humane for McPartland to stop the fight, but there was no doubt as to what would have been the outcome. McTigue certainly would have landed a finishing punch within a second or two for the bewildered

Berlenbach could not raise his arm.

At the start, it was not apparent that McTigue would win so easily. Berly had an eight-pound pull in the weight. Berlenbach weighed 177, McTigue 169 pounds.

Paul. made the mistake of trying to Box Mike in the first round, and the Irishman had all the better of that session. He crossed his right repeatedly to Berlenbach's head, without return.

In the second round, Paul went after Mike with some of the left-handed blows for which he once was famous as the ' Astoria Assassin," and opened a cut over the Celt's right eye. McTigue weathered the storm, however, and shook Berlenbach wtih a series of short rights to the face.

McTigue Opens Up

McTigue opened up on Berlenbach In the third and battered Paul all over the ring. He knocked him down for a short count just before the bell, and after getting up Berlenbach sank again to one knee, without being

hit. He should have been disqualified but the bell rang, and the referee helped Paul to his corner .

The end came after two; minutes and

43 seconds of modified murder in the fourth.

After the "bout, McTigue .said:

“ I ought to get into the heavyweight elimination contest now. I told everyone I'd lick the Dutchman, that they used to call the 'Mankiller,' 'but now I want a chance at the other heavyweights."