Can those who have done research give me a rundown on how this series went? Also, how were the fights received by the press and audiences? Were they considered action packed, scientific affairs or snore-inducing? Any insight welcome. Both fighters seem severely underrated.
You’ve really narrowed the potential audience for what you’re asking. It might be so nuanced that you may have to bite the bullet and do the research yourself. Maybe not. I’d be eager to know more about this too.
So, an actual trilogy between one of the 3 greatest welters and the best fighter never to win a title no response but folks can prattle on endlessly about the same, lame fantasy heavy match-ups... Got it.
Their first fight was an 8 round draw fought in Memphis in January of 1911. Many accounts say that McFarland came on late after Britton won the early going. Referee Haack's ruling of a Draw was met with popular approval. However, days later, both Britton and Haack contended that McFarland had whispered to Britton and asked him to throw the fight in the fourth round, to "take one on the jaw"... Later it was revealed that Britton was never paid and the Memphis Armory called off subsequent fights for the month. McFarland later responded that when he whispered he was only asking Britton to quit stalling and give the people their money's worth. Packy states that when he arrived at the club, the house was small. Given the weak draw, he instructed his manager to collect his purse before the bout, which irked house ref Haack, who then corroborated Britton's story.
My thoughts, too. It doesn't make sense he needed to request that Britton take a dive but then was able to take over the fight regardless.
Yeah, and during a fight? No way. Taunting him a bit, definitely. This is even more clear with all the data we have on boxing, and what typically does and doesn't go down in the ring.
Their second fight in March 1913 at MSG seems to have been overwhelmingly in favor of McFarland, 8 rounds to 2 according to the most quoted report, 9 rounds to 1 according to the Cleveland Plains Dealer, tho McFarland was the more marked fighter at the end. Some reports state, oddly, that McFarland was the faster and more clever fighter but that Britton hit harder. The Dealer states that McFarland hit harder and more often. Consensus seems to be that neither performed to their best but reading between the lines it seems to have been a contest of a lot of science, feinting and countering, which prevented sustained, crowd-pleasing exchanges. Britton's jab did great work on McFarland's nose while McFarland staggered Britton at least three times with hooks. The Dealer claims that McFarland won close in and at distance, having Jack on the verge of going several times and that Jack couldn't put over the right behind his jab. Clearly, this was a McFarland win going away. Any lack of blood and guts excitement seems to be the result of superior defense on both ends. I hope to find more clippings on this one.
Sounds like a very high level boxing IQ match! Those must’ve been more difficult to report back then as the nuances in such matches are hard to describe if you’re not watching it yourself. Now I can’t wait to read your summary on the third fight.
