What Should Have Been But Never Was : Cuevas -vs- Palomino.

A HOTEL, A STABLE AND
A FIGHT TO REMEMBER
By Steve Maguire
The Atlantic hotel clerk, Tom McKay, quietly asked the two guests who were standing at
the desk, several specific questions. When McKay was satisfied with the answers he
was given, he directed the guests to a specific location within the hotel, then went back
to the desk. Two more people arrived and they were asked the same questions. They
too, were taken to the same location by McKay. The process continued; groups of two
arrived at the inn over a period of four hours and if they were up to par, according to
McKay, they were admitted to the same place…to wait. They weren’t waiting for a
room or a dinner table; they were waiting to be taken to a prize fight.
On November 16, 1887, a small stable in Revere, Massachusetts had been
prepared to host a World Lightweight title fight between Ireland’s Jack
McAuliffe and England’s, Jem Carney. However, the fight would need to
take place in secret, or there would be no fight at all. The local police were
well informed that the bout was indeed going to take place, however, the
authorities were having difficulty in finding out when and where. The
precautions taken by those who set up the fight were effective. The 126
pound McAuliffe, sported a record of 19-0-0 (KO 10). Most of his prior
fights had taken place in New York and in 1886, with a win over Billy
Frazier, McAuliffe was seen as the World Lightweight Champion.
Carney’s numbers, going into the fight, were 11-3-2 (KO 2). At 131
pounds, he was regarded by many as the British Lightweight Titlist.
Although the people continuing to arrive at the hotel were
being screened without problems, there was still more to do in order to get
the fight underway.
The clock was approaching midnight when McKay suddenly lit a lantern
and motioned for the crowd inside to follow him. The group eagerly went
out the back entrance and began a short walk toward a stable, nearby. Once
they arrived at the barn, they noticed a small Salvation Army band playing
at the entrance; a clever move by those in the know, to keep the police off
track. Once the audience was settled inside the shack, the fight was finally
on.
McAuliffe took control of the contest for the first six rounds, however,
Carney scored a knockdown in seven. The fight was an active one as
McAuliffe, after cutting Carney in round 10, was emerging as the victor by
round 20, yet the Irishman began to tire as the bout moved towards round
30. Incredibly, the two combatants fought on until round 40 and at the
arrival of an astonishing round 70, the fighters were still willing to battle.
During that round, Carney floored McAuliffe, however the incident was
tainted by McAuliffe’s seconds rushing in to aid their fighter. After a small
melee, the bout moved on. McAuliffe was dropped once again, in round
74, and this time, after an additional interference, McKay, fearful of the
police, urged the referee to consider stopping the bout. The request was
granted and the final result rendered was a draw.