Name: Milburn Saylor
Alias: Young Saylor, Kangaroo Kid
Born: 1889-01-01
Birthplace: Stanford, Kentucky, USA
Died: 1921-11-20 (Age:32)
Nationality: US American
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Height: 5′ 3″   /   160cm
Boxing Record: click

The Indianapolis Star 19 October 1911

The street corner championship of Indianapolis still hangs in the balance; the laurel wreath is still suspended above the heads of Ray Bronson and Milburn Saylor, two of the toughest fistic gentlemen who have represented this city in the ring in many years." The bout last night at the Auditorium went the full ten rounds with both men battling at the bell, One of the biggest crowds that has ever witnessed a boxing match in this city saw the mill. As the timekeeper's gentle tap on the gong ended the hostilities a shout of approval went up that was weirdly mixed with praise for Bronson and praise for the Kangaroo Kid.

A close survey of the full ten rounds discloses the fact that Saylor had a very slight shade in one more round than the world-girdler. Every round was remarkably even and few stiff punches were delivered by either man throughout the entire mill.

The fighters were wary and displayed their skill in every department of the game. The wonderful blocking and stopping of Bronson prevented Saylor from piling up a big advantage in points, while the fact that Saylor forced the going probably turned the hair in his favor to the smallest fraction in the long run.

FIGHTERS ARE WILLING.

The fight was something of a disappointment, although, to the credit of the fighters, it must be said that if the crowd was disappointed it was no fault of theirs. Both were willing to swap swats and took chances of taking a stroll through the "Land of Nod." Saylor's swings were terrific, but Branson's defense was just as remarkable. Bronson played a waiting game and tried to force the fighting at long range. But when Saylor bored in and sought the close contact of Ray's body the "smiller" was there to exchange blow for blow, losing little in this particular style of the slam bang sport enjoyed by Milburn.

Blood flowed but little, although Bronson suffered slight cuts over each eye. The scratches were each about one inch long, and after they had been washed did not give the pugilist a very gory appearance.

In fact, Bronson and Saylor finished their little tete-a-tete in very good shape, and apparently could have progressed many more rounds without either man taking a fatal flop. The first stages were more for the purpose of feeling each other out neither man landing a punch that had any bearing upon, the ultimate result of the contest . In these exchanges, which were mostly at long range, Bronson displayed his boxing to the better advantage.

Saylor was helpless against the peculiar defense of the world-girdler. He failed to land his kidney punch, which seems to be the Kangaroo Kid's most spectacular wallop. But Saylor forged to the front and followed Bronson about the ring, trying to make him come to close quarters.

 SAYLOR BORES IN

Toward the middle of the fight Bronson grew earless of the touted infighting of Saylor and allowed Milburn to creep in with his crosses and uppercuts. In most cases Bronson was prepared and made beautiful blocks, but it is also true that Saylor penetrated this remarkable defense enough times to cause the crowd to hoot and cheer for the younger scrapper. Saylor's popularity with the crowd was evident.

After Saylor cut Bronson's eye open, the left eye, Ray realized that he had to bestir himself and commenced a hammer-and-tongs attack upon Saylor's back and stomach. He usually led with a left jab and most of these taps went home. But they lacked steam, whereas Milburn was constantly ripping through with an old-fashioned five-angered wallop. Saylor's punches' seemed to come right from the backbone. He curled up in a weird looking defense, bored in, and then unwound with a swing that usually ended upon the point aimed for. In these whips he seemed to have all kinds of power behind the wallop and put every ounce of weight behind his blows, - But Bronson somehow managed to smother most of them. He blocked the kidney punch better than Mattv Baldwin ever did, showed all the speed that Baldwin showed, going and coming, and could have battled on even terms with any other youngster in his class in the world; that is, among the little fellows who were keen" after Wolgast's crown shortly after Nelson was dethroned.

SAYLOR USES UPPERCUT.

A ripping uppercut, which penetrated Bronson's best defense, was Saylor's strong card. His crosses landed lightly. Bronson had them measured and danced away at each attempt. An underhand cross by Saylor landed in the first round very lightly, and the Kangaroo Kid tried to put the same across occasionally, throughout the remainder of the encounter, but not once did the blow bother Bronson. Several times in putting this across Baylor accidentally landed low on Bronson's body and this discounted some of the lad's popularity with the crowd.

The crowd was at high tension all through the fight and constantly cheered it’s particular favorite, At the bell Bronson jumped through the ropes and made for his dressing room, His part of the affair was over. Saylor was presented with a bouquet from some of his friends. The youngster remained in the ring for some time receiving the congratulations of his admirers.

Round 1

They came up cautiously, Bronson looking paler than when last seen in the ring, and Saylor humped over in turtle style. They clinched, Saylor sent light left to stomach, and Ray countered with right to top of head. They rushed into another clinch and Saylor tried the famous loop, but Ray blocked it. Saylor sent left to nose and rushed Ray to a neutral corner. Saylor lightly landed the loop for the first time and the crowd howled. Saylor was forcing Bronson to a corner when the bell sounded. Honors were with Bronson, with no damaging blows delivered.

 Round 2

They fiddled and Ray placed a light left on Saylor's head and repeated it. Saylor bored in and his loop punch was blocked. Ray landed five light taps on Saylor's head, but he kept coming in. Saylor rushed Bronson to the ropes. Saylor missed a wild swing for the head. Ray jabs light left to nose and they clinched. Saylor rushed again and Bronson danced away. Saylor sent hard right to jaw, and Ray sent back a poke to the nose. Bronson missed a awing, Saylor ducking into a clinch. Saylor sent another right to the jaw, but Ray blocked his loop punch. They were mixing it at the bell. Saylor had a shade.

Round 3

Ray met Saylor with left to nose as Saylor bored in. Ray sent another light left to the top of Saylor's head. Saylor was crooked over with head drawn in between shoulders. He failed to land the loop, but Bent in a stiff uppercut, which Ray duplicated an instant later. Saylor missed a wild swing for the head and Bronson failed to land a left as he was backing away. Saylor rushed Ray to the ropes and Bronson in a clinch hit him on the shoulders. The crowd called to Ray to stop holding. Bronson's round.

 Round 4

Ray jabbed light to nose and they mixed it fiercely, honors being even. Saylor sent hard left to pit of stomach and Ray shot right to face. Saylor got in the loop again. They clinched. Ray backed away after they parted and later Saylor got the loop in twice. They were mixing it at the gong. Honors even.

Round 5

Ray misses a swing as Saylor bored in. Ray sent in two light lefts to the face. Saylor chopped Ray on the jaw without a return. Saylor rushed and they clinched, holding on till the referee parted them. They came together savagely and both landed hard to the body. Saylor sent over the loop and Ray whacked him on the neck. Bronson lunged at Saylor as the bell rang and neither heard it. The round was about even, though Ray was by far the cleverest.

Round 6

They rushed to a clinch and Saylor sent right to jaw. He tried it again and was blocked. They had another terrific mixup, which was again even. Milburn sent left to stomach and Ray hit him on top the head. Ray sent left to nose and they clinched, Saylor getting in right uppercut to the jaw, Near the end Saylor again hit Ray on the jaw and Bronson hooked him to the nose, Ray was the cleverest in this round, but his punches were not as hard as Saylor's.

 Round 7

They ran into another clinch and Ray hit Saylor on the back. Saylor sent in two jabs to the stomach and Ray hit him on the nose as they broke. Ray pushed Savior away with his open glove. Saylor missed a wild swing and bored in, Ray backed away again and Saylor kept after him. Bronson was trying to make it a long-range affair and his footwork was marvelous. Saylor sent right to face and Bronson sent stiff jab to chest. They clinched in corner and Saylor sent in the loop. He also sent left to jaw. Saylor rushed and they clinched. He opened Bronson's right eye, the blood flowing freely. Ray hit Saylor on the nose and repeated it three times. They were mixing it at the bell. Saylor's round.

 Round 8

They clinched and Saylor bored in, Ray backstepplng. The crowd called to Bronson to stand up and fight Ray sent left to nose and Saylor hooked right to side. They had another whirlwind exchange with Saylor sending Bronson back to the ropes, Ray returned three taps to the nose, and missed a wild swing. Saylor ducked a vicious swing again, and sent right to Ray's jaw, Ray hooked hard left to jaw and right to wind. Bronson jabbed to nose and Saylor punched him in the stomach. This was Saylor's round by a slight margin.

 Round 9

They clinched and in the breakaway Saylor cut Bronson's right eye. Ray jabbed to the nose, but Saylor kept coming in. They had another mixup in the middle of the ring, and tugged about until the referee parted them. Bronson retreated with Saylor after him. Ray again worked left to nose, and they were clinched at the bell, struggling to land a blow without avail. The round was nearly even, but Bronson landed the most blows and had a shade.

Round 10

They shook hands and both smiled, Ray struck Saylor's nose and in a fierce clinch Saylor sent home the looper with a whack, Ray smiling. They again tugged and both uppercut. Saylor was jolted on the nose and back of the head, The blood from Bronson got on Saylor's shoulders in a clinch and also on the referee. Saylor rushed and Ray sent in left to jaw.They clinched and Saylor sent in the kidney punch, rushing Ray to the ropes Ray landed right on top of head and blocked the loop punch. They mixed it, both infighting hard, Ray landed on head, and in return Saylor landed on jaw. Saylor knocked Bronson to the ropes with right to jaw, and in a clinch Ray held Saylor's gloves, the crowd hissing. Ray landed right to head and was uppercut by Saylor. Saylor landed right to stomach and Ray again used his left to the nose. Saylor swung to face. They were near the middle of the ring at the hell. Saylor had a shade in the last round.

The Fort Wayne Daily News 15 May 1916

Milburn Saylor, the clever young Indianapolis lightweight, is pleased to attribute a large part of his success in the ring to his kid sister. It was her interest and help, he says, that kept him going in lots of tight places and he would not be sure that without her he would have made the strides he has thus far. Not so long ago Saylor recovered from an attack of pneumonia, after the doctors had assured him that he never could do it, and that if he did It would be "against all precedent.

When he was well and sound again they told him he had very little respect for the medical profession or he would have died like they told him he was going to. Saylor replied that his recuperative powers were largely the result of his road work.

This brings us around to the little sister. When Milburn first set out on  the cross-country trots he found it lonesome by himself and he also found that with no one at hand to urge him on he was disposed to slight the work. He couldn't afford to pay a trainer or a sparring partner to trot with him. At this point the little sister solved the perplexity by offering to go with him herself.

Of course, the youngster couldn't make all the long runs with him, as she was only 14 and not robust, but her good will and eagerness to help inspired Saylor more than anything else could, and they always started out together. Then if the road looked long sister would select a spot In the shade after Saylor was well underway and wait there for him, falling into stride with him on his way back. Saylor is able to have all the training help he needs now, but his young sister is proud to tell that she could, help when It counted most.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!