The contest lasted 15 rounds, and through that busy period Williams treated O'Keefe's head as a punching ball. ..... Meanwhile the Irishman was hammering away the best he could at Williams' ribs ... He clung to O'Keefe like a clam, used his elbow, and once 'Turned in" for a most decided cross buttock .... For a moment or two it looked as though the two men were disposed to do one another an injury. The police, however, prevented anything of this kind by stopping the contest. - Melb Age report of the Williams-O'Keefe bashing match.

Stripped to the buff they circled round,
   And jagged and swung and crossed;
To uppercut and smash and pound
   No chances either lost;
Till folks opined, in some alarm,
That they might do each other harm.


Fiercely, they swung the left and right,
   With punch and bash and clout:
Each grimly hopeful that he might
   Secure the glad knook-out.
And, as they watched the "claret" spurt,
The crowd feared someone might be hurt.


The ribs of one were bruised and sore,
   His chin was badly gashed;
The other's face was streaked with gore;
   And yet they biffed and bashed.
And someone said, "It this goes on
There'll be an injury anon."


Harder and swifter rained the blows,
   And fiercer grew the fray;
At chest and chin and eye and nose
   Each boxer biffed away;
Till cried the audience in fright,
If they're not stopped they'll start to fight!"


But on they battled, bruised and dazed,
   Scarce able now to stand;
Until the Law stepped in and raised
   A stern, restraining hand.
"Ah!" sighed the crowd, freed from suspense,
"It might have led to violence."

"Den"
The Bulletin, 12 November 1908, p28