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From The Barnsley Earwigger May 1899....John L Gardner defends his EBU title at the National Sporting Club against 39th ranked contender Sgt (Tom) Harris 5-32-1 much to the disgust of some club members and most of the assembled press....The IBU later instructs Gardner he must defend against the best available challenger in one month's time or be stripped of the belt....On the other side of the Thames, at Hollier's Gym, two highly ranked challengers Francois Marchand (20-9-1) and Bjarni Thorsen (18-2-0) meet to earn a crack at Gardner and the European championship....At the Salle Wagram in Paris, Australia's Sid Russell wins an unquestionable decision over the idol of France and No.1 European contender, Raymond Berenger, putting him down for nine counts twice...The following evening Denver Ed Martin of America gives a beating to Italy's Roberto Damiani before making him take the full count in round seven....At Caen Joe Beckett hands Deutschland's Ludwig Schuhmann his fourth consecutive defeat in less than a year....On the undercard Lucien Grognet (13st 8lb) takes the referee's nod over the new darling of Paris society Georges Carpentier (12st 7lb) after six rounds....At Limerick's Sporting Hall County Clare's own Petty Officer (Matty) Curran makes short work of Birmingham's Alf Greenfield in front of a mob of his shipmates....At almost the same moment over in London, William Ian Hague knocks out Dublin's Sean Casey sixty-three seconds into round one....