Kelly, Sammy vs. Sears, Mike
  Flaherty, Martin vs. Gorman, Johnny
  O'Rourke, Tom (promoter)
  "Eureka Athletic Club - Long Island City"
  Pass Out

  Only two professional boxing cards were offered at the Eureka Athletic Club managed by impressario Tom O'Rourke in Long Island City, Queens, New York, both for April of 1896.  The 2 separate "Pass Outs" (labeled 1 and 2) in this collection would indicate to some experts O'Rourke was following the practice of athletic clubs of the day in promoting a series of bouts over a distinct season.  On Monday the 6th, middleweight novice James "Doc" Payne was decked in the 2nd of a slated 20 by Dick O'Brien, a Newfoundland-born boxer holding the Massachusetts state belt, in the headliner.  In a 12-rounder, the Big Apple's own featherweight Sammy Kelly took the decision over Mike Sears, and Kelly would win the 115 pound championship over Billy Plimmer in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, in March of the next year, as well as the American crown at 118 in 1898 over Johnny Murphy.  In the final event of the early April evening, Martin Flaherty battled Johnny Gorman for 8 frames, but neither combatant satisfied the officials and a draw was called.
  Attempts by Tom O'Rourke in June of 1896 to bring the Peter Maher - Frank P. Slavin fight to town as his next promotion of the series was met with resistance by both clergy and the Sheriff of Queens County, with the support of the Governor, to prevent the contest from being held, ending the promotion of boxing within the County of Queens, according to a New York Times article of the 5th of June of that year.