, 1896-12-03
NOT IN BOB'S CLASS.
TOM SHARKEY IS COMPLETELY
KNOCKED OUT IN THE
EIGHTH ROUND.
But is Given the Fight on a Foul
Which Nobody But the Referee
Saw-Decision Received With
Groans and Hisses-A Scientific
Contest.

Saw-Decision Received With
Groans and Hisses-A Scientific
Contest.
San Francisco. Dec. AFTER Tom
Sharkey had been practically knocked
ont by Bob FitZsimmons tonight i'm the
eighth round. Sharkey vas given the
fight on a foul. The referee claimed
that Fizsimmons struck Sharkey in the
groin as he was going down. Sharkey
was carried from the ring in an I'M
conscious condition.
At first the crowd did not seem to
grasp the situation. but when it dawned
against FitZsimmons, such a howl OF
Indignation as went up has seldom been
heard in this section. Kisses, curses,
groans and boots split the air.
On the platform, in the ring, Bob
Fj.zsimmons and Martin Julian were
jumping about trying to make them
selves heard. Although their words
were indistinguishable. their actions
were expressive enough. Dismay and
, disgust were wildly portrayed. Fitz-
simmons Indignantly denied that he
had fouled Sharkey. He said he had
ought fair and there was no tempta-
ton for him to commit a foul. as he
knew he had his man going. Sharkey
could not be seen. He was carried into
by a doctor. who examined the injured
sailor. The physician has not yet
made his report.
Ffzsimmons fighting all through
was in marked contrast to that of
Sharkey. Bob broke away promptly
from clinches and made no attempt to
strike. The New Zealander showed
himself a master of his craft. He cum
ningly kept away from the sailors mad
PUSHES. poking his long left into
Sharky's face whenever he got too
nea Sharkey could not get inside OF
hat long. thin arm. which. when it
Strengthened out, was like a bar of
steel.
|. was a lively fight from the start.
than Sharkey. and kept his man on the
move all the time.
In the very first round Fitzsimmons
saw IN opening and a right swing on
the Jaw sent Sharkey to the floor. That
made the sailor a bit cautious, and dur
ing the next few rounds he tried to keep
out of reach. In the fourth Sharkey
pushed FitZsimmons over on the floor
and before Bob could get up made a
CCuple of vicious swipes at him. FitZ-
simmons cleverly clinched and avoided
| damage, but 1t was a clear case of foul
On Sharkey's part. No claim was made,
however, and the fight went on.
In the fifth +Sharkey did more mean
! work grabbing Fitzsimmons around the
/, legs and trying to throw him. Fitzsim,
| mons began to warm up and went after
| the sturdy sailor like a cyclone. A poke
on the nose and a left swing on the jaw
sent Sharkey down. He rolled under
he ropes and would have gone off he
| Platform had not Bob ~courteously haul
ed him back. 1t looked as if Tom was
done for but the gong sounded AMI he
VIZ given a minute in which to r5cup.
crate.
In the sixth Sharkey made a pre-
tense Of fighting, leading for Bob's
wind. He missed connections every
time, however, while FitZsimmons
would land his left on the jaw. When
the round closed Sharkey was decidedly
groggy, but on his feet. A joyous shout
went up from the nan sports who had
bet even money that he would last but
six. When the seventh round opened
Fitzsimmons tried to end matters. He
swung his right repeatedly for the jaw.
but in some manner Sharkey escaped.
The left jabs always connected though,
aad Tom was decidedly on the wane.
Bob himself was none too strong and
seemed to be a bit tired when the round
closed.
Then came the disastrous eighth.
Fftzsimmons went at his man with a
will and fairly smothered his man with
lefts and rights. First 1t would be the
mouth that suffered, then the o 8 and
later the eye. Fitzsimmons was work.
ing like a demon. His long arms shot
out with amazing rapidtty and Toms
head bobbed back and forth in response.
Then Fitzsimmons got up close to fin
ish the job in a workmanlike manner.
A right half arm jolt under the chin
sent the sailors head to n side. A
left hook similarly applied sent him
over backwards. Then came the much
disputed foul. Very few Of the immense
crowd could be convinced that Fitzsim-
mons had been unfair and 1t is almost
certain that II a foul were committed