The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-03
FIGHT IS AWARDED
TO TOM SHARKEY
He Is Knocked Out By a Foul 10 the
Eighth Round.
TOUGH BATTLE WITH FITzsIMM0NS
The Australian and His Manager OBJ.
ject to Referee Earp, but Finally
Allow Him to Ofiiciate..Attcr a
Gamy Struggle Sharkey is Knocked
Out by Foul Blow and is Awarded
the Fight.

San Francisco, Dec. Mot since
about each other for nearly five hours
before the members of the California
Athletic club has such enormous inter-
est been aroused in a fight between
heavyweights as that exhibited tonight
at Mechanics Pavilion between Fitz-
simmons and iSharkey. Sharkey's s
personal popularity was in a measure
responsible for this, although Fitzsim-
mons reputation among the knowing
ones had not little to do with it.
The long Australian came over from
his training ground early this after
noon and rested at ,Ie Baldwin hotel
TO representative of the United AS
sociated Presses he remarked just be-
fore entering the ring: II am suffering
from severe cold, as you can see, and
1t has settled in my bones, but this
will not inter fere with my putting the
sailor to slerp in short order. l weigh
just 1liR pounds, which is more flesh
than l have ever carried into the ring,
but ] expect l shall need it all to stand
off Sharkey's bull-like rushes. 1 nope
he Will make a hurricane fight of it,
That will just be to my liking"
Martin Julian was equally confident.
He viewed FitZ's red nose with some
concern, but when his eyes dropped and
took in the Cornish mans massive
chest and shapely arms his confidence
returned and Bob will win in four
rounds" was his verdict.
Jack Stenzeler and Hickey, who as
sisted Fitz in training were beside Ju-
liam in Bob's corner both wearing black
eyes and sundry scars as evidence that
the Kangaroo had not lost any of his
hitting powers. Each of the trainers
was confident that Fitz would make a
short fight of 1t, despite the cold.
No man ever entered a ring with
more confidence in his ability to win
than did Tom Sharkey.
Il have always been short ender,"
he said, "and / have always saved
money of my friends. l am strong
enough, and heavy enough and clever
enough to whip Fitzsimmons and in
tend doing SO inside of seven rounds
ii possible. If fail it will be because
he is the best man."
Sharkey was trained to the minute.
He weighed 176 pounds, three pounds
lighter than when he met Corbett. and
many thought he was "a trifler drawn
THE SLUGGERs APPEAR.
Fitzsimmons entered the ring at 10. O3
followed by his seconds. Bobs many
San Francisco friends shrieked them
selves hoarse when tt.eir favorite ap-
peared, but their efforts were nothing
compared to the greeting which Shar-
key received five minutes later as he
vaulted into the ring.
Fitzsimmons sat quietly in his corner
and eyed the sailor, while Sharkey sur
veyed his opponent critically for the
first time.
The gloves We're inspected and laid
in the centre of the ring, but where
was the referee.
AS carp stepped through the rope
Julian eyed him suspiciously. evidently
having in mind fouls and hugging
bouts.
The cause of the delay was explained
second later when the master of cere-
monies announced that Mr.. Julian re-
fused to accept Mr. carp.
Julian secured an audience and ex-
planned that he had accepted every
reputable mans name which had been
suggested, but did not propose to take
any chances with a man who was pro-
fessedly ignorant of the rules.
Lynch, Sharkey's manager, annOunc-
ed that he had signed the articles in
behalf of Sharkey and that his man had
lived UP to them. The Fitzsimmons
crowd and he could not agree on a
man. consequently the selection de-
volved on the club. carp had been
named by President Groom, he was
here ready to oiiiciate and Sharkey was
ready to fight.
After great deal of wrangling Fitz-
simmons arose and shouted: Gentle
men: / have given in to everybody in
all my fights and / will give in to this.
Let Sharkey take the bandageS off his
hands. l have none on mine" and i'm
mediately the crowd stood up and
cheered for the Cornish man.
Sharkey's bandages were removed
and the men shook hands at 1895.
THE FIGHT IS ON.
Mr.. Earp removed his coat and the
fight was apparently on.
Round 1-They were both cautious. Fitz-
simmons followed his man, led and closed
with Shark.y. Tom led and missed. An
other lead from Tom caught Fitzsinl-
mons on the shoulder. Sharkey was very
active while FitzsimmonS seemed cool and
settled down to his dangerous crouch.
After clinching. Tom hit him on the neck.
unproductive. Fitzsmmons put his right
on the neck lightly and in the clinch
Sharkey lifted Fitzsimmons like baby
The sailor was now doing all the leading,
but a sharp hook from FitZsimmons sent
him down. A second later Bob had his
left in Toms jaw and down went the
sailor just as the gong sounded. 1t was
evident that Fitzsimmons had lost none
of his cunning and already had the sailor
in "Cueer street.
Round 2-F'itzsimmons landed stiff left
on the jaw and a clinch followed. FitI-
simmons shutIled after his man, while
Sharkey seemed ratified. 4 hard right
sent Tom reeling. but he rallied and land
ed g hot one on the wind. Tom attempted
to land left. but failed and the men
clinched This was repeated a second later
after Bob landed a stiff right Sharkey
got another hard right moment later
and clipched to save himself. Fitzsim-
was putting, Put eon1drnt Td ,o ana II io, on
the shoulder with the left and a rel
splotch resulted, and received hot one
in the jaw which stagGeired him ai,,I a. tie
playing in hard luck. as Fitzsimmons.
seemed to have him just where he wanted
hin, at the call OF time.
Round 3-Sharkey ciinched Bob ana got
simmons was met with another ci'nrh.
Fitz got in hot left on the face. but it
was not in the right spot and SHARK v
which sharkey held his own. just before
the bell sounded Tom made an ugly
swing. which. had 1t landed. would have
been papable f1nl; the snir3r bars was pnf,
shouts Of foul, and Sharkey was cau-
toned.
Round 4-F'itz led and a clinch followed.
In the break away fltZ Shipped ana zen
and as he rose Sharkey went at him ike
a hull, landing two hard blows on the
wind. Bob sent a swing blow on the neck
and as he recovered Bob followed with
another on the breast, taking hot .one
in the neck in return. A rally followed.
and the men clinched, Sharkey hitting first
in the clnch. Bob got his left in on Toms
Jaw and uppercut him on the heart. Tom
tried an uppercut and got another block
on the head. Bob warmed up and sent in
two terrific rights. closing Toms left eye.
Sharkey clawed his man on the arm and