Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-03-25
FITZ WINS THE FIGHT
KNOCKS OUT CORBETT IN A
LIVELY BATTLE.
Cornishmnn Is Loudly Cheered-Big
Crowd Is Present-Estimated that
at Least $5oO,O0O Was Staked on
the Result of the Contest.
Fought Fourteen Rounds.

Robert Fitzsmmons defeated James j.
Corbett in the fourteenth round in the
contest at Carson City, New, for the pu-
giistic championship of the world. The
decisive blow was a left swing on the
pit of Corbett's stomach. He fell on his
face in the center of the ring and was un-
able TO regain his feet in the specified ten
seconds. The Californian seemed to have
shade the better of the battle UP to the
last round. He had Fitzsimmons weak
in the sixth round but failed to finish him.
Four thousand people were present. the
day was clear and beautiful and just right
for the kaleidoscope.
The result of the battle came like a bolt
of lightning to Corbetts friends, who
deemed him literally invincible. The
knetoscope should net 100000 to each
pugilist, in addition TO which Fitzsimmons
receives the purse of $4,000 and Cor
belts side bet of 5000. There were
about twenty women present. Fitzsim-
mons weighed 167 and Corbett 1S3
pounds.
Time was called at 1907. The lanky
pugilist refused to shake hands with Cor
bett. The opening sparring was cautious.
but the Cornishman soon began to force
Corbett. trying a left swing.
For thirteen rounds the two men sway
ed and shifted pythonlike around the
white rosined floor watching each other
like two great eagles. Then the bell clang-
ed for the fourteenth, and up they came
again, light-footed. wary and aggressive.
Fitzsimmons was bleeding badly at the
mouth. Four thousand spectators roared
around the ringside like a troop of lions.
Hundreds of men became hoarse and hys-
terical with bowling.
Fitzsimmons' small, ferrety eyes twin
ked in his pink and apelike face like little
bits of shiny glass as he swayed up to
Corbett for the final round.
Cham piou Is Fallen.
Corbett darted forward and drove his
long left in Fitzsimmons' stomach. The
latter grunted and swung back with three
hard raps OH the Californian's jaw. The
finish followed. like thunderbolt. Fitz-
simmons sprang forward with n great
right-handed smash over Corbett's heart.
The blow would have finished an ordi-
nary man. 1t only staggered the tremen-
dously muscular fighter. That momen-
tary stagger. however, was sufficient.
Fitzsimmons rushed in with left flush
In the pit of the Californian's stomach.
DOWn went the DlB IenOW OH Hi lOuTs.
like stricken beef. All his grand
strength had vanished Fitzsimmons,
with his face still contorted in that red
and featureless smile, stepped away at
the order of the referee, who sprang be-
tween them. With roar like that of a
whirlwind 1000 spectators sprang to their
feet, turning over chairs, crashing over
boxes and pouring hood-like down the
yellow pine slope steward the ringside.
1t is estimated that not less than $780,
600 changed hands all over the country on
the result of the fight. Most of this money
was wagered at Carson City, New York
and San Francisco. Corbett wagered
nearly 5000 on himself in addition to the
stake of $4,000 side. Fitzsimmons did
not bet any money, for the reason that he
mad none to bet. His stake money, even.
was deposited by two New York and one
Detroit sporting men. Martin Julian. his
manager, is financially as bad off as his
bfother-in-law.
The fight was for purse Of SIT, 900 and
wager of $4,000 side. the winner to
take all. 1t was announced for the cham
pionship of the world, but as the cham
pionship of the world has never been tech
nically held by one man. the title is not
generally looked upon as settled by the
fight.