The herald., 1897-04-28
DREW ACROWD
Boxing Entertainment at
Hazards Pavilion
BIG JIM JEFFRIES THE STAR
CoRBETT FITzsIMMoNS FIGHT
ILLUSTRATED
BIG jim JEFFRIES THE STAR
Ten Round Contest Between "IKid''
O'Brien and Jack Burkhart.
Several Minor Events


vilion last evening drew large crowd,
the great majority of whom turned out
in honor of the initial appearance of
big Jim Jeffries, the pride of East Los
Angeles, in his home as professional
pugilist. There were fully 1900 people
in the pavilion, one of whom was a
woman, who occupied a place by the
ringside and followed the program with
the closest interest. The first floor was
partially filled, the second gallery was
full, and the third gallery was crowded
to its utmost capacity, the most of the
spectators in this elevated perch being
bcys. The arrangements were very
good, indeed, the ring being on an eIe-
waited platform in the middle of the
floor, and in plain view from all parts
of the house.
Although the show was advertised to
begin at o'clock, it was three-quarters
of an hour later before Professor Van
Court, the instructor of the Athletic
club who officiated as master of cere-
monies, entered the ring and announced
that the exercises would open with
four-round go between DeCoursey of
San Diego and Dan Burns, both well
known in this city. They were very
evenly matched and while DeCoursey
appeared to be slightly the cleverer of
the two, the bout closed with honors
even, and no damage done on either
side.
A four-round contest between Joe
Cotton, the colored welterweight cham
pion, and Billy Gallagher followed. The
darkey is the heavier and stronger man,
but Gallagher made up iii speed what
he lacked in other qualifications, and
lively bout was the result.
The next event was a siX-round exhi-
bition between Jeffries and Billy Woods,
illustrating the closing scenes of the
championship battle at Carson. JEFF
fries, as has been stated, belongs to the
East Side, where he is generally re-
garded as the coming champion, and the
East Siders were out in force, almost
every prominent citizen of that section
being in attendance Billy Woods is the
inventor of the famous pneumatic ar
NOR about which so much was heard
during Corbett's training for the his
toric fight at Carson, both he and JEFF
fries being boxing partners of the gen.
| tleman who lost the championship in
that event. There was a general<ran-
ing of nccks to see the men as they made
their way to the ring, and as Jeffries,
clad in dark tights, jumped under the
ropes. he was received with an outburst
of applause. Woods, resplendent in
green tights and carrying his queer
looking armor, followed closely, and was
also literally applauded. While Woods
was adjusting his armor, which looks
like a compromise between a divers
helmet and an old woman's bonnet, the
crowd had an opportunity to size up"
Jeffries. There is no question but what
the Los Angeles man has improved Won
derfully during the last few months
He looks to be in perfect health, and Is
as fine looking a specimen of physical
manhood as ever stepped inside the
ropes when time was called, and the
men stepped to the center of the ring.
the improvement in the way in which he
handled himself was even more pro-
nounced, and the good opinion was en-
phasized as the mock battle proceeded
For a big man ne is wonderfully light on
his feet, and has developed speed which
was a pleasing surprise to the many
present who have known him ever since
he started in sparring for fun in Mer-
rvs place on the East Side. AS for
Woods he is a strong, clever boxer, but
is evidently not in the same class with
the Los Angeles man. The mimic fight
was pulled off according to program.
Mr. Woods properly became winded at
the right time. and his labored breath
ing would have done credit to a por-
poise, to say nothing Of the ex-cham-
pion pugiist and champion blowhard
that he was personating, Jeffries, of
course, being the star. taking the Fitz-
simmons end of it. AS the fight pro-
gressed Mr. Woods distress became
| more pronounced, and in the fatal
| fourteenth he was an easy mark for
| that awful rap on the neck, followed
| by the terrific punch under the heart,
which was the cause of his undoing.
AT the proper tiwe Woods went down,
grabbing at the rope, Professor Van
| Court, in his most dramatic manner,
| began counting off the fateful seconds,
| while Jeffries-F -Fitzsimmons walked to-
| ward his corner. A convenient rubber
had got in the right position, and when
| the cue came Woods was ready for it. He
| pulled himself to his feet threw off the
| restraining hands of his second, who