Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-09
JEFFRIEy CHAMPION.
Jeffries Beats Sharkey in the Battle
for the Worlds Championship.
DECIDED IN TWENTY-FIVE ROUNDS.

Jehries Had the Best OF the right In tho
First Two and Last Three Rounds
and sharkey in the Other
Twenty.
Ring Side, Coney Island Sporting
Club, New York, Nov. flames j.
Jeffries retains the championship OF
the world, Referee George Siler giving
him the decision at the end of the
twenty-ffth round over Sailor Tom
Sharkey, at the Coney Island Sporting
club last night 1t was one of the
most marvellous battles that has taken
place and the greatest crowd that ever
gathered in the Coney Island clubhouse
witnessed the desperate struggle for
supremacy.
In five rounds Jeffries had the better
Of the fght--in the first two and last
three. During the other 30 Sharkey
forced the issue and like bull terrier
was at his man with both hands un-
ceasingly. In those 20 rounds Jeffries'
great weight and Drawn helped him to
hold off the sailor and in the twenty
second round he swung in couple Of
upper cuts that made Sharkey groggy.
Tom came back again in the twenty.
fourth, but he was weakened greatly
by Jeffries' vicious blows. One minute
before the gong sounded to end the
fight Jeffries' left glove came off and
practically the contest was over. The
referee motoned to Jeffries' corner, an
American flag was flung around the
champions shoulders and the crowd
on that side and end of the arena
cheered wildly. The crowd on the OPP
posite side and end, in Sharkey's cor
ner, yelled for Sharkey and the men
were led back to their dressing rooms.
The thousands of spectators were
banked 40 feet high in the building,
the place being packed from ringside
to rafters, and the aisles around the
ring were lined. The tremendous
crowd sweated under the glare of 400
arc lights, Is feet or less from the can
vas of the squared circle. The heat
was intense. The fighters were almost
exhausted and the spectators shrieked
themselves hoarse. 1t seemed at first
as though it would be short fight,
for in the second round Jeffries put
the sailor to the ropes with left on
the jaw and the referee began to call off
the seconds as Sharkey kneeled on the
floor. But from the third round on
Sharkey, with his vicious swings to the
ribs and the jaw, kept the crowd on its
feet waiting for knockout.
Jetfries stood the terrific punishment
and, with his eye, nose and ear split,
came back just as viciously in the last
three rounds and almost retrieved him
self. Then came the unfortunate and
unsatisfactory ending, Jeffries glove
flying off, bringing the fight to an
end, although the crowd urged Sharkey
to rush in and end it.
Ten thousand spectators gathered
around the ring side. Though Coney
island was swept by a gale, the cars
came down crowded to the guards in
swiftly moving line and the sports
waded to the narrow entrances leading
to the arena. AT $50 there were 5000
in the building and later the boxes
were filed to overhowing. A prelim'
mary event of ten rounds at 1873 pounds
preceded the big event and Kid Goul-
ettee, of Rochester, who looked deal
like Jeifries on small SCALE was beat
en- by Tommy Moran, of Brooklyn.
Then, after half an hours delay, Tom
Sharkey could be seen making his way
through the crowds. He was well re-
ceived, but Jetfries was cheered to the
echo. They shook hands and shaped up
well. Jeifries led and then landed
several times, but was generally over
or under. On the other hand, the
sailor was wild, going into the fight
with both hands and swinging wildly,
but he did not land the first blow.
Again in the second round Sharkey
was Hopping around, and he came in
for a nasty left that rolled him over,
1t looked then as though Sharkey was
clearly outclassed. 0'Rourke, however,
gave the sailor talking to and to the
amazement of all Sharkey swung on
Jeffries' ribs and jaw almost at will
and there was wild audience AS the
fight went along, round by round, the
sailor fought his way into the hearts
of those who marveled at Jetfrles capa-
city for punishment. The Californian
crouched down low and though his
eyes blazed, he smiled and generally
over at 0'Rourke who was coach
ing his man over the ropes. Sharkey's
vicious punches began to tell and, at
the close of the seventh, 1t seemed as
though Jeffries could hardly walk to
his corner and it seemed certain there
,.Anld be a new champion. Sharkev's
car was spit in tine eignth ana 1t made
him like bull. He rushed, swinging
lefts and rights, and landed nearly all
of them, with Jeffries throwing him.
self over the sailor Jeffries landed
terrific uppercut in the tenth and
Sharkey's eyelid was split, but in the
twelfth Sharkey got back with hall
dozen left swings and straight right.
In the fifteenth Jetfries made bluff at
forcing, but Sharkey was at him again
like a bulldog and swung high and low
and landed almost every time he
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