The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-25

simmons down. but before he could get
up the bell rang.
Round 2-Sharkey thinking that he
had the fight almost in his grasp. rushed
out of his corner like a bulldog. Fitz-
simmons still seemed to be weak in the
legs aud stood waiting for the sailor
near the ropes. Sharkey jumped into him
with right and left swings, directed to
the head but Fitzsimmons leaped into a
clinch with alertness and escaped. Then.
TO the surprise of the sailor, Fltzsimmons
began to do some rushing himself With
| right-hand smash in the region of the
heart the Cornishman made Sharkey
| stagger. Tom was in the act Of advanc-
! ing at the time and as he got the punch
he threw his arms around Bob's neck.
| Then ii was a case of mix up. both men
! swinging right and left heavily for the
/ jaw and body until Fitzsimmons, reaching
! the chin with a short right hook, made
Sharkey hang on That was a punch that
carried enough weight with it to convince
| the Cornishman that he had fair chance
here to win the fight in short order. So,
! regardless OF Sharkey's blows, which were
wild and inaccurate. Fitz piled in with
/ snort arm. effective iolts that made the
! Durly sailor reel backward to the ropes.
| SiIarkey seemed TO realize what was COM
| ing, for he began to fight with despera-
| tion. 1t was another mix up, and Fitz-
| simmons. standing in so close that his
| face almost touched the sailors counte-
nance, swung a heavy right-haRd bolt to
the jaw, which knocked the sailor fiat
upon the floor. Sharkey took a count
from Referee White. and while he did SO
F1'zsimmons coolly waited for another
chance 10 beat him down. :iegaining his
feet Sharkey began to swing again with
no judgment. and Fitzsimmons, brushing
aside the blows If they were delivered
Ivy child. dashed in with volley Of
smashes that fairly blinded the sailor.
Tee punches came from every quarter.
They landed in Sharkey'S face and
stomach until his hands dropped to his
side and he was clearly bewildered. A
double body punch almost settled him as
he groaned in a corner on the defensive.
The Final Blow Dealt.
pitzsimmons then hustled for 1t wes the
opportune moment, and with fearful left
swing that did not strafel very far, he
reached the point of the Jaw. Down went
Sharkey on all fours, the blood running
out of his mouth Referee White stood
over him ard counted the seconds with
deliberation. The big sailor tried gamely
to get up on his feet again, but it was out
OF the question. Fitzsimmons, bleeding
from the lips also, stood a few feet away,
ready to send in another finishing punch
If necessary but he was not called upon to
do anything more, for upon the tenth count
Sharkey was still struggling to get up,
and was fairly beaten.
Fitzsimmons waved his hands in the air,
and promptly spying Champion Jeffries
ct the ring side, ran over to the latter ana
asked him to shake hands. Jeffries smiled
grimly and kept his seat.
Get UP, JEFF" said FitZsimmonS land
shake hands" Then it was that Jeffries
tie cynosure of all eyes, was compelled to
arise and extend his hand to the winner
Fftzsimmons shook it cordially, but at the
same moment he cast a meaning lCok at
the champion, as much as to say, Il wish
l lad you in mere tonight instead Of this
poor sailor
So it was that Fitzsimmons got the mon
ey again, for 1t had been guaranteed to
him as he had insisted before he entered
the ring, and he was still further up the
ladder, the top rung of which is at present
occupied by the big California boiler
maker.
The crowd gave the Cornishman great
ovation he left the ring and he richly
deserved it; but there was not word of
sympathy for Sharkey, so il seemed, for
he climbed through the ropes and walked
away TO think 1t over and possibly realize
that FitzsimInons had squared accounts.
Neither man was severely punished al
though Sharkey will probably feel the ef-
fects Of the few solid whacks he received
which entitled him to the losers end Of
the purse. The time OF the round was
2:06.
Comment of the Victor.
Fitzsimmons dressed himself in a hurry
and was out of the building inside OF
fifteen minutes. He had no sears. He
remarked:
Il knew all along that / would win, |
but really. / did not think that | could |
DO the trick so quickly. l expected THAI /
Sharkey would stay at least about FIVE 4
rounds, but l am glad of the way it .
happened, for it shows conclusiyely that /
l defeated him at San Francisco level four I
years ago. l was willing to do anything I
to wipe cut that stigma. Now that I've |
get even ! am satisfied. The fight was no .
Illustration Of what l would have done had /
the battle gone further. l was in the Z
best condition Of my life. l did not get
much Of a sweat on, as you know, and ] (
was rot even well warmed up. i am de
ligated, however, that ShaTkey Is not seyi-
ously hurt for ne is a good fellow.
"Sharkey fought just the way expected
he would. He came at me with a rush
and l had no trouble in reaching him. In
the first round he caught ne lightly on the
Jaw and knocked rue down. IL was not
exactly hard blow, but enough to jar me.
The punch that did the business was the
left. made feint with the right and
as he came forward I nailed him with the
left / quickly observed as soon as my
glove landed that the smash had dazel
ShsTkey, for he began to sway back and
forth like a drunken man. Quick as
fash / hit him on the jaw again. and this
was the knockout
What do l think Of Sharkey? Well
cannot say. because our battle tonight
was too short to size him up. He is not
as good a man as I.uhlin. however. l am
going to take 4 rest. | think l need one
| don't want to say hat / want TO quit
the ring for good, for there are several
more good fights in me- and l am going /
10 make all the money l can before / get !
grey. l mean to become the champion
1f the world again. and the only man in
The way now is Jim Jeffries."
Sharkey took his defeat good -naturedly
1T was Just case of hard luck that's
ALL said the sailor. Il made a mistake
in mixing ii up. II / had followed the atI-
vice of my seconds and fought the second
round the way | die the first, everything
would have been all right. but | thought
otherwise, and ! was licked. Fitzsimmona
S wonderful fighter for an old man.
Why Jeffries is not in it with him. and II
he two ever meet / Will put my money on
Bob. He is the greatest hitter in the
gC-.@ When he landed on me | did not
snow what hit me. The blows came so
asst that l did not know how to fight him
1t all
,NE BURNED, ANOTHER KILLED.