The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-25
And Then Sent Him to the Floor for
Good with Singing Left
Hook on the Jaws
FIGHT WAS LONG DELAYED
REFEREE WHITE FORCED THE
CLUB TO PAY HIM $500,
And Fitzsimmons, with m Eye to
Business, Demanded a Sight of
the $25,OOO Purse.


sensibility in less than two rounds is the
story in brief of Thomas Sharkey's meet
ing with Robert Fitzsimmons at the Coney
Island Sporting Club tonight. Fitzsim-
mons was the victor, Sharkey the loser.
Fitzsimmons said all along that when the
opportunity presented itself he would prove
and settle accounts for the injustice done
him when he met Sharkey in California
four years ago. Sharkey was equally con-
fident that he would prove to be Fitzsim-
mons's master in the ring, but the result
of to-night's battle and the brevity of it
proved that Fitzsimmons is still a great
fighter, and able to beat the best of the
heavyweights. He has beaten Corbett, Ruh-
lin and Sharkey.
Fitzsimmons was decided favorite in
the betting, owing to his showing with
Ruhlin a short time ago. His defeat of Ruh-
lin on that occasion and the previous vic
tory of Rubin over Sharkey a few weeks
earlier were figured on as showing that
Fitzsimmons ought to whip the sailor on
this occasion. When the men met tonight
both of them declared themselves to be in
first-class condition, and they certainly
looked it. Fitzsimmons had taken on a few
pounds in weight since his meeting with
Rubin. but neither he nor Sharkey would
tell his actual weight, but Sharkey looked
TO be about twenty pounds the heavier.
When the men came together Sharkey as
sumed the aggressive, rushing fiercely and
swinging wildly. Fitzsimmons had no diff
ficuity in side-stepping out of the way. Bob
soon began feinting Sharkey into leads, and
when the sailor tried his round arm blows
he left himself open, of which Fitzsimmons
was quick to take advantage as he stepped
inside and put powerful right and left
smashes on the sailors body and neck. He
stabbed Sharkey with his left, making the
sailor lose his temper, then Sharkey rushed
mora wildly than before. missing most of
the swings which Fitzsimmons was getting
to him in great force and using both hands
SHARKEY'S ONLY CHANCE.
At the close of the round Sharkey, with
a terrific left swing which landed on the
shoulder and neck, put Fitzsimmons down
TO the floor of the ring and Tom fell over
him in his mad rush. Tom regained his
feet quickly, but the bell rang. with Fitz-
simmons still on the floor. The spectators
were cheering like wild men, and when
Fitzsimmons got to his feet the men shaped
TO go for each other, evidently not having
heard the bell amid the uproar The ref
cree rushed between them, sending them
TOT heir nd iS uyha
says he would have finished Fitzsimmons
had he had ten seconds NOR.
In the second round Sharkey having
gained confidence from his knocking Fitz-
simmons down in the preceding round
went for his man as if to annihilate him,
but Fitzsimmons, having the cooler head
and better judgment, outgeneraled the
younger man, who seemed to lose all con-
troll Of himself in his frantic endeavors to-
land on FitZsimmons. Fitzsimmons stepped
in with crushing right to the body and a
ready left TO the jaw, while the best Shar-
key could do was TO swing his left, which
landed on FitZsimmons's back. There was
fearful force behind his blow, as Fitzsim-
mons said after the fight was over that he
felt as If he had been hit with pickax in
the small Of the back. Fitzsimmons's
GOODNESS never forsook him and he watched
Sharkey's wild efforts with evident salts
faction, as the sailor was leaving himself
very open. Fitzsimmons stepped into him
and literally battered Sharkey down with
rights the body and lefts and rights on
the head.
Sharkey took the count and came I'D
groggy. He staggered back to the ropes.
with Fitzsimmons hot after him. Sharkey
was then unable to protect himself and
Fitzsimmons sent that fearful right once
more to the body, following ii up with a
right and left to the body Sharkey
wobbled. but still had strength enough TO
keep on his feet. Fitzsimmons stepped in
again with another right on the body, fol-
lowing twice with rights and lefts on the
head, and finished his work and the fight
with a singing left hook on the Jaw, which
sent Sharkey down and out. 1t was a
short, but hard. fight, in which Fitzsim-
mons proved his superiority, and it Is lust
possible that another meeting with Jeffries
will result in Fitzsimmons again winning
the title of heavy weight champion of the
world.
About 5000 people saw the bout. but II
they had not been extra good-natured they
would have left the clubhouse long before
the fight was put on. The management
was in bad odor for three hours, during
which the 5000 penned up sports sweltered
and fumed in the heated clubhouse. where
there was little or no ventilation. The pre-
liminary bout between kid" Thomas and
Samuel Bolan fell through. and another
had TO be substituted. which caused de-
lay OF at least an hour and a half. When
the boys-Jimmie Barnett and Billy Ryan
began lighting it was seen they knew moth,
Ing Of the gene. and their work in the