Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-11-27
Whitaker Stayed In AS
Long As He Could.
Simms Won Out After Hard Contest -Cleanest
Battle Ever Pulled Off In Akron--- L0caI
Sporting News.

Johnny Whitaker was counted out
by Referee Lavack at the South End
Athletic club Monday night. He went
TO the mat in the seventeenth round of
the fastest and cleanest contest ever
pulled off in this city.
Art Simms, the victor, won on his
merits. He demonstrated to the Akron
followers of the game that he is a
superior article and that he has de-
cided shade the best Of IL with anyone
of his weight in this city or vicinity.
Although defeated, Whitaker lost no
friends. On the contrary he has more
admirers in Akron today than he had |
when he entered the ring last night. /
He fought good fight and he stayed |
with his opponent until he was worn |
out by the heavy blows which had
been planted over his heart and on his
head and jaw during every round of
the contest. If anyone doubted his
gameness the doubt was dispelled last
night. 1t was dollars to doughnuts in
the thirteenth round that he would
not be on his feet at the beginning OF
the fourteenth. He was staggering
about the ring and was apparently ali
but out. In the minutes rest between
rounds he took on renewed steam and
when he faced Simms again he was
after him fast and furious and it was
there that he made the fatal mistake.
Instead OF following the advice of his
seconds he attempted TO go in and mix
1t. He was instructed to keep away for
round or two until he had caught
his wind. He was over-anXious to find
n knockout place. He found 1t but the
other man was the one to deliver 1t.
AS to Simms. He was the same care
full, cool collected fighter. At no time
did he lose his head. He used good
judgment as TO distance and although
he did not lead as often as Whitaker
during the earlier rounds he made ev-
cry blow count. He allowed Whit
taker to fight himself out and then
went In to finish his man. 1t was an
exhibition of ring generalship that
stamps the ''Undefeated' as finished
fighter He adopted tactics that have
won many a hard fought battle Whit
taker was allowed TO carry it up to Art
himself 10 such an extent that he was
not able to save himself when Simms
took the aggressive. Whitaker had
bad left which he landed with great
frequency all through the contest.
After the 18th round his blows lacked
steam and he could not have finished
Art had he had the chance. ON the
other hand, Slmms was strong and
willing at the finish.
II was observed that at times both
men We're weary and II Is little won
der that they were considering the
terrific pace they went from the first
An impartial judge would have Civ
en- Whitaker the decision had the con-
test stopped at the end of the sixth
round. Al the end of the teuth II
would have been n draw From thnt
time on II was all Smms'. After the
thirteenth II was only n question of
how long Whitaker would stay. He
resorted TO holding to save himself
Referee Iavack was forced to get be
tween the men time after time In or
der To separate them. II was plain
that the colored hoy was done for
He wanted 10 save himself for final
rally. This he could not do. At the
last he was all In ana so weak that
he could not even defend himself
Smms won n deserved victory. A long
standing dispute Is settled, In his clas.
Whitaker can make the hest of them
work TO win. IL he Is wise lie vii
make no matches above l24 to II,
pounds lie is at his best ut thi
weight.
After the contest Whitaker wake,
TO his home ON James street. He wa
not Injured 10 any marked degree
Aside from cut over his left eye an,
bruised lip he was unmarked
Slmms' right shoulder was red an,
his face slightly puffed Although
Whitaker did not show II. the blow
that finished him were those over tn
heart, He was weakened by thes,
IL was II right hand swing oil tn
point OF the jaw that finally put hr
out There was some dispute as to th
length OF time that he was down in tn
last round His seconds claimed thl
he was mp before the count Of /,
Whether this is true or not, Refer,
I.ayack was wise In awarding the d
cision 10 Simms Johnny could n,
have lasted much longer and II wou