The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-26
Jeffiiss Again Demonstrates
His Right to Title Of
Champion
FITz HAD THE BEST OF
IT UNTIL LAST ROUND
Jab In the Stomach and Right Swing
On the Jaw Sends the Cornish
man to the Floor and
Out.

San Francisco July 25.-After fighting
battle of eight rounds that was fraught
with brilliant and courageous work, Rob-
ert Fitzsimmons tonight forfeited his
last claim upon the heavyweight cham
pionship. He was knocked to the floor by
James ]. Jeffries and counted out after
he had so badly punished the champion
that 1t was a foregone conclusion among
the spectators that the Cornishman must
win. Bleeding from a number of gashes
on the face, apparently weakening and
clearly unable to cope with Fitzsimmons'
superior skill, Jeffries delivered two lucky
punches ss F'itzsimmons paused in his
fighting to speak to him, and turned the
tide. The battle was brief but noteworthy
and will live in pugllistic annals. Fitz-
simmons tried cnce to rise from the mat
but sank back again in he1pIessness and
heard himself counted out, where but a
moment before be had all the better of 1T.
II will never fight again." said the bat
tie-scared veteran Of the ling, when he
had sufficiently recovered 70 talk.
"The fight was won fairly, and to the
best man belongs the laurels''
You are the most dangerous man
alive" said Jeffries in return, "and 1
cor slider myself lucky to have won when
1 did"
Fitzsimmons had been fighting at a
furious gait, cool ard deliberate, and
chopping the champion to pieces with the
vicious rights snd iefts that have made
him famous, and tie result was sur
prise.
Fltzsimmons Grew Confident.
When the men came together F'itzsim-
mons appeared rather worried, but upon
ed an air of absolute confidence and
fought with the greatest deliberation.
AS early as the second round Fitzsim-
mons had Jeffries bleeding profusely
from mouth and nose. Again and again
he landed on his bulky opponent, getting
away in such a clever manner that he
reused the big crowd to enthusiastic
cheering. 1t seemed, indeed, hat Jeffries
could scarcely stand the pace. but the
eighth round came, and after a series of
hot exchanges Fitzsimmons paused with
his guard down and spoke to the cham
pion. The latter's reply was two terrific
blows that saved him the championship
and removed the veteran Fitzslmmons
from the fistic arena. Fitzsimmons took
his defeat with good cheer. He walked
to the centre of the ring and raising his
hand addressed the multitude, saying:
THE best man has won Had / beaten
Jeffries tonight 1 would have conceded
him the championship and then forever
retired. / retire just the same now, but
without having accomplished my ambi-
ton. l am satisfied
After the fight Champion Jeffries was
seen in his dressing room. He was jubi-
liant over his success, despite the terrible
scars of battle. He said
Jeffries is Jubilant.
well, I have won, just as l expected
to. 1t was a fieice fight, the fierces. ever
had, but won Yes got a good beating
as far as the marks Of the cattle count.
but then l rather expected that. l never
was tired at any stage and was stronger
than Fitzsimmons at all stages. Fitzsim-
mons Is the greatest fighter of his weight
that ever lived. AS old as he is, he is
the shiftiest and cleyerest the hardest
hitting nan / ever met and | want to
give him credit for the great fight he put
up.
II have no plans for the immediate fu-
ture.
II think FitzspimGns can yet defeat
eny other man than myself"
FitzsimnnonS was cheerful in the face
cf defeat ard full of praise for his van
ouishor. Winning in pain on his couch.
surrounoed by a score of friends Offering
their col solations, the defeated veteran.
between short sentences interspersed with
81 cans, announced that be had fought
his last Lattle. He said:
II fought the best l could and the
best man won. He is a great fighter, and
had 1 BEEN awarded the decision tonight
would have turned around and given
Lin the championship for he is the only
nan in the world capable of defending it.
The blows that put me out were a left
short arm jolt under the ribs and a right
TO the jaw.
Told jeff to Keep Away.
After receiving the terrific body blows
/ knew I was gone, and l told Jefferies
to keep away but he was anxious to
finish me, and sent a right swing to my
jaw. I fought in the way I did because
both my hands were gone when / enter
ed the ring. l injured them Wednesday
boxing with Hank Griffin. MY right
hand in particular was almost useless,
] am confident now, even more than ever
that in my first battle with Jeffries
was doped. His showing tonight proved
TO me conclusively that my defeat at his
hands In our previous battle was unwar-
ranted."
Asked why he did all the leading Fitz-
simmons Indignantly denied the alega-
tion and said that Jeffries did a great
deal of the work, especially in the
clnches and at close range.
'He is as strong as an OK and his
blows hurt me considerably, especially
his terrific lefts to the body" said Fitz-
simmons
Asked in regard to his plans for the
future Bob facetitiously remarked:
II am going back to Bensonhurst and
attend to the development of the youth
of America, and try to make them like
me-a vigorous old man, past his for
nd ae q a
man well within his thirtes.''
At this juncture DR.. McCox, who had
been summoned to attend the fighter,
commenced an examination Of the de-
feated pugilist. After a careful exami-
fContInued on Second Paael