Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-07-31
TWO LUCKY PUNCHES DID IT
FITZSIMMONS HAD ALL THE BEST
OF FIGHT AND LOOKED SURE
WINNER.
CHAMPION TERRIBLY POUNDED
BRIEF BATTLE THAT WILL LIVE
LONG IN PUGILIST1C HIS
TORY.

San Francisco, July 27.-After fight
Ing a. battle of eight rounds that was
fraught with brilliant and courageous
work, Robert Fitzsimmons last night
forfeited his last claim upon the
heavyweight championship. He was
knocked to the floor by James Jeffries
ana counted out after he had so badly
punished the champion that it was a
foregone conclusion among the spec
tators that the Cornishman must win.
Bleeding from a number of gashes in
the face, apparently weakening, and
clearly unable to cope with Fitzsim-
mons superior skill, Jeffries delivered
two lucky punches at Fitzsimmons
paused in his fighting to speak to him,
ard turned the tide. The battle was
brief but noteworthy, and will live in
pugilistic history.
Fitzsimmons, tried once to arise from
the mat, but sank down again in help
lessness and heard himself counted out,
where but a moment before he had ap-
parently all the better of it.
Fitz Says Best Man Won.
II will never fight again." said the
tattle-scarred veteran of the ring,
when he had sufficiently recovered to
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 I
consider myself lucky to have won
when I did,"
Fitzsimmons had been fighting at a
furious gait, cool and deliberate, and
chopping the champion to pieces with
the terrific rights and lefts that have
made him famous.
1t was the draft horse and the racer
from the tap of the gong. When the
men came together Fitzsimmons ap-
peared rather worried but upon the
opening of the first round he assumed
an air of absolute confidence, and
fought with the elaboration of the
general that he is. AS early as the
second round Fitz had Jeff bleeding
profusely from the mouth and nose.
Again and Again He Landed
on his bulky opponent, getting away
in such a clever manner that it brought
down the house with cheers.
1t seemed indeed that Jeffries could
scarcely weather out the gale. In the
eighth round it came, and under a
series of hot exchanges Fitzsimmons
paused with his guard down and spoke
to the champion. The latter's reply
consisted of the two terrible blows
that brought back to him the fleeing
championship and forever removed
the veteran Fitzsimmons from the
fistic arena. Fitzsimmons took his de-
feat with amazing good cheer. He
walked to the center of the ring and,
raising his hand, addressed the multi
tude. saying:
"The best man has won. Had I
beaten Jeffries tonight, I would have
conceded him the championship and
then forever retired. I retire just the
same now, but without having accom-
prished my ambition. I am satisfied"
Jcffries Is Jqbil.nt.
After the fight Champion Jeffries
was seen in his dressing room. He was
jubilant over his success despite the
terrible scars of battle. He said to
the Associated Press:
"Well, I have won, just as I expected
to. 1t was a fierce fight, the fiercest I
ever hal. but I won. Yes, I got a
good beating as far as the marks OF
battle count, but then I rather ex-
pected that knew Fitzsimmons had
a cutting punch and would land it at
some time of the fight. But the few
marks and the loss of a little blood
won't hurt q man. l took them ana
only waited for the opportunity to land
my punch. I found out Fitz could not
lar me. even with his famous right.
He cut me up, of course. but that
didn't hurt. I never was tired at any
stage and was stronger than Fitzsim-
mons at all stages. You saw that he
wore heavy bandages. 1t was these
that cut me up. I wore no bandages.
Fitz certainly is a wonder. He is the
greatest fighter of his weiaht that ever
lived. AS old as he is he is the shiftiest
and cleverest, the hardest hitting man
I ever met"