The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-26
jim JEFFRIES WON
,<vocKED FITzsIMMONs OUT IN
EIGHTH ROUND.
IS STILL CHAMPION OF RING.
uONoRs WE'RE FITZSIMMoNS' UN-
TIL LAST ROUND.

Immense Crowd Saw the Fistfc Bat
lie, Women Being Among the Au-
dicnce-Fitzsimmo Did Splendid
work and Had Jeffries Bleeding
constantly From the Second
Round-Paused in Eighth to Speak
TO Champion when Latter Replied
With Two Heavy Blows That Sent
Him to the Floor, Where He Re-
Hart and Declared Jeffries the
champion.
Ringside, San Francisco, July 25.-
After fighting a battle of eight rounds
that was fraught with brilliant and
courageous work, Robert Fitzsimmons
tonight forfeited his last claim upon
the heavyweight championship. He
was knocked to the floor by James
Jaffries and counted out after he had
so badly punched the champion that it
was a foregone conclusion among the
spectators that the Cornishman must
win Bleeding from number of
gashes in the face, apparently weak
ening, and clearly unable to cope with
Fitzsimmons' superior skill, Jeffries
delivered two lucky punches as Fitz-
simmons paused in his fight
ing to speak to him, and
turned the tide. The battle
was brief, but noteworthy
and will live in pugilistic history.
Fitzsimmons tried once to arise from
the mat. but sat down again in help
lessness and heard himself counted out,
where but a moment before he had ap-
parently all the better of it.
Il will never fight again." said the
battlescarred 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, land
l consider myself lucky to have won
when l 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 draughthorse and the
racer from the tap of the gong. When
the men came together Fitzsimmons
appeared rather worried, but upon the
opening of the first round he assumed
a confidence and fought with the de-
liberation of the general that he is.
FitxsimmOns' Fine Work.
As early as the second round Fitz-
simmons had Jeffries bleeding from
mouth and nose. Again and again me
landed on his bulky opponent, getting
away in such a clever manner that
brought down the house with cheers.
1t seemed indeed that Jeffries could
scarcely weather the gale. In the
eighth round the end came and under
series of hot exchanges Fitzsimmons
paused with his guard down and spoke
to the champion. The latter's reply
consisted of the two terrific blows that
brought back to him the fleeing
championship and forever removed the
veteran Fitzsimmons from the fistic
arena. Fitzsimmons took his defeat
with amazing good cheer.
THE Best Man Has Won"
He walked to the center of the ring
and, raising his hand. addressed the
multitude saying:
The best man has won. Had l
beaten Jeffries tonight 1 would have
conceded him the championship and
retired forever.
Il retire just the same now, but
without having accomplished my am
bition
Il am satisfied
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
an Associated Press correspondent:
We'll, have won, just as l expect
ed to. 1t was a fierce fight-the fierc-
est 1 ever had-but 1 won. Yes, 1 got
good beating, as far as the marks of
battle count, but, then, I rather ex-
pected that"
JcTries Praises Fitx.
Il knew Fitzsimmons had a cutting
punch and would land it some time in
the fight" said Jeffries. 'Fjtz-
He is the greatest fighter at his weight
mat ever lived. AS old as he is, he is
the shiftiest and cleverest, the hardest
hitting man 1 ever met. and l want
70 give MIN credit, as 1 know
all who saw it will, for
the great fight he put up. 1 have no
plans for the immediate future
tltzsimpIons said later that the
blows that put him out were a left
snort arm jolt under the ribs and !
Ilght to the jaw. He added:
fought in the way 1 did because
Doth my hands were gone when 1 en-
Tered the ring. injured them on We'd
Aesoay boxing with Hank Griffin. My
Ilsnt hand in particular was almost
useless. am confident now, even more
50 than ever. that in my first battle
win Jeffries l was doped."
Dr L. c. Cox, who had been sum-
honed to attend the fighter. made an
Examination of the defeated pugilist.
ne announced that Fitzsimmons' ribs
we're not broken, but that his left side
vas badly bruised, the muscles being
60 CONSTRUCTED as to cause the Cornish
man great difficulty in breathing