Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-06
DECISION IN ROOFS FAVOR
George Gardner Forfeited the
Fight on a Foul Blow.
HURRICANE BATTLE IN FRISCO
Seven Thousand Persons Saw
the Contest.


San Francisco, Cal. Feb. lin the
seventh round Of what was to have
been 20-round bout, between George
Gardner of Lowell, Mass, and Jack
Root of Chicago, the latter was awarded
the decision here last night on.the
claim of foul. In hurricane fight
which developed Gardner as the az
gressor, but Root as the superior boxer
the Lowell man was beaten and finally
forfeited the fight upon blow con
ceded by majority Of the spectators
To have been straight foul.
Gardner found in Root no such easy
opponent as Carter has been, nor did
Root find in Gardner so easily n
handled man as was Byers when the
two met here. Gardner, however,
fought on the outside in wild and
uncertain style, while Root fought on
the inside determinedly and we'll.
Gardner suffered the disadvantage of
having his left eye practically closed
in the second round, and he was never
himself after that. In the fourth
round, however, he missed his only
opportunity during the battle. The
Lowell man delivered vigorous right
hand punch that caught Root ap-
parently behind the ear, and the
i Chicago man went down. Root took
the count to four seconds, then held in
a clever olinch, saving himself for
nearly half minute. In the six round
Gardner was fighting low, and the
claim of foul was made upon two oc-
casions, but ignored by Referee Wand.
When the round closed, Gardner was
plainly in distress and stood small
chance of winning. The seventh round
opened with Root boring methodically
and Gardner fighting wildly in evident
desperation. 1t was then, after one
minute and forty-six seconds of this
sort of work, that Gardner started a
left reach for the stomach and caught
Root squarely in the groin. The
Chicago man sank to the floor with a
groan, and Gardner was dragged to
his corner by his trainer, Alex Greg
gains. Referee Wand at once awarded
the decision to Root, and Gardner, ap-
preaching him, protested that the blow
was purely accidental. The 7. 600 people
gathered in the Mechanics Pavilion
hissed Gardner and applauded Root
with vigor when he had sufficiently re-
covered to leave the ring
did not mean to foul him" was
Gardner's statement Immediately after
the fight ~ did foul him, however
and the decision was fair one. I
started left hand swing, and Root
rushed upon il. could not stay the
blow, and it lost me the fight I think
] stood chance up to this time, and
had much rather been knocked out
than have lost in this manner.
Root, when seen in his dressingroom,
said: "Gardner fouled me more than
once. He complained early in the
seventh of my fighting low, which con
WINGED me that he did not mean TO
play fair, | will leave it to the specta
tors whether or not he intended to
deliver the blow. | simply know that
he did it, and that it was plain foul. .
Root expresses a strong desire to
meet Joe Choynski in this city next
month, when the Yosemite Club will
bring off fight. He says he would
also like to meet Robert Fitzsmmons,
but the suggestion is scarcely taken as
serious matter here.