New-York tribune., 1902-07-26
JEFFRIES STILL CHAMPION
KNOCKS OUT bob" FITZsIMMoNs IN
THE EIGHTH ROUND.

San Francisco July 25.--In the presence OF
$500 persons gathered from all over the United
States James j. Jeffries. the heavyweight cham-
pion of the world knocked out his old antagon-
sst. Bob" Fitzsimmons. in the eighth round
The battle was hard from the start. and for a
time IL looked though the old Man OF the
Ring" had a good chance TO regain his lost
laurels Jeff was bleeding badly and seemed
tired before the fight more than half ended
while "B'itz' appeared to be fairly fresh
In the eighth round JEFF landed a left hook
on the jaw and "Fitz" fell, and was counted
out. as he lay unconscious.
He recovered soon after he taken to his
corner, and, arising. said:
Il was fairly beaten. 1 have retired now
permanently. If I had won this battle ii would
still have been my last. and L would have
turned the championship over TO Jeffries to
defend
The arrangements of the arena and the con-
stFuetion Of the ring were something of de-
parture from the usual lines followed in such
matters. In a vacant lot at Fourteenth and
Valencia sts. a high board fence was erected
In the centre OF the space the ring was built,
the floor being four feet from the ground On
the four sides of the ring were arranged the
press seats and immedia tely back Of them the
boxes which were simply spaces partitioned
off and twenty-four chairs placed in each apart
least elevation. Back of the boxes came long
rows of hoard seats, or benches all on the same
level with the conveniently arranged aisles.
To the rear, and back of the board fence. were
placed the gallery benches. The ring was sub
stantiaIy constructed. Built upon a good found
alton OF solid timbers. the floor was made of a
double thickness of inch boards. over these
there was heavy padding of felt one inch in
thickness a heavy brown canvas drawn tight
fora COl
and safe ring. The lights were suspended from
four upright posts, one at each corner of the
ring. These uprights sloped gradually toward
the centre and a succession of crossbeams at
the top held fourteen arc lights and over all
canvas tent covered the seats as far out as the
.gallery" seats. The ropes Of the ring were the
latest thing in that line. consisting OF heaVF'
smooth one inch cotton rope. Two OF these the
frs. three feet from the floor, and the second,
eighteen inches above il, were guyed from the
upriehts which held the lights and tent There
were no sharn corners Across the canvas were
nIaced short padded ropes that cut out the
sharp angles but still left the ring of full size
.sTon" sharkey was early on hand with
challenge to the winner. From him al New
York came a telegram addressed 10 Inn
McGrath, announcing his safe arrival from Lon
don, and asking that McGrath shy his castor
into the ring.
[
were congested and much confusion ensued
This was Strengthened out, however, and When
the principals of the preliminary fight came on
there was hardly a vacant place in all the Sooo
seats.
At $40 Fitzsimmons arrived in a carriage at
the entrance on Valenca-st He was cheered
by the crowd that stood at the entrance. F1tz-
simmons went Immediately to his dressing tent
at the right OF the main entrance, and pro-
ceeded TO dress. He was accompanied by his
manager. Clark Ball; Hank Griffin. the colored
pugiIist and or two friends The former
champion said that he never felt better. and
would win He was cheerful. and inquired
q bout the crowd in attendance, and other mat
ters incident to the fight
About ten minutes later Jeffries drove up and
got out of his carriage, followed by his trainer
BILLY" Delaney: his brother Jack; his boxing
partner, Joe" Kennedy, and kid" Egan, his
secretary The crowd set up terrific roar at
the sight of the big fellow, TO which he re-
sponded by a wave of the hand. Proceeding
direct to his dressing tent, Jeffries Immediately
got ready TO don his ring costume. He was not
in a taIkative mood, but appeared calm and
confident He inquired about the attendance
and expressed satisfaction when told that the
place was jammed
There was 81 little ringside betting that it
was hardly apprecable. The odds went TO ) to
j on Jeffries.
At S:45 the only preliminary fight was put on
1t was twenty-round affair, between the two
local nliddleweights, Dave" Barry and Harry
Foley. There was few heavily yeiled women
noticeable among those seated in the boxes
Their presence was passed over by the crowd
without any demonstration Of disapproval, such
as is usual in such cases.
The preliminary was ended by 935 p. m. by
Foley knocking Barry out in the eleventh round
Immediately the crowd became impatient, and
there was good deal of stirring about and
visiting among the well known characters at
the ringside. The appearance Of about dozen
women in one party caused a momentary furry.
They took seats in box directly back of the
press row.
The makeup of the crowd unusual. There
was absolutely perfect order The bench and
bar Of San Francisco, as well as other profess
sional life well represented. Large dele
cations from interior California cities, includ-
ing Los Angeles Jeffries's home; Bakersfield
Stockton and Fresno. occupied large blocks of
seats The Los Angeles party especially
large, among them being many we'll known men
from the Southern part of the State. A
serYative estimate of the amount realized from
the ticket sales places the sum al $4,000.
Al lO;E Fitzsimmons stepped into the ring,
carrying his gloves and dressed in long, light
blue bathrobe. Following him were Clark Hall.
Hank Griffin. George Dawson and bottle
holder At l0:o6 Jeffries entered the ring,
dressed in long oyercoat, trousers a sweater
and Panama hat. About him were Billy"
George Miller. Jeffries inspected Fitzsinmons's
bandages. passing them without comment. Both
men received warm reception.
FitZsinmons bandages on both hands
Jefffies were no bandages. Fitzsmmons sat
quietly chewing gum. He looked well. Jeffries
looked confident. and sat in his corner chewing
gum whiie the preliminary announcements were
being made
When Jeffries stripped off his sweater he
showed up 10 perfection. He looked as if he had
taken od considerable weight. but his muscles
stood out firm and hard. His skin was as brown
as a berry. showing the effect Of hard work. A
moment later Bob DOTTED his dressing gown,
showing UP in splendid shape. He wore short
lavender tights and belt of the American flag.