The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-26
Special to The Globe.

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, July 25.-
James J. Jeffries, the sturdy boiler
maker, proves his right. to retain the
heavyweight championship Of the
world by knocking out Robert Fitz-
simmons in the eighth round of one of
the fastest battles ever seen on the
coast The lanky man from the anti
podes had the better of the argument
in nearly every round, but youth and
weight told in the final round. The
knockout was a left hook that caught
Fitzsimmons on the point of the jaw.
Fitz was on his feet as the referee
counted ten, but the fight was over.
Two Lucky Punches Do 1t.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, 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
Jeffries and counted out after he had
so badly punished the champion that
it was foregone conclusion among
the spectators that the Cornishman
must win Bleeding from a number of
gashes in the face, apparently weaken
ing, and clearly unable to cope with
Fitzsimmons' superior skill, Jeffries
delivered two lucky punches as Fitz-
simmons paused in his fighting to
speak to him and turned the tide The
i battle was brief but noteworthy, and
will live in pugilistic history.
FitZsin1mons tried once to arise from
the mat but sunk down again in help
lessness and heard himself counted
out, where but a moment before he
had apparently all the better of it.
Says the Best Man Won.
81 will never fight again." said the
battle-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 /
consider myself lucky to have won
when did"
Fitzsimmons had been fighting at a
Ao1AOoo G1AI3 SOOA cI14O OCA1OCI dlO dIlO
chopping the champion to pieces with
the terrific rights and lefts that have
made him famous.
1t was the draught horse 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
an air of absolute confidence, and
fought with the deliberation of the
general that he is.
AS early as the second round, Fitz
had Jeff bleeding profusely from
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 cheNrs.
Fitz Had All the Best of 1t.
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 two terrible blows that
brought back to him the fieeting
championship and forever removed the
veteran Fitzsimons from the fistic
arena.
Fitzsimmons took his defeat with
amazing good cheer. He walked to the
center of the ring and raising his hand
addressed the multitude, saying:
The best man has won. Had 1 beaten
Jeffries tonight l would have conceded
him the championship and then for
ever retired.
'I retire just the same now, but
without having accomplished my am
bition.
Il am satisfied"
Jeff Is Jubilant.
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:
"WeIl, have won, just as 1 expected
to. 1t was fierce fight, the fiercest
ever had, but won. Yes, got good
beating as far as the marks of battle
count, but then 1 rather expected that.
1 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 a
man. took them and only waited for
the opportunity to land my punch. ]
found out Fitz could not jar me, even
with his famous right. He cut me up,
of course, but that didn't hurt. 1 never
was tired at any stage and was strong
er than Fitzsimmons at all stages. You
saw that he wore heavy bandages and
it was these that cut me up. l wore no
bandages. Fitz certainly is a wonder.
He is the greatest fighter of his weight
that ever lived. AS old as he is he is
the shiftiest and cleverest, the hardest
hitting man l ever met, and / want to
give him credit, as l know all who saw
it will, for the great fight he put up. l
have no plans for the immediate fu-
ture, as / have not thought of any
thing but this fight for some time and
won't do anything for long period. l