Evening star., 1903-11-20
STICKS TO OLD FITZ.
Betting Public Backing ''Lanky Bob"
Against Gardner.

\ special from San Francisco saws that
betting on next Wednesday nights big
fight continues to favor Fitzsimmons The
announcement that he was four pounds
under weight has removed the only factor
that could have shaken the confidence of
his hackers. and they are now Fastening
to put their money on the Cornishman
The odds at present range between 10 to
5 and 10 to I. 1t is not hard to find takers
for Gardner has won many friends since
he came west. and will enter the ring with
a heavy sum hanging on his chances of
victory.
Still. it is the Cornishman who has the
crowd. If he loses there will be many a
San Francisco bettor to whom the 25th of
November VIII not be a day to remember
with pleasure.
Why Fitz should be so heavily played is
bit difficult to understand. On form he
is at a disadvantage. His opponents youth
and fine record would all seem to operate
to make him a favorite. Many of those
who have gone to Larkspur to the
Lowell man work are enthusiastic over
his prospects.
1t is only among those who have inside
information that Gardner enthusiasm can
be found. With the general public Fitz-
simmons is regarded as sure winner.
This is in part due to the great personal
popularity of "Lanky Bob" He has done
himself proud in all of his fights in the
west. When he defeated Corbett at Carson
lily ana Manner III mexico many San
Franciscans were in the audience. He was
the hero of the bout in which he knocked
out Tom Sharkey, but was robbed of the
purse by the decision of carp.
Still later, in his last unsuccessful effort
to win back the championship from Jeffries
he fought the battle in San Francisco and
made fight that won him an almost
precedented outburst of public acclamation.
Something of this feeling is causing Call
fornians to pull for the old man.
Among those who base their cash risks
on something more practical than sympathy
or admiration there is a feeling that F'itz-
hardest games Of his long and phenome-
nally successful career. There is that
about Gardners training that impresses one
with the tusneSs-like nature of the man.
/ The Irishman by birth and beaneater by
adoption is preparing thougtfully. He has
| made careful note of the kind of punish
| ment he is likely to receive. and has striven
| to fortify the parts most likely to be as
sailed He knows the FitZsimmons style of
attack, and his sparring partners do moth
| ing in the daily boxing but give imitation of
| the mighty Bob in the many stunts that he
has made so famous.
First of all, there Is. of course the shift.
Gardner is determined that this deadly
| trick will not catch him mapping He has
perfected a method of breaking it up The
| system is simplicity itself. He has trained
| himself to rush the instant he sees his op-
| ponent make the first motion to shift his
guard.
l.
| can be luuged he hopes not only to be able
| to rob 1t of it's deadly effectiveness. but also
| to put himself in Il position in which he can
| catch his opponent unprepared and get
home with good effect himself
| This knack he row has down so fine that
| Greggains In dozens of trials cannot slip
| home the blow from the shift OF course
| Greggains is not Fitz. But 1t must also be
! remembered that FitZ is no longer what he
| was.
| Gardner is now a bit overweight but this
| does not worry him. He says he can drop
| from the 172 he is now carrying to 16S in a
| single day. He looks heavier and stronger
| than he ever before did, and every motion
| of his 1.-THE body shows strength and speed.
Gardner begins his days work at the
| mechanics hour. 7:30. From Larkspur he
| runs to San Rafael, n distance of six miles.
| Returning. he cuts out a faster clip. This
| part of the training is chld's play for Gard
| ner, who. unlike many other boxers is
| built like runner, and gets over the ground
| with speed and ease.
| Resting until lunch time, at noon he eats
I heartily. and then takes a turn at the
| punching bag. For thirty minutes he makes
| the bag jump and fly under the assault OF
| every blow known to the boxers art. Then
comes the bout with Greggains. So much
| does the latter stand in awe of Gardner's
punching equipment that he wears the pro-
lection of a heavy quilted pad. Even
| through this, he says. Gardner manages to
hurt him.
| Fitzsimmons will come into San Francisco
| on the day before the fight and will take
| matters easy during the last twenty-four
| hours.