The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
NEWS OF The FIGHTERS
INTEREST NOW Conferred IN FITz-
sIMMoNs-GARDNER BATTLE.
Age and Poor Hands Are Fstx's Big
gest Handicap-Young Corbett Ex-
poets to Whip Hanlon.

Within a few more days the Subtle win
know whether Bob Fitzsimmons is the
grand old fighter he was a short time ago
or If George Gardner has the cl,Verness to
win and the stamina TO stand ap against
the Cornishman's terrible punches. Fitzsim-
mons and Gardner will fight at San Fran
cisco next Wednesday night for. the light
heavyweight championship Of :he world.
Gardner now holds that title. having won
it in his battle with Jack Root, and Fitz-
simmons is anxious to win IL. Interest In
the big fight is increasing. Boil men have
been on the battle-ground quith a while
They have been looked over carefully while
in training and their strong and weak
points argued pro and con, and, after
general summing up. the specula-
tors concluded to install Fitz tee favorits
at to 2 The price. while libeftl, consid-
ering the ages of the men. has not been
snapped UP by Gardeners hackers. and the
opinion of close students of the came is the
odds will remain firm until Forty-eight
hours before the fight, when the condition
of the men will be the swivel that Will
cause the price to turn.
Age and poor pair Of handg are Fitz-
simmons's biggest handicap, and his
friends figure he will have 10 win, say.
within ten rounds, or suffer defeat This Is
also Gardeners idea or the contest, and he
has said he would prolong the ffht as long
as possible, and by so doing hoAe to have
the old man limp enough 10 pusE him over.
Gardner has shown WONDERFUL speed and.
cleverness during his training The San
Francisco fight followers have also watched
the work of Sandy Ferguson, Who is box
ing with Gardner. They say that Fergu-
son. although as big as Munrse, has the
speed and quickness of Jimmy Britt and is
certain to whip most of the big n7en against
whom he is matched. They say that he
will in the future be able to put up great
battle against Jeffries.
xxs
Young Corbett is now In Sam Francisco
to take on Eddie Hanlon next month for
the featherweight championship. Corbett
says he esteems Hanlon as the hardest man
in the feather-weight class and that Han
Ions decisive victory over BeSny Yanger
has raised his reputation in the East
Young Corbett says he expects 10 win; as
he is so used to receiving decisions he does
not believe any man OF his weight lives who
can beat him. He says he viii be able TO
put Hanlon out before the tweaty rounds
are over.
Jimmy Britt attached anothet: victory to
his belt last Friday night by. defeating
Martin Candle in a twenty-roustd battle in
San Francisco. Candle was vne of the
hardest propositions Britt ever faced. and
his victory was well earned. Another meet
ing between BTU ana JACK " taeelt Woutu
be interesting, as O'Keefe holds decision
| against Britt secured on foul
| Hugo Kellys middle-weight champion
| ship aspirations were given a <slight set
back in his battle with Charley McKeeven
at Milwaukee Friday night. MtsSeever was
given the decision at the end OF. six rounds
of hard fighting. Kelly was strong. but
McKeever landed oftener and cot the YER
| dict. Kelly has come to the frtsut through
| his clever boxing, and there airs many who
| still believe he is the best nan at his
| weight. Kelly was TO be ma3 ched with
Philadelphia Jack OBrien, bus his recent
defeat may cause the arrangespents to be
| postponed for a while.
Jack O'Brien and Tommy Rysn may set
| tie their differences in the ring. of the Ma
tional Sporting Club OF Londo6- O'Brien
has received a cable from Matchmaker A.
F. Bettinson. of the noted fs-eign club.
offering a purse of $1,000. with Expenses. for
| a twenty-round bout between sBrien and
| Ryan. The club is prepared % hold the
| contest within two months. 4Bricn has
not answered the message YETI for he be-
| neves he can earn three times r<at amount
| in whipping Ryan In the Unised States.
| Ryan contends that he is the legitimate
| middle-weight champion OF the world and
| that he must be defeated befof. any other
pugilist can be regarded as thee premier in
| this division.