The sun., 1903-11-26
FITz WINS IN 10th ROUND.
HIS FIGHT WITH GARDNER GOES
TO THE LIMIT.
Has Ills Opponent Groksy Several NV n
but Is Unable to Finish Him--(;Rlits,
Kisses tho Old Mana Big Crown
Sees the Contest In San Francisco.

Kisses tho Old Mana Big CrowG
Sees the Contest In San Francisco.
SAN Francisco. Nov. 25.-Bob Fitz-
simmons defeated George Gardner in
Mechanics Pavilion tonight, the fight
going the limit Of twenty rounds and Fitz
getting the decision. The showing Of each
man was not particularly pleasing to his
friends. FitZ had his man going several
times, and while he did much the better of
the two, was unable to put Gardner out.
Frequently he seemed pumped out, but
was as cool and calculating as ever. Gard
ner fought savagely at times, but could
not keep 1t up for long. He was often
puzzled by Fitz's cleverness and blows.
He braced up somewhat near the end and
tried to get in finishing blow, but Fitz
would not allow it. For the greater part
of the fight he was on the defensive.
No fight here since the Jeffries- Ftzsim-
mons battle last year attracted so much
appearance of the big Mechanics Pa
vlion proved that reports OF delegations
coming from all Coast cities were not ex-
aggerated. The spacious gallery, which
extends in a rectangle around the pavilion.
was literally packed 80 that it would have
been difficult to wedge 10 another man.
All those came in on general admission,
and they were in their seats by half past
o'clock. They were mainly from south
Of Market street. and it is safe to say
that they were better judges Of the battle
than the men on the floor, as three-quarters
Of them belong to athletic clubs and know
how to box. Tonight they favored Fitz.
but there was large and noisy contingent
that had taken the short end and rooted for
Gardner in way that brought smiles to
the Lowell boy.
Down in the body Of the house in expen-
sive seats Sat men, all prominent local
ringside attendants, including about every
prominent turfman now in attendance at
Ingleside racing track. This turf crowd,
including jockeys and touts, can be counted
on to buy 500 seats at every fight. Among
the prominent horsemen present We're
John Coleman, Tom Ryan, Green B. Nor
ris, Joe Rose. Bob Smith, Emil Herr, John
Schorr, &. S. Morton, Pat Dunno, Nil,
Jones and Barney Schneider.
All the arrangements for the fight were
perfect The ring was well lighted and
every detail was settled before the men
entered the arena. By mutual agree
ment the men wore surgical bandages, and
it was stipulated that each man must look
out for himself in clinches. Referee
Graney insisted on going over all point =
on which there might be dispute and that
each man agree to abide by the compact.
Gardner objected at first to bandages, buS
finally agreed to soft surgical ones. He
probably had In mind the stin bandages
which Fitz wore In his fight with ~Jefrries-
the sharp edges Of which Jen declared
cut him about the nose and mouth and
made him bleed.
The two men in the ring did not present
such enormous disparity as was seen when
Jef loomed up against Fitz or Corbett
Gardner is husky boy, who shows youth
and condition in his sun Drowned skin, his
swelling muscles and his 1.-THE movements,
but old titz, after he peeled of his bath
robe, looked fully as large as Gardner about
the shoulders and chest. Fitz's eye was
bright and Le appealed to the crowd by
his clownsh gestures, his smile and his bald
pate. He evidently was not in as good
shape as when he met Jeffries, as the fifteen
pounds he has had to take of told on his
general appearance, thinning his legs until
he actually bore strong resemblance in top
heaviness to newspaper caricatures; but
the Cornishmau certainly presented a re-
markable spectacle of physical stamina,
when one takes into consideration his forty
two years. He looked ten years younger
than Corbett did the night he last faced
JEFF in the same ring.
Gardner did not strip as big az might
be expected, and his small head gives him
an insignificant appearance, but every one
admired his splendid condition, and 1t was
evident he was brimful of the confidence
that youth and strength always give,
The letting was largely matter Of senti-
lnent until weighing in. this afternoon.
Nothing showed Fitzs hold OH public az
lection like the way In which his admirers
continued to bet on him even in the face OF
reports of his condition.
And certainly Fitz looked bad last Sunday
when large crowd went over to his train
ing quarters 10 see him box, and he talked
in very pessimis,ic way. He had caught
cold and complained of being stiR and
sore. He walked around with the heavy,
dragging step that Corbett always fell
into The moment lie was OF dress parade.
In every way he showed age, and the crowd
which saw him and Gardner go through
their PAGES on the same day spread gloomy
reports and brought the betting down from
2 to to 10 to g. There 1t remained with
slight fluctuations until O'Clock this after
noon.
An enormous crow owd gathered about Harry
Corbett's poolroom, on Ellis street, this
afternoon to catch a glimpse Of the fighters
as they enteredpfo" weighing in. Both
looked in good shape, but no one could
tell their condition in street dress. Cor
be,t was forced TO issue cards of admission
to keep out the mob, and, as 1t was, the pool
room was packed. When the men ap-
peared at the scales there was buzz Of
excitement, as Fitz looked in his old-time
form and seemed to be In high spirits
His keenness and humor made a great
contrast to the ox-like slowness of Gardner,
whose face seldom lighted up Fitz weighed
1877 pounds. and Gardner exactly 1885, the
REQUIRED weight
Fitzs looks pleased every one, and three
after the crowd came rushing
out of the poolroom the story was passed
around that Fitz was in form 'and the odds
dropped like mercury on cold day. They
went down to 10 TO g and then to 7, while
eager bettors fought for a chance 70 get
money on the Cornishman. 1t was plain
that Fitz had indulged in his usual foIiness
in giving out stories Of poor condition in
order that his friends might get their beta
on him at nearly even money. The betting
was very curious, however. as before night
fall the odds had gone back to 10 to o, though
fluctuations were in order, some men getting
10 to and others 10 TO 9.