Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-26
FITZ WINS
FITZ WINS
In 2Oth Round from George
Gardner at Frisco.
Had Best Of 1t All Through and Is
Given the Decision.
Poor Contest to Witness, Both Men
Often Being Kissed.

simmons proved, tonight, that he has
not entirely lost his old time form when
he outboxed ard outgcncrallei George
Gardner for 20 full rounds. T'itz was
as awkward and cunning as OF yore
end apparently realizing that he
must foster his strength there IVES not
4 moment when he was not carefulness
D1rsoniied. While the Old man cont,l
avoid punishment from Gardner. he
could not knock his opponent out, al
thoagh he landed i number OF vicious
blows.
Prom his performance, tonight, Card
ner is not in FitZsimmons' class. He
landed on the old timer once in a while
but Fitz was always goins, away from
him and the blows were, harmless. Scv-
"ral times T'itZ apparently had Gard
ncr almost, out but he Wcs either too
tired or lacked his old strength ana
@ould not punch. l'itz was very skiful
in blocking and lodging Gardeners
blows and in the clinchcS and break
ways WIS very careful.
The fight did not please the Snecta-
tors and the men in the ring were fire.
luently Kissed when they went through
round without apparently trying to
fight
Referee Eddie Granoy, at the close OF
the contest, said that it was the worst
fight he ever saw. He was forced to
give the decision to Fitz because the
latter secured the knOckdoWns, bat 9TH
orWise did no damage. 1t Was apparent
that neither man was qualified to claim
championship honors
After tie fight Fitz appeared to be
overjoyed at his victory ana claimed
that the reason lie did not knock Card
ner out was that he broke the knucklcs
of both hands early in the contest. 1t
was eitlle.' for this reason or because
FitZ chose tn act mainly on the defen-
sive that tic fight was not flashed long
before the 20t. round was over.
Gar(il.cl'S eve was cut oncn ard his
rose knocked askew, while Fitz bied Il
little at the mouth, but beyond that
there was no damage to either man.
Gardner demonstrated that he did not
have :, hard punch in him. Whenever
lie landed j SWING it had no force in il
and his la1t jabs had no other effect
than to make Fitz's nose ANA mouth a
bit red y IL stood several times with
sio SbCii anu tAiioS Gu NItii tiltCi
10 poke him in the nose so Fitz could
step in and land short arm jolts. They
We're occasional flashes when the FiGz
Of olden times appeared for q moment,
but il was oaly for q moment. He
seemed to tire quickly and after 4 short
vicious rush during which he wolid
land on Gardner and take the grit out
Of him. he would rest during te reinain-
der of the round.
The big pavilion was only fairly
filled, n great contrast TO the usual
state of affairs when FitZ has fought
here. During the day F'itz ruled favor
lite in the betting, 10 to Q, but toward
evening the ruInor circulated that he
was not in prime condition ana Gard
Ter went Up to favoritc. Later Fits
admirers came forward with their coin
and when the men entered the ring
the betting was 10 to 9 in Fitz's favor.
No fight III recent times has been
the cause Of more guess work than this
one. lii spite OF t'it2's age many
people. remembering his remark
able career. still clung to their
Old idol and figured that expert
ence and the old fighting i'll
stinct would carry him through. On
the other hand the wise ones" caiculat-
ing ~ Gardner's youth and strength.
played Him 10 win. Both mon weighed
close to It's pounds. though Gardner was
n bit the heavier. 1t was noticeable that
the usual number OF outside patrons Of
the prize ring We're absent. tonight the
GOO people present being from San Fran
cisco viii, Il few eXceDtionS
Round 1-They Went to the center
quickly and INDUCED in sparring
Gardner danced around lively and
ducked vicious left for the jaw. They
came together without result and Fitz
missed left swing for the jaw and
then received Il similar blow from
Gardner. I'itz sent Il straight left high 1,
on the chest The fighting Was slow F,
both men taking great care. Gardner |
was short with q right uppcrcut for !
the jaw. Both missed icfts for the |
head and Gardner received a singing !
straight left to the jaw. l'itz followed
this up with another left to the jaw /!
and Il right TO the stomach. Fitz sent
Gardeners head back with 4 left hook
on the jaw. Gardner then placed Il
right to the face. F'itz blocked hard
left for the stomach and the bell rang.
The advantage was slightly with Fitz- I
simmons, who received absolutely no
attention from his seconds when ne
went to his corner. F'itZ appeared to :
be suffering from a cold
Round After considerable spar |
ring both missed lcfts for the body. |
I'itZ got in a light to the head and |
Gardner landed twice on the Kidneys
with rights. Gardner drove his right
twice to the body and received a left !
10 the body and right to the jaw in
return. Gardner sent his right to the
body and Fitz slipped to the floor as
he backed from a right swing. Bon
drove 4 straight left 20 the stomach
and missed right for the jaw. Bob
then planted his left to the body and
q right swing to the jaw. Gardner +
sent in a right and a left for the body /
md Bob returned with right and left |
TO the jaw as the bell sounded. This I
round was comparatively even, the adj
vantage if any being with Gardner.
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