The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-11-27
NEITHER GARDNER NOR FITZSIM.
MONS IS ABLE TO LAND A
KNOCKOUT BLOW.
AUSTRALIAN GETS DECISION
SEVERAL TIMES HE HAD GARD
NER GOING BUT WAS NOT
ABLE TO FINISH HIM.

one" when he outboxed and outgener-
allied George Gardner for twenty full
rounds. FitZsimmOns was as awkward
and as cunning as of yore and appar-
emily realizing that he must foster his
strength, there was not a moment
when he was not c%arefulness persona
fed. While the old man could avoid
punishment from Gardner, he could
not knock his opponent out, although
he landed a number of vicious blows.
From his performance Gardner is
not in Fitzsimmons' class. He landed
on the old timer once in a while, but
Fitzsimmons was always going away
from him and the blows were harm
less. Several times Fitzsimmons ap-
parently had Gardner almost out, but
he was either too tired or lacked his
old strength and could not land a
knockout punch. Fitzsimmons was
very skilful in blocking and lodging
Gardeners blows and in the clinches
and break aways was very careful.
The fighting did not please the spec
tators and the men in the ring were
frequently Kissed when they went
through a round without apparently
trying to fight. se..
WV . Ste ~ H
Referee Ed Graney at the close of
the contest said that it was the worst
fight he ever saw. He was forced to
give the decision to FitzsimmOns be-
cause the latter scored the knock
downs, but otherwise did no damage.
It was apparent that neither man was
qualified to claim championship hon
Ors. "
After the fight Fitzsimmons appear
ed to be overjoyed with his victory
and claimed the reason he did not
knock Gardner out was that he broke
the knuckles of both hands early In
the contest.
1t was either for this reason or be-
cause Fitzsimmons chose to act mainly
on the defense that the fight was not
finished long before the twentieth
round was over. Gardeners eye was
cut open and his nose knocked askew,
while Fitzsimmons bled a little at the
mouth. Beyond that there was no
damage done to either man. Gardner
demonstrated that he did not have a
hard punch in him. Whenever he
landed a swing it had no force in it
and his left jabs had no other effect
than to make Fitzsimmons' nose and
mouth a bit red. Fitzsimmons stood
several times with his guard open and
allowed Gardner to poke him in the
nose so Fitzsimmons could step in an6
land short arm jolts.
Flashes of the Old Time Fitz.
There were occasional flashes whe1
the FitZsimmons of olden times ap
peared for a moment. But it was
only for a moment. He seemed to tirt
quickly and after a short, vicious rusl
during which he would land on Gard
ner and take the grit out of him, h
would rest during the remainder o
the round.
Fitzsimmons and Gardner did no
draw a crowded house. The big pc
vilion was only fairly filled by 500
people, a great contrast to the usua
state of affairs when Fitzsimmons ha
fought here before. "Lanky" Bob ha
always been a great ~favorite here an
although this contest did not fill tn
arena to it's utmost capacity, Fitzsin
mons was installed a f%avorite in tn
betting. During the day he rule
favorite at 10 to 9, but toward ever
ing the rumor circulated that he wa
not in prime condition and Gardne
went up to even money. Later, Fit;
simmons admirers came forward wit
their coin and when the men entere
the ring the betting was 10 to 8 !
Fitzsimmons' favor. M
Both men weighed close to IL
pounds. though Gardner was a bit tt
hoo vior - rN..+ "