The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-02-07
A Large Crowd at the kentucky Saw
the Champions Last Night.
Their Presence Was Very Limited,
However-An Exciting Contest
Between Locals.
MUCH ENTHUSIASM SHOWN


pugilist and Bob Fitzsimnons. the ex-
champion, were seen in Psduoah for
the first time at the Kentucky theater
last night. Those who paid to see
the exhibition, and were willing to
give up their money TO see the pugi-
lists and a couple of preliminsries,
were doubtless we'll pleased.
In st. Louis the night before there
were five preliminary bouts and JEFF
and Fitz spared four rounds, and yet
the papers skinned them alive. Here
there were two preliminsries and the
champions spared only three rounds,
and while a few felt that they had q
kick coming, many did not expect any
thing else, and the second preliminary
was well worth seeing.
The first bout was a five round draw
between two local colored amateurs,
Charles Shannon and AL Blanch. They
seemed to be afraid Of each other and
there was little doing throughout the
entire contest.
Fitzsimmons refereed it and at the
end of the fifth pronounced it draw.
The next was an eight round con.
test between Hurley Randall, former.
ly OF Paris, Tenn. and Alabama Kid,
Of Paducah. colored. Alabama is some.
thing Of pugilist, and while he had
recently been driving coal wagon
he managed to train up in day ant
put up a stiff fight. Fitz refereed
this bout, also. The men went fol
each other from the start and gave
each other some stiff jabs. Two OF
three times each one seemed on the
verge of going out, but corners
saved them.
Finally in the fifth Alabama Kid
fouled the other by giving him stiff
puuoh in the jaw while he was down,
which made him groggy and made il
an easy matter to put him out, and
the contest soon ended. Probably the
foul would have lost Alabama Kid the
contest If the rules had been strictly
followed, as it had very peroeptible
effect in making Randall easy money,
but Alabama Kid was adjudged the
winner and would probably have won
anyhow. as he seemed to have more
science and reach, although the other
man was heavier.
After brief intermission the two
great pugilists, Fitzsimmons land JEFF
ries appeared in the ring. They were
introduced by Manager Eagan, and
spared three rounds. They probably
put up the same kind of exhibition
here that they did in st. Louis, and OF
the one there the Globe. Democrat
says:
Now, nobody for one moment ex.
pected that they would fly at each 9TH
er's throat or infiict needless suffer-
ings. Despite press agents tales,
no one really expected to see anything
like fight.
1.-THE people who paid to see box.
ing exhibition might as well have
bought photographs of the men and
gazed admiringly at their muscular
development. There has hardly ever
been a professional boxing exhibition
that did not furnish more interest and
amusement. Jeffries and Fitzsimmons
went through a few antics, made a
few grimaces, and then hoped out Of
the ring"
But those here, most Of whom new
er saw either one of the men before,
seemed satisfied to pay their money
and get glimpse.
The aggregation, consisting Of tive
men, arrived on a special train from
Belleviile, Ill, and left at noon for
EvansviiIe