The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-26
.FITZSIMNONS- GARDNER
BOUT DISAPPOINTING
Neither Man in Form and
Battle Tame.
LANKY BOB BROKE BONES
Pleased With Decision and Will Now
Retire From Ring, Says Light
Heavyweight.


co is talking today of the fght last
night, when old Bob Fitzsimmons won
the decision over George Gardner, of
Lowell, in a twenty-round bout. 1t was
the most curious hodge-podee of a mill
ever pulled off in this city.
AT times the milling was last and
brilliant and again it slowed down so
that spectators lkened the affair TO
that put up by a pair of old washer
women. At the weights Fitz showed
that he was not the puncher of old
Several times Bob had Gardner on
Queer Street. and at the moment he was
expected to land the soporific, his
strength seemed to depart and Gardner
recovered.
Injured by Training.
Plainly the amount of training Fitz
had done TO reduce himself had robbed
him of much OF his former vitality.
Gardner disappointed his most enthu-
siastic friends by his Indifferent show
ing. Fitz, by his victory, won the title
Of light heavyweight champion" That
F1tz realized that he was not in the
same fettle as in his forRer fights was
evidenced when the battle was over.
The bell had rung on the final round
and both men dropped their hands.
tltzsimmons wore an anxious express
sion, as If he thought the contest might
De called a draw by Referee Graney.
though. in fact. Ruby Robert" had
sent Gardner TO the floor five times and
had done the better work. When the
referee tapped Fitz on the back To ;ndi-
cate that he had won. the old man
smiled and gave Gardner a hug of low
Gardner was not so happy.
Fight Disappointment.
said: si'
The fight was a disappointment to
me, as 1 thought the men would furnish
mercer battle F'itz made good fight
nevertheless. as he fought a much
younger man than he was by MANY
years.
Gardner surprised me by his poor
showing. He had no force to his blows
II he had he might have beaten Fitz. as
ne iaAhded enough times on the old man
70 whip dozen fighters. Fitzsimmons
clearly showed in this fight that he is
not the same wonderful puncher he was
IN his last fight with Jeffries. 1 think
that taking of so much weight took all
the force out Of his blows"
Fitzsimmons said, regarding the mill:
well, guess have done pretty good
Tor an old man. I won at the end of a
twenty-round go from a fellow young.
strong and fresh, and II any credit goes
with that decision l feel that I have
worked hard for 1t.
FitZ Broke Two Bones.
My only excuse for MT scoring a
knockout is that I broke two bones in
my right hand in the early part OF the
night. and in the thirteenth round /
cOrnpletelv diaa bIed the ofbar hord +
had hard time Of il from that on, but
1 never once felt myself in danger.
Gardeners mode OF fighting is not the
one / am accustomed 70, and although
l oid my best to win from him in the
early rounds, was virtually compelled
10 abandon all hopes of a knockout az
ter hurt my hands.
Career Ended;" Oh, Fudge.
Last nights battle ends my career in
the prize ring. I viii never fight again.
I am getting old and believe there are
yet good young men to develop. Why. a
week ago wrote George Dawson that
I would be lucky If I won, ana I tell
you now that am lucky fellow. Why.
1 was a sick man, 1 tell you, and can
easily feel the effects OF Gardner's
punches, even though they were not
hard ones"
Gsrdner's showing was slovenly. His
blows lacked force and Alex Greggains
said this morning that his man was a
bit weak in trying TO keep down 10 I6S
pounds Greggains said that Gardner's
blows lacked steam, and that ia a fight
at catch weights his man would have
done better
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien. who will
challenge the winner. said both men
fought a poor fight. It is hkely, how
ever. that the next fight will take place
between F1tz and COrbett.