The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-26
FIGHT GOES TO FITz
HE GOT THE DECISION OVER
GEORGE GARDNER.
FIGHT WAS A BIT SLOW
AND THE CROWD JEERED BE-
CAUSE THEY DID NOT CHIT 1T Up"

by FitzsimmOns, and Gardner Was
Suffering Severely Mt Various
Stages FitzsimmOns Seemed
Tired-The Pace Seemed n Triae
Hot for Him-CrOvvd of 5000 Wit
messed the Contest.
San Francisco, Nov. 25.-Bob Fitz-
simmons proved tonight that he was
not dead one" when he out-boxed
and generated George Gardner for
twenty rounds. Fitzsimmons was as
awkward and as cunning as of yore
and apparently realizing that he must
foster his strength, there was not
moment when ne was not carefulness
personified.
While the old man could avoid pun
ishment from Gardner, he could not
knock his opponent out, although he
landed a number of vicious blows
From his performance tonight Gard
ner is not in Fitzsimmons class. He
landed on the old timer once in a while,
but Fitz was always going away from
him, and the blows were harmless.
Several times Fitzsimmons apparently
had Gardner almost out, but he was
either too tired or lacked his old
strength and could not land knockout
punch. F'itz was very skillfull in
blocking and lodging Gardeners blows
and in the clinches and breakaways
was very careful.
The figft did not please the specta-
tors, and the men in the ring were fire.
quently Kissed when they went through
round without apparently trying to
fight
Referee Eddie 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 Fitzsim-
mons because the latter secured the
knockdowns, but otherwise did no dam
age. 1t was apparent that neither man
was qualified to claim championship
honors.
After the fight Fitzsimmons appeared
to be overjoyed over his victory and
claimed that 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 that Fitz chose to act mainly on
the defensive that the fight was not
finished long before the twentieth round
was over.
Crowd Was Slim.
Fitzsimmons and Gardner did not
draw a crowded house. The big pa
vilion was only fairly filled. a great
contrast to the usual state of affairs
when Fitzsimmons has fought here
before. "Lanky' Bob has been a great
favorite here, although the contest to-
night did not fill the arena to its ut
most capacity.
Fitzsimmons was installed a favor
ite in the betting. During the day he
ruled favorite at 10 to 8, but towards
evening the rumor circulated that he
was not in prime condition, and
Gardner went up to even money. La
ter Fitzsimmons' admirers came for
ward with their coin and when the
men entered the ring the betting was
10 to in Fitzsimmons' favor.
1t was noticeable that the usual
number of outside patrons of the
prize ring were absent tonight. The
5000 people were with few exceptions
from San Francisco.
No fight of recent times has been
the cause of more guess work than
this one. In spite of Fitzsimmons'
age. many people, remembering his
remarkable career, still chung to their
old idol and figured that experience
and the old fighting instinct would car
ny him through. On the other hand
the wise" calculating on Gardeners
youth and strength, played him to
win.
Both men weighed close to 1858
pounds, though Gardner was a bit the
heavier.
The story by Rounds.
Round One-They went to the center
quickly and INDUCED in sparring.
Gardner danced around lively and
ducked a vicious left for the jaw. Fitz-
simmons sent a straight left high on
the chest The fighting was slow, both
men exercising great care. Gardner re-
ceived a singing straight left to the
Jaw F1tzsimmons followed this with
another left to the jaw and a right to
the stomach. Fitz sent Gardeners head
back with a left hook on the jaw.
Gardner then planted straight one to
the face. Fitz blocked a hard left to
the stomach as the bell rang. The adj
vantage was with Fitz.
Round Two-After considerable SPAR
ring both missed lefts for the body.
Fitz got in a left to the head and
Gardner landed twice on the Austria
lian's kidneys with right Gardner
drove his right to the body and re-
ceived a left to the body and a 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. Both drove a straight left to
the stomach and missed a right for
the jaw. Bob then planted his left to
the body and a right swing to the jaw.
Gardner sent in a right and left for
the body, and Fitzsimmons retaliated
with a right and left to the jaw as the
bell sounded.
Round Three-Gardner was short with
a left for the body. and later drove a
hard right to the Cornishman's ribs.
They then exchanged blows to the body
Gardner followed with a right swing
to the ribs and two rights
to the kidneys. Gardner sent
in left and right to the jaw.
Fitz swung terrific right to the jaw,
and rushed Gardner to the ropes. Fitz-
simmons put left to face, and right to
the body, Gardner fighting back hard.
Fitz gave a flash of his old fire in this
round and drew Gardner on. This was
Fitzsimmons' round.
Round Four-Fitzsimmons imme-
diately swung right to the jaw and
they mixed it, Bob ducking and block
ing cleverly. Fitzsimmons sent Card
ner down for seven seconds, with two
straight lefts to the jaw. Gardner
came up fighting wildly. Fitzsimmons
forced him to the ropes with a straight
left to the jaw, sending Gardner against
the ropes. Fitz then hooked a vicious
right to the jaw, and Gardner went to
the floor. He came up and Fitz
planted several frightful lefts and
rights to the face, and body that sent