The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-15
RICE THROWS UP SPONGE
Quits in Eighteenth Round of Match
With Young Corbett-Ch
pion's Poor Showing.

Austin Rice quit in the eighteenth
round Of his contest with Young Corbett
at Hot Springs last night. Six Of the
seventeen rounds fought belonged to Rice
in three rounds only, while eight were
fought on even terms. Rice commenced
to yomit while sitting in his corner TAX
ing the minutes rest after the seven
teenth round and his seconds threw up
the sponge after the gong had called
them to the center of the ring for the
eighteenth round. 't 20
Corbett fell far short of championsh ship
form and taken on the whole was a dis
appointment Corbett was fully eight
pounds heavier than Rice and seemed fat
and slow. Rice outboxed the champion
and was the cleanest hitter. Corbett's
nose and mouth b1ed freely after the
eighth hound and this seemed to bother
him. Just before the end Of the eleventh
round Corbett landed a stiff left swing,
glancing on the stomach, and as a result
Rice became sick. On the calling of time
Of the beginning Of the eighteenth round
Battling Nelson Rice's second, threw
towel into the ring and Corbettz was
given the decision. ~ ~
It had been freely predicted that Rice
would not stay ten rounds and most OF
the betting was done on this basis. The
feature of the contest was Rice's foot
work. But for his success in lodging
Corbett's vicious lunges he would have
gone down and out early in the game.
Nearly every round consisted Of rushes
and aggressive fighting by Corbett and
feinting and lodging by Rice. Once the
champion went to the floor. his foot slip
ping as he lodged lunge from Rice.
Rice fell to his knees under similar cir
cumstances, but both men were on their
feet in an instant. j.
Rice landed almost as many blows as
49, H.
and seemed to do but slight damage.
Corbett in turn landed many face and
body blows, but his most vicious swings
and uppercuts were either lodged or
blocked and those that went home had
little effect Rice's fight was purely to
stay the twenty rounds, and he fought al
most entirely on the defensive. So sue
cessful was he in lodging the rushes of
the champion that Corbett sawed the air
and several times ran into the ropes with
force.
The contest was refereed by Pat Early,
formerly of Chicago. Before the begin
ming of the bout, Manager Mulligan of
the association received a number of tele-
graphic challenges from -featherweights
in all parts of the country to meet the
winner OF the match. They were received
with great applause from the audience
when read from the ring prior to the con-
test.
Parson Davies has arranged a meeting
| with Young Corbett" for to-day with the
view Of matching Kid Broad against
the champion. The Parson believes
Broad can defeat the champion, after
witnessing the latter's performance last
night.
James J. Corbett has sent $4,000 to Al
Smith. New York city, as a forfeit for a
match with Jeffries.
It Is virtually certain that Joe Cans, the
lightweight champion, and Eddie Ken
needy, one Of the toughest propositions in
Pittsburg and also in his class; will fight
| ten-round contest at Allegheny, Pa. al
Herford has accepted on behalf Of Cans,
and Kennedy is willing.
The announcement that kid" Lavigne
the ex-lightweight champion, had been
matched to fight Ben Jordan the English
featherwelght champion, before the Ma.
t1onal Sporting club Of London on Derby
day, which will be during the last weel
| IN May, was received with delight by
sporting men in this country. Lavignt
was always a favorite.
If Jimmie Britt insists on fghtins
Young Corbett he will have to change hi
terms. Corbett is perfectly willing tt
take on the California, lightweight afte
he has engaged McGovern in another bat
tie, but he says Britt will have to ACRE,
to the weight being 1913 pounds at
o'clock on the day Of the fight instead O
100 pounds, as the Californian has sur
gested.