The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-30
WINNER WILL STAND READY TO
DEFEND THE TITLE.
BOTH WILL TAKE A
LITTLE EXERCISE TO-DAY.
CONTEST WILL BE ACCORDING To
MARQUIS OF QUEENsBURY RULES.

Both Blood and Ferguson Are In
Splendid Form and 1t VIII BE the
Fastest Bout That Has Been Pulled
on in Savannah in Many Months.
Advance Sale Promises n Large
Attendance-Men VIII Fight for
10 and 30 Per Cent. of the Purse.
Many Believe That the Bout VIII
Go the Limit.
The principals in to-nights fistic con-
test at the Savannah Athletic Club
discarded gloves and punching bags
when they wound up their days work
yesterday, and will take a rest to-day,
only engaging in a little light exer-
else during the morning.
Ferguson found many of his old ad-
mirers here when he returned and all
of them were willing to back him to
such an extent until now the prevail
ing odds are even money. Blood has
figured at shortprices heretofore.
Whatever the betting may be the fight
itself promises to be one of the hard
est ever witnessed here.
If Ferguson is able to show the same
steam that he exhibited on pre-
vious occasion it is safe to say the
encounter will not be without CORY
features. He says he is much strong
er, and is in far better shape than he
has ever been before. While Blood
says he is just like he always was,
but that he win be able to put Fergu-
son to sleep in ten rounds.
No one doubts that the contest to-
night will afford all the sport possible
to extract from two sturdy boxers
who are willing to mix it up from
the tap of the gong. With a man like
Blood in the ring it is impossible for
his opponent to loaf. He will carry
the fight to him, and if he refuses
TO fight he will hammer him down.
The same agreement has been made
with the fighters as was made at the
last contest between colored welter
weights. If in the opinion of the spec
tators either of the contestants is fax
ing his part of the purse Will be given
to some charitable institution.
viii Go Twenty Rounds.
1t is believed by many that the bout
tonight will go the limit. Ferguson
is clever enough to know what danger
lies in close infighting with Blood,
though that is his strong point. He
mas asked that the agreement as TO
breaks be made with permission to
fight as long as one arm is free. Blood
says he is willing to do this, so the
clean break will not be used, but the
men will be allowed to fight until the
referee decides that they have come to
a clinch and calls break"
With this style of battle, which is
the same employed in all championship
contests, the real ability of the two men
will be shown, and the short arm
punches will be used almost altogether.
The other style of fighting while more
spectacular, does not bring the same
results, and the contestants have an
opportunity to swing to each other.
Loser Gets Small Purse.
Under an agreement made last night
between the principals, and seconds the
loser tonight will only get 10 per cent.
of the purse, while the winner will
take the other 80. Blood said he was
perfectly willing to fight, winner take
all, but Ferguson has had some ex-
penses in coming to Savannah and he
did not want to agree to this
If possible a battle royal will be
arranged for this first event. If this
is not put on the regular six round pre-
hminary will go on. According to the
advance sale of seats the attendance
tonight will be the largest in several
months, and the contest will certainly
be one of the best ever witnessed in Sa-
vannah.