The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-24
Robert Stands O'Brien Off
for Three Rounds and
Then Delivers Some Tell
ing Blows on Young
Mans Wind-Mrs. Fitz-
simmons Plants Kiss on
Swollen Lips

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. July 23.-Jack
O'Brien and Bob Fitzsimmons today
fought the fastest SiX-round bout ever
witnessed i'll this city between men of their
weight. When the gong announced the
close of the fight both men were on their
feet, but both bore the marks of the
grueling fight they had Just gone through
Fitzsimmons' lips were twice their nor
NAL size and his left eye was almost
closed, while O'Brien's left eye was also
cut and swollen.
While O'Brien landed the greater num-
Der of blows they did not do nearly so
much damage as those landed by Fitz-
simmons, and the latter was the freSher
at the close of the fight. There was not
a clean. knockdown during the bout, but
three times O'Brien went to the floor,
Twice IN endeavoring to get away from
from Fitzsimmons' right which landed
on 0'Brien's neck. and partly through the
latters feet getting tangled; The fight
was Vas held on the National league base
rectiy between the pitchers box and the
grand stand, Immediately over the home
plate. -''
aeIt was the first open air boxing exhi-
bition ever given i'll this city and the nov
city of the affair drew crowd of about
5000 persons. Mayor Weaver had pre-
vented the first meeting between the men,
claiming that it was to be prize fight.
and therefore illegal.
Fake Rumors Disproved
Later the light promoters went into
common pleas court and satisfied the
Judges that it was to be a boxing exhibit
uon and within the scope of the law.
Under this agreement permit was grant
ed for the bout. There We're many ru-
mors that the men had an understanding
not to exert themselves but such rumors
were dissipated before the close of the
first round.
There was a liberal sprinkling of women
In the grand stand and sitting close to the
ringside was Mrs. Fitzsimmons. who, for
the first time. was to witness her huS-
band fight. She never took her eyes off
her husband during the six rounds, and
when Fitzsimmons sat down at the close
of the fight his wife rushed over to his
corner. climbed the steps leading to the
ring, and planted a kiss on the badly
swollen lips of her husband.
There were four preliminaries which
served to keep the spectators in good hui
NOR
Five o'clock was the hour set for the
men to enter the ring, but ii was SOC
before FitZSimmonS, accompanied by Billy
Lester. Benny Murphy. Joe Edmonston
and Charley Savidse, his seconds, made
O'Brien came on. He was looked after by
Lew Bailey. Joe Hagen. Billy Mccartney
and Billy Reynolds. A long wrangle en-
sued over the kind of bandages worn by
Fitzsimmons. Underneath the strips OF
muslin We're O'Brien claimed, plaster
bandages. o BFien said the bandages must
NoIIS Oh w lhele NouIu ne no HBnI.
Spectators Wait
F'itzsimmons replied:
Then, there viii be no fight" After
Keeping the spectators waiting for ter
minutes Fitzsimmons removed the plas-
ter Each man selected his own gloves
and at BIS they We're called to the cen
ter of the ring by the referee and giver
their instructions.
AT $50 the gong sounded and the bat.
tie was on.
O'Brien began with his dazzling foot
work, darting in and out with wonderful
cleverness landing light lefts and an &C.
caSional right. FitzsmmonS was content
TO BLOCK: evidently endeavoTing to LAND
on OBrien's wind. This opportunity
came near the close of the second round
when he drove his right to O'Bren's body
with terrific. force. The first three
rounds We're in O'Brien'S favor but after
that he grew a trihe slow from the avn
full pace that he had set and Fitzsimrnons
was able to get in some hard blows or
the body. Both men We're covered wifi
blood when they went to their corners al
the close of the fifth round. o Brien bleed
ing from cash over the left eve an6
FitzsimmonS from the mouth and nose.
Both men were in distress when the
sixth round, closed. but Fits inmons was
apparently in the better condition. The
fight by rounds:
Round One
Fitzsimmons led with his left bu
missed and as O'Bfien ducked he landed
a right on the back of the neck. O'Brief
landed a light left on FitzSmmons fac.
a light right on o Brien's wind and TIL,
latter drew blood from Fitzsimmons
mouth. Jack again landed a left to Fitz
summons, nose and got away without re
turn. OBrlen then knocked the skin of
Fitzsimmons nose with a light uppercu