The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-12-23

SON. was given the decision over
Battling" Nelson of Hegewitch, H.,
tonight, in one of the fastest fights
ever seen on the Pacific coast. Both
men weighed in at less than 1872
pounds. Britt was the betting favor
lite although there was plenty of Nell
son money in sight. While Nelson
tried his usual boring tactics he found
In Britt a more able ring general than
he has ever before encountered, with
the result that his favorite blows fail
ed to do much damage. Britt drew
first blood early in the game with a
fierce right to Nelson's nose and from
that point on the result was never in
doubt. Both were on their feet and
fighting hard at the end of the twen-
tieth round.
San Francisco, Cal, Dec. 20.--One Of
the largest audiences that has ever
witnessed a prize fight in Mechanics
Pavilion was assembled there tonight
long before the gong sounded for the
big scrap between Jimmie Britt and
vorite, plenty Of seven to ten being Of
fered on his chances before the bout
began with but few takers, While there
was no actual championship to be de-
cided. the battle was virtually for the
lightweight championship of the
world and the friends of both men
we're more confident of the success Of
their champion than ever before in
the history of prize fights in this city.
OF course, the native son" element
entered largely into the betting The
San Francisco sporting men were con-
fident that the conqueror of Young
Corbett" was the goods despite the
fact that since George Siler refereed
bout here and gave the decision to
Britt, Nelson had won a clear decision
over Corbett.
The scales were fixed at 1872 pounds
and when both men stepped on them
they failed to move them although 1t
was plain that Nelson was some five
pounds the lighter of the two men.
There were many men who believed
that Nelson would get the decision
and they offered their money freely
with the result that the Britt advocates
failed to produce very much of the
coin of the realm and the Nelson
shouters were in the ascendancy when
the fight began.
There were tho usual preliminaries
but they were decidedly tame and be-
fxxrr. uyhn hau OF n mol a
reputation.
Just before the main bout began
"Al" Herford offered to match the
winner of tonight's bout with Joe
Cans for the lightweight champion
ship of the world, TIE men to weigh in
at 1873 pounds at the ringside.
Britt was the first to put in appear.
ance. He was attended by Spider Kel
ly, Frank Rafael and Tim Creling.
Nelson followed him two minutes later
followed by Tod Murphy, Eddie San
try, 'Rawhide" Kelly and Smiling"
Metzner. There was the usual "guff"
and reading Of challenges while both
men sat in their corners and glared at
each other There was quite smile
from the sports when challenge was
read from Jabez White, of England, to
meet the winner
BILLY" Roche, of New York, the
referee, then called the men to the
center of the ring and instructed them
as to the ethics of the bout Both men
looked in the pink of condition and
neither appeared doubtful of the result.
THE FIGHT BY ROUNDS.
Round 1--They came together at
9:15. Britt missed left hook for
body and Nelson blocked right and
left for the same place. They SPARED
carefully and Britt missed hard left
which looked dangerous Jimmy"
whipped terrific right to Nelson's
heart and followed 1t with a left hook
to wind. They went to clinch and
broke, both we'll covered up. Nelson
led a left which fell short. Britt
came back with a straight right to
body. A left counter was cleverly
lodged by Jimmy and they clinched,
only to break clean. A second clinch
was followed by mix-up in which
both showed their ability to cover up.
They clinched again at the bell. Britts
round.
Round 2-They met In Nelson's cor
ner with the Swede in an impossible
crouch Britt missed left for the
body and Nelson tried for head with
his left but failed. They clinched and
In the breakaway both missed right
and left swings. Nelson went at
Britt to try 70 gain an advantage but
the latter backed up and side-stepped
out OF danger. Britt sent hard
straight left to "Battling's" heart and
received return to jaw. They clinch-
ed and the referee parted them only
TO have them come together again, He
showed them back and harmless. fusil-
Ade followed at close quarters. neither
andirg Nelson sent a left to jaw