Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-25
But Fitz Has Better of
the Bout.
Has Jack 0'Brien Off Feet at
Philadelphia.
Six Fast Rounds Spared in the Omen
Ar-5oth Men on Feet at Close, But
Bear Marks Of Most Lively En-.
counter.

Philadelphia, July 24.-Jack O,pr;o.,
ana BOB Fftzsimmons, Saturday.
1ought the fastest six rounds ever wit
messed in 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 marl,s
of the gruelling fight they had inst
been through. Fitzsimmons' Inns were
twice their normal size, and his left
eye was almost closed, while O'Brien's
left eye was also cut and swollen.
While OBrien landed the greater
number of blows. they did not do near
ly so much damage as those landed by
FitZsimmOnS, and the latter was tho
fresher at the close of the fight. There
WAS not clean knOck-down during
the fight but three times O'Brien went
to the floor. twice in endeavoring to
get away from Fitzsimmons and the
third time partly from Fitzsimmons'
right which landed on O'Brien's neck
and partly through the latter's feet
getting tangled. The fight was held on
the National League baseball grounds,
the ring being pitched directly between
the pitchers box and the grand stand,
Immediately over the home plate.
This was the first open air boxing
exhibition ever given in this city, and
the novelty of the affair drew a crowd
of about 5000 persons. Mayor Weaver
had prevented the first meeting be-
tween the men, claiming that it was
to be prize fight and therefore il
legal. Later the fight promoters went
into common pleas court and satisfied
the Judge that it was to be a boxing
exhibition and within the scope of the
law. Under this agreement a permit
was granted for the bout. There We're
many rumors that the men had an I'M
derstanding not to exert themselves,
but such rumors were dissipated be-
fore 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. FitZsim-
mons, who for the first time. was to
witness her husband fight. She never
took her eyes off her husband during
the six rounds. and when Fitzsimnons
sat down at the close of the fight. his
wife rushed over to his corner, climbed
The steps leading to the ring and plant
ed a kiss on his badly swollen lips.
There were four preliminaries which
served TO keep the spectators in good
humOr.
Five o'clock was the hour set for the
men to enter the ring. but 1t was 5.oo
before FitzsimmOns, accompanied by
Billy Lester. Benny Murphy, Joe Ed
monston and Charley Savage. his sec
onds. made his appearance. Seven
minutes later. O'Brien came on. he
was looked after by Lew Bailey. Joe
Hagen, Billy Mccartney and Billy Rey-
nolds. A long wrangle ensued over the
kind Of bandages worn by Fitzsim-
mons. Underneath the stripes of mus
lin. were, O'Brien claimed. plaster
bandages. O'Brien said the bandages
must come off or there would be no
fight. Fitzsmmmons replied: "Then
there will be no fight"
After keeping the spectators walt
ing for 10 minutes, FitZsimmons re-
moved the plaster. Each man selected
his own gloves and at 5.2S they were
called to the center Of the ring by the
referee and given their instructions.
At $50 the gong sounded and the
battle was on.
O'Brien began with his dazzling foot
work. darling in and out with wonder
full cleverness, landing light lefts and
an occasional right. Fitzsmmons was
content to block, evidently endeavorins
to land on O'Brien's wind. This OPP
pOrtunity came near the close of the
second round when he drove his right
to O'Rrien's body with terrific force.
The first three rounds were in OBrien's
favor but after that he grew trifle
slow from the awful pace that he had
set. and Fitzsimmons was able to get
in some hard blows on the body. Both
men were covered with blood and went
to their corners at the close of the fifth
round. OBrien bleeding from cash
over the left eye and F'itzsimmons from
the mouth and nose.
Both men were in distress when the
sixth round closed. but Fitzsimmons
was apparently in the better condition.
THE STORY BY ROUNDS.
Round 1.-Fitzsimmons led with his left
but missed. and as O'Brien ducked ne
landed right on the back of the neck
ORrien landed a light left on F'itzs lace
and the men cllllcntu, anu itZ iih','u
a light right on OBriens wind and the
latter drew the blood from F ,dtz IN l'1s
simmons nose and got away without
return. F'itzsimmons missed ferocious
right and O'Brien in attempting to get
away fell to the floor O'Brien had all
the best of the round.
Round Both feinted and Fitzsmmons
missed two Iefts but landed third on
O Rren's jaw, and as the latter rushed
in F'itz drove his right to stomach
@ Erien landed a hard right and left to
Fftz's jaw. bringing the blood again. Fritz
was unable to land with success on
O'Rrien up to this time. Brien cut
Fitzsimmons' left eye with short right
and moment later caught him full on
the mouth. O'Brien's fast work was
marvellous and Fitz was badly winded
10th landed a hard right to the stomach
as the bell sounded. which was the most
da ma ging blow that OBrien had yet re-
ceived.
Round 3.-The men danced about the
ring and then Fitz missed a hard right
for the jaw. He landed a light left on
q Brien's stomach and the latter drove