The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-26

IN and Bob FitZsimmonS today fougnt
the fastest six round bout 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 marks OF the
gruelling fight they had just gone
through. Fitzsimmons' lips were
twice their normal size. and his left
eve was almost closed while O'Bri-
ems left eye was also cut and swol-
len.
While O'Brien landed the greater
number of blows they did not so much
damage as those landed by Fftzs1m-
mons, and the latter was fresher at
the close of the fight There was
not a clean knock-down during the
bout 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. II
was the first open aif boxing contest
ever given in this city, ard the nov
city of the affair drew crowd OF
about 5000 persons.
Round 1.-Fitzsimmons led \with
his left. but missed. and as O'BSie1l
ducked. he landed a right OH the baok
of the neck. O'Brien landed a light
left on Fitzsimmons' face and the
men clinched. FftZsimmons landed
a light right on O'Briens wind, and
the latter drew the blood from Fitz-
simmons mouth. Jack again land
ed a left to Fits nose and got away
without a return. O'Brien then
knocked the skin off Fitzsimmons'
nose with a light upper cut, and drew
the blood in a stream from his mouth,
FitZsimmons missed a ferocious right.
and O'BTen, in attempting to get
away. fell to the floor. O'Brien had
all the best OF the round !,
Round Both feinted, and F1tz-
simmons missed two lefts. but landed
a third on O'Brien's jaw. ARD as the
latter rEAhed in Fitzsimnaons drove
his right to stomach. o'Brien landed
a hard right and left ito FitZSimmons'
jaw, bringing the blood again. Fitz-
simmons was unable to land with sue
cess on O'Brien up to this time. O'Brl-
en- cut Fitzsimmons' left eye with Il
short 1ight and a moment later
csafught him full in the mouth O'Bri-
ems foot work was marvellous, and
Fitzsimmons was badly winded. Bob
landed a hard right to the stomach
as the bell sounded, which was the
most damaging blow that O'Brien had
yet received.
Rourd 3-The men danced about
the ring. and then Fitzsimmons missed
&c hard right for the jaw. He landed
a light left on O'Brien's stomach, and
the latter dhove a straight left TO
Fitz's mouth. again starting the blood.
FitZSimmons landed a hard left on
O'Briens wind. which made the lat
ter finch. O'Brien missed a left to
the face, and the men chnched. Fftz-
simmons tried a right for the wind
but was short, and O'Brien counterej
with hard right to the face. In an
exchange of blows Bob landed a hard
left on O'Brien's chin. and Jack
brought his left flush on Fitzsimmons
jaw. The men clinched at the bell
Round 4.-O'Brien was the first tC
lead, but missed left for Fitzsim-
mons. Bob led with his left, and ths
men clinched. Fitzsimmons tried
hard right. and as he came in O'Brier
upper-cut him with a lert. OBrier
then landed three blows without re
turn F1tzsimmons landed a right Oh
Jacks wind, and the latter ram away
A left to the face again started tn
blood from Fitzsimmons' mouth. Jacl
landed a light left on the damage
mouth, and the referee had to sep
arate the men. FitZsimmonS missed
a left for the face. and O'Brien land
ed hard left upper-cut. Fitzsim
mons brought the blood from O'Bri
ems mouth with a straight left. bu
missed hard right as the men wer
sent to their corners.
Round 5.-Fftzsimmons missed
left for the face, and O'Brien counter
ed with a right to the Jaw. Fitzsim
mons missed another left, and tn
men had to be separated by the ref
cree. O'Brien landed light ons
and Fitzsimmons drove a hard one t
O'Brien's wind, repeating the blow
second later. O'Brien sent a ligh
right to the face. and as the me
cgme together. O'Brien drove a har
right to Fitzsimmons' wind. The
were sparring for wind. Fftzimmor