The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-21
BRITT WON OUT.
Given the Decision Over Nelson
by Referee Roche.
Fighters Went the Twenty
Rounds Like a Cyclone.
A TREMENDOUS CROWD
A $4,000 House Witnessed the
Exciting Contest.
Nelson Thinks He Was Given
the Worst of 1t.

Mechanics Pavilion, San Francisco.
Dec 21-The fight between Jimmy"
Britt and Battling Nelson was given to
Britt on points at the end of the goth
round.
A $4,000 audience was jammed
into Mechanics pavilion to see the
| fight, which was virtually conceded to
be a contest for the worlds light
weight championship. The belief that
Joe Cans, the colored pugilist, who re-
Gently retained the title by securing a
decision over Britt on foul, is prob
able unab BILE to reduce to the light
weight limit accentuates the fact that
the winner of the battle will be looked
upon as the legitimate champion of
the lightweight division.
Betting was brisk all day. In the
morning bets We're registered at the
odds of 10 to with Britt the favorite.
Later on, however, owing to the
volume of Nelson money and the re-
luctance of Britt'S supporters to spec
uiate at what they termed unreason-
able and disproportionate figures, the
price advanced a point with the local
lad holding the top end at 10 to g.
Even at this price the Britt lotteries
did not loosen their purse latcheS until
evening, when, realizing the futility
of hoping for a more lucrative price
they poured their money into the pool
sellers boxes in large punches, which
was covered with avidity by the local
NelSOnlIeS- 30 great IN IaCI was the
influx of Nelson coin at this stage that
the odds ever forced up another notch
At o'clock the odds favored Britt
at 10 to and these quotations pre-
vailed for an hour. Still the flow of
short end wagers poured in and at s
o'clock the betting was at even money,
which was the ruling price UP to ring
time.
1t was reported that Battling Nell
son had placed about 1900 to $4,000
on himself at odds varying from 10 to
to 10 to 8. Britt. on the other hand,
placed but modest sum on his own
chances of winning, being content to
strive for the purse and glory which
victory would bring.
Two preliminaries were worked off
prior to the main event. Tom Moran
and Frank Delile of the United States
army met in a four-round contest at
100 pounds, while George Herbert and
Jim Baywards (colored) entertained
the crowd in a scheduled eight
Delile was given the decision over
Moran at the end of four rounds of
tame fighting.
In the second preliminary George
Jim Hayward at the end of the eighth
round. 1t was a good contest, in
which Herbert landed the cleaner
blows and forced the fighting. Harry
Sharp of st. Louis refereed both the
preliminary contests.
A message was read from Al Here
ford, manager of Joe Cans, offering to
match the colored man with the win
ner of the contest. A check for So
500, it is said. has been deposited with
a local sporting man to clinch the
match. Hereford stipulated that Cans
would make 1873 at 6 o'clock. Chal-
lenges from Jabez White of England
and Jimmy Gardner were also read.
Young Corbett also issued a chal-
lenge to meet the winner and said he
had a verbal promise from Britt to
give him another chance in the event
of the Californian winning.
When Young Corbett entered the
ring to issue his challenge he was ire
mendously cheered. He shook hands
with each of the principals. The crowd
yelled speech" Corbett in a few
words thanked his friends for their
cordial greetings and promised that he
would give a good account of himself
when he again entered the ring
Britt as usual, looked nervous as he
sat in his corner. He had both
arms encased with tire tape. Nelson
sat in his corner chewing gum and
looking very confident. Nelson had
on green trunks while Britt wore
white trunks with green and red rib
bons. Both men looked fit to fight the
battle of their lives. After being
photographed they were sent to their
corners. Time was called at $50
o'clock.
When Britt was seen in the dressing