The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-20
Little Fighters Are in Perfect
Condition for the Bout.
Nelson and Britt Ready for
Long, Hard Contest.
JIMMY THE FAVOR1TE.
Betting Odds Are on the Cali
fornian to Win.
Harry Corbett Thinks the Two
Men Are Nip and Tuck.

san Francisco. Dec 2O.-James Ed
ward Britt and Battling Nelson enter
tanned large crowds of callers at their
training quarters Monday. The beau
tiful weather took immense throngs
10 the beach. while the Danes Larks-
up camp was crowded to it's capacity
at his matinee. 1t was the last day of
work for both boys before the fight
and the little boxing they did was in
the nature of a concession to the
crowds.
Britt was up betimes and after
short run on the road took his Gus
tomary dip in the breakers A light
luncheon and a siesta followed later.
Shortly after 8 o'clock in the after
noon Spider Kelly reused his sleep
ing charge and ordered gymnasium
work Britt was in the best of spirits
and went at his exercise with zest-
He said:
II am going to be beaten some time,
but Nelson won't be the man. He is
not a good enough fighter to whip me-
This may sound like conceit, but it is
a fact nevertheless When L say that
! will beat Nelson. don't think that 1
am looking for an easy victory and
that 1 am undertaking him. From
what 1 have seen 1 think Nelson is
the best man 1 ever signed articles
with
At Nelson's quarters the gymnasium
was crowded back to the walls. Mel
sons work was of the tapering-
kind He did very little work, content
ing himself with limbering up his
muscles
There has been no change in the
betting as yet 1t opened at 10 to
and is still at that figure. BY tonight
IL is said that there will be a drop to
10 to Z, though there is a chance of
the swing being in the other direction.
Nelson said; When 1 fought Cor
bett ] was better than when l fought
Hanlon. and when 1 meet Britt will
be better than when beat Corbett- 1
have more confidence and 1 think 1
am a better tighter. l have improved.
but think Britt has been at his best.
He won't be any better when he meets
me than when he fought Cans or Cor
bett If Britt beats me all 1 can say
is that he will know that he has been
in fight and that he found me in
my best condition. 1 will have no
excuses
Murphy claims the heavy feather
weight" title for Nelson and If he whips
Britt he Will also claim the lightweight
championship at 132 pounds. He de-
clares there is not flaw in Nelson's
condition for this battle.
The two premier lightweights climb
through the ropes to Il padded battle
ground tonight, and~the fight promises
to be one well worth Witnessing. Both
are confident, both are trained literally
~ the UOuE- Nelson mas prepared ntTQ
self to meet Britts sIashing onslaughts
with speed scarcely less than the Cali
1ornians and with his wonderful vital
ity stored away unimpaired.
The wise ones say Britt is too fast for
Nelson. but they said that Corbett had
too much class and they bet 2 to 1
against the Dane. The wise ones said
Eddie Hanlon should win on class, and
that Martin Candle was too clever. and
they made these two boys prohibitive
1aNor1tes- Yet the Dane won all three
of these fights.
Britt viii win. in my opinion" said
Young Corbett- Having met both Britt
and Nelson, 1 ought to have a pretty
good line on their respective merits. AL
though good many will not agree with
me, lcok for the contest to go the
limit This is because l do not think
that either man has a knockout blow
OF course there is always a chance for
q fellow to get in a blow and end it
right there. but my experience with
both fighters has shown me that they
lack the necessary force. With the men
going the limit. I think Britt will win
on points. for he is the cleVerest boxer -
Harry Corbett says: Britt is Won
derful little fellow. but we haven't ia
ken Nelson seriously enough His rec
ord is far better than Britt's, and I don't
suppose that people see it yet. Britt
is grand little fighter and 1 admire
him as much as any of them, but you
can say for me that 1 can't pick the
winner here.
Nelson is a fellow that cannot be
stopped and if he can get to Britt there
is going to be grand battle. He is on
top of his man all the time taking
punches that would put an ordinary
man to the bad right away. But on him
they don't seem to take effect. Yes.
Britt is the cleverer of the two; and if
he can keep away from Nelson should
outpOint him, but. you see. that's where
the hitch comes in. They can't keep
him away. nor can they stop him I'd
q cof I ha1 ~, hat