The San Francisco call., 1904-07-24
FITZ OUTCAMES
CLEVER O'BRIEN
Cornishman Is Hit Often by
Younger Boxer, but Comes
Out of the Mix-Up Strong
FLOORS OPPONENT ONCE
Philadelphia Man Lands a
Lot of Punching, but BOb's
Blows Are More Effective

PHILADELPHIA, July 23-Jack
O'Brien and Bob Fitzsimmons to-day
fought the fastest six round bout ever
witnessed III this city between men Of
their weight. When the gong an
nounced the close Of the fight both men
were on their feet, but both bore the
marks of the gruelling which they had
just gone through. Fitzsimmons lips
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 the
fresher of the two 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 en-
deavoring tc Get away from Fftzsim-
mons AID the third time partly from
Fitzsimmons right, which landed on
Jacks neck, and partly through the
latter's feet getting tangled.
The fight was held on the National
League baseball grounds, the ring be-
ing pitched Immediately over the home
plate. 1t was the first openair 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 OF the
men.
MANY WOMEN PRESENT.
the Common Pleas Court and satisfied
the Judges that it was to be boxing
match and within the scope of the law.
Under this agreement, a permit was
granted for the bout. There were many
rumors that the men had an under
standing not to exert themselves, but
such rumors were dissipated before the
close Of the first round.
There was a liberal sprinkling Of
women in the grandstand. and sitting
close to the ringside was Mrs. FitZ-
simmons, who, for the first time, was
to witness her husband fight. She
never took her eyes off Fitz during the
six rounds and when he sat down at
the close of the fight his wife rushed
over to his corner, climbed the steps
leading to the ring and planted a kiss
on the badly swollen lips Of her hus-
band.
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 IL
was 5:06 before Fitzsimmons, accom-
panied by Billy Lester. Benny Murphy,
Joe Edmonston and Charley Savidge,
his seconds, made his appearance.
Seven minutes later O'Brien came on.
He was looked after by Lew Bailey,
Joe Hagan, Billy Mccartney and Billy
Reynolds. A long wrangle ensued over
the kind of bandages worn by Fitz-
simmons. Underneath the strips OF
muslin were, O'Brien claimed, plaster
bandages. O'Brien said the bandages
must come off or there would be no
fight Fitzsimmons replied: Then
there will be no fight"
After keeping the spectators waiting
for ten minutes. Fitzsimmons removed
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 dazzling foot
work, darting in and out with wonder
full cleverness, landing lefts and an oc-
casional right, while Fitzsimmons was
content to block, evidently endeavoring
to land on O'Brien's wind. This op-
portunity came near the close Of the
second round, when he drove his right
to O'Brien's body with terrific force.
The first three rounds were in O'Brien's
favor. but after that he grew trifie
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 when
they went to their corners at the close
of the fifth, O'Brien bleeding from
cash over the left eye and Fitzsimmons
from the mouth and nose. Both men
were in distress when the sixth round
closed. but Fitzsimmons was apparent
ly in better condition.
Round one-Fitzsimmons led with
his left. but missed and as O'BrieD
ducked he landed a right on the back
of the neck. O'Brien landed a light
left on Fitzsimmons' face and the men
cIinched. Fitzsimmons landed a light
right on O'Brien's wind and the lat
ter drew blood from Fitzsimmons'
mouth. Jack again landed left to
Fitzsimmcns' nose and got away with
ont a return. O'Brien then knocked
the skin off Fitzsimmons' nose with
light uppercut and drew the blood in
q stream from his mouth. F'itzsimmons
missed a ferocious right and Jack in
attempting to get away fell to the
floor. O'Brien had all the best Of the
round.
Round two-Both feinted and Fitz-
simmons missed two lefts, but landed
a third on O'Brien's jaw and as the
latter rushed in Fitzsimmons Grove his
right to the stomach. O'Brien landed
a hard right and left to Fitzsimmons'
jaw, bringing the blood again. F'itz-
simmons was unable to land with sue
cess on O'Brien up to this time. O'Brien
cut Fitzsimmons' left eye with short
right and a moment later caught him
full in the mouth O'Brien's footwork
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.
Round three-The men danced about