The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-01-16

| see a lot of unfavorable criti-
cism in the newspapers these days
about the recent fight between
Jimmie Britt and Battling Nelson
The talk in the main comes from a
class of people who several, thous-
and miles from the scene of battle
Nevertheless they are more talk
alive than the ones who sat at the
ringside.
This criticism is chiefly on the
ring methods of Jimmie Britt
These critics say he is simply a
boxer and should not be c!assed as
a fighter, despite the fact that he
has stood up against and won the
decision, from every man he has
met except Cans, and he lost to
him on a foul.
1t will be interesting to the read
ers of this column to know how
Britt manages to get the long end
of the purse every time.
There are two kinds of fighters
One is the man who stands up and
takes two punches to land one.
The other is the man who likes
to send home the wallop as often
as possible without receiving one
in return.
In the old days of Sullivan, Kill
rain, Mitchell and Jackson and
even down to and during the days
of McGovern, among the little fell
lows, the former class was in evil
dence and was always popular.
Today, however, you will find
the latter class predominates. Britt
is the leading exponent Of this
style. He goes into the ring al
ways in the best possible condi-
ton. Long before, he has decided
upon his plan of battle.
This is largely true of every
| other man in the business today,
although many deny it. 1t is the
result of ring evolution; the out
come or ring science.
Britt approaches his man eau
tiously. No kilograms are sent
about his plans. He acts quickly.
Before his opponent has prepared
himself for the fast, quick blows,
he has received them and Britt is
hanging on.
Britt, by so doing. is saving him
self and making up in headwork
what he lacks in strength, such as
comes with years of labor in a
blacksmith shop or a foundry.
This was particularly so in his
fight with Nelson. Ring followers
claim and Britt comedies the ad-
vantage of Nelson in strength.
rThie, no 70 hn nffSnf in, mo
ner and the style Britt adopted
was the ideal one.
The result of his plans was that
Britt landed two and probably
three god punches, while Nelson
with his sleep-producing wallop
hanging back, was waiting for his
chance. The fight went on. Mel
son was waiting. Britt landed five
punches on the spot aimed at,
while his opponent failed to deliver
one.
At the conclusion of 20 rounds
what was the referee to do? Give
the fight to the man who had done
nothing and was probably ifresher
because he had been taking beat
ings all his life, or to Britt, who
had landed five good stiff punches
to his opponents one, and dis
played excellent ring tactics and
science.
may be wrong. but if Iswere in
the referees place, would give
the decision to the man that right
fully won it on points, admitting,
however, that had the fight gone
on indefinitely, as in the old days,
such a man as Nelson, providing
he could stand the strain, would
probably land the telling punch
sometime.
First Job as Referee.
The most peculiar incident
ever experienced in the ring was
pulled off at the Metropole club, at
Providence, r.. l., back in the early
COS. | had gone to that city to
spar four rounds at boxing show
and when | arrived | found | was
expected to referee some other
fights.
This was something new to me
and | objected, but was compelled
to do the stunt or return to New
York without my end of the re-
ceipts.
Two green men were sent in for