The Washington times., 1905-09-17

SI1lSAdO, sept lO--AlAuOuSl NAiS
great fight between Battling Nelson and
Jimmy Britt finally. went through with
out a hitch, once the fight was started.
gossip over the various deals arf5 sure
thing frame-ups in connection with il.
all Of which are supposed TO have Britt
on the long end, will not down. and the
affair has done nearly as much 10 hurt
the game as would have been the case
had the fight wound up in a rank fake
There has been a great deal OF criu-
cism which seems TO be well founded.
of Referee Graney's action in calling az
bets of before the bout started. SO far,
the best excuse that Graney has ad-
vanced is that he himself had pre-
viously put big bet on Nelson. not ex-
pecting TO be called upon 10 off1ciate as
arbiter. and when the unlooked-for sum-
mons came, he called all bets off rather
than be in a position to influence the
outcome of his own bet
Could Cancel Wager.
1t does not seem to have occurred 10
Mr.. Graney that he could have easily
called off his own wager without dis
turbing the multitude of like transac-
tions that had occurred throughout the
country. There would have been no diffi-
Guilty in doing this, as Graney, accord
ing TO his own story. got down Sl.z9o o.
Nelson against 5000 on Britt, while the
odds Jumped to even money as soon as
IL was announced that Jeffries would
mot act as referee
Also, Il is somewhat strange that
Graney should have bet on Nelson when
every real wise sport throughout the
length and breadth OF California was
going to Britt as If he could not pos
sfblv lose. Graney was In a position TO
doing II nmVhOQE was
The real explanation appears to be
that with Jeffries sidetracked- the
Rrifts realized that the outcome of the
fight was not exactly as certain as they
had seemed to think II would be, and.
not caring to take any chances-your
genuine sure-thing man never takes
chances-they insisted on Graney's call
ing all bets off before the contest start
ed This is the story that was first sent
out. and II is probably the correct solu-
ton of the matter
There is little side-light in cornec-
ton with this remarkable night that
seems to have escaped general attention
and that is that ii IS easy 10 see how
Britt received the decision over Nelson
at their previous meeting, and that the
verdict was rendered by referee trying
to do what was just and honest in the
matter.
A Continuous Howl.
Ever since this former fight there has
been a continuous howl from the Danes
partisans that he was robbed when
Roache declared Britt the winner. but
Saturdays affair proves. to my mind
at least, that Britt undoubtedly out
pointed Nelson for two-thirds OF the dis
tance at their first meeting and stalled
o. cfs sr,o I-fte Il
- have done the same thing over again
in the second fight. had the distance
been for but twenty rounds, but, as he
hlmself said afterward, he realized that
there was no use playing waiting
game against a man who was a better
stayer than he was. so ne took a chance
and waded in.
AS predicted in this column last week
Jimmy Gardner seems TO be the almost
unanimous choice as Nelson's next op-
ponent the only question being whether
he can make the weight and do himself
justice. Cans. OF course. is utterly out
of the question There are too many
SHADY deals still fresh in the remem-
brance OF the sporting world In which
the dusky champion and his manager
have figured. and Nelson is wise in re-
fusing TO have anything 10 do with him.
Nelson No Wonder.
1t will take a man who has the punch
OF Kid Lavfgno and the science of Britt
10 whip Nelson. and there is 10 such
combination among the Iightweights in
the ring today. Jack McAuliffe was
such fighter. and Frank Erne proba-
bly, the next best. But a good, clever
man with the knockout blow viii come
mighty near trimming the Great Dane
II such a fighter exists at the present
day. He left enough openings for Brit
to have put him away a dozen times
had the latter possessed the punch.
There is another point that the Chi.
csgo boy must bear IN fnind-thest
'.giuttons for punishment" do not stand
the pace as long as the clever boys who
protect themselves. Sooner or later
the accumulated weight OF the blows
they have received begins TO tell and the
once great pu2ilist breaks down under
the strain. Witness Tom Sharkey, KID
Carter. Kid Lavigne. Terry McGoyerr
and many lesser lights.
With winter rapidly approaching, the
fight fans around Chicago are gettIns
uneasy and are beginning TO wonder
whether there is any hope. and prospec,
whatever Of a revival OF the good old
days when there were fights three or
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