Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-21
FITz COLLAPSES,
LOSES DECISION
REFEREE STOPS FIGHT AND
0'BRlEN WINS
Former Champion Faints From Strain
of Battle and Cannot Continue,
PhiladeIphian Being De-
olared Victor
Rv Associate Press.

/ CldTGu NlClOT
| BY Associated Press.
! MECHANICS PAVILION, SAN
| FRANCISCO, Dec. 2O.-Robert Fitz-
! simmons collapsed at the close of the
thirteenth round of his fight with Jack
| OBrien tonight. lie had fought hard,
| but nature could no longer stand the
strain and, after the gong rang for the
close of the thirteenth round he walked
to his corner and sat i'm his chair.
Then his head fell over on his breast
| his whole body collapsed and the fight
! ing wonder of the age was 'all in"
Referee Graney noted his condition
and awarded the fight to O'Brien. While
punched in the face and badly cut up
and several times i'm jeopardy Fitzsim-
mons always managed to come to and
resume the fight.
Just at the close of the thirteenth
round he landed a left on O'Brien' $
stomach, but the Philadelphia man
came back with a similar blow and fol-
lowed it with light left to the jaw.
The gong rang for the close of the
round and Fitzsimmons walked to his
chair. As he sat down he said to Ref
| cree Graney: Eddie, he hit me in the
stomach and it is all over" Then his
| head sank and Bob FitZsimmonS was
| defeated.
Referee Graney said: "Fitzsimmons
showed his class. O'Brien is a wonder
full boxer, but the old man stood up and
took his punishment. Occasionally he
showed flash of his old time form, but
his strength could not last"
After the fight had been awarded to
o. Brien, Fitzsimmons slipped to the
floor and lay PROSTATE in the ring.
| There was call for doctor, as 1t was
| feared he was in a state of collapse.
Fitz revived, however, in few minutes
and with the assistance of his seconds
was able to leave the ring.
OBrien gave a remarkable exhibition
Of sparring and footwork He ducked
and lodged and sideStepped i'll man
ner that was bewildering.
Fitzsimmons would swing and find
only the empty air and several times
nearly went through the ropes from the
force of his misspent blows.
O'Brien would straighten up and
dash in a wicked cutting left which,
while not possessing knockdown force,
was sufficient to jar the old gladiator.
Fitzsimmons had the sympathy OF
| the enormous crowd, which Jeered and
hissed O'Brien when he ducked and
ran away.
But the Philadelphia man had laid
out his plan of battle and could not
be coerced into mixing things with the
old fighter, who was known TO possess
a dangerous punch.
| Before Fitzsimmons left the ring
he made little speech, in which he
said that he had done the best he
could and said that he had fought his
| last fight
Odds Shift
When Fitzsimmons and OBrien en-
tered the arena tonight to battle fol
light heavyweight honors, O'Brien was
favorite in the betting at 10 to 8.
The shifting of odds forcing the
| Philadelphian into favoritism came
rather suddenly. Up to late hour this
afternoon the Cornishman was a pro-
nounced first choice, due to many large
! Wagers which had been placed on MIN
early in the week.
O'Brien's supporters then material
lied in unexpected numbers and at
o'clock this afternoon the odds were
at evens. Large blocks Of O'Brien
money continued to roll into the poo
sellers boxes and the price was quick
ly cut to 10 to s in O'Brien's favor.
The men had agreed to fight at catch
weights. O'Brien gave out his welgn'
at 1876 pounds, while Fitzsimmons Is
said to have tipped the beam at 15s
pounds.
Mechanics pavilion held one of the
greatest crowds in it's history The gal
| leries bulged with a congested mass
of humanity and hundreds were denied
| admission to the upper part of the
| house.
On the main floor as early as S;3C
p. IN. every seat was occupied. Mounted
policemen were required to hold lr
check the crowds which surged out
side the building. Two four-round pre-
liminaries preceded the feature event
Philadelphia Jack O'Brien was first
into the ring. He was followed mo-
ment later by Fitzsimmons.
The latter was accorded such a wei
come as has seldom been witnessed III
this city. The immense throng arose
to man and waved mats ana shouted
themselves hoarse
Fitzsimmons Immediately went tC
O'Bren was clad in a long both robe
heartily Fitzsmmons stripped to his
trunks as he entered the ring. while
| O'Brend was clad in long bath robe
Fitzsimmons Wore long blue trunks
around which were worn the American
flag, with a rosette of red and white
He made a striking picture and his
slender form contrasted greatly VIII
O'Brien's stocky build.
O'Brien wore plain green trunks en-
twlned with the American colors. HI
was first introduced as the Beat
Brummel of the prize ring. His re
ception was very cool.
Fitzsimmons was then presented as
the middleweight and the light heavy
weight champion of the world. Again
the house displayed its sentimental
preference by standing in the seats anC
cheering the old man to the echo
A challenge was then read from
Marvin Hart and Jack Twin Sullivan
Referee Eddy Graney then called thu
principals to the center of the ring anC
a discussion regarding the rules fol
lowed. Clean break rules governed
the contest and each man was in
structed to break Immediately upol
being ordered to do so by the referee
OBrien appeared in very good hu
NOR as they posed for fiashlight, anC
continually joked with Fitzsimmon
and the referee.
First Round Tame
In the first round not more than fou
blows were exchanged. O'Brien con
tented himself with dancing abou
with Fitzsimmons following, but sci
dom attempting to land.
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