Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-21
DO,
In the 18th From Fitz-
simmons at Frisco.
Veteran Cola pses in Corner,
Claiming a Foul Blow.
General Opinion That 0Brien Has the Best
Of the Old Fellow.

Dec. 20.-HObert FitzsimmOnS COLLAPSE
cd at the close of the 18th round of his
fight with Jack O'Brien of Philadel-
phia tonight. He had fought hard but
nature could not longer stand the
strain and after the gong had sounded
for the close of the 18th round he
walked to his corner and sat in his
chair. Then his head fell over on his
breast, his whole body collapsed and
he was unable to proceed. Referee
Granncy saw his condition and award
ed the fight to OBrien.
While pounded in the face and sew
eral times in jeopardy Fitz always
managed to come to and resume the
fight. Just at the close of the 18th
round he landed Il left on O'Brien's
stomach but the Philadelphia came
back with a similar blow and follow
ed it with a left to the jaw. The gong
rang for the close of the round and
Fitz walked to his corner. AS he sat
down he said to Grancy:
Eddie, he hit me in the stomach
and it's all over
Then his head sank and Bob Fitz-
simmons was defeated.
Referee Graney said:
"Fitzsilnmons showed his class.
OBrien is wonderful boxer and the
old man stood up and took his punish
ment. Occasionally he showed a flash
of his old-time form, but his strength
could not last
After the fight had been awarded to
O'BriCn, FitZ slipped to the floor and
lay PROSTATE in the ring. There was a
fT,
FitZ was in state of collapse. He re-
vivcd. however, in a few minutes and
with the assistance of his seconds was
able to leave the ring.
O'Brien gave a remarkable exhibition
of Sparring and footW urk. He ducked
lodged and sidestenpcd in a manner
that was bewildcring. Fitz would swing
and find only space, several times near
ly going through the ropes from the
force of his mis-spent blows. O'Brien
would straighten up and dash in a
wicked cutting left which, while not
possessing knockdown force was suili-
cient to trouble the former champion.
Fitz had the sympathy of the enor-
nous crowd which jeered and Missed
OBrien when he ducked and ran away.
But the Philadelphia man had laid out
mis- plan of battle and could not be CO.
creed into mixing things up with the
old fighter who was known to possess q
dangerous punch.
Before Fitz left the ring he made a
little speech III which he said that he
had done his best. He said he had
fought his last fight.
San Francisco, Dec. 20.-When Rob-
ert F'itzsimmunS and "Philadelphia"
Jack OBrien entered the ring tonight
at Mechanics Pavilion to fight for the
light heavyweight honors, O'Bricn was
fivoritc i'll the betting at 10 to s. This
afternoon. FitzsimmOns was pro-
nounccd first choice, due to many large
bets hich had been placed early III the
week O'Bricns supporters then came
forward in large numbers and this
evening the odds were at eVenS. Large
blocks of O'Brien money continued to
roll into the booksellers boxes and the
price was quickly cut to 10 and 8 in
O'Erion'S favor.
The men had agreed to fight at
catch weights. O'Bricn gave out his
weight at 16o pounds. while Fitzsim-
at 1873 pounds.
Mechanics Pavilion held one of the
greatest crowds in it's history. The
galleries bulgcd with q congcsted mass
OF humanity and hundreds We're de-
MED admission to the upper part of
the house. On the main floor every
seat was occupied. Two four-round
preliminaries preceded the feature
event.
In the first round not more than
four blows We're exchanged. O'Brien
contented himself with dancing about
with F'itz following but seldom at
tempting to land.
In the second round Fitz crouched
low and after O'Brien had missed a
left for the face, he whipped his left
and right to the face and FitZ landed
d straight left to the face and body. He
then drove O'Brien into corner and
then cleverly duclled q left intended
for the jaw. O'Brien suddenly shot his
left to the jaw and catching FitZ off
his balance drove right and left to the
face and then clinched. O'Brien was
very quick. Fitz missing him a foot at
times. Fitz showed his right to the face
arm iab as the bell rang.
Round 3-As O'Brien backed away
Fitz caught him with a hard left on
the jaw and moment later shot his
left to the face. Fftz drove his left
hard to the solar plexus and mixing
it. worked his left to the face. O'Brien
just as the bell rang shot a straight
left that caught FitZ on the nose and
sent him to the floor. 1t was not a
clean blow, being more of a push.
Round 4-O'Brien forced F'itz to the
ropes with a rush and Fitz fell on his
left knee. He was up quickly and put
a stiff left over O'Brien's eye. O'Brien
then drew blood from Fftz's mouth |
and nose.
Round 5-O'Brien planted his left |
quickly to Fits sore face and a mo-
ment later drove two more lefts to the !
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