Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
tBATTLING" MEL SON
KNOCKS OUT BRITT
Makes a Win in Eighteenth
Round-Story Of
the Fight.

USht tHdt Ndu many mover features DATING
Nelson Of Chicago knocked out James Ed
ward Britt of San Francisco at Colma this
afternoon. The end came in the eighteenth
round and was fairly won victory.
The surroundings the crowd the bitter
ness of the men toward each other, the un-
certainty as to whether there would be a
fight at all up to within a quarter of an
hour before the battle actually began, to-
gether with the cleverness and the en-
durance displayed by the two boxers, made
the fight one of great interest to followers
of fighting.
1t was the success Of strong, enduring
fighter against a clever, cool boxer. From
the first of the fight until Referee Graney
finished the count of ten seconds Nelson
forced the fighting. Though suffering many
brusing blows on the face and body, and
being at times very tired, Nelson never
gave ground. He came back after every
attack by Britt always ready to exchange
blows.
For the rushing, forcing, persistent tao
ties of Nelson Britt could find no effective
counter The Californian tried every blow
known to him to stop his tireless opponent
In every way Britt failed, although he pun
ished Nelson severely, knocking him down
once and staggering him several times.
oIlIt LOOhcQ 0OOO III 4ulIu.
Only once, in the third round, did it APP
pear to those close enough to judge the tide
of battle, that Britt might win. In this
round Britt reached the most vulnerable
spot on Nelson's muscled body, the stom-
ach with two terrific right-hand blows that
carried punishment. Nelson faltered for
moment and doubled up. Quickly turning
his attention TO Nelson's face. Britt sent
terrific right cross that dropped the Dane
to his knees. There was a shout from
Britts friends, but the elation was short.
Nelson got up before the timer could reach
the count OF two and fought aggressively
for few seconds, when the gong sounded
cheerful note to Nelson's supporters.
The call of time for the succeeding round
found Nelson fresh and ready.
Nelson was always the first to begin
rounds, though not always the first to land
blow. Time after time he would glide
along after Britt. much after the style of
Fttzsimmons never clever in his feet. but
always seeking to shorten the distance be-
tween his opponent and himself. TireIess
persistence and disregard of physical pun
ishment characterized Nelson's fighting
throughout.
Britt fought gamely at all times. but after
his squirt in the third round, the Califor-
MIA fighter weakened perceptibly to those
seated close to the ringside. Britt had
used all his strength. all mis- c.everness and
all his blows in the third, and he had failed
TO achieve knockout.
oillI od" his FINISH.
Britt appeared to realize as he took his
corner after the fourth round that he was
unable to hurt his opponent Nelson also
seemed to reach this decision at the same
time, and subsequently took BIRTHS blows
with more confidence and without finching.
Except in spots, the rounds We're all pretty
much alike, Nelson always forcing Britt
always giving ground; Britt trying to keep
Nelson at the end of his happy left hand,
and the Dane using every means to get
lns de the circumference of the Caltornian's
hands. Whenever Nelson broke down the
defense or accepted the blows aimed at
him, he would hammer away at the body
always coming out of a Cinch swinging at
the jaw. The agreement of the two men
to break al the call of the referee and the
referees Interpretation of the rules TO-
geiher with their strict enforcement, seem
ed 70 be in Nelson's favor. Graney told the
men before the fight commenced that they
must break at his command, and he carried
out his intention. The refereeing was sue
eess1ul' according TO popular opinion.
Smuggling in the Fifth.
In the NTH round Britt held momentary
advantage staggering Nelson with a series
of blows and making a desperate effort to
win. This was the first round in which
both men threw aside all knowledge of
boxing and slugged viciously, each hoping
to end the fight with one blindly- delivered
lucky blow. Both We're bleeding at the close
Of this round, but Nelson was the stronger
1t did not seem possible that a fight could
De much mercer than the fifth round but
the succeeding period of three minutes
brought the vast crowd to its feet and kent
II there throughout the round The fight
ers sIUgged each other ceaselessly. Both
Were bleeding and weary, but always game.
IN me last minute of the sixth Nelson sud
denly took the lead, and getting Britt i'm a
corner. beat him about the body and face
uhu ne went wavering about the ring,
NainIy trying 10 protect himself Britt took
a terrific beating about the body unable
Tor the time TO block Nelson's blows but in
a nash BRITT took brace. He set himself
IN the middle Of the ring and met Nelson
WIN Two Furnishing swings to the face
Nelson halted and Britt leaped forward
lie slugged and swung in one last desperate
EFFORT but again the gong ended the round
like the previous critical one at an omar
tune time for Nelson. In the eighth Mel
son had Britt in trouble. staggering the
Californian with a left and driving him to
the ropes, Britts seconds were in a frenzy
shouting all sorts of orders. Above all was
the voice of Spider Kelly who shouted;
Cover up. Jimmy Jimmy obeyed and
probably saved himself from going down in
this round
Britt Tired
After the eighth Britt appeared to tire
fast. The pace was slower and in Nelson's
favor
In the tenth and the eleventh rounds Mel
son continued to wear out Britt In the
twelfth Britt rallied suddenly and battered
Nelson for two minutes. Nelson covered
his Jaw and took most of the blows on the
nose ear or stomach. Britt wore himself
out and finished the round tired. 1t be-
came evident to Brtts seconds after the
twelfth that their man was being beaten.
They sought to bolster his waverng conf
dence with cheerful remarks. but Britt APP
peared TO realize that he was beaten.
In the thirteenth Britt took a beating
with gameness.
Fourteenth Round Exciting.
The fourteenth round was the most ex-
citing one OF the fight. Nelson. knowing
Britt was firing fast, had before him the
determination TO end the battle. In five
seconds he had Britt staggering about, his
guard lowered and all but out. Time and
again Nelson planted left-hand blows on
%. Inst