The Washington times., 1905-08-23
IT'S HARD TO TELL
HOW THEY'LL BET
Britt-NelsOn Odds Not Yet
Settled.
HEAVY MAGERS EXPECTED
no Fight in Recent Years Has Found
Sports So Divided in
Opinion.
HEAVY WAGERS EXPECTED
By w. w. NAUGHTON.

A9~1-N = 4hSaAS N4oSOp Aug. Go--N w no W III
be the favorite-Battling Nelson or Jim
my Britt?
don't remember a case in which there
was SO much divergence of opinion and
so many heated discussions at such an
early stage of the proceedings. It is
well for Battling Nelson and Jimmy
Britt that 1t is so. for arguments act as
a stimulus to prizefights just as they do
10 horse races, and the Virulence of the
disputes in progress at present presages
hysteria later, and a congested gate
when the fateful 9Th of September finally
arrives.
Can't Tell Yet.
Taking it vote for vote all along the
sporting line. there is no telling the
man who will have the call in the
wagering If half the stories one hears
are believed, small fortunes have been
placed in jeopardy, and each man has
been favorite in turn. In all probability,
some sports OF different shades Of
opinion have taken advantage of the
carly market. bat the chances are that
most of the speculation one hears about
Is of an oral character. 1t recalls the
days of the Horton law in New York,
when millions used TO change hands on
every ring contest.
Jack Wolf. the cigar man. mas $50
of Britt money ready to 60 on at eVens,
Chris, down at the Palace Hotel, has
$500 put on Nelson said Oregon
JEFF in reply.
Sparks Flying.
1t is this kind of thing that makes
& fellow feel like loading the Palace
Hotel on a fiat car and hauling it up to
WoIfe's cigar store, in order TO see the
sparks fly. although even after going TO
all that trouble there would be no in
suranoes against disappointment. The
cigar store might be covered by some
other party, while the hotel was on the
way up.
If by chain of unforeseen circum-
stances Nelson and Britt were forced to
step into the ring tomorrow the men
would sell evenly in the poolrooms-
This is the only conclusion TO be ar
rived at after obtaining opinions or
men who come in touch with lighters
and their performances.
Kid Sullivan Argument
The hght is sun more than three
weeks distant. and TO even think of the
arguments that will be used on both
sides OF the question between now and
admission day. is sufficient 10 make a
fellow dizzy. Just at present a certain
set of Britt people are using Kid Sulli-
van as a kind of lay figure while max
ing comparisons. II IS pointed out that
Sullivan caused Nelson TO look like a
ounce III GdlllIIOIta anu lflCl bIllt Won
from SulliVan-not = one in twenty
rounds. but in every round Of twenty
they boxed.
As a contra argument. il is urged that
Nelson had to meet Sullivan in limited
bout M short ntice, and that anyway,
Nelson u slow beginner. Moreover,
say those who fancy the Dane, Nelson
is as tough as hgnum vitae. and the
further he gees the better he gets.
Was Nelson Tired7
Didn't look like it in his last affair
with Britt" said a Jimmyite He was
the most tired man I ever saw in that
last round"
On this particular point Papa Britt
tells that he never saw Jimmy so little
satigued after q go as he was after
his affair with Nelson.
II visited him in his room and il
was hard to believe that he had been
through the twenty rounds OF break
neck milling" said Britt. senior.
All Of which gees to show that the