The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-12

fight thai had many novel features,
Battling Nelson. Of Chicago. knocked
cut James Edward Britt. of San Fran
cisco. ut Colma this afternoon. The
end came in the eighteenth round. and
was a fairly won victory.
The surroundings. the crowd. the
bitterness Of the men toward each
other. the uncertainty as to whether
there would be q fight at all up to
within a quarter Of an hour before the
fight actually began. together with
the cleverness and the endurance dis
played by the two boxers made the
fight one of great interest to follow
Hr, of fighting.
1t was the success of a strong. en-
during fighter. against clever. cool
boxer. From the fest of the fight,
until Referee Graney finished the
count of ten seconds. Nelson forced
bruiSing blows on the face and body,
and being ut 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 tactics OF
N
counter. The Californian tried every
blow known TO him to stop his tireless
opponent. In every way Britt failed.
although he punished Nelson severely.
knocking him down once and stag
gercing him several times.
only once. in the third round did it
appear 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 stomach. with two terrific
right hand blows that carried punish
me1t. Nelson faltered for d moment
and doubled up. Quickly turning his
attention to Nelson's face. Britt sent
a terrific right across that dropped the
Dane 20 his knees. There was a shout
from Britt; friends. but the elation
was short. Nelson got up before the
timer could reach the count Of ten.
and fought aggressively for a few Sec
ondS. when the gong sounded a cheer
full note to Nelson's supporters. The
call of tlrue for the succeeding round
found Nelson fresh and ready. Nelson
was always the first to begin rounds.
though not always the first to land a
blow. Time after time he would glide
along after Britt much after. the style
OF F1tzSimmonS. never clever on his
feet but always seeking to shorten the
distance between his opponent and
regard of physical punishment char
actCriZed Nelson's fighting throughout.
Britt fought gamely at all times. but
after hi; squirt in the third round. the
California fgher weakened perccpti-
bly to those seated close to the ring
side, Britt had used all his strength
all his cleVerneSS and all his blows i'll
the third and he had failed to achieve
a knockout.
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 de-
CjSion at the same time and Supae-
ouently took Britts blows with more
confidence and without f1inching.
ExceDt in spots the rounds were all
pretty much alike. Nelson always
forcing. Britt always giving ground:
Britt trying to keen Nelson at the end
Of his snappy left hand ard the Dane
using every means to get inside the
circumference of the California S
hands. Whenever Nelson broke down
the defense Or accepted the blows aim
ed at him. he would hammer away at
the body. always coming out of q
clincb swinging at the Jaw. The agree
ment for the two men to break ut the
call of the referee. and the referee s
Interpretation Of the rules and their
strict enforcement. seemed to be in
Nelson; favor. Graney told the men
before the fight commenced that they
must break at his command and he
carried out his Intention The referee
was successful. according to popular
opinion.
In the fifth round. Britt held a mo-
mentary ADVANTAGE. staggering with a
series of blows. and making a desper-
ate effort to win. This was the first
round in which both threw aside all
knowledge Of boxing and slugged VIC
iously. each hoping to end the fight
with one blndly delivered lucky blow.
Both were bleeding at the close OF this
round. but Nelson was the stronger
= It did not seem possible that a fight
could be much fiercer than the fifth
round. but +he succeeding period of
three minutes brought the vast crowd
to its feet and kept it there through
out the round.
The fighters slugged each other
ceaselcssly. Both were bleeding and