Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-04
HART WINS IN
TWELFTH ROUND
IS SUCCESSOR TO IEFFRlES'
TITLE
NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
After Leading In Battle for Eight
Rounds, Jack Root Goes Down
to Defeat by a Clean
Knockout
NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
RENO, New, July BIN furious
twelve-round fight that was witnessed
by an excited crowd of 5000 people Mar
win Hart OF Louisville knocked out
Jack Root Of Chicago this afternoon.
The contest took place in the great
arena one mile east of Reno, and for
nearly an hour the young men fought
under blazing sun that was almost
prostrating.
The deciding blow was landed by
Hart in the twelfth round. Root, who
was tired but still fighting gamely,
led hard for the head with his left
and. as he missed, Hart sent terrific
right-hand blow to the pit of the
stomach.
Root Down by Count
The blow was heard all over the
arena and when Root fell, gasplng for
breath, the spectators knew that he
would never rise within the count.
AS the eighth second was called Root
raised on his hands, with his mouth
open, dragged himself to a kneeling
onds carried him to his corner where
he recovered in about three minutes.
TT was a square fight and 1 have
no complaint to make" he said weak
1y after he had revived. "The best man
won"
Hart Bars Negroes
Hart announced that he stood ready
to meet all comers, barring negroes.
The fight opened with both men fight
ing desperately, Root smiling as Hart
became angered at the inf1ghting in the
clinches. Clinches were frequent, and
though 1t was an agreement that there
was to be a clean breakaway, both men
fought viciously with short arm blows
every time they came together, Hart
striking for the kidneys, while Root
smashed at the stomach.
Before the end of the fourth round
both men were perspiring profusely and
Hart's right eye was almost closed.
Root seemed to suffer most from the
altitude, breathing with his mouth
opened. He spat blood every time he
went to his corner, having received sew
eral vicious blows in the mouth.
Hart's Furious Rushes
Several times he was carried to the
ropes by the furious rushes of Hart,
who repeatedly lost his head during
the fighting in the clinches, and ref
cree Jeffries was compelled to break
by main force.
At the close of round Z, when hon
ors rested evenly, Hart dropped
from a heavy right on the point of
the jaw. The gong sounded before the
blow was delivered, but no foul was
allowed, as there was evidently no in
tsnt to violate the rules on the part of
the Chicago man.
AT the end of the tenth round there
was no Root money in sight. Root
fought viciously, but his blows lacked
steam and, while he landed oftener
than Hart it was apparent that he
could never land a Knockout.
Hart rushed his man at every oppor-
tunity. taking lefts and rights to the
body in order to land on the heart and
kidneys. Root clinched frequently and
hung on to his opponent, breathing
heavily until compelled to break.
Beginning of the End
Both men responded with rush at
the opening of the twelfth. Hart led
first and forced the fighting, rushing
Root almost into his corner where each
rai1ed blows m tha hodU
1t was during the infighting that the
knockout came and not until Root re-
covered was its exact nature ascer-
tained. Root stating that it landed at
the pit of the stomach as he led for
the head with his left.
Lou Houseman, manager for Root.
stated that the blow was fuke, and
said that Root would win in another
finish fight.