The Washington times., 1905-12-24
OBrien's Speedy Tactics
Too Much for Old Fitz
Even at His Best Bob Miqht Have Lost to
jumping JaCk-Fight Was DiSgustingy
SinCere-Bettinq Explained
By w. W. NAJGHToN.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23.-It was in
San Francisco that Fitzsimmons. the
fighter, made his American debut. 1T
was in San Francisco that he made his
last stand. and said good-by to the
ring
Despite other retirements. which did
not stick, it is felt now that she sham
bling fellow, with the tiger lilly should
ers and forearms. has answered the
gong for the last time.
A veteran referee told me once a
grimly humorous story of an incident
In his experience. While ne was watch
ing. with others, for the return to con-
sciousness OF a pugilist who had been
knocked cold'' an inquisitive spectator
butted into the ring and asked, Was
| IL a fake?'
IF he lives, we will never know"
murEured the referee, II he dies, it
vas on the square"
Disgustingly Sincere.
There Were persons who doubted the
genuinencss OF the Fitzsimmons-O'Br 'Brien
contest j did not meet them face to
face They talked to me over the tele-
phone the night of the go. I sincerely
trust they have reformed. for IL ever
there was a bitter. brutal bout, il was
the affair in Mechanics Pavilion 1t
was disgustingly sincere.
Now that it IS all over, we are won
dering what it would have been like
IL the clock had been turned back ten
years in Fits case. He was certainly
at his best decade ago, whereas
O'Brien was at his best last Wednesday
evening. Could Battering-Ram Fitz, at
his best. have defeated Lightning -Strik-
er O'Brien at his best2 That's another
thing I'VE win never know"
Merely Matter of Speed.
So far as 1 could see it wasn't that
Fitzsinmons, on the score of old age
and infrmity, was a mark for pity the
other night 1t was because the man
from Philadelphia was so phenomenaIIy,
tantaiizingly fast in everything that en-
ters into the lighting game.
Fitz wasn't hampered with sore feet,
as he was in the match with George
Gardner He covered ground quite rap
idly. He was simply slow by compari-
son. for O'Brien. when lodging, was the
fastest trick ever sen on a Queensberry
platform
There was no chance for the Cornish
man 10 use his left shift He started
il once or twice. but before he could
reach the second position of his favor
ite attack, O'Brien was across the
floor and out OF range.
Punches Wasted.
The fun measure of O'Brien's will
o'-the-whispiness was impressed upon
US when Fitz fell TO his knees a time
OF two when making headIong rushes
at the evasive Philadelphian. These
stumbles, of course, did not help Fitz
any, and there is no doubt that con-
tinual wasting OF heavy punches on
empty air did not improve the old
un's condition. If you think there is
no discomfort in this kind of thing
Just take a full strength smash at moth
ing and see how 1t feels
In his fight Fitz lived up to his work
He went thirteen rounds at top speed
with a man who set a heart-breaking
pace. His age was against him, of
course but whether the difference in
years was the only difference between
him and O'Brien must remain unan-
swered
The freckled warrior was so thorough
ly mastered that the sports will continue
to argue as to whether ten years youn-
ger Fitzsimmons could have taken
O'Brien's measure.
Betting Explained.
The seemingly peculiar shifts in the
betting have been accounted for. In the
first place, the poolroom men told their