The San Francisco call., 1906-10-25


Two terrific right swings laid Dick
fitzpatrick low in the sixteenth round
last night az Colma and brought a
merited victory 10 Joe Thomas the
champion welterweight of the world.
Though he fought clever fight at
every stage and showed that he is a
ring general par excellence. the Windy
City lad never figured with the local
boy, who retained long lead in every
round.
Every one who saw the fight be-
lieTed that had Fitz been possessed
OF punch he would have given Joe
the greatest argument OF his short but
brilliant career. Dick. however. had no
steam behind the few blows that he
attempted 10 put over on his clever
opponent, and after trying a couple
OF hsymakers 70 the Jaw he seemed to
be content with playing the game Of
defense
The style OF the man from Chicago
bothered Thomas. He was never UP
against anything quite like il before.
Fitzpatrick had q faculty OF blocking all
the early leads OF the Californian and
covering up in such a manner that it
was nigh an impossibility for Joe TO
secure the opening he was constantly
looking for.
During the first few rounds Of the
battle the gallery had nothing but
Dick conducted his fight. But before
the sensational finish had arrived the
3eers were transformed into cheers for
the gameness and ring generalship dis
played BY the stranger. who showed his
willingness 70 fight all the time.
THOMAS SCORES KNOCKOUT.
The finish came rather Unexpectedly
IN the sixteenth round though it could
be clearly seen that Fitz was grad
ually growing weaker Joe came up
with e rush and began TO fiddle about
with his unerring left The blows were
coming so thick and fast that Eitz
could not block them effectively Sud
denly, after q clinch, Thomas put a
stih left 10 the Jaw. Il was one Of
those punches that travelled but
short distance, but Il contained steam
galore and had the result OF throwing
Fitz open and helpless in the middle
OF the ring
Thomas saw that he had his man
and quickly waded in with 2 hard right
swing flush on the jaw Fitz hit the
floor in a hurry and remained there
nine seconds. He tried TO get into
ciinch when he arose, but Thomas again
swung that deadly short arm right
As Fftz sank TO the floor for the sec
ond time his seconds. realizing that the
fight was lost 70 their man. tossed up
the towel
Thomas fought his usual cool. col
lected fight. always boring in and max
ing any kind OF going that the other
fellow did not like He never for a
moment lost his head and kept that
great left hand OF his working into
Fits face continually as soon as he
managed 10 break down his guard
CHAMPION HAS THE CLASS.
Thomas showed ali the class. His
ola " oh
FAR from being Of the fashy or sensa-
tional order. Il was the first time that
he appeared in a local ring since his
remarkable tour OF the East, and he
showed his friends that he has i'm
proved tenfold in every respect since
the night he beat George HeTberts IN
the same pavilion last winter
The only time that Fitz really looked
Al all dangerous was in the eleventh
round Thomas was stalling around
casually. looking for chance TO secure
an opening, when all OF a sudden Fitz
brought over a right swing that landed
between Thomas neck and jaw The
force OF the blow, together with the
surprise. staggered Joe for moment,
but did no damage other than to make
him a bit mad.
But Fitz never followed up his ad-
vantage. II il was such. Thomas came
back like the prOVerbial tiger imme-
good and strong for his man when the
bell put stop 10 further proceedings.
II brought out a round OF applause
from the gallery, however, for the
under dog made a fash
II looked as though Fitzpatrick was
staIling and waiting around for
chance TO put over that haymaker. and
when he failed 70 make good he scarce
" ever figured as puncher during
the remainder Of the bout That blow
and a sort Of overland left swing that
he landed a couple OF times later were
The only ones that came within many
feet Of landing on a vulnerable spot on
Thomas body
FITZ A CLEVER BLOCKER.
Though he managed to block very
erectively throughout the mill, Fitz
did his best work in the first seven or
eight rounds. During that time Thom-
as failed TO shoot in & blow that
rocked HIS man. True, he managed
70 do some excellent execution with his
LETT hand 10 the face. but somehow or
other the Chicago man did not seem
10 mind these ticklers. taking them all
with smiles and bleeding very little
fo~ a man who -as taking so many
stiff ones TO the nose and mouth.
Plight before he was made the vie
tirn OF Dicks swing in the eleventh
round Thomas gave an exhibition Of
real gentlemanly sportsmanship seen
but seldom in a prize ring Joe had
accidentally slipped to the floor and IN
stumbling his glove became covered