The Washington times., 1906-11-01
Finish Comes in Tenth
Round When Both Are
Nearly Exhausted.
POPULAR BELIEFS UPSET
Sam Has No Yellow and Al Has No
Deadly Punch-Brilliant
Battle.
By W. W. NAUGHTON.

SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. Sam Berg
er last night went down TO defeat be
fore Al Kaufman in the tenth round
of one of the most sensational contests
ever seen in a local prize ring.
The fight served TO cripple a couple
of popullr beliefs In the first place
II proved that there is not hair-line' $
width of yellow in big Berger's make
up.
In the second place IL showed that Al
Kaumman's blacksmith's wallop Is a
good deal OF myth. The two West
erners put up "a clean. chivalrous battle.
They fought like men who had all the
world at stake-with the desperation
OF swimmers trying. 20 reach the shore
from q reef battered ship. Berger
loomed up as the natter boxer of the
two from the time that their gloves
first touched. IN the opening round he
clearly ouJboxed Kaufman. reaching
the face repeatedly with straight lefta.
Beth FloOred.
II the second round a right clip 70
the jaw brought Berger to the hoor. and
when he rose and the two big fellows
began sluEsing, ndiscriminately. the
crowd Jumped TO i,s feet and cheered as
only a fight crowd can.
The third round was one that Kauff-
man will remember probably all the
days of his life. Up 10 this time Berger
had kept his trusty right in reserve.
An opening occurred during little tilt
at close quarters and sam brought into
play as pretty a right cross as ever
was sped. Il cracked against Kauff
mans Jaw and Kaufman went 10 tie
floor.
Il began TO aDear IN the NTH round
that Berger was growing tired He has
a tell-tale face. and the look upon II
was the look of man discouraged.
though not. by any means, defeated.
Kaufman. on the other hand. though
his lius, nose. and chin were sometimes
dabbled with blood. which foNo"ed
Berger's straight lefts. ETinned in
waggish way and seemed 10 be thor
Oughlv satisfied with himself. And all
this time Kaufman stil fought eau
tiously.
Kaufman Not Knocker-Out.
Berger pulled himself together in the
sixth round and gained a slight lead,
and then came relief. which was as
1Uu of thrills as any three-minute spell
of fighting the glove game has known.
There was rally after rally. with a
knockout apparently imminent for either
man lllle ana LlIut again. ana II was Il
relief that showed that Kauffmans
punch is not any deadlier than Berger
after all. Truth 20 tell, in the opening
miX-up in this exciting round Berger
beat Kaufman at his own game.
Berger blows were cleaner and more
hurtfuL and Kaufman stopped lighting
and stepped back
Berger was so far gone when the tenth
round began that his seconds had to
stand him on his feet and push him
gently toward the firing line. He dis
played great gameneSS, however. After
a few passes Berger's hands dropped
heavily to his sides and his head sunk.
He still faced the enemy, hut was too
far gone To night back and Kaufman
ence of mind TO stand away and meas
ure his man with one telling blow. He
cuned and cuffed and grew tired as he
Cuned.
Berger Completely Exhausted.
Berger ciasped him around the waist,
and Referee Welch pulled him away
Berger staggered TO the ropes. and
Kaufman. under advice from his cor
ner, took TO pelting him in the body
again. The blows appeared 10 be harm
less ones. but Berger began To sink
toward the floor. Even as he slowly
crumbled, a damp towel was tossed in
from his corner in token or defeat
The finish viii go on record as q
knockout but in reality exhaustion, as
much as punis hmCuJ, contributed 70
Berger's collapse.