The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-18
CROWD HAS
SYMPATHY
FOR FITZ
Being Handed a
Juicy Lemon, Fight Fans
Are Sorry for Old Man.

PHILADELPHIA. July 18.-Bob Fftz-
simmons. once the greatest fighter of his :
weight this country has ever known, was
ounte out in the second round of what
was to have been a slx-round bout with >
the negro giant, Jack johnson, at the
Washington Sporting Club, last evening.
and the spectators who had paid from 81
to IS each to see the contest pretty gen
orally voted 1t "a lemon" The house
footed up close to 5000.
Tommy keenan,, the club referee, re-
fused to ~ofhciate. leaving the ring after q
short speech, in which he said he had
heard that Fitzsimmons had n broken arm.
UNLESS F~itzslmmons will submit to an ex-
animation, l am done. shouted keenan,.
and then, without waiting for an answer
jumped out OF the ring.
Fitzslmmons and johnson, with their.
seconds, were both in the ring at the
time with gloves On and fully prepared
for the bout, and F1tzsimmons, after a lit
tie delay, raised his hand for quiet and
said: 81 did meet with a little accident.
On Monday last, when sparring with Joe
jeanette he hit this arm (holding up his
right, forcing 1t a little further than 1t
ought to go, and since hat time the doctor
has taken out three ounces Of blood and.
pus from the elbow. But at that 1t is in
pretty good shape now, and since l am
willing to take a chance l don't see why
anyone else should worry over 1t.
Billy Mccartney, the manager of the club.
then called the men to the centre OF the
ring. officiating as referee himself.
The fight, IL such 1t could be called, did
not amount to much F~itzsimmons, who is
only a poor imitation of his former self,
was no match for tbs big black, who could
probably have stopped Bob in the frstA
round had he gone at 1t with a little more
determination. johnson seemed to be in
perfect condition and he is just IN his
prime. After the contest johnson said that
the Fltzsimmons crowd asked him to let
the contest go six rounds, but while he
refused to do that, he treated the old man
with as much consideration as he dared in,
justice to himself. as
The first round was slow, both men give
Ing the appearance of being very ca~utious.a
There were numerous clinches and some
pretty left-hand work by both men. Fitz
ducked a number of Johnson's blows and
repeatedly made him jump away by a.
strong felnt. But johnson was the faster
and occasionally landed left or right. But
Fttz also landed two or three times, once
bringing cries Of That's the place. from
the crowd when he reached for Johnson.s
stomach. y
johnson was more determined In the sec.
ond round, and on the first clinch sent
Fitz down hard with a left hook, followed
by a twist that made. Bob fall very heavily.
The fall Jared Fitzsimmons considerably,
and he took all the time allowed hy the
rules In getting up. He ookea-wild@eeet
and full of fight, and went after Johnson
hard, but a left and right sent him down.
and he failed to get up in ten seconds.
Bob rolled about on the mat as though
doing a circus stunt, and some thougbt be
rather overdid the matter, for he was on
his feet, apparently strong, two seconds
after Mccartney had counted him out. IT
IL was very warm, and the crowd swell
Tered IN shirt sleeves for two hours watt
ing for the men to come into the ring.
johnson, who was the first to enter tho
ring, was seconded by Sam Fitzpatrick,
Barney Furey, of Cincinnati, and Black
Bill, Of Me~rchantville In Fitzsimmons
corner were Tom O'Rourke, Young Cor
bett and Joe Rodgers. Tom O'Rourkes
heavyweight a%spirant for the champions
snip. Joe Janette. who had come from
New York, and Sandy Ferguson, from.
Boston,, who were both on hand to chnls
aenge the winner, were introduced. Jack +.
Blackburn, Fighting Dick Hyland and
FRANKIE Neil were also introduced.
The preliminary bouts were all heavy--
weight contests. The first was between
Morris Barrts and Black BILL Thef bouts
was a rough one. Harris was Knocked
out Of Il. ring IN the first and second
rounds, and both were very tired IN the
third, when Harris hit Bill In the stomach.
and the Merchantville man selected q nice.
sort spot on the mat, sank to his knees
and quit.
The second bout was between Kid Cut
Ter. sparrlng partner of John L. Sullivan.
and Jim Jeffords. 1t also ended in the
third round. Jeffords had all the best of
1t up till the time he got a tap on the
jaw that dropped him to the mat. a..
punch In the stomach, which folloyved d
few moments later, ended the bout.
Fred Bradley. of Boston. stopped Frank
Jeffrles, of Seattle, in the third round.
The men were well matched so far as
skill and strength was concerned, and
boxed MS hard as they knew how. But
the Boston man proved the stronger of
the two, and Referee Tommy Keenan,
stopped the bout in the third round. after
Jeffries had been knocked down several
times.