Evening journal., 1908-04-01
NELSON-ATTELL
FIGHT A DRAW
Both PueiIiStS Claim That
They We're Robbed Of
the Decision
THE FANS SAY IT WAS JUST

BY United Press Leased Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO. April with
both men claiming that they were rob
bed and their partisons emphasizing
that claim. fight fans here to-day are
enthusiastic in declaring the decision
Of Referee Smith of a draw at the end
Of the fifteen-round battle between
Nelson and Attell last night to have
been the only iustifiabie one. 1t was
a red-hot slashing fight from the start
The Battling Dane" showed all of his
old-time aggressiveness and withstood
terrible punishment, while Attell
brought into play all his elusive tactics
to worry the Illinois champion. Nelson,
as the fight progressed, developed a
puffed and half-closed eyes, his mouth
and nose was battered out of shape.
but never for an instant did he back
away, and in return for this tearing,
bruising punishment inflicted on him,
he gave smashing rights and lefts that
several times compelled Attell 10 cover
up and back away to avoid him.
Nelson was the early favorite in the
betting. but the odds shifted toward
the end and it was even money. take
your pick. at the end Of the thirteenth
round. II was real action from the
initial bell. Attell landed the first
blow, a stinger to the face. and then
they were at, it hammer and tongs.
Nelson and Attell bleeding from the
mouth at the end of the first while
he had a torn ear and a plainly evident
red mark on his chest and head as
evidence that there had been some
thing doing in return.
The second was devoted chiefly to
covering up on the part of Attell. who
boxed with Nelson, easily outpointing
him.
Mixed II Up in the Third.
The fireworks started in the third,
when they clashed N the center and
exchanged a fusillade Of blows which
staggered both. Nelson was plainly
groggy at the bell. The fourth start
ed with a mix-up and a clinch. and
then they were at 1t again. Nelson
tried to spar at long range and was
promptly smothered by Abe. The
Dane then resorted to rushes and had
Attell putting hard. Nelson uninten-
tionally hit Attell on the eye as the
round closed. and was roundly hissed.
The next three round swere plainly
Attelrs, and he simply tore the Dane
to pieces, bringing blood in profusion
from a cut cheek. a caulilower ear, a
mashed nose and a fearfully cut lin.
From this to the tenth honors We're
even with both fighting hard, and it
seemed as though the pace was too
warm 10 last. In the eleventh and
twelfth Attell stalled for time. his
early exertions and Nelson's butting
tactics having taken a great deal out
Of him. Attell backed away about
the ring in the thirteenth with Nelson
again forcing the fighting and trying
with a succession Of body wallops to
get his man.
Nelson in the Fourteenth.
The fourteenth had Nelson color
at the start and he landed at will for
a few seconds. Then the Ghetto champ
ion braced and went at his opponent
fiercely, landing six hard ones in sue
cession on the damaged face. Nelson
caught Attell flush on the jaw with a
right swing and the boy was plainly In
trouble, but when the Dane went to
finish his man he got a surprise as
Attell came back hard. and they were
fighting hard at the bell with both
nearly all in.
In the last round Nelson missed a
couple Of vicious swings because he
was too eager, and then they fought
at close range at break-neck speed
Nelson was getting The better Of II
when Attell swung a hard right to the
jaw and followed IL with a pippin q
the mouth. The bell found them
standing toe and toe smashing each
other hard and often and both almost
exhausted.
Another decision than a draw would
have been robbery. Both were very
badly punished.