The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-22
BRIGGS 0UTCLASSED
Although Bout Went the Limit,
Fitzgerald Toyed With
Bostonian.
BIG CROWD AT PARK CITY
Dave Fitzgerald Refereed Contest,
Which Disappointed Large
Audience.

Especial to the Journal COuricr.)
Bridgeport, May 21,--The bouts to-
night before the Olympia Athletic club
at Eagles hall although we'll attended
proved to be very tame and uninterest-
Ing, the consensus of opinion being that
everything was fixed" In the prelim-
mary exhibitions Young McGovern and
Goldman were scheduled to go six
rounds. Terry's brother failed to show
up and consequently Goldman and
Charlie Nelson boxed. After six rounds
there was no decision handed out and
the second event of the evening was
put on. 1t was "a go between Eddie KEEL
ly Of this city and Tommy Lee OF New
York. Although this lasted but one
round 1t was the best fight of the evenr
Ing, Kelly putting Lee out of business
after strenuous three-minute tussle.
Following this the management an
nounced the main hout-a bout between
willie" Fitzgerald of Brooklyn, and
ID l6S VI ppslplls law llS
gerald of New Haven, who was referee,
stepped into the ring and the fighters
were announced.
For the first four rounds the battle
was most tame, though Fitzgerald In
the second had the Boston kid on the
run. Both men played all around the
:. circle. looking for a good opening TO
send blow home. The crowd contln-
ually urged the boxers to get busy, but
until the fifth there was nothing do
ing, In this round Briggs rushed his
opponent hard and after minute Of
strenuous aggresslveness. was obliged
TO play for wind. The Boston boy,
however, forced the fight and when the
gong sounded seemed TO have the bet
ter OF the round
Fifth round-Fitzgerald landed heavl-
ly at the getaway and Briggs clnched
time after time. The representative
from the Bean city seemed bulletprooi
to the body blow of ''Fitz. When the
bell rang both men smiled and seemed
able to stand long tussle.
Sixth round-Fltzgerald at the star
landed heavily on Briggs face. The
latter again clnched and appeared t.
stay on the defensive. Both men de.
livered some wicked blows but seemed
to take their punishment without eff
feet. Briggs sent out some terrific
body blows over Fitzgerald's kidneys
and because Of his aggressiveness hat
the call The wise ones admitted thai
It was an exhibition of skill and en-
durance and everyone appeared salts
fed.
Seventh round-Briggs again rushed
the Brooklyn fighter getting in some
effective body raps. Fitzgerald did mo-
appear to mind this and when Briggs
clinched he smiled. The game was
even up.
Eighth round-Briggs again rushed
out from his corner and sailed in t
"Fitz." The referee was constantly
called to separate the fighters A
times the Boston pug appeared gregg!
hut time and again proved that thi'
was not so by vigorous attack OF
Fitzgerald. Briggs received and de
livered some effective taps in thi
round.
Ninth round-The round started east
~ but Briggs at length drove Fitzger
and fell and the crowd cheered a
"Fitz" assisted the Massachusetts La
to his feet. This same thing was re
peated a moment later and the Grove
grew suspicious.
Final round-The fight was goot
one In this inning. Both men appear
ed to be in earnest and mixed 1t Vi
in fast form. Briggs fouled Fitzger
aid and the Brooklyn pugilist frowne
while the audience Kissed. It wa
most apparent here that the bout wa
q farce and when the gong sounded
disappointed crowd fled out to tn
street.
The critics in summing up the g.
believed that the first few round
were simply a sparrng match. In tn
second Fitzgerald all but had Brigg
out and deliberately let up. Dav
Fitzgerald, the referee, stated that h
thought that the fight was an lever
break"
Jeff Doherty said that 1t was goo,
fast fight
Fitzgerald stated that he consid
cred Briggs an awkward fighter twelv
pounds heavier than himself He al
lowed that it was hard Job TO fore
him to take the count. The Brooklyn
boy announced that he would bo
Tom Quill some time In June.
Briggs thought that 1t was goo
fight and that II there had been de
clsion 1t ought to have gone his wa
because of his aggressiveness Hi
manager, of course, agreed In thi
verdict.
The general opinion, however, wa
that the fight was a poor one, u
fact fixed bout Fitzgerald at time
appeared to toy with his man and tn
crowd generally was very frank i
Its opinion of this fact. 1t was an
nounced that Briggs and Dohert
have arranged q match to take plac
in New Haven before the Edgewoo
Athletic club some time about June