Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-02

PERIOD OF
HARD WORK
AT AN END
NELSON AND BRITT FINISH
THEIR TRAINING
-
GREAT LIeHTWEIeHTs READY
FOR BATTLE
Advance Guard of San Francisco Dele-
cation Arrves--smail Wagers
Give Bat Even Chance
with Opponent
by j. G. GRIFFIN

TTISITORS to two training quarters
were turned away in throngs yes
terday. for interest in the fourth
meeting between Bat Nelson and jim
my Britt has reached fever heat and
the ring enthusiasts, not content loI
wait until Tuesday night, would have
a look at the great lightweights going
through their last days work prepar-
atory to the big event.
Men were scarcely in the majority
Women of a higher type than couldd
be expected at a professional fighters
camp struggled for the magic paste
board which would insure them admit
lance. and their gaze never left the
perfectly developed athletes while they
went through the motions of boxing
with sparring partners or toying with
the various gymnastic properties.
The Nelson quarters, being much
larger than those used by the Bat
ler's rival, entertained a much bigger
crowd than was seen at the East Side
club. Early in the afternoon the cars
running out of Los Angeles to San
Pedro were crowded with those on their
way to watch the great Dane, and at
8 o'clock, when he donned the gloves
with Dalton, standing room in the good
sized pavilion was at a premium
And Nelson gave the assemblage n
run for the carfare invested. While
he had but little to do with the punch
ing bag and weights, Bat was there
with the gloves, and a five-round fest
with Kid Dalton was as lively a ses-
sion as has ever been seen hereabouts
especially when it was for training
purposes only.
Nelson Down to Weight
Nelson is we'll down to weight and
will do no work from now on until he
hooks up with James Edward. He is
slated to appear at a benefit perform
ance in San Pedro tonight and, with
Dalton to oppose him, will go four
rounds. This will end it all and Nell
son will enter the ring in grand con-
dition.
At the Britt camp everything was
lovely and those who sat through the
solid hours work which James Ed
ward resolutely accomplished, went
away we'll satisfied with the fitness of
the San F'rnciscan. Bag punching and
a seance with Kreling in the combina-
tion wrestling and boxing stunt served
to make the time pass swiftly, and
after he had emerged from his shower
Britt hoped on the scales to register
under the 1341a-pound notch.
Britt is we'll pleased with his weight.
He will take 4 run on the road this
morning and after that all work will
be tabooed The drying out process
will knock off whatever poundage re-
mains above 1873, and not the slightest
fear is entertained in regard to Britt
inability to Fairbanks right when ne
and Nelson weigh in at o'clock to-
morrow evening.
James Edward will spend his last
few hours before the fight with Nelson
in his usual manner. A theater party
has been arranged, and Britt will put
on his dip front AMI attend the show
just as though no Nelson stood in the
way of his future happiness. The Bat
tier will act a little differently, for,
according to present plans, he will not
leave San Pedro until tomorrow after
noon, reaching here just in time to
weigh in.
6ettln9 even NOW
Betting on the event has made itself
felt, but has not settled down to the
figures which were expected In all
the wagers recorded at Ellis Cohns
place even money was the prevailing
price and, while there was a lot of
Britt money to be unloaded in small
bits, plenty of Nelson coin was in sight
to take care of the early orders.
When the match was first made pub
10 IDrs+f
whelming faVorite over Nelson. Tt was
figured that James Edward would he
too fast for the slow beginning Bat
tier and, despite Willus Britt's talk in
regard to Nelson's early speed in the
last battle between the pair the Dane
was looked upon as gift for Jimmy.
But as the time for the big show
draws nearer Nelson finds himself gain"
ing in popularity. His work, always
aggressive and free from all hints of
carelessness, has impressed all who
saw it, and when he faces his old foe
tomorrow night at the Cabin the Heg
sewich lad will be greeted, not as the
underdog but as an even favorite with
Britt by the discriminating sports who
know what they are about.
Local interest has made the fight be-
tween the two topnotch lightWeights
the greatest event ever staged in a
local arena, and the San Francisco
opinion mas dQu6u IuuCH u lll6 lldllc
ignited hereabouts. The advance guard
of northern enthusiasts arrived last
night, and according to dope at least
fifty prominent sports from around the
bay will be seated by the ring. The
San Francisco papers will be well rep
represented, and the ten-round bout
will take on the appearance of a cham
pionship battle.
In the bunch which dropped off the
Owl and Coaster yesterday were in
cluded figures of the sporting world of
more than coast renown. Jimmy Cof-
froth, Sam Berger, Tom Corbett, Leo
Nolan, Thomas Mulvy, Gen. Bell AL
man, Gregory Mitchell, Ross Mcmahon,
Leander Nathanson and Billy Roche
were all on the list and more are eX-
pected today. w. w Naughton was
the only San Francisco sporting writer
to arrive, but H. l.. Baggerly, Harry
Smith and r. A. Smythe are due to he
on hand for the show at the Cabin
Tuesday night.
Athletic Club Well Organized
Euecial TO The Herald