The San Francisco call., 1908-07-16
New Boxing Champ
Plays The Host
Celebrates Succession TO Light
wcight Championship at an
Informal Banquet
By r. A. Snyth

Battling Nelson entertained some OF
his friends at banquet in honor of
his accession 10 the lightweight cham
piOnship in the Fairmont last night,
which was as frankly boyish and in
formal as the host. The battler sported
his famous red tie and this was the
keynote Of the occasion. A small group
OF the guests appeared in conventional
evening attire. and Willus Britt, with
the eye OF the clever stage manager.
grouped them together opposite TO the
entrance Of the banquet room where
they would show to the best advant-
age.
Tim McGrath was awed by the splen-
dor Of the occasion Imagine Tom
Sharkey giving one Of these he said
in a stage whisper TO Eddie Graney
as thoughts Of the sailors frugality
passed through his mind. Some forty
guests were present and the table was
laid in the big private dining room
which looks out over the bay TO the
north The table was decorated with
American beauty roses and other
choice flowers. Musicians in an ad-
Joining room discoursed sweet music
during the evening.
Manager Britt was POSTMASTER and
ii was difficult for any one present TO
escape making q speech. Dr. c. A.
in which he spoke Of the honesty dis
played by Nelson in his long career in
the ring He told how he had always
given the public run for its money
and that his name would be bracketed
with those OF Jack Dempsey, John l..
Sullivan and George Dixon and others
who were above reproach in their Work
IN the ring He praised Nelson's cour-
age and his ambition while he was
II ha Fr-r~
and how mOdestly he bore the crown
OF champion after attaining his great
desire. He told OF the battler's solicit
tude for his family and the thought
fulness he had shown in providing for
them out Of his earnings He also paid
q compliment to Britt for mis- clever
handling Of Nelson
Eddie Graney reminded his hearers
OF the time Of the earthquake when
Nelson. who was absent at the time,
was among the first TO contribute,
sending $1,000 TO the relief fund.
Eddie Snita also reverted TO the hon
esty Of Nelson and how he had stunned
any matches which were not to be
contested on the level. He also told
how Nelson, even though beaten by
some men. had taken them on a second
time and had then turned the tables on
them. He made a hit by saying that
had ever licked" Nelson and had re-
msined "unlicked."
Nelson told how his father had
named him Battler, as from his first
appearance he was always a fighter.
He said his ambition throughout all
the time he was in the ring was to be
lightweight champion. Now that he
had attained his ambition he said he
did not care IL he ever saw a boxing
glove again He felt pride in the fact
that he was the only champion who
was willing to give a defeated oppo-
nent an opportunity to regain his title.
He said. however, that he expected to
be returned a winner again and that
he hopes to retire an undefeated cham
pion. He closed by saying that he
hoped the public would say upon his
retirement that he was a credit to the
ring.
Nelson's father told Of coming all the
way from Hegewisch to witness the
triumph Of his son. He said the more
he looked at the fight the more he
liked IT, Tim McGrath. W. J. Slattery,
Jack Grace, Charles Mitchell and 9TH
ers spoke in laudatory terms of Nell
sons ring career. Red Cornet. who
acted as Nelson's sparring partner dur
ing his training. read a poem in which
he told graphically Of the woes of the
man who had to put on the gloves
with Nelson. Those who were present
included: