The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-20

lt was a great occasion in ring affairs
when young Jim Jeffries of California
knocked out Bob Fitzsimmons and be-
came champion OF the world. But
there were features in the second fight
between these two champions that
makes 1t more interesting to the sport
ing public just at this time Aside
from all its sentimental angles, it will
be remembered as the one fight that
tested Jim Jeffries to the limit and
showed just what kind Of a fighting
man he was.
Fttzsimmons, as a cocksure and self
confident worlds champion, went into
the first Jeffries fight with the idea
that he could knock this new and
awkward giant out as easily as he
dropped the stockyards champion when
meeting all corners on the stage He
didn't take Jeffries very seriously. He
didn't train very hard. He began to
fight with the manner of man ex-
hibiting for the amusement of his
friends, The first hard blow that JEFF
landed was knockdown and although
the dazed champion fought for his life
after it he was beaten down.
Fitzsimmons didn't forget that de-
feat. But he always had a notion that
he could whip Jeffries. That was the
reason he went to San Francisco to
fight him again.
For months before that battle Bob
Fitzsimmons trained quietly In New
York. Day and night he thought OF
nothing but of beating Jeffries Just
before leaving for the coast Fitzsim-
mons said that he felt absolutely sure
of winning. "The bigger they are the
'arder they fall" said Fitz, grinning
'Tll knock the big fellow out this
time, or if he gets me again I'll turn
around and teach him everything ]
know, and with his strength he'll be
the greatest heavyweight that ever
lived II I can't beat Jeffries no other
man ever will"
Jeffries trained too. He knew Fitz-
simmons. He took no chances.
At last they met in the ring.
And that was fight to be remem-
bered. Fitzsimmons started tearing al
the giant like a wildcat He fought
with unheard Of fury, hammering
smashing, sending piledriver blows ir
with right and left All the tricks he
had studied out for Jeffries he used
The vengeance Of years seemed in his
grasp, Jeffries steady, bull-headed
walked in and took his beating, tryins
vainiy to land in return. Soon Fitz-
simmons marvellous mastry Of heavs
hitting told even on Jeffries. Smash
after smash on the jaw shook him tt
his heels, Every blow Fitzsimmons
sent would have spelled Knockout
for any ordinary heavyweight He
dropped them over like sharpshooter
A great cash was opened over JEFF
fries right eye. Another appeared
across the right cheekbone. under tht
eye. Soon another fearful hook cu'
the length of Jeffries lefS eyebrow. HI,
nose flattened and almost disappeared
between his swollen. cheeks. Smash
srnash--smash-J Jeffries' teeth werc
loosened. His earse were bruised anC
hammered out of shape Still, he dog.
gedly walked in. unsteadily at times
then recovered with q vitality wonder.
full to see.
It looked all Ftzsimmons. Jeffrie.
could not land on him, and with un.
diminished fury the freckled wonder
drove home those famous hooks tha
had knocked out Sharkey, Rubin anC
q score of other giants of the ring
Trying with all that was In him
Fitzsimmons sent the right hand ovei
for knockout Jeffries' head bobbeC
forward little, and the blow strucl
against his skull Fitzsimmons Nigh
just as well have hit a cobblestone
His right hand crumpled up. The firs
two fingers, from the large knuckles t,
the wrist, were broken into a mass d
splinters. He had still two SCUM,
bones in that hand, Fitzsimmons turn
ed It sideways and struck with tn,
knuckles of the third and little finger
But the battering ram effect had gon,
from that shattered hand. Now h,
had to depend almost entirely upoI
the left. And with the left he hooked
and hammered away. He had only on,
hope -now-that Jeffries' eyes woul,
swell shut and temporarily blind him
Already-the eighth round now-th
giant was finding 1t hard to see clearly
But there was no quit or back-up ii
Jeffries He was absolutely game t,
the core. And though torn to piece
on the surface, his huge body was full
Of strength and vitality, and the COO
brain was mistaken In its thick bon,
covering.
Jeffries pushed in. Fitzsimmons'
fury was nearly spent He made a
heroic an effort as any man ever made
and now, with his right hand splintere,