The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1909-03-18

~ nghtS, but occasionally / make
IN exceptions, and 1 have always
been exceedingly fortunate In
picking winners. This is due largely
to the fact that in the fights in which
Battling Nelson has participated I
have always bet on myself. AS be-
ginner, however, l didn't have enough
money to risk on the result of the ring
battles, and 1 was very well satisfied
to get the purse. The greater part of
mysearnings was sent to my mother,
and had very little pocket money
that could afford TO lose.
Shortly after / had licked Cyclone
Johnny Thompson in March, 1902, I
began TO raKe On a Ior or confidence.
and I made up my mind that 1 would
put down a bet on myself the next
time 1 started If good chance was
offered and I could keep my mother
from finding 1t out. 1t came quicker
than 1 expected.
William Rosser, a lightning fast
young lightweight and at that time the
pride Of West Pullman and a boy who
had been defeating every Chicago
fighter who dared to come into his
bailiwick, sent me a challenge after /
had stopped the Cyclone. With a large
party of my Hegewisch friends and
hackers we journeyed over to Harvey
by buses, buggies, automobiles and in
every manner imaginable. We were
about $50 strong.
Makes Wild Bet.
About q week previous to the fight
while training at my White House
club at home Frank Reiger, one Of
those laxative fellows, dropped into
the clubrooms and asked me what 1
thought Of my chances in the coming
fight. I jokingly said, why, I'll knock
him out in a round"
Reiger, who had been continually be-
Hitting my ability as a fighter, at once
offered to bet me $40 to 81 or $40 to
81 that I wouldn't knock him out in q
round. I, thinking it was only 4
bunch of hot air, dug down In my
jeans and took up the bet. Reiger Inn
mediately appointed George Wickham
as stakeholder and handed him the
$40. OF course put up my 81, think
ing he would try to crawl out OF the
bet any moment. But the stakeholder
forced 10 to keep his coin up.
Nowsnat the bet was made and the
money posted it was up to me to hg-
ure out ways and means to win that
fight in galiop.
I Immediately made up my mind to
get that one round money il never
fought again. / notified my hackers
that I would show the Harvey sports
three minutes OF the fastest fighting
they ever saw In their lives.
Having that $40 in view all the
while, made up my mind that I
wouldn't allow him to get a start
When we were called to the center Of
the ring for instructions / had the
scheme figured out Instead of retir-
ing to my corner. as is customary. de-
cided to take a step toward his corner.
Worked Like a Charm.
The trick worked like charm As
the timekeeper rang the bell Rosser
raised out Of his chair. and he was
just within nice hitting distance. The
bell had not ceased ringing before I
shot a terrific right hand swing flush
on his jaw. He tottered step for
ward and fell in the center of the
ring. Rosser tried hard to get up and
made two futile efforts to rise, but
only got to arms length, and by the
time the referee had toIled OF seven
seconds he dropped on his face and
turned over on his back and remained
for the full count, only to be carried
to his dressing room by his handlers.
My only punch was so well directed