The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-02-23
Ad WogdSt Wins Lightweight Championship from Bat Nelson
Forty Rounds of the FerCeSt Ring Fighting Ever Known

RICHMOND ARENA, Cal, Feb. %
His face battered to a pulp, his eyes
closed. his lips puffed, covered with
blood and staggering helplessly about
tbe ring, Battling Nelson, conqueror
~ Joe Cans, was saved from knock
aut in the fortieth round of his fight
with Ad Wolgast today. when Referee
Eddie Smith humanely stopped a most
unequal contest.
Nelson. game to the very last, stood
i, the center of the ring and even
though he could hardly raise his hands
begged to be allowed to continue.
He was led to his corner broken
hearted.
In the opposite corner of the ring
the new lightweight champion of the
world, AID Wolgast Of Cadillac, Mich,
was lifted to the shoulders of his
trainers and amid the cheers of the
crowd, proclaimed king of the light
weights.
Nelson Shows Strong Once,
only once during the fight did Nell
son have q chance--the 22nd round,
when with singing right hand cross
TO the jaw he staggered his opponent
Before the round closed he dropped
Wolgast in the middle of the ring with
repetition of the same blow and
three seconds were tolled before VOL
CAST regained his feet.
The crowd prepared to leave the
arena: the word went from Lench to
bench through the spectators that an
other boy had fallen victim to the won
derful durability of the Dane. But in
the next round Wolgast recuperated
and from then on slowly, steadily
but surely wore Nelson down.
For twelve rounds before the finish
Nelson seemed bewildered and his
blows were sent in as though he held
weights in his hands. From the 30th
round Nelson could hardly see or hear
the left side of his face having lost
al semblance of its former contour
He staggered and hung on In the 37th
round he was all but out, but survived
the round.
In the 3Sth round, John Robinson
Nelson's manager, wanted to throw the
spcng into the ring, but Abdul, the
Turk. one of the seconds, tore it from
his hands and threw it into the buck
It. From then on. during each round
Robinson protested, on the verge o.
tears that his man was beaten.
Nelson Unwilling to Quit.
When the 4Oth round came, Referee
Smith asked Nelson If he wanted tC
quit and Nelson, unable to talk, merely
shook his head negatively
When 81 seconds of the forfeit
round had gone and as darkness was
beginning to creep over the arena, Ref
cree Smith raised Wolgast's glove into
the air and a new lightweight champ
ion had come into fistiana
WoIgast outgeneraled, Outboxet
and all but outgamed the great Bat
Ting Nelson. After the battle the new
champion scampered out of the rims
Ike a school boy and galloped through
the mud Nelson, on the other HAND
was taken out in the arms of hi:
seconds As he was carried through
the crowd, he was cheered again ant
again for the grit and gameness n
displayed It's like, old ring follow
rrs say. seldom has been seen in ;
prize ring.
The fight demonstrated beyond
doubt that it takes body fighte
to beat Nelson. Punishment over tn
Kidneys and heart weakened the Dam
and he gradually succumbed to thes
onslaughts. Nelson met a younger MAJ
fought him at his own game and b.
cleverer and faster work beat hir
down Systematically without taking an
chances.
Smith Makes Statement.
Referee Smith made the following
statement to the Associated Press
"Wolgast fought Nelson at his owl
game and beat him fairly and square
iy. Nelson complained at times @
Wolgast's butting, but paid little hee
As it was simply d case of the Battle
getting the worst of a game wher
both We're equally guilt.
Both men fought the same, but on
had youth, the power to come bach
vigor life and all that goes with i
while the IS years of fighting throug
which Nelson has passed Slapped hi
strength and left him without the oil
snap. dash and stamina. When
stopped the fight it had lost all sem
n'ance of a boxing contest and l de
clared Wolgast the winner to save Mel
son from possible serious injuries"
Wolgast said after the fight:
My fight today was like a train1n
nout. l could fight all week with
man like Nelson. Only once durln
the fight did he bother me and tia
was in the 22nd round. He hurt m
more then by hitting me than any
thlng else and l felt funny for jus
few seconds. | cannot say any
thing as to my future plans, but
am ready to give deserving lightweight
chance I will rest for a little Will
now"