El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-19
THE NELSON AND
WOLGAsT BATTLE
Promises to Be One Of the
Biggest Ever Pulled Off
in California.

Richmond. Cal. Feb. 19.-From for
lorn hope to the biggest battle held in
California for the past four years, is
the almost magical history or the pres
ent Battling Nelson-A6 WoIgast contest,
scheduled for Washington's birthday in
this city
For weeks the match hung in the
air. both Nelson and Woigast working
every string possible TO increase the
size OF the purse This settled, the pro-
moters for days hunted for battle
ground. The newspapers anc fight fans
began TO regard the proposed match as
q Joke. But it is different now.
The arena in which the men will meet
Is now in process of construction and
viii be finished the day before the bat
tie Il will hold 20 600 spectators Both
Nelson and Wolgast are practically
down TO weight. Nelson is at ia and
viii stay that way until two days be-
fore entering the ring. Despite the fact
that Wolgast's manager, Tom Jones,
declares that the Cadillac lightweight
weighs an even 1874 pounds. John R
Robinson. Nelson's manager, declares
that Wolgast scarcely moves the beam
al I31- Robinson is reported 20 have
spy among the Wolgast- followers, and
Is daily kept in touch with every move
made by the German. One of Nelson's
rying information to Jones, and Robin
son and Nelson drove him out OF the
camp
About Nelson.
rs Nelson's stamina sill tfere7" is
tire question which is being discussed
in every boxing resort in California
The wonderful Danish fighting machine
is admitted on every side 70 outclass
Wolgast- provided the o.d stamina Is
still in his system. At his best Nelson
IS a 10 ! bet But years Of hard cam
pafgning in the ring may have Slapped
the system Of the champion. and on this
point alone seems TO hang the result Of
the coming battle.
Nelson himself laughs at any such
statement But ii is pointed out and
verified that Cans, NcGovern, Sullivan.
F-i-zsimmons and scores or orners made
the same statement. All believed they
were just as good as ever, and all went
down to defeat No champion ever lost
his crown without believing, before en-
tering the ring for the fatal battle, that
he was lust as good as ever
In training Nelson looks the same
He is like a streak of lightning and
hits with the same deadly vim before
Moreover, Bat has developed into some
thing of a sharpshOoter, anc can now
pick out the death spots IN a Jim Cor
belt or Kid NcMCoy fashion He seems
In fact. It is the same old tearing, rush
ing Dane, with a tinge of the boxer and
ring general thrown in. He declares
that the betting odds. now 10 to in his
favor. are false. and that ne regards
himself as a good 10 to proposition
against Wolgast-
WOIgast Confident.
Ad WoIgast is just as confident. The
German lightweight is shorter and
chuDkier tnan Nelson Ills arms are
bigger. his chest deeper and his neck
stronger. There is none of that scrawnv
look that has always characterized the
Dane when he was in perfect condition.
- olgast's skin and complexion are not
as clear as Nelson's. bun his followers
IS q growing youth, anc has matured
rapidly
Wolgast is faster than Nelson He
hits Oftener and from more angles He
Is a better boxer on the offensive, al
though perhaps not az good d ring
general as the Dane. His greaIesr punch
IS an overland kidney arralr, which has
almost paralyzed his opponents. His |
blows are not as heavy rs those deliv- !
cred by Nelson, but come faster and |
more often
Wolgast has never fought great |
punisher like Nelson As far as ability I
10 stand punishment is concerned, he is /
an unknown Quantity. His gameness |
has never been questioned. and, like Mel /
son. he has always assumed the often !
sive when in the ring, and always kept /
rushing his opponents arouno the circle. /
ne has never met q performer of Mel /
sons class or generals1ip, but many
coast ring experts believe he is equal /
20 the task Of beating down and wear
ing out the man who never before has
been even tired in the rms