The Washington herald., 1910-02-23

San Francisco, Feb. 22.-Ad Wolgast, OF
Milwaukee. made pugiilstIe history here
this afternoon by defeating the redoubt-
able Battling Nelson in one of the hard
est fought contests seen in this part OF
the country in over two decades.
Woigast is now the lightweight cham
pion of the world and the Dane merely
an ex-champion, who clearly and de-
cisively illustrated that the old adage Of
the pitcher going to the well too often
still holds good even In pugilism.
Nelson was not knocked out, but he
was so near it that the intervention on
the part of the referee in the fortieth
round was wise as il was humane.
The encounter was originally scheduled
for forty-five rounds. 1t surely could not
have lasted much longer. considering the
condition of Nelson.
A Fallen Champion.
The one time peerless battler presented
a pathetic sight His face was one mass
completely closed and blood streamed
down his cheeks. He was the typical
spectacle of the fallen champion.
Nelson fought with the same gameness
and spirit that has characterized all his
fights. He was the same old batter
when it came to rushing and taking pun
ishment. He was. TOO, the same old Mel
son who was willing to take five blows
in order to get home one punch. How
ever the old sting was lacking for only
once during the encounter was Nelson
able to put the Dutchman down.
From the thirtieth round until the end
Nelson's star seemed to have set. His
leads were weak and he could not see
in order 70 landl It was the beginning
IF the end and the sports realized that
lFgy champion Was in sight
wOIgast shows Class.
IN out and in fighting. which used p be
Ne.a9n's great speciality. he was easily
outfought by Wolgast, who upperc6t aim
without mercy, and then when he clinEh.
/ ed showered he Wy kidney punches that
made the battler vince.
After the thirtieth round Nelson was so
battered on the face as 10 be scarcely
recognizable. The whole left side Of his
face was swollen to abnormal size. his
/ left eye was closed, and his lips were
thick al a negro's He was bleeding at
the mouth ana nose even when he came
up after the rest, but his heart was sound,
for although he could only see out Of one
eye. ne made Welgast back around the
ring and frequently landed half-arm
blows.
After the thirty-ffth round there was
never a show for Nelson 10 win, and it
was a merciful thing to end the fight, as
the referee did. for the battler could
barely stand on his legs.
Could Net Land Knockout.
woIgast was a .great disappointment
10 the fight fans because he didn't have
knockout punch. and because he took
TO risks against a man whose punch
was gone.
He should have ended the fight any
time after the thirty-fourth round.
Finally. at the end of the tilirty-nsnth
round, the referee warned Nelson that II
he didn't make a showing IN the first
minute Of the fortieth round he would
give the fight TO wolgast. The battler
made a heroic effort. but could DO moth
ing
Nelson will receive the neat sum Of
$1,000 for his work. while Woigast re-
ceives 1890 as his share Of the purse.
There were fully 1900 persons IN the
arena when the gong sounded for the
battle and promoter HestOr announced
that he had taken in $S7 .0o0 at the box
office. The top price for seats was SIS
for choice seats near the ring, while
the lowest price was 50 for the bieacher
seats.
Nelson TRrdy.
Wolgast was the first TO make hts ap-
pearance. He had in his corner Tom
Jones. Charles Anslinger, Jen Perry.
Hobo Dougherty. Tommy Deakean. and
Jockey Marapole. Wolgast looked 10 be
in the best Of condition. and seemed con-
fdent OF the outcome.
relson was equally enthusiastic about
MS cnanees. He was handled by AbdoeI,
the Turk Joe Meyers. Dick Wheeler, Ar
thur Nelson. Morris Roach. and John
Robinson, his manager
Nelson was tardy in entering the ring.
When he did show up he was the recipi-
ent of loud applause Wolgast was in
troduoed as the Flying Dutchman." Of
Milwaukee, and he received a warm
greeting. Tommy Murphy. Powell. owen
Moran, and Cyclone Johnny Thompson
we're introduced. The referee was Eddie
Smith. The men agreed to fight with one
arm free.
Fight by Rounds.
FIRST ROUSD-Nslson started by swinging the
left high on the head. moment later be plsnssd a
solid left u the face. They fought close qusrtegs
at fast clip Nelson landing With shortsnn rights
and lefts 70 the body. Wolgaet stood with his back
agasnst Ifa T0res and fayed Nelson with short-srm
blows sFain en the face. Nielsen thsn forced nat
tiers and landci with fierce cn the face and jaW
WoiFast madGsned, fought back hard aud landed
stn.e hard WalicIs On Nelson's Jaw and nose. The
crowd chcrTed Wolgast- Wogast landed night and
sft Gpf5sr cuts 10 the Jaw, sending NelSonz head
hack. The msu failed 70 hear the gong. % intense
was he work Tie round vas about eren-
SECOND ROUND-Nelson pat a leSt smash TO the
face and forced Moleast 70 the ropes. Wolgsst
swung right and left 10 the Jaw Then be pat
hard fieht t. the Jaw. Nelson. when he emerged
from /, mix-us was bleeding frosa The lips He
was uadsuHted and sailed for Wogast With ho.h
hands He PIT a stiff right Woigasts nose and
brought the blood IN streams. Nelson then carried
tie fight ta bis oiTUnent. b1t was met with, two
hard rights to the stomach and an u1per cut to
Continued on page 5, CoIumH 3.