The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-06
QUIT The Ring
FOR GOOD IT,
BATTLING NELSON SAYS HE
WILL QUIT THE RING FOR GOOD
IF HE CANNOT GET IN FORM IN
ONE MORE BIG EFFoRT-To
TRAIN IN KENTUCKY.

st. Louis Times: Listen to me-"
chanted Oscar Matthew Battling Mel
son, the Immutable Dane. 'Tf l find
after tackling some Of the eastern
third-raters that l am down for good
it's good-by to the fight game forever.
The game and the public have been
too good to me for me to trifie with
either. II can get back to my old
formal right. If not, it's all right.
too. But / won't hang around when
I'm no good. And that's the truth,
straight from the shoulder, believe
me-"
The former lightweight champion Of
the world was a caller at The Times
office Tuesday evening. He was &C
companied by Simon Kellerman, jr.,
secretary and matchmaker of the Ed
wardsville A. c., where Nelson acted
as referee Tuesday night. They just
dropped in to look around and say
howdy' "
Eyes, indeed" continued the popular
little fighter, II have sense enough to
know that the public doesn't care for
defeated pugilist who's bum. There
are too many OF them now, and every
body's tired of their stuff No matter
how good a man may have been In l1is
prime, people get awful tired of see
ing him around trying to cadge the
price OF a sandwich and a drink after
his day is done and he's broke"
The little fighter stin bearing the
caullhower ear and the spread -eagle
nose that bear material witness of the
many gruelling battles he has come
through in his time. Is the original
hopeful He just can't see himself as
a back number. If earnestness and
good intent would carry him back to
the top of the lightweight heap, he'd
get there in jiffy
yep" he chirped, 'Tm just going
to start at the bottom OF the ladder
again and work to the top. I'm going
to spend a couple Of weeks In Hot
Springs with the ball players and then
hike out for John e. Madden's big
ranch near Lexington, Ky. had in
tended to go to Honolulu, but when |
heard Of Madden's place and got an
invitation to visit him, I changed my
mind. They tell me it's the greatest
place on earth for a man to get into
shape.
you know, had it in my nut to go
to Honolulu. Don't know what for
just had 1t doped out a the real place
to spend while. I was talking to a
friend of mine in washington, former
Brig. Gen. John A. Johnston, who is
now commissioner of the District of
Columbia, and he laughed at my
scheme. Stay here he says. Go to
Madden's ranch and get to feeling like
your old self. I know you can do it,
That decided me. Nix on Honolulu"
Nelson says he'll stay two months at
Madden's, riding thoroughbreds and
working out in the famous turfman's
new gymnasium. Bat has word of a
couple Of Fhusky hands on the Madden
place who have visions OF some day
becoming real live fighters. "Pu try
'em out and see what they're worth"
piped Bat, land incidentally get in
shape myself" At the conclusion Of
his visit with Madden, Nelson will go
to either New York or Philadelphia
and take on a few tIird-raters, he says.
If he comes back he'll go after the big
ones again.
None Of this Bonnie Yanger, Young
Corbett, Young Critic or Jim Jeffries
stuff mine," Bat flung over his shoulder
as he departed. "If find I'm no good,
it's quit-that's ALL"