Evening journal., 1915-09-08
NELSON IN RING
FOR twentieth Year
Battler Began His Career
Against Illinois Kids
Back in 1896
DOWNFALL SURPASSED
ONLY BY SULLIVAN'S

Oscar Battling Matthew Nelson,
the Durable Dane. began his twen-
tieth year in the ring on Monday. for
il was away back in 1896 that the fu-
tnre lightweight champion fought his
first regular bout Bat was then
only fourteen years old but he had
been scrappine with the youngsters
Of Hegewick, ILL.,. from the time he
learned to toddle Nelson's first op-
ponent was a circus boy called Wal
lace's Kid. The showmen thought
their pride was a world wonder, but
the pugnacious little Dane knocked
him out in the first round. II has
been several years since Nelson has
displayed much class as a scrapper,
but he can't be weaned from the
game. and every once in a while, and
sometimes oftener. he stages a scrap
with some second-rater. and busts
into print with challenge 10 Frod-
die Welsh. Nelson modestly admits
that he isn't as good as he once was
but he is seemingly serious in enter
tanning the notion that he has got
Welshs number
II has been over FIVE years since
Nelson lost the lightweight laurels to
Ad Wolgast at Point Richmond. The
Dane took an awful beating for forty
rounds and was game to the core.
but he didn't stand a chance and Ed
ie Smith, the referee. put a stop 10
he bout to save the Battler from be-
ne killed.
Bat Nelson's exit from the cham
nionship was in a blaze of glory. and
It's dramatic features was surpassed
only by the downfall OF John l.. Sui
Ivan at New Orleans on September
T. 1892 just twenty-three years ago
yesterday The untamed Old
Roman was overcome with surprise
when he saw his title slipping away
from him but he fought gamely on.
In the twenty-first round the slippery
Corbett saw his chance and tore into
old John L.. and the champion tot
tered and collapsed like a punctured
balloon. But the cheers Of the crowd
we're for the conquer man rather than
for the victor when the Old Roman
mumbled. II fought once too often,
but I am glad ] was defeated by an
American"
Another dramatic finis to a brill
liant ring career was the defeat of
Jack Dempsey BY Bob F'itzsimmons.
From the first II was apparent that
the Nonpariel was not there with the
old-time stun. and the battle was all
IN the hands of the lanky Australian
"Jack. I don't want to knock you out. -
said Fitz in the eleventh round. and
begged Dempsey 10 quit But there
wasn't any such word In Jack s
vocabulary "I1l never quit" he
groaned you'll have to knock me
out" Jack McAuliffe. Dempsey's
second and old pal. begged the Non
pariel to stop. but i'm vain. In the
thirteenth round Fitzsimmon's. see
ing that there was nothing else 10 do.
shot out his right arm with all his
terrible strength. and the blow, land
ing flush on Dempsey's chin. finished
the unequal struggle.
When Stanley Ketchel lost the mid
dleweight title to Billy Papke in Los
Angeles, seven years ago. the "Michi-
gan Assassin" was virtually "out on
his feet from the first round. due to
a tremendous right-hand blow. but he
struggled on for a dozen rounds be-
fore he finally took the count He
took awful punishment from the "Illi-
nois Thunderbolt" and was seemingly
blind and deaf to his surroundings In
the latter rounds.