Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-10

~ ETROIT May 10.--For the first
time in 20 years colored man
4 reigns today as the weller
weight champion Of the world.
The newly crowned title holder is
young Jack Thompson OF Oakland,
Calf. who conquered Jackie Fields IN
15 rounds of fighting in the Olympia
arena last night. Fields, who won the
championship from tottering old Joe
Dundee in Detroit just 10 months ago,
went down to crushing defeat In his
first defense of the honor
Thompson battered Fields from pillar
to post, winning 50 convincingly that
Referee Elmer slim" McClelland in
stantly raised Tnompson's right hand
aloft in victory when the bell changed
ending the CONTEXT Thompson was
credited with winning 10 OF the 10
rounds, with 3 going to the detendlng
champion.
Thompson's victory was a startling
upset. as Fields had twice defeated him
in 1O-round engagements. Few inquired
that Thompson, having twice bowed 10
the superior fighting of Fields, could
CONQUER him in third meeting. Fields
entered the ring a 3-to-1 favorfte, and
he left it as soundly defeated as ever
a ring champion had been.
First Since Wolc0t.
When the referee showed ThompsonS
weary arm into the air In victory, the
Oakland lad became the first colored
welterweight champion since Joe VOL
cot won the title from Rube Ferns in
Fort Erie, Onatrio. in 1901.
The passing of Fields was spectacular
and at times pathetic. He was ham
mered into leg WEAKNESS and might
have fallen a victim to KNOCKOUT
punch after the tenth except for the
fact that he hung on for dear NE IN
an effort to escape having the fatal 10
counted over him.
Fields left the ring with his spirit
crushed and tears streaming down his
face
"I'll never be champion again." he
moaned. as he sat on his rubbing table
in his dressing room. Il set the pace
all wrong and paid for it, l thought
I had Thompson when I staggered MN
with couple Of punches to the chln,
but I guess I tried too hard. Fifteen
rounds is a long road and I tired too
quickly"
Between tears Fields pulled himself
together and lauded his conqueror.
Il tried my best but lost to better
man-that's all 1 can say" Then he
broke down and cried like baby.
Thompson was iubilant over his VIC
tory. Today was his 46-year-old faith
er's birthday anniversary. He regards
his triumph as a birthday present to
his dad His father, tall, stoop-si1oul-
dered man, whose eyes Shone brightly,
through a pair of gold-rimmed spec
tacles. beamed on his boy as the lad
told nf his victory
Pays Tribute to Victim.
"Aster the second, when Jackie landed
his hardest blows and staggered me. !
felt I would eventually be the winner,
Young Jack said. Fields is as game
as they make them. When his strength
was spent he proved to be a good
sportsman. Never once did he take any
unfair advantage, and he lost like
champion"
Fields In defeat received $37.50o,
while Thompson got exactly $4,000 for
his victory. He had been promised
$4,000 with the provision that II he
won $500 would be retained by the
management of Olympia Arena. The
gate was $4,000.
Thompson gave his word to Fields
that he would meet him In return en-
gagement and he intends to keep 1t.
Another prospective opponent is Young
Corbett, the southpaw from Fresno,
Calf BY strange coincidence Thomp-
son and Corbett were classmates in
their school days in San Jose, Calf.
Corbett is credited with having shaded
Fields in non-title bout IN San Fran
cisco in February.