BOXING

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 15

BOXING

FITZSIMMONS AGAIN IN THE BING. MATCH WITH O’BRIEN. At Philadelphia on July 23rd Jack O’Brien and Boh Fitzsimmons fought tho fastest six round bout over witnessed in tho city between men of their weight. AVhen the gong announced the close of the fight both men were on their feet, hut both bore tho marks of the gruelling which they had just gone through. Fitzsimmons’ lips were twice their normal size and his loft eye was almost clo'sed. while O’Brien’s left cyo was also cut and swollen. "While O’Brien landed the greater number of blows, they did not. do nearly so much damage as those landed by Fitzsimmons and tho latter was the fresher of the two at the close of the fight. There was not. a clean knockdown during tho bout, bia three times O’Brien went to tho floor, twice in endeavouring to get away from Fitzsimmons and the third time partly from Fitzsimmons’ right, which landed on Jack’s neck, and partly through the flutter's feet getting tangled. The fight was held on tho National League baseball grounds, tho ring being pitched immediately over the home plate. It was the first cpon-air boxing exhibition over given in the city and the novelty of .the affair drew a crowd of about GOOD persons. There wore many rumours that tho men had an understanding not to exert themselves, but such rumours wore dissipated before the close of the first rdund. There was a liberal sprinkling of women in tho grandstand, and sitting close to tho ringside was Mrs Fitzsimmons, who, for tho first time, was to witness her husband fight. She never took her eyes off Fitz during the six rounds and when he sat down at the close of the fight-, his wife rushed over to his corner, climbed the stops leading to the ring and planted a kiss on tho badly swollen lips of her husband. There wore four preliminaries which served to keep the spectators in good humour. Five o’clock was tho hour set for the men to enter the ring, but it was o.OG before Fitzsimmons made his appearance. Seven minutes later O'Brien came on. A long wrangle ensued over, the kind of bandages worn by Fitzsimmons. ITndemeath the strips of muslin were, O’Brien claimed, plaster bandages. O’Brien said the bandages, must come off or there would he no fight. Fitzsimmons replied; “Then there will ho no fight.” After keeping tho spectators waiting -for ten minutes, Fitzsimmons removed the plaster. Each man selected his own gloves and at £.28 they were called to the centre of the ring by the referee and given their instructions. At 5.30 «the gong sounded and tho battle was on. O’Brien began with dazzling footwork, darting in and out with wonderful cleverness, landing lefts and, an occasional right, while Fitzsimmons was content to block evidently endeavouring to land- on O’Brien's wind. This opportunity came near the close of tho second round, when ho drove his right to O’Brien’s body with terrific force. The first three rounds were in O’Brien’s favour, hut after that he grew a trifle slow from the awful.nacc that lie har set and Fitzsimmons was able to get in som,e hard blows on the body. Both men were covered with blood when they: went to their corners at the close of the fifth, O’Brien bleeding from a gash over the left eye and Fitzsimmons from the mouth and nose. Both men were in distress when tho sixth round closed but Fitzsimmons was apparently in better condition.