CALIFORNIAN WELTERS WAR.

NZ Truth, Issue 464, 9 May 1914, Page 6

CALIFORNIAN WELTERS WAR.

Fritz Holland too Strong for Cleverer Jimmy Fitton, A Yankee with a Straight Left. . ' _____ /— (By "Boxer-Major.") It seems a rather queer thing that two men of the same class, from the same State of America, should come all the way to Australia to fight m Sydney. Yet such a thing occurred at" the Rusbcutter Bay Stadium, when Fritz Holland and Jimmy Fitton, both welterweights from California, met. It was -the more queer because of the fact that though living and working their profession within the limits of their State, the pair had NEVER MET BEFORE. .-..- • The contest was not of a nature to enthuse over, though there are points about both men that are worthy of admiration. Holland quickly showed that he has one bad fault, m that, though a very hard hitter, he persists m using the heel of the right hand m his chops at the chin, and frequently, with, to all appearance, set purpose, hurls the ' right forearm against the jaw. Mr. Harald Baker hates to spoil a good fight, so he simply, knocked Holland's left glove off the "armpit" hold" repeatedly, and contented himself with telling Holland to be good. Fitton was on the retreat nearly all through the i fight, and his sweet back-moving on his perfectly shaped legs and active feet made Holland miss scores of desperate left swings and right chops meant to be settlers. And all the while, even when his lack of condition left him m desperate straits towards the end, he "MILLED ON THE RETREAT." He'd:skip back just out of reach of a couple : of swings, one of which would frequently just tap the tip of his nose |or chin, and instantly shoot a lovely left to the face and repeat it as many as three times before Holland got into position again after his miss. It is rare indeed to see an American the possessor of a real left jab such as is the best gun of Jimmy Fitton's bati '*. .

tery. A very shapely and a very clover lad Ih Pi lion, and it is a great piLy that he was not a more thoroughly lit 'un. Dozens of llimrs hia left to the face sent Fritz's head back, sometimes, almost bclwcuii his shoulders, and before' he could recover from the jar, Jimmy's right would get him on the mouth or Jaw or ear, punches thai would have dropped A .LESS HARD AND INVUI.NER- . AiiLl-J subject than the. Jim Burge-liko Holland. It was matter for genuine surprise'and admiration to see the way Holland stood up under them and still came m and m for more. That Fitton's punches were really hard, iho condition of Holland's f;u?e attested conclusively. He bled ut the mouth as early as ,the first round, and by ihe find of the second he was Incarnadined from right eyebrow, which was cut by a wicked left swing, to chin, both nose and mouth contributing their quota of ruby vintage. lettered thus In the face- and uuablf. through niton's clever fool and h«ul and arm work, to damage Jlm'n top-piece, Holland mud a splendid play for tho body, and though (Jim superbly elbow -blocked some, of I his loft rips*, others got on with tremendouH force, while tho rights to tho back ribs were hurtful, and one to the body. In the third round, Just below

the arch of the left ribs, while he had Jim on the N east ropes, COULD HAVE BEEN HEARD m Sydney. The ninth brought the end. Fitton was a weary lad as he walked from his chair, and none knew it better than Holland, who walked right In, and after a momentary spar put left and right to face and ear, and Fitton came forward, on hands and knees, to the mat. The count started slowly,, so that although he was down at least two seconds, he really rose just after the referee and the clock said "One." He was badly dazed, however, and though he showed a brave front, he was unable either to administer or ' prevent punishment As he stooped m, Holland put "the- rabbiter" to the back of the head with all his swing and strength, and Fitton went down and took nine. Both Tommy Burns, who j was behind Fritz, and Holland himself, asked Mr. Baker to stop it. When Fitton rose and a couple more right swings to the back of the head sent him down to hands and knees again, THE TOWEL SHOT IN, right across the ring, from Fittoh's corner, just as Sub-Inspector Matthews rose to call a halt.