Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1899 — JEFFRIES WINS THE FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

JEFFRIES WINS THE FIGHT.

Wina Over Sharkey in the TwentyRfth Roundaon Potato. James J. Jeffries retained his tide oi! heavyweight champion of the world Friday night at Coney Island, after one of the hardest battles ever fought by Mg men in this country. Had the fight endl ed with the twenty-first round Sharkey would have been given the decision. With the ending of the twenty-third round Siler would hare called it a draw. The last two rounds, however, were so far in favor of the champion that the result of the battle was apparent-before the referee, Siler, declared Jeffries victor. Sharkey’s tactics were very, very rough, and be clinched and brought hi man’s head into chancery a dozen time during the progress of the fight. He used tiie heel of the glove after every clinch, and in other ways transgressed the roles repeatedly. Jeffries did not fight in the form he displayed against Fitzsimmons. He was wild in the earlier stages of the contest. His defense, too, was weak. Sharkey landed left and right swings repeatedly where Fitzsimmons had failed utterly. He bore in, under, over and through Jeffries’ guard at times as though the latter hod none. It was an even match as to strength. The forcing was done by Sharkey, but effective countering stood this off to no inconsiderable extent. The matter of vitality did not figure as much under the heat as was anticipated. Siler and the seconds of the men suffered greatly from this, but the equatorial voyages of Hhe sailor and the blasting furnaces experience of the boilermaker made both men practically immunes. It was an earnest fight all the way through. Siler’s decision, while in accord with the opinions of the winners, and opposed in some quarters by the losers, is approved by the non-betting and neutral critics who saw the fight.