The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-15
BOB'S RECORD.

The victol's Career as Told by Himself
Before tho Fight.
Bob Fitzsimmons' record is best told in
his own words:
"My first appearance in the ring was at
Jem Mace's amateur boxing tournament at
Timaru. New Zealand, ten years ago. Mace
was making q tour through the colonies
then. l succeeded in knocking out four
men that night, winning the amateur
championship. of New Zealand and a gold
watch. The next year Mace visited US
again and gave another tournament. I
then knocked out five men in one night,
sustaining my title of champion.
"After defeating the five men I put on
the gloves with Herbert Slade, and to tie
After stopping Slade, Mace and l were go
ing to wind up the evenings entertainment
with a friendly bout. We put on the gloves
and shook hands and were about
ing to spar when we were greeted with such
a storm of Kisses that Mace thought it
would be better to take off the gloves. The
audience thought that Mace was going to
try to knock me out. when in reality he
only intended to show me a few points in
boxing. All of these bouts were fought un-
der Marquis of Queensberry rules.
II next fought Arthur Cooper, under Lon
uOu pIlLo I1llk 1OiCS, Gu lildIu, u6l6dUluR
him in three rounds. Then came my
fights with Jack Murphy and Jim Craw-
ford, both of which were fought under Lon
don prize ring rules. / defeated the former
in four and the latter in three Dis,
knocking them both out. After this I lett
for the first time there at Larry Foley's
Athletic hall, where I defeated
Brinsmead, heavy weight, in
two rounds. He weighed 10
pounds to my 14S pounds. The fact ia l
never fought at over 14S pounds until l
Jack Greentree, a middle-weight. at Foley's
in three rounds. Dick Sandal, who, after |
left New Zealand, had got to be amateur
champion there, was the next one who
wanted to meet me. | defeated him in four
rounds. Then l defeated Bill Slavin, a
Slayin who was recently defeated by Joe
Goddard's brother in Sydney, but an elder
brother and a considerably heavier man.
bested him in seven ounds
II then fought Eager, who recently
fought a draw with Starlight, the colored
though he wore t~hree-ounce gloves while 1
had OF eight-ounce, l beat him in three
rounds. l defeated Conway, champion of
Ballarat, in three rounds. NY next battle
of Importance was with Dick Ellis, who
was and is now considered a good one in
Eustld1ld, NO having lOuRuJ tQree
draws with Lang, the we'll known
Maori heavyweight. two battles being
under London rules and one under
Queensberry. Ellis weighed 17G pounds.
against my 148 pounds, but l beat him in
three rounds just the same. next fought
Jim Hall, champion middle weight of Aus
tralia, for the championship, defeating him
i'll five rounds. Then / fought Starlight,
the colorad middle-weight champion of
Australia and champion of Queensland,
knocking him out in nine rounds. NV last
fight in Australia was with Professor West.
q heavy weight who used to exhibit through
Australia, advertising to knock any man
out in four rounds. / knocked him out in
two minutes.
Coming to San Francisco, I Immediately
got on a match with Billy MCCARTHY to FIGHT
at the California Athletic club. I fought
him with but very little training, as | had /,
been in the country only fourteen DAYS
when we met. knocking him out in nine
rounds. 1could have finished him in three
rounds. but wanted to give the club mem
bers a show of sparring for their money.
My last fight up to date was with Arthur
Upham. defeated him in five rounds at
the Audubon club, New Orleans. OF course
! hope to add Dempsey's name to the list
in a few weeks, but then | haven't defeated
him yet: and he may prove to be too much
for me-"