The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-02
FITzsIMMoNs-MAHEK.

Arrangements All Complete for the Big
| Mill Tonight
| New ORLEANS, March 1.-Arranrements
are complete for the contest between Peter
Maher, the Irish heavyweight champion,
and Bob Fitzsimmons, the middleweioht
champion of the world. which takes place
In the OF, ,mpin club Wednesday evening at
seven sharp. The arena in which the bat
tie will be fought is 15Ox132 feet, and will
seat $500 spectators comfortably. Secre-
tary Ross, of the Olympic club, recently
SAID SAID titzslmmons would fight at 154, but
/ there ~ no necessity for him to get down 80
low. He IS good man at 1866 and there
Will probably not b. over fifteen pounds
difference between the 1nen. Very little
betting has been done anywhere in the
country rs Fitzsimmons' hackers want
long odds. Another reason for the back
ward betting is that Fitzsimmons il sup
posed to have thrown q fight to Jim Hall in
Australia for consideration, and betting
men think he would do 80 again if the con-
side alton were large enough.
When tbs match was made eastern SPORT
ing authorities were strongly inclined to
the belief that Fitzsimmous, after dodgino
a fight with jim Hall at 1885, was offerinp
himself to slaughter in going against as big
man az Maher but as the time approaches
for the battle the Australian's stock goes
up. Sporting men think Fitzsimmony can
hit quite as hard az Maher, and is moro
clever, The ability of either to stand pun
ishment has never boen tested in this coun-
try. Fitzsimmons escaped punishment in
his BATTLES with Billy MCCARTHY. Arthur
Upham and Jack Dempsey. and Maher in
his contests with Sailor Brown, Smith
and Fallon. 1t is the general opinion that
Maher will win if he can hit his man, but
the if, of course, is IN important factor.
Bob Fitzsmmons. the champion middle
weight of Australia. has record in Aus
tralia which unquestionably stamps him as
very high class weight. His first
appearance was at an amateur boxing tour
nament given by DEM mace at Timaru,
New Zealand, about ten Years ago. On
that occasion he knocked out four men in
one night, winning the amateur champion
ship of New England. The following year
Mace again visited New Zealand and gave
another tournament. On that night |
"Fitz" knocked out five men and retained |
ing he put on the gloves with Herbert
slade, the Maori, and surprised the audi
ence by besting him. Under prize ring
rules Fitzsimmons knocked out Arthur
Cooper at Timaru in three rounds. Jack
Murphy in four and Jim Crawford in three
rounds. Going to Sidney, he defeated Ed
3ronsmead, heavy weight. in two rounds;
Jack Ireentree, II middle weight, i'll three
rounds, and Dick Sandal, amateur cham
pion, in four tounds. The lank Austria
continued his brilliant work by besting
Bill slavin in seven rounds; Engar, Con-
way and Dick Ellis in three rounds each.
The colored wonder, Starlight. was knocked
out III nine rounds, and before sailing for
America Fitzsimmons whipped Prof. West.
q heavyweight. in four rounds. Twelve
days after he landed in Frisco Fitz
whipped Billy MCCARTHY in nine rounds.
Then he knocked out Arthur. champion of
Texas, in five rounds. On Jan. Ia, 1891, he
jack Dempsey the Amerinnn mid
dleweight champion, in thirteen rounds,
md deprived the Nonparol of his title.
After that came his tiuks with Jim Hall ut
Minneapolis. July %. 1891.
In facinl expression Msher somewhat re-
sembles Joe McAulitfe. Maher begun his
pugilistto career when, as the employo of
Guinness brewery. he met well-known