Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-09
WHEELING w. VA THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH O. 1898

on the stomach. Hall received right
on the body and on the head, and mo-
ment later Fitz received two heavy
lefts on the face and heavy right up
per cut. Fitz clinched to save himself
and Duffy had hard time In parting
them. Fitz was clinching to avoid pun
ishment. Both men were fighting hard
when the round ended.
Round 4-Hall came up the aggressor.
Fitz landed heavy right ION the jaw,
knocking Hall into the middle OF the
ring. The blow was tremendous right
hand swing, and landed full on the point
of the jaw. Hall was a long time IN
coming to, but he finally drew his lett
hand up to his nostrils and was hnahy
helped into his corner by Fitzsimmons,
his conqueror.
The referee awarded the contest to
Fitzsimmons who waving the United
States flag over his head, walked oyer
to his opponents corner and shook his
hand, and as he was leaving the ring
received a tremendous ovation.
The fight was the easiest Fitzsim-
mons has had in America and the blow
knocked Hall out was said TO be the
hardest that any one of the old ring
habitues ever witnessed, The audience
rose to its feet and a tremendous shout
went up. Hall, however, lay uncon-
scious on the carpet, look OF agony on
his face and the crowd feared he had
suffered serious injury. Halls second
with club official and DR.. Belts ran
quickly to the PROSTATE pugilist ana
applying restoratives gradually brought
him back to consciousness.
Fitzsimmons also ran to the centre OF
the ring and pulling off his gloves help
ed to resusitate his conquered foe.
When Hall had been brought to he
was carried limp TO his chair, where he
remained until able to go to his dress
ing room. Fitzsimmons was frenzled
With delight over his comparative easy
victory.
Robert Fitzsimmons was born In
Cornwall, England, June 4, 1862. de
was taken to New Zealand while still
very young and remained there until
he crossed the Pacific ocean, landing in
California. He served his apprentice
ship in a blacksmith shop, and was an
expert in horse-shoeing before be be-
came known as boxer.
When Herbert Slade was touring
through New Zealand, Fitzsimmons
was induced to spar with him, and sur
prised himself by knocking the giant
out in three rounds. Fitzsimmons met
Jim Crawford, another heavyweight,
and bested him in three rounds.
FitzSimmons next defeated Jack
Slavin, brother Of Frank Slavin.
Next came FitZsimmOns's meeting with
Hall. Fitzsimmons claims that in their
first meeting he defeated Hall in five
rounds, and in a second by a precon-
certed arrangement Ftzsimmons went
out" after a supposed contest OF three
and a half rounds. Hall contends that
his contest was bona fide contest on
its merits, but FitZsmmonS insists that
he agreed to "go out"
The hardest fight of Fitzsimmons' ca
reer was the battle with starlight, "
the colo,ed Australian middle-welght.
Fitzsmmons succeeded in knocking
him out in nine rounds. At Jim Mace's
boxing tournament Ia New Zealand in
1880 FitzSimmonS won first prize by
knocking out four men in Que night.
In the following year, 1881, Fitzsim-
mons knocked out five meu In one night,
Fitzsimmon's first fight this side Of
the Rockies was with Arthur Upman
before the Audubon Athletic club in
this city whom he defeated as he pleas
ed. He next defeated Jack Dempsey
before the Olympic Club and later on
went out Of his class and defeated Maher
before the same club.