The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-02
CORpErT's CorrAGE An IoCu ARnorp

CORBETT's COTTAGE AT LoCH ARBouR
and Fitzsimmons will meet at Dallns, Tex.
in October next. The mon could not yet
out of n battle If they wanted to- and to
give each his duo honestly believe that
neither wishes to dodge o meeting There
Is too much feeling between these chaps to
admit of any such argument They hate
each other Just as cordially as tho boys
who sport tho orange and the green over
In old Ireland. That will give zest to the
meeting. There will be no love taps, but
redhot jabs and peppery upper cuts.
Aside from tho antipathy each bears tho
other there are other reasons which con-
duco to their coming together. Thcse arc
the love OF glory and the gold which fol-
lows in its wake and the force of public
opinion. All athletes, be they fighters
wrcstlcrs, oarsmcn, pedestrians OF what
not, fear public opinion US much as they
love gold. Once let the public got on to
the fact that champion of any kind is
afraid to meet an opponent In his class,
and his days rs an athlete are numbered
Hc could not draw brass pennies not to
talk of silver dollars, to the box Office of
any show that he might give. Indeed he
would be lucky if he did not get bouquets
OF ancient eggs thrown at him from the
gallery. Therefore it is safe to bet na-
tional bank against u Coney Island barn
that the boys will faco each other In the
roped arena; If not in Texas, then in Mex
leo or some other spot; if not in public.
then in private.
What kind Of q hattle will 1t be. and
what arc the chances of the mcnY / have
boon asked these questions ut least 100
times and will answer here to the best of
my ability. Corbott should win, as he has
height and weight In his favor besides a
trilic tho best Of 1t In the way OF stiffness
In Skill speed, reach, courage and strength
they arc pretty near even, although Fitz-
simmons Is by far the harder hitter. Cor
bctt- however, has no nirtight cinch This
Is an cru of surprises, and Fitz may land
one Of his Knockout blows.
Ii Corbett should go at lanky Bob as hc
did at Mitchell he would get whipped to a
dead moral certainty. He can never mix
1t with FiU at infighting and exchange
blow for blow, simply because the Austria
Inns punches arc about twice as danger
Gus Us tho CalifoPnian's. Corbett' S fortp is
outflghting, and, mark my words you
will SEQ that he plays that game when no
and Fitz meet Mt Dallas. He will try sim
ply to 1ab Bob out, which, if he can keep
away from the Australian, he may do in
20 or 25 rounds.
Fitz, ON tho other hand, I am satisfied,
will go Mt Corbett from the very moment
time Is called. He will try to mix it with
Crbett in every possible way and land O
Knockout blow. 1t may puzzle the cham
Pion to keep away from him, rs Fitz is O
mighty spTy fellow, and can get around o
ring like race horse. predict that Cor
bctt when cornercd, rs he is bound to be
by Fitz some time, will resort to clinches
to save himself from punishment. He is
fn hnffn 81,
Will be about 30 pounds heavier and can
use his strength to creator advantage ne
may even wear Fitz out OF infghting
Wrestling is terribly exhausting, especial
~ SO to the lighter weaker and less skill
full man. Should Fitz get In ono or two
hard blows, however, before the clinch Cor
bett may become 80 weak that his wrcs
ting skill will not avail him much
The fight Will he one of the best. / think
that have occurred between big ncn in this
country for a long time, Us both fellows
are SO clever, speedy and strategic Corbctt
will try to make 1t wholly II scientific bat
tie and win by long encounter Fitzsim-
mons will endcavor to use force with sci
cnce and win or be whipped In short order
he Is as sensible in his plan as Corbctt is
in his. Ono can win out best by waiting
the other by rushing.
III,
Corbett. for the reasons have already CIV
en-, should win, although the other man
has cracking good chance to capture first
money. He is big and strong just where
he needs these qualities-in tho shoulders
arms and muscles of the back. His Shout
dcrS are indeed broader thnn the cham
pion's, his back muscles roundcr and big
ger and his chest expansion greater. His
legs are not near rs shapcly or rs large rs
Jim's, but Bob says they are strong enough
and tough enough to hold him up all day
Anyhow, whichever way the battle goes
1t will be worth going u long way to see
and all can say to the boys to cheer them
on and help the grand old sport along is
the motto which always adorned my colors
In my fighting days, MAY the best man
win
& aXxzs,.,