Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-02-15
bob FITZSIMMONS
TALKS ABOUT HIS COMING Battle WITH
CHAMPION CORBETT.
BE Holds Another Ohampionship-The Lotus Wins
Two Games From the Brownies.
Other Sporting News,

bob" Fltzsimmons, the lanky Au-
stralian blacksmith, who will do his
utmost 10 persuade James ]. Corbett to
ioin the small army OF ex-chamDions,
arrived in the city yesterday afternoon
and registered at the Mcclure. He
lounged about the hotel during the al
ternoon, me. number Of persons, and
was always the centre of group Of ad-
mirers. Not many Wheeling persons
had met either Of the two pugs previ-
Gus to Yesterday. AS 3 result Of his
visit, Fitzsimnons stock has gone up.
He certainly made better impression
than any pugilist who has ever visited
Wheeling. His exhibition OF bag punch
ing at the Grand was wonderful. Heis
feet 49, inches tall, built ike an
athlete, and when in condition weighs
about loo pounds.
Fitzsimmons is matched 10 fight Cor
bett for $40, 900 a side, and a purse OK
$4,000 hung up by . Florida club.
half Of the stake money Is already up.
TIE date for the battle will DO fixed
about July 1st. COrbett will probably
have the toughest job he ever tackled,
and will have 10 DE very clsVsr 10 best
his smaller opponent
a Register man talked to Fitzsimmons
on the stage at the Grand, while ne was
waiting 10 90 on for his turn" He
talked freely about his coming battle.
"Corbett is clever" he said. There is
no question about that, but think |
will best him. he has never shown
himself a wonder 10 aay respect.
think l have met and bested better peo-
pie"
Fltzslmmons' wife is with him, and
takes considerable interest in bob"
She knows the records OF all the great
pugs, aud thinks her husband can whip
them all. Il saw Bob's fight with jim
Hail." she said TO the Register man. or
course she was not in the arena, but
saw it all through an opening in the
wall. Mrs. Fitzsim mons bears strik-
ing resemblance 10 Governor Mckinley,
and is a very attractive woman.
Fitzsimmons is not only champion
in his class as a fighter, out claims the
championship Of the world ia horse
shoeing, anG be likes to take of ais coat
and make a few hundred horse shoes &C
casionally for exercise. lie has prom
ised 20 do this ia Wheeling, and will
present the shoes to some OF his friends
as souvenirs. lie contested with Z
Fiusourg man for tho chSm pionship
several years ago, ana Won with ease.
Fi.zsimmons tries 20 arrange bout
with local pugilists in every city he
visits, and would ike 10 meet Wheel
ing mau in q friendly bout, TO show his
ability. He has standing offer OF 500
70 any man who will stand before him
for three rounds. This offer has re-
suited in many amusing experiences.
For example, down in Florida, local
pug trained for two months in ad-
vance OF Bob's arrival, and
then made wager of $1,000
that he would stand before the cham
pion for two rounds. "The fellow
weighed 3O5 pounds, and was remarka-
bly, quick on MS feet, said Fitzsim-
mons 10 telling the story. HE tented
once or twice, and got out Of reach cas-
lily. / sized the fellow up, and said to
myself, Bob, there's q thousand gone
20 the dogs. RUt flushed him in 80
seconds, in just two GOOD punches.
Later he sent two kegs Of beer up TO
the boys in the dressing rooms, and we
all had an enjoy able time"
Fitzsimmons showed at Columbus
Tuesday night, and met a. local pugil-
ist. The fellow appeared for the con-
test almost nude, and Fitzsimmons loan
ed him pair Of tights. When the cur
tain went down, both the NJ hter and
tights were among the missing.