St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-02
MAKERS OWN VIEWS
AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM
THE HEAVYWEIGHT
PUGILIST.
CONFIDENT He WILL WIN
IN HIS COMING MEETING WITTY
FITZSIMMONS IN THE RING
IN MEXICO.
WILL BE A SWIFT, HARD BATTLE.
4IEher Profits by Past Experience
His Plans for the Flu.
ture.

LAS CRUCES, N. NJ, Jan. 90.-It is
in no spirit Of f-glorifcation, but
simply that Of earnest conviction that
say L wish 1 were as sure Of a fort
une as 1 am of defeating Bob FitZ-
simmons for the worlds championship
in Mexico on Feb IA.
1t is conceded on all sides that the
winner of that battle will be the cham
pion pugiliSt of the world beyond cavil,
and L am delighted at the opportunity
afforded me to win that proud distinc-
ton. 1 want no presents, and although
1t is very kind Of Mr.. Corbett to re-
linquish the title in my favor immedi-
ately after my defeat of his sparring
partner, Steve ODonnell, 1 would rath-
er fight for it than obtain it by for
felt or gift. That is the way every
great gladiator from the days of Tom
Crib and Dan Donnelly down to those
of the renowned John L. Sullivan at
tained that proud eminence, and that Is
the way L want to get there. To
emulate the example of the great Bos-
tonian is my highest ambition.
1t is not in any spirit Of egotism that
I predict that 1 will conquer the big
Australian. 1t is simply the express
sion Of confidence born of conviction.
When FitZsimmons defeated me in our
first engagement I was a big, strong
fellow, to be sure but a mere novice
In the art of boxing. 1 was hardly
more than a boy and had but the most
elementary knowledge of the game of
stop, hit and get away My idea was
simply to "get there" as quickly as I
could with my right and parry a blow
occasionally. Even at that I had
Fitz nearly out in the first round. but
did not know enough to take advan-
tage Of points I had gained 1 also
made the mistake of sparring him at
long range after that round instead
OF getting in to him and fighting at
close quarters. He was cleverer and
shlfter than 1 at that time and at
long range wore me out, something
which he was enabled the more readily
to do as was utterly out of condition.
Upon that score, however, 1 made no
excuse. should have been in condition
and it is my fault that was not.
Now matters are changed. I have
studied the science Of pugilism pretty
carefully since those days, and flatter
myself that 1 know few points about
NNAS 5c%AiiS' competent CI1llCS upon
sides Of the Atlantic have been kind
enough to say that I have VASTLY i'm
proved" and the newspaper boys across
the water, upon the occasion of my
recent tour there, declared that I had
mastered what they call the yankee
waltz" or side step, in which James
y. Corbett was SO remarkably skilIful.
another thfng-I am a far healthier
ana stronger man than when l first met
F1tzSimmons. I am now always in the
best of condition, which 1 was not in
those days. l neither use tobacco nor
malt or spirituous liquors. 1 realized
some time ago that q pugilist could not
be hail fellow we'll met and a gay
man about town and attain the high
est rung of the ladder, or perchance if
he reached that height, stay there
know that Fitz is extremely clever,
shifty, tricky and a hard hitter, but
that does not impair my confidence a
particle. 1 am perfectly on to his style
Of boxing and have him pretty well
sized UP. 1 don't think his great skill
will keep me from getting in on him,
and early at the game at that. Frank
Craig, the Coffee Cooler, Is conceded
by all critics to be exceedingly shifty
getting to him quickly. So, too, with
George Godfrey. Old Chocolate was
clever enough to puzzle the best of the
boys, but 1 got to him before six
rounds were over. and last, but not
least, Steve O'Donnell, who was
counted the cleverest Of the big fellows,
with the possible exception of Corbett,
I had no trouble in disposing of him in
less than half a round. With these
presidents before me naturally think
1 will get to Fitz, clever as he is 1
make no secret of my plan of action.
as some of the boys do. I will get to
the Australian as quickly as I can. 1
do not mean to repeat my former mis-
take and stay away from him. I hon