The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-22
ROBERT FITZsIMMONs.
Remarkable Career of the Worlds
Champion Pugilist.

Robert FitZsimmons, champion pugilist
of the world, and, next TO John l.. Sulli-
van. the greatest fist-hghter that ever
lived, was born of Irish parents at Hels-
ton. Cornwall. England. June 4, 1852. When
a boy he removed TO Tiinaru. New Zea-
land. with his parents. He was appren-
ticed 10 a blacksmith and can today make
a horseshoe quicker than almost any other
man in the world. He made his first APP
pearance in the ring at Timaru in an ANA
teur boxing contest. and at once made him
self famous by knocking out four men in
one night and winning the amateur cham
pionship of New Zealand. He maintained
his championship title the following year
by knocking out five men in one night at
a tournament gotten up by Jem Mace.
Herbert Slade the Maori. who was defeat
ed by Sullivan in Madison square garden.
was also bested by Fitzsimmons at Mace's
tournament His debut a professional
was made at Arthur Cooper's expense,
whom he knocked out In three rounds at
Timaru. His next victim was Jack Muir
ply. who lasted four rounds. Then Jim
Crawford fell a victim to Fitzsimmons'
terrific hitting powers in three rounds.
These last battles were fought under Lon
don prize ring rules. New Zealand then
grew 10 small for Fttzsimmons, and he
went to Sydney and met all corners at
Larry Foley's athletic han. Here he met
two rounds, and Jack Greentree, middle
weight, in three rounds. He then returned
TO New Zealand and whipped Dick Landel
in four rounds Bill Slavin was the next
man to go down before the all-conquering
Fitzsimmons. Slavin consoled himself
with the fact that he had lasted seven
rounds. while four was the most that any
of his predecessors had stayed before the
lanky. red-haired blacksmith. Jim Hall
was put ont in five rounds on the first oc-
Casion of their meeting. and went out in
four rounds when they met the second
time The third battle between Hall and
Fitzslmmons was the alleged fake tight.
Starlight, the colored middleweight cham
pion OF the Antipodes. was whipped in nine
rounds by Fitzsimmons Then Prof. West
was vanquished by FitzsImmons. and he
came 10 this country. Fitzsimmons' first
battle in this country was with Billy Nc
carthy. OF Australia, IN the California Ath
letic Club rooms. San Francisco. The con-
summate ease with which he defeated Nc
Carthy stamped him at once in the eyes OF
the CalIfornians as one OF the best men OF
his class. His next fight was with Arthur
Upham. at New Orleans. Upham was no
match for the New Zealander. and was
knocked out in the fiffh round. Then came
his memorable fight with Jack Dempsey.
the NonparieI at New Orleans. January
IA. 1891, and Dempsey. without having
been in the Tight at all, was knocked
out az the end OF the thirteenth round.
on March . 1Sa2. F1tzsimmons de-
feated Peter Maher in twelve rounds at
New Orleans. His next fight. with Jim
Han. was also at New Orleans. and Hail
was knocked out In the fourth round.
After that Dan Creedon succumbed Joe
Choynski was bested by Fffzsimmons in
an exhibition match Ia New York. on No
vember Il, 1894. while boxing with Con
mons miscaieulated the force OF a blow.
and killed Rsordan. Fftzsinm0ns sought
for years 20 get match with Jim Corbett,
and they signed articles 10 fight at Dallas.
but the officers Of the law prevented
the fght 20 the great relief OF Eorhett.
who went to New York and gave the cham
pionship belt to Peter Maher. How well
Maher defended his unearned title is told
In the dispatches from Mexico. FitzsiTn-
mons is married TO Rose Julian. the con-
toFtlonist. tie Is a naturaIlzed American
citizen. and the father OF two boys.
The dimensions Of Robert F'igzsimmous,
according TO a recent measurement, are:
Height .....-.-.- -..---------5 feet Us inches
" eight .--.-~.--+-- -...+-.s.--+-.. los Tsoutl0S
Neck .-.-.ss..+..-.-.+.- ---+.-.-.--..l8 lns ileS
Cnesf 1922 --s--'---s-.---s lifc'te
Chest expanded ..--------...--.....-A inches
Waist ....-..+-....--.. --..--........sz inches
Thighs ........-..-...... % Inches
Arms outstretched ..-...-....-....7si. inches
Tgireus ............. ..-...........fZ inches
Forearm .....-.-..-. -...---......-IlAz inches
wrist .--...--t~-. ---.----.-----.+ ~ inches
F'Itzslmmaus has broad shoulders. His
chest Ia vide but not deep His great long
arms show magnificent muscular develop
fneut From The waist down he IS ore OF
fhe narrowest Of men. tits girth around
the HRS is phen0nenaily small and his
legs are 50 long and spare that they look
ike pipe stems. They belle their appear