Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-25
CORBETT ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
Ready at Any Time and Willing to Go to
Any Place,
OPPORTUNITY OFFERED IN LONDON
bolinTbrokc Club Oacrs n Purse and
Expense Money, the Fight To lie
Pulled on on Eng
1ish Soil.

hstic champion. can be prevailed upon tC
come down to solid business a fighting place
and suitable purse can be promptly ar.
ranged for them here before a good club.
When Fitzsimmons defeated Mahor on
Mexican soil. near Langtry. Tex. on Friday
last representative of the Associated press
was instructed to ask Manager Fleming OF
the National Sporting club here II that bcdy
could be induced to put up a purse for Fltz-
| simmons and Corbett. The reply was that
under no circumstances would the National
Sporting club subscribe a cent for a contest
| In which Corbett was one of the principals
but, 1t was added, any other American pugi-
lists might apply with fair prospects of ar
ranging a match
The objection to Corbett is based on the
very bitter tongue lashing he gave the Ma
tional Sporting club when he returned to the
United States after his performance here.
The members OF that club claimed that they
had treated Corbett with every consideration
| and that he repaid their kindness by abusing
them to the utmost.
The Associated press representative was
then notified to call upon Secretary Stevens
of the Bolingbroke club and eventually
placed the matter before that gentleman.
After some deliberation and consultation with
his organization Mr.. Stevens said that the
Bolnebroke club would give purse of
$4,000 for Fitzsimmons and Corbett to COM
pete for and that the club would also allow
the contestants $500 each for expenses.
These are. 1t is understood, absolutely the
best terms Obtanable here, and II is hoped
the offer will be promptly accepted or re-
fused. The fairest treatment possible will
be given both men and 1t will be case of
may the best man wn."
Should Fitzsmmons refuse this offer or
fail to accept 1t with the promptness which
his well wishers desire Frank Slavin stands
ready to meet Corbett before the Boiling
broke club. Slavin already has an offer in
Sporting Life to meet Fitzsimmons for SIS, 900
side, the fight TO come off in England or he
will bet $4,000 that he can stop Corbett in
six rounds. Under these circumstances there
seems to be no obstacle in the way of bring
ing Fitzsimmons and Corbett together in
a ring here for fair purse The purse
ohered is not so large as the purses offered
in America, but the expenses Of the pugi-
lists will be small comparatively, so as to
compensate for difference in the size of the
purse.
The replies Of Fitzsimmons and Corbett
are now awaited by Secretary Stevens of
the Bolingbroke club.
Manager Fleming of the National Sport
ing club was urprised when informed this
evening that the Boingbroke club had offered
a purse of $4,000 for a contest between Fitz-
simmons and Corbett. He said that since
he had announced his determination of his
cub not to put up cent for a contest in
which Corbett was one of the PRINCIPALS. the
matter had ben reconsidered and the decision
reached that If Corbett will apologize to the
National Sporting club for the utterances
which gave so much offense to its members
after the pugilist returned to the United
States the club will offer purse for a match
between him and Fitzsimmons.
CORBETT IS WILLING.
CLEVELAND, Feb. 24.-James j. Corbett
was shown the Associated press dispatch
from London this morning, stating that the
Boitngbroke club of that city would give
purse of $4,000, and $500 each for expenses |
for match between himself and Fltzsim-
mons.
Corbett read the dispatch carefully, and
then said: II will accept the proposition |
The Associated press may state that if the |
Bolingbroke club will forward the articles |
of agreement to me l will sign them without |
delay.
'As to the bluff made by that second
rater. Slavin, who has been defeated about |
fifty times, more or less, l shall pay no at
tention to him. as 1 do not deem his idle |
talk worthy of my notice. In fact I will |
listen to no proposition from now on except |
one that will result In fight between Fitz- |
simmons and myself. He Is the man the |
people want me to meet, and he is the only |
man l am after.
'I will deposit as much money as the
Bolingbroke club desires to guarantee my
sincerity in this matter. and shall anxiousIy
OF that organization"
Corbett added mark what l say. that
man Fitzsimmons will never meet me. He
is simply blufing for the sake of the little
Advertising he expects to get out of it."
In reference to the London cablegram In
which it was stated that the London Sport
ing club would offer a purse for match
between Corbett and Fitzsimmons, provid-
ng the former would apologize for
1is a utterances concerning the club,
'imm1ns will agree to meet me before
he National Sporting club, l will make
ample apology to that organization, although
do not think have ever done or said
inythng for which l should apologize. How
,yer, | am determined to leave no stone
in the endeavor to bring about
contest between Fitzsimmons and myself
There is one provision that ! shall insist
lpon, and that Is that the referee shall
,e an American.
II stand ready to close up my show on
wo weeks notice and will go into active
raining as soon articles are signed for |
he fight. There are some people," con-
inued Corbett. "who right from the start
I my career in the ring have abuoad me
nd doubted that ! was honest in everything | {
hat i ever said or did. These same people
re the ones who are sneering at my pres
mt standing challenge to F,tzsimmons and I
ay | will never fight. / will fight If Fitz-
immons gives me the chance. He will
OF accept my challenge because he wants |
D, but the public will force him into 1t
81 don't know what Fitzsimmons' plans I
,r the future are, but wherever he goes
will go, and he will finally have to meet
he. There will be no fiukes then. You
an bet on that. l am not particular about {
loney for a match. | want to beat this |
nitation whether there 10 cent In 1t or E
OF. My forfeit money of $1,000 is up in !
hicago and 1t will stay up until Fltzsm- t
IONS covers 1t. a
"There is a whole lot of gossip in cir Y
ilation," continued Corbett "about my con- c
tion. ] good as ever / was and =
,uld get into as good condition as | was /
any fight I was ever In. The yarns about o
" dissipation and the marks of 1t being
IT en- me are all buncombe. You can see
IT yourself that am looking pretty good =
II a man that will never fight again" 7
Cortett does certainly look to be in good :
'ndition. His color is good his eyes are i,
light and he seems to be as active as b
'er. c
FITZSIMMONS DECLINES. ?
NEW ORLEANS. Feb 2i.-Bob Fitz- 4
mmcns and party reached the city this "
ening over the Southern Pacific road from b
Paso and were to leave Immediately for
ew York, but owing to the failure to Sc
re sleeping berths in advance stopoyar o.
r the night was necessary An Associatel m