The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-29
PETER MAHER'S VIEWS.
An Autograph Letter From the
Heavyweight Pugilist.
CONFIDENT OF DEFEATING FITZ.
Says He Has Pronted by Past Experiences
In the Rine-Assures the Public That
1t VIII Bo = Swift and Hard Battle.
His Plans For the Future.

In tho R~ing-Aasures the Public That
IL Will He = Swift and Hard Battle.
His Plans For the Future.
1T Is In no spirit OF self glorincation, but
simply that OF earnest conviction, that /
say / wish I were as sure of a fortune as l
am of defeating Bob Fitzsimmons for tho
worlds championship in Mexico On Feb.
Ia.
1t is conceded on all sides that the win
ner of that battle will DO the champion
pugilist of the world beyond cavil, and l
am delighted at the opportunity afforded
me to win that proud distinction. / want
no presents, and although IL was very kind
OF Mr.. Corbett TO ~relinquish the title In
my favor Immediately after my defeat of
his sparring partner. Steve ONDonnell, /
would rather fight for 1t than obtain IL by
forfeit or gift. That is the way every great
gladiator from tho days OF Tom Crib and
Dan Donnelly down 10 those Of the re-
owned John l.. Sullivan attained that
proud eminence. and that is the way 1 want
to get there. To emulate the example Of
the great Bostonian is my highest ambi-
ton.
1t Is not In any spirit Of egotism that I
predict that l will conquer tho big Aus
~tralian. 1t Is simply the expression OF
confidence born Of conviction. When Fitz-
simmons defeated me In our first engage
ment l was a big, strong fellow, to be sure,
but a nero novice In the art Of boxing. /
was hardly more than u boy and had but
the most elementary knowledge of the
game of stop, hit n get away. My idea
was simply 10 get there rs quickly AS
i could with my right and parry a blow
occasionally. Even at that l had Fitz
nearly out In the first round, but did not
know enough to take advantage of points
Ibad gained. / also made the mistake of
sparring hin at long range after that
round instead of getting in to him and
fighting at close quarters. He was ~clevercr
and shiftier than / 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, l make no excuse L
should rave been in condition, and il Is
my own fault that l was not.
Now matters are changed. Ihave stud
fed the science Of pugilism pretty carefully
since those days and natter myself that 1
know "A few points about the game. Com
petent critics upon both sides Of the At
lantic have been kind enough TO say that
/ have vastly improved" and the news
paper boys across the water, upon the coca
sion OF my recent tour there, declared that l
had mastered what they call the Yankee
waltz, or side step, in which James j.
Corbett was so remarkably skillful.
Another thing-I am O far healthier
n stronger man than when / first met
Fitzsimmons. am now always In the
best Of condition. which / was not in those
days. 1 neither use tobacco nor malt or
spirituous liquors. / realized some time
z that IA pugilist could not be n hail fell
low well met and gay man about town
and attain the highest runs Of the ladder,
or perchance IL he reached hat height stay
there.
know that Fitz is extremely clever,
shifty, tricky and u hard hitter, but that
does not impair my confidence "A particle.
/ am perfectly on to his style of boxing
n have him pretty we'll sized up. /
don't think his great skill will keep mo
from getting in on him, and early at the
game at that. Frank Craig. the Coffee
Cooler, is conceded by all critics to be ex-
ceedingly shifty and clever, and / had no
trouble in getting TO him quickly. So,
too, with George Godfrey. Old Chocolate
was clever enough TO puzziet the best of the
boys, but l 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 ex-
ception of Corbett-I had no trouble in
disposing Of him In less than half a round.
With these presidents before me 1 natu-
rally think ! will get to Fitz,' clever as ho
Is. 1 make no secret of my plan of action,
as some Of the boys do. / will get to the
Australian Us quickly as / can. ! do not
mean to repeat my former mistake and