The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
C0RBETT IS GENEROUS
WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO GET
ANOTHER CHANCE AT .'FITZ.,
Remarkable Challenge from Gentle
man Jim," Who Signs Himself
champion of the World"

CINCINNATI, Dec. 3O-James J. Corbett
to-day gave out for publication his chal-
lenge to fight Robert j. Fitzsimmons. 1t
follows:
Robert ]. Fitzsimmons, Champion of the
World-Your published declaration, Mr..
t1tzsimmons, that you intend re-enterlng
the ring pleases me more than L can at
present express to you, for know that the
public deems me to be the only candidate
for the honor you thus place within reach.
l am sorry, however, to note that IN word
ing this declaration you give me the i'm
preston that since we last met you nave
you say that before l can claim a return
match with you ] must prove myself to be
worthy of it. You certainly intended this
my ability better than yourself. You can
not so soon have forgotten your remark TO
me at Carson, just after the. battle
Jim you said, in your simple, earnest
way, III never fight again. You've given
me bloody good licking
You, the winner, uttered these words
with face and body so battered as TO leave
no doubt of your sincerity, while l. the
loser, listened with never bruiSe or scratch
from head to foot which could contradict
questing me to prove myself to be worthy
opponent? You will find the confidence or
the. public in my ability to entertain you
still mistaken. You will find that the pub
lie will insist on your recognizing my claim
that you must meet me again But surely
you have been misre presented. l refuse to
judgment, poor taste and entire untruth-
fulness which the printed remarks alleged
to have been made by you would imply.
l prefer to think that those who have en-
tered the ring with me were men, honest,
brave, and incapable of the vulgar, lying
and cowardly language in which the news
paper version of your remarks was
couched. However we'll l know that the
great journals try to be, and usually are,
accurate to the letter in reporting utter
anceS made by important men on impor-
tant subjects. I prefer to believe that in
this case grave error has been made some
how, somewhere and for purpose not
worthy of one who wishes to be considered
above contempt.
What the public expects from me is to
maintain the manly dignity of the ring,
and not be brawler, nor a shifty eVader
est men when adjusting their respective
merits. This is all I have to say. But this
is what propose to do:
1.-The day we sign articles / will give you
81 coo in recognition of your courtesy.
THE moment you enter the ring, ready
to offer me battle, / will give you a second
thousand dollars in token of my pleasure.
ION the completion of the tenth round,
If you are still undefeated, I will give you
Il third thousand dollars as souvenir OF
my surprise.
ION defeating you, no matter in what
round, l will give you 81 900 more as a re-
minder that 1 am not an ungenerous foe.
Ion the other hand, should you again de-
feat me, promise, If still able TO move
to place my hat on my head, and then, re-
moving it in your honor, to proclaim YOU
in frank and unmistakable terms, to be
my superior, and state that then and there
quit forever all possible claim to the cham
piOnship of the world.
Let further remarks on this subject be
made by 1000 clean, honestly earned Amer
believes in me. / have this day forwarded
these to Will j. Davis, of Chicago, in testi-
mony that mean every word have herein
spoken. JAMES J. CORBETT,
America