The herald., 1897-03-22

u
The eight OF the century" has been
fought, and Bob Fitzsimmons, the Anti
podean wonder, is now the undisputed
hea.vy-weight champion of the world.
AS all the world knows, the great con-
test came off at Carson, New, accord
ing to program without the slfghtes,
hitch. and, according to all the reports'
IT was one Of the fairest and samest Ill
the history ef modern pugilism. There
was a little blood split. it is true, but
the record is in striking contrast with
the reports of the fights of years ago,
when men fought with bare knuckles'
and gore flowed as freely as at oul
fight. In fact, it may almost be SAID ina
there was nothing to offend the taste oL
the most fastidious, in the language oI
the circus poster, and that asuule
ex-statesman and present Journalistic
phenomenon, ex-senator John j. ingalls,,
who witnessed the fight as the 'speclai
commissioner" for great newspaper
has even stated over his own signature
that it did not begin to compare IN pru-
tality with an average college rootpaii
match. Neither does Senator ingalls,
believe that prize fighting as conducted
. in Nevada exerts any bad influence Oh
the moral tone of those who witness it,
This. however, is a matter of Individual
opinion, and it is doubtful if many people
outside of the profession" will agree
with the distinguished gentleman.
But as to the fight itself. One punch
did the whole business. and with that
.ne blow Fitzsirmons not only demon
strated that he Is the hardest hitter
and the greatest general that ever
stenned in ring, but proved beyond
the shadow of doubt Qf there ever was
any among fair minded men) that he
honestly won the Sharkey fight, out OF
which he was swindled on an alleged
foul. For the blow with which the pride
Of Corbett was lowered was identically
the same with which Sharkey was
knocked out There is no dispute on
this point and when all the facts are
considered, it must be conceded that IL
bears the appearance of more than
mere coincidence. All of the indications
point to but one conclusion: that after
''sizing up his man and settling in his
own mind that it was beyond Corbett's
pover to deliver a Knockout blow,
Fitzsimmons bided his time and awaited
a favorable opportunity, not only to
effectually demonstrate his superiority
ever the man who had vilified and in
suited him, in a most decisive manner,
but to prove beyond cavil or question
the truth of his assertions in regard ID
the Sharkey fight. And he did both.
There has been much talk since the
fight among Corbett partisans to the
erect that that undeniably clever but
much overrated young gentleman was
the better man, and that his defeat was
the result of a chance blow. All OF this
talk is the veriest twaddle. OF course,
in one sense of the word it was a
chance blow, but not in the sense that
these wise men would imply. The only
element of chance was the waiting for
.he proper time, making the opportunity
for it, and then following up the advan-
tage AS evidence of this the best
proof is Fitz's statement on the way to
the ring, when he said to one of his
trainers: Il wouldn't take $4,000 for
the purse this minute. l will have it all
before night. l do not believe the fight
will be a long one. Five rounds is my
limit. l think 1 can land in that time,
and if l do. that will be the end of the
gentleman who has no manners and
many pretentions. He may hit me as
many times as he can. 1 believe I can
stand all the punishment he is able to
give me- and be able to put him out
when I get chance. Come around
when it is over. and you will see what
shape l am in"
And Julian, the brother-in-law and
trainer of the champion Clipped in
about the same time: "Corbett won't
be in It, We don't like Sier's ruling
about the clinches and breakaways,
but we always get the worst of 1t, and
we will have to stand 1t this time, as
before. Fitz is fit in every way. He
could not be in better condition. He is
not as heavy as Corbett and his victory
will be all the more creditable. He will
be the greatest fighter in the World-d
wonder-before nghtfall; and everyone
will acknowledge it. His muscles are
in the shape we want them; he is not
too finely trained-just right, and he can
stand any amount of punishment with
out distress. He can strike so per cent
heavier blow than Corbett and one good
punch from him will put Corbett down
and out. Fitz is a fair square fighter
one Of the fairest and squarest in the
ring today, and though we get the
worst of 1t by consenting to tricks with
which he is not familiar, and has not
practsed, we will stand by our agree
ment to abide by Siler's decision, as we
are confident Fitx will win the fight no
matter what Corbett may be able to do
in the clinches or when he has one arm
free
And subsequent events demonstrated
that both men knew what they were
talking about.
Another thing which this battle has
emphasized IL the fact that the men who
have the best facilities for studying
the game" really know the least about
II. Almost every prominent writer OF
pugillsm in the country tipped Corbett
as an almost sure winner. Just what
they based their judgment on is not
clear to the average layman. 1t could
not have been or the records of the two
men, for in actual ring fighting the Aus
trali2n was far ahead, and it must have
been purely a matter of sentiment, just
like ordinary people. OF course it is
differences Of opinion that make prize
fights and horse races possible, but
these astute sporting authorities ara
supposed to divorce themselves from all
considerations except form and past
performances, and their fall down" IS
net calculated to increase public respect
for their predictions in the future.
Tt is doubtful if Fitzsimmons will
ever take part In another Fight He has
announced his retirement and it is be-
lieved that he nleans what he says. Cor
belts real fighting days are also doubt
less over He talks very fuentlv
about his condition. but his constitution
Is undoubtedly weakened. and that
heart punch has in all probability in