The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-18
FITZsIMMONs TALKS.
He Is the PrOudest Man Alive, and
Will Now Retire.

CARSON CITY. New. March 11--After
the battle Fitzsimmons walked to his
dressing room. accompanied by his wife
and followed by his trainers. Many shout
ed congratulations to him on the way, and
his trainers, of course, shook hands with
him. and his wife hung on his neck and
kissed him.
Il am the proudest man alive" said
Fitz II have established beyond dispute
my right to the title of heavy weight
my right TO the title of heavyweight cham
pionship of the world-a title disputed by
one man alone. James j. Corbett. L was
a bit fearful ct the outset because the
first right-hand lead / made at him landed
on the back of his head, wrenchng my
thumb. Thereafter / was at a disadvant-
age and you may have noticed that my
right swings were short, but they were
delivered with the purpose of driving Cor
bett into the belief that the thumb was
not injured. That accounts for my missing
so many right-hand swings. / discovered
at the outset that his punishment did not
affect me. If his jabs had Ia nded any place
other than my lips, which are susceptible
to bleeding / would have escaped without
a scratch Corbett talks about a return
fight. and says he will follow me from
battle. / am now thirty-six years of age.
have fought more championship battles
than any two men in ancient or modern
ring annals and shall retire. L will never
fight again.
Il feel more than pleased at the work of
Referee Siler and am satisfied that his in
depreciation OF the rules was along fair
lines. have been confident all along of
my ability to whip Corbett. My roasting
him was prompted solely by my desire 10
get him into the ring. / did not think /
could ever get him 10 face me unless
made him believe that i was a bit chary
of meeting him. He gave me a hard fight
and | got considerable punishment. /
waited for the time and finally as | could
not get at his head. played for his body
and finished him. L ended Corbett with the
same blow that / used on Sharkey by a
left swing on the body under the heart
Fitzsimmons IS in good condition. barring
the sprain of the thumb. which is badly
swollen. He drove into town this afternoon
with his wife and left on to-night's train
for San Francisco taking with him the
purse of $1,000 in drafts, which were turned
over to him by Al Smith. the stakeholder.
1t Is just as / expected IL TO be-" said
Martin Julian. as he left the arena his
huffy, red face wreathed in smiles. Il
knew Bob could lick that fellow from the
first day / saw him. and my predictions
have to-day been proved correct. He gave
Corbett all the best of IL in the rules yield
ing every point asked for and as usual
abandoning every complaint that he made
i did this because / knew Fitzsimmons
could whip that cur. no matter how he
might be handicapped by rules or condi-
tions. i am dead glad that this talking and
boasting and heapng OF insults on the part
of Corbett is at last ended. He is a licked
man now and matter how much he
works his face nobody Will pay any atten-
ton TO him. Bob FitZsimmons Is the un-
disputed champion of the world and Jim
Corbett is a third-rater. He had better go
hack his bank