Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-10-24

there will be a decided change in my system of training. I am satisfied that mistakes can be made in training as well as in the ring; and if 1 get another chance the public will realize that have profted by my dearly-bought ex- perience.
 When l say that am certain that can defeat Mir. Fitzsimmons, 1 do not wish anyone to think that underrate his ability as a 2ugilist. He is a clever fighter, hard hitter, and he possesses vitality and endurance to a remarkable degree. The reason why l fear that Fitzsimmons will not give me another chance is that he fully realizes the mar row escape he had from defeat at Car son City. His plea that he has retired from the ring only means that he ex- poets to tire me out, by delay He knows that I have kept myself in good condition since the fight. in the hope that he will give me another battle. He also knows that my temperament is different from his; and he will hold me off, in the expectation that, despairing of another chance at him, may yield to life of ease and indulgence that would make it extremely difficult for me to get into the perfect physical con- dition necessary for success in . cham I.pionship contest.
 Fitzsimmons cannot fairly plead ad- vanced years as q reason for retire ment His youth and early manhood were passed in hard, healthy. manual lelabor, which gave him strength and endurance that have been well pre- served by steady, temperate life; so that his physical condition is better than that of most men ten years his junior.
 If I had won the fight by a chance blow. after Fitz had done all the lead ing and had the best of it all the way through the contest, how could refuse him a return battle? Every admirer of fair play would have regarded such a refusal as proof that I knew he was the better man, and claim of retire ment would rightfully be regarded as a mere evasion. Besides that, Fitzsim- mons gave me his word. after our bat tie. that if he ever fought again would have the first chance.
 He should also remember that his own career furnishes precedents for my demand. He was defeated by Jim Hall in four rounds in Australia, yet Hall gave him another chance. which he gladly ayailed himself of. He defeat ed Peter Naher easily al New Orleans. yet he afterwards gave Maher another opportunity to fight him. How, then. b q E,-..
 another fight, when even his own friends know that I had at least an even chance to win up to the moment was disabled by chance blow? Itis nonsense for him to say that I should fight some one else before demanding a return battle. My record is suffi- eient reply to any such ridiculous as sertion. During the past six years I have met the best heavy weight fight CTS in the world-such as Joe Choyn- ski, Peter Jackson. Jake Kilrain. John |. Sullivan, Charles Mitchell and Tom sharkey; while Fitzsimmons has met only one frst-class heavy weight. I have no taste for the ring, yet I was sharply criticised when. after Fitzsim- mons disgraeeful funk at Hot Springs, I was so disgusted that l wished to re- tire from the ring, as thought he would never meet me When Fitzsim- mons received a setback al the hands of Tom Sharkey be saw that his only chance to redeem himself was to get on fight with me. l canceled my matek with Sharkey and gave Fitzsimmons an opportunity to win the champion ship. In that battle I had everything to lose and little to win; while he had everything to win and little to lose. gave him chance to become famous. If he is man he will now give me chance to win back my lost laurels.
 In spite of his pretended retirement from the ring, predict that, though he refuse to meet me again, he will yet meet men of less reputation and of much lighter caliber.
 Finally, I cannot believe but that public opinion will force Mir. Robert Fitzsimmons to give me the return bat tie to which l am justly entitled
 JAMES J, CoRBETT.