The herald., 1897-03-24
Corbett Will Have the
First Chance
JIMMIE FEELS MUCH BETTER
THOUGH THE CHANCE OF MEET
ING rs SMALL
The Ex-Champion Will Become a
Minstrel, But Bob Hasn't
Struck Job
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 23.-James
| j. Corbett secured this afternoon his
much desired interview with his con-
queror Fitzsimmons was passing
through the lobby of his hotel when Cor
bett hailed him. The new champion
stopped and the recent bitter antag-
ouists greeted each other as cordially as
if they had been lifelong friends.
Lets have a quiet little SMILE said
Corbett.
| Fiszsimmons was acquieEcent, and
arm in arm the pugilists, to the surprise
of the loungers, paraded through the
| long billiard rooms and soon each was
standing with his elbows on the bar.
They had a drink together and then
retired to a secluded corner and held a
long talk. Corbett asked as favor, not
at all as a demand, that Fitzsimmons
would give him a chance to retrieve his
! reputation. Bob repeated his declara-
| tion not to fight again, but Corbett was
! persistent. coaxing Fitzsimmons with
all the persuasiveness at his command
| to put on the gloves just once more.
! After several rounds of drinks, Fitz-
| simmons indulging in ginger ale and
| Corbett drinking mineral water, Cor
bett said:
well Bob, at least say you will give
me the first chance"
Il am not going to fight any more,
responded Fitzsimmons, but If l ever
do re-enter the ring l promise to give
you the first fight with me-
That's a go, is 1t FitZ?
Yes" replied Bob while the anxiety
| cleared from Corbett's face. IF 1 fight
again, you have first chance. That goes,
said Fitzsimmons.
The puglnsts shocks hands, sealing the
bargain, each declining the others prof
fered hospitality for more temperance
beverages They then separated. Cor
bett evidently much gratified at the re-
| suit of the conference despite the ap-
parent unlikelihood of his obtaining a
return battle.
Brady has outlined his plans for Cor
belts future work. Next Saturday
night the ex-champion will appear at
the MacDonough theater in Oakland in
a sparring exhibition, the entertainment
being rounded off by members of the
Olympic and Reliance clubs. This show
will probably be followed up by another
in this city, when Jim will show az a
specialist in the middle of an Olympic
club minstrel show. Brady says the
present season is too far advanced to
start a dramatic show on the road, but
that he will take Corbett across the con-
tinent next week giving sparring con-
tests in all the cities. Next fall he will
put on the Naval Cadet" once more.
and also a three-act comedy, probably
| ''Mr. Wilkinson's Widows" or some
similar play. Brady is as determined
| as ever to get away from this city with
, out pledging Fitzsimmons TO another
battle
The Australians future plans are not
yet arranged. He is deluged with offers,
but so far has accepted none but the
Sacramento proposition, which proved
dismal financial failure last night He
returns here tomorrow.
Joe Corbett leaves for the east today
to join his baseball team for the season.
DELANEY TALKS.
OAKLAND March 23.-Billy Delaney
has at last consented to talk about the
Fltzsimmons-Corbett fight. He gave out
an interview today. and ii shows clearly
that the method in which Corbett was
handled did not accord with his ideas
at all, and that before the fight he had
little faith in the man he helped to
train.
Three days before the fight Corbett
was in as perfect condition as it was
possible to get him." said Delaney. "He
was then on edge and should have eased
up until he entered the ring. Muldoon,
Al Smith, Billy Madden and other
prominent New York sports got in on
Sunday, though, and Jim was anxious 10
show them how much work he could DO.
In accomplishing this he virtually killed
himself
"All along I opposed his handball
playing. He liked that form Of train
ing because he could beat those he went
UP against. but 1 told him it was no good
for him, 1t is too fatiguing for a man
who is a greyhound, like Jim: it is good
enough for fat fellow. and that's all.
"As regards the result, want to say
that Fitzsimmons did not win on any
nuke. Jim can't fight any better than
he did and Fitzsimmons is entitled 20
all the credit in the world. Jim shouldn' I
have melted away in the manner he did
after the sixth round. and it was all due
to the shape he was in. He was hitting
Fitzsimmons often enough but not hard
enough. l have seen him with a pair CT
eight-ounce gloves bring Jeffries TO his
knees with blow, and I don't think
Fitzsimmons can stand harder punch
than Jeffries, who is a veritable young
giant.
THE difference between Fitzsimmons
and Ccrbett is that Fitzsimmons never
loses his hitting powers. He can always
| hit at the right time and in the right
place. Ftzsimmons displayed more gen
| eralship than I have ever seen in the
ring I don't think the two men will
! ever fight again. What Corbett should
| do is to fight every one who wants tc
meet him from four to ten rounds, and
/ want to say that If he can't lick those
other fellows-Maher, Choynski. God
dard and Sharkey-he can't whip Fitz-
! simmons"