The citizen., 1897-03-19


Favor up to the Sixth Round,
When He Had Fitz on His
Knees After That the Cor
nishman Forced Matters and
Landed His Famous Blow at
Last-Fitz Badly Punt h e d
But Stood it Well : Sullivan
Challenged the Winner.
CARSON, NEv., March 17.-Under a
clear sky and in valley 5000 feet
above the sea circled by snow-tipped
mountains, which glisetened in the
bright sunlight, making picture such
as was never before seen on an occasion
of the kind, James J. Corbett went
down to defeat to-day before Robert
FitZsimmons, who became the cham
pion heavyweight pugilist of the
world.
The victory did not seem possible for
Fitzsimmons until the last part of the
battle, when, in the 14th round, he de-
livered blow in vital part and fol-
lowed it with two others which sent
the Californian to the floor with the
agony of pain and despair printed on
his face, and he was unable to rise
within the ten seconds limit of time
which would save him. When the de-
feated champion finally arose, with the
assistance of his attendants, and re-
covered sufficiently from his dazed con-
dition to realize the calamity that had
befallen him, he broke out with all the
fury of an enraged animal, and, dis
carding all the rules that govern the
art of which he is a disciple, rushed at
his victorious opponent and made a
vain struggle to beat him over the
ropes, only desisting when his own
seconds and friends forced him away.
And then the new champion was
borne to his dressing room amid the
cheers of the 5000 people who were in
the arena. He was accompanied by
his seconds and trainers and also by
his wife, who had watched the contest
from a position within a few feet of the
ringside and who had taken in every
detail, even at the time when it seemed
that her husband would be knocked
insensible at her feet.
1t was a great contest, but, notwith-
standing the cheers for the victor, the
majority of those who witnessed the
fight could not but feel a sense of dis
appointment at the result, believing,
as they did, that victory was taken
from Corbett at time when he seemed
still capable of gaining it himself.
The fighting was all in favor of Cor
bett up to the sixth round, and even af-
ter that when Fitz. regained his COM
posure, the Californian avoided his
blows cleverly and seemed on the sure
road to victory. Fitzsimmons stood the
terrible punishment like soldier, and
seemed as tiger cat waiting for an op-
perfume moment to land his Knockout
blow. In the sixth round Corbett had
Fitz. down on one knee and practically
had him at his mercy. He failed to
finish him then, and as results show,
lost the fight by neglecting this oppor-
tunity. Corbett was not punished as
severely as FitZsimmons. The Cor
nishman rallied after the sixth round
and kept Corbett busy parrying his
powerful blows.
THE FATAL LAST ROUND.
Round IA and Last = The round
opened with a left swing on the Jaw
by Corbett. Fitz was all there, how
ever, and he sent his left to the body
with terrific force The blow sent
Corbett staggering backward. Fitz-
simmons followed closely and sent his
right to Corbett's face. He then pass
ed his left hard on the body and was
hot after his man, but Corbett broke
ground to get away.
Corbett came up, however, and put
his left hard on Fitz's body. The lat
ter put in hard right on the head.
After the breakaway Fitzsimmons
put in hard right and left on the jaw
and the men clinched again, Corbett
fighting Fitz into the southwest corner
of the ring. Jim put his left on the
jaw and Fitz sent his right to the chin
with fearful force. The blow made
Corbett lean backward and turned him
nearly round.
He raised his guard trifle and
quick as lightning Fitz shot his left
glove on Corbett's body just below the
heart. Corbett's face paled instantly.
His arms fell to his sides, his eyes clos.
ed, and he pitched forward to the
ropes. His face bore look of intense
agony and he was evidently suffering
the most eXcruciating pain. ~, !
He tried to rise, but Fitz with his
right caught him a jab on the chin.
Corbett was not knocked out in the
common acceptance of the word. He
was not unconscious, but the pain re-
suting from the blow under the heart
was so great as to make him careless of
anything else He tried several times
to rise, but was unable to do so, and
was counted out by the referee.
John l.. Sullivan challenged the
winner for purse of $1,000, forfeit
of 81 900 to be put up at once.
Corbett says he missed his chance
when he had Fitz down in the sixth
round. He says he can whip him. He
says he does not see how Fitzsimmons
OOt i'm his lxnoaknnt hlnyU