The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-03-19
FITZSIMhONS NOW CHAMPION.
Wins the Fight in the Fourteenth Round After
Cne Of the Most Terrific Battles
on Record.

ARSON SI1N. Malcn lI.-AItcr TWO
years of doubt and veN;tious postpone
ments, the heavy weight championship
of the world was decided beyond c;lvil,
when Robert FitZSimmonS sent James j.
Corbett helpless to his knees with left
hand blow under the heart, one minute
and ~ seconds in the fourteenth round
of their battle in the arena here this af
tcrnOOn. The great contest was won in
the simplest manner and the Knockout
WAS the result of one unwary move Oh
the part of Corbctt. After the first min
ute of the l4th round had been spent i'll
IL few harmless clincheS and counters,
FitZSimlnomS made Il fake lead with his
right for the jaw. 1t was Il simple rliSe,
but it caught the Californian mapping.
Instead of keeping his body inclined for
ward and throwing back his head just Il
triilc to allow the blow, which was Of
the very lighteSt kind, to slip by. Corbett
cOntenptuouSly bent his head and chest
backward and thus protruded his ab,lo-
men FitZSimnonS' small eye flashed
like lightning: he saw and availcd him.
self of his advantage. Drawing back his
left he brought it up with terrible force,
the forearm rigid and ut right angles to
the upper arm. With the full power of
his wonderful driving muscles brought
into play, the Australian fairly ripped
the blow mp the pit of Corbett's stomach
ut Il point just under the heart. Corbett
was lifted clean off his feet. and us he
| fell he pitched forward, FitzSm-
| mons shot his right up and around
catching Jim on the jaw and acceerating
| his dJwmw;ud fall. Corbett sank on his
! left knee and with his outStrctched right
graSped the ropes for support. His left
arm worked comvulSively up and down
| while his face WAS twitching with IN rN-
| preston OF the greatest agony. Referee
Sicr threw up his hands on the call of
| ten :lnd left the ring. There were some
| cries of foul, when the referee declared
| turbrtt ont, but they We're unhccdcd by
anybody, us the battle was Won fairly
| Mld S4ualcly.
The defeat nearly drove Corbett wild,
When he WAS able to feel himself after
his seconds had helped him to Il corner
he broke away from them and rushed
ut EitZSinmonS who had not left the ring
\ scene of dreadful confusion enSued.
The ring was crowded with IN excited
mob, but Corbett burst through and
struck ut FitZSimmOnS. The Australian
| kept his arms by his sides and with IL
| great deal of generosity made allowance
for Corbett'S half demented condition.
Bob merely ducked under the blow and
when Corhett clmched with him and
struck him feeble blow on the ear, the
champion only smiled 1t was with great
| difficulty that Billy Brady and the sec
onds succeeded in Queting Corbett down
and getting him back to the dressing
room,
The Hght WAS clean and speedy. Ii
demonstrated two factS--that Corbett is
the clcycrcSt boxer of his weight in the
world, ;nd that FitZsilnmons is able to
hit him. The California boy smothered
| the CurniShnMn with left jalS in the face
| and right and left body blows, Fits
| most effective attack WAS Il ieni-fake
left swing, followed with quick half
arm hook. The first time he tried it,
which was in the tilir;l round. Jim threw
back lis head from the fake, coming for
Wtri for Il counter, when he thought
EitZSimnonS' glove WAS comfortably
passed his jaw. Quick as Il flash Bob
| d"ub!cd hack and barely missed .Iin's
jaw with the hook COrbett's smile died
away for an instant and he took no more
ciGlncns Gn cOmtering on that particular
form OF lead afterwards. The battle, ;,S
predicted, WAS fought on purely scientific
anh almost new principles. Neither of
ilrgcS allowed them under the London
prize ring rules, and there was little
hitting in clincheS. Curbctt made no at
tempt To bring around his right in break
ing away, probably hccali>c FitzSimmons
lnlIup his shoulders too high. .Jim's |
only effort IL th" WAY of Il parting shot |
WAS full right uppcycut, WHICH hr |
brought around very clumiSily, ami failed |,
10 land 10y III least Il foot every time he |
lric'. j!c did get in one good llppcrcut |
IN the fourth Mund, splitting Bob'S |
under lip and starting tie blood in Il |
thick stream. Several times the men |
c!incirl and parted with both hands up J
Frequently Bob worked Jim into cor
mcr ;Gli reached for him right and left |
with blow that would win ANY champion, |
ship battle il they had landed. Fitl>im- !
mons himself admits that Corlrtt shut
He'd Hu;l Sil"->lrppcd his way To- safety in |
manner which simply dazcd him. II |
never n3W such Il clever man III my life, -
sail fllHSiImn0nS this evening. lie
got away trem me time AMI again when |
thought had hm dead to rights. |
knew COilld wear him ont. so kept |
coming right along until my upportnitv |
arrived. II" WAS weak III the last round |
aHd Ill his clcvvrncSS could not keep him |
out of HAT lett punch under the heart.
The only blow tlInt really worried me
WAS the one which split my lip, The
others never felt. He fought fair and |
hereafter lIr may have my respect if hr !
continues 20 merit it
t"ri";t'S version uf lis own Waterloo
did not Nary very greatly from FitISim- /
mons. II made Il mistake in not keep |
MI% away. was the way he put it. "FitI |
| knew i" lea terrific punchcr. but |
never CHIcil!dt"d on lis being able To-
Ennr,l me. II tho sixth rnnnl Ind lnSinl |