The sun., 1898-01-06
ABOUT BOXERS AND BOXING.
The Sporting Editor ofthe Record
Talks.
FITZSIMMONS THE FIGHTER.
Mr.. Gillian Expresses The Opinion
That COrbctt was Never in Peril Of
Whipping Fitz.

Whipping Fi'z.
The. best pasted sporting writer in
America, was in Wilmington yesterday
MIR. A. NJ. Gillian, sporting editor Of
The Philadelphia Record.
Mr.. Gillian is an athlete himself and
every point in the gam" OF
hit and get away.
lie was the ,nly prominent authority
on boxing in the country to name Fitz-
simmons as the winner Of the now fam
Gus Carson City battle.
Here is what he said concerning the
big fight, the fighters and the outlook:
"McCov did not see the Fitzsimmons-
Corbctt fight. If he had he certainly
would not say that Corbett held Fitz
cheap. No fighter ever took more pre-
caution to keep out Of harms way than
did Corbett on that occasion. This is
why the fight lasted fourteen rounds.
"Fitzsimmons won't fight Corbctt;
Corbett won't fight Maher; Maher and
Sharkcy can't agree on terms Of battle
so there is no fight in sight between
these men. Fitzslnmons won't fight
Mccoy; Mccoy won't fight Corbett,
Mahcr or Sharkey, and is haggling over
weight with Choynski, although he pro-
fcsscs to be anxious to fight Fitz, who is
the heavy weight champion. This state
Of affairs, coupled with the fact that
most Of the pugilists mentioned are all
picking up easy livings travelling over
the country with theatrical troupes,
while they talk fight, is creating the inn
preston that none of them really want
to fight. Fitzsimmons says as much.
lie has worked his way to the top, and
until he is really forced to do battle he
will take things easy.
"Any one who thinks there is not a
fight or two left in the champion, how
ever, is likely to get fooled some time.
Corbett prctends to be terribly anxious
to get another chance at the man who
took his measure 50 effectnally y at Carson
last March, but those who know Jeemes
best say it is only bluff. Corbett never
did want to fight Fitzsrnnons. He
recognized in him Il dangerous man and
kept away from him just as long as he
could, finally retiring and presenting the
championship to Peter Maher to avoid
battle. When Fitz whipped Maher with
one punch there was nothing for Corbett
to do but to get out of the business alto
gether or fight. He reluctantly chose
the latter course, but that his mind was
full Of nlisgi,ings al 90 the irsui. all " ilu
saw him in his training quarters at Car
son the last few days before the contest
will not attempt to deny. Corbett, while
he looked fit and we'll, barring rather
bad color. seemed in very downheartcd
mood. lie was pctulant with his train
crs and looked as solemn as though
going to a hanging, He wore very
jannty air when he stepped into the
ring, but it savored too much of an actor
posing for picture. Corbctt was solemn
enough for funeral before the fight was
over, and the look on his face when try
ing to get up in the fourteenth round
haunted those who were in u position
to get a fair look at him for weeks after
ward.
"Corbctt would undoubtedly be glad
to make Il match with Fitzsmmons right
now, since he has everything to gain and
nothing to lose. But Jim would want
plenty OF time to get ready for the battle
and he would make the most of the
match in the way Of booming his thcat-
rica( show. In the end he would be very
likely to "flnkc" out of "a contest. Fitz
having nothing togain and everything to
lose, would rather not fight Corbctt, and
would like to see the big Californian
beaten by some other pugi|st--Mahcr,
for instance. Were Peter to whip Cor
bctt, Fitz could not be called upon to
meet the lrishman. since he has already
whipped him twice. Corbctt, no ever,
will not fight Mahcr, ,orin fact ANY othher
man except Fitzsinmons, and it is about
10 to that he could not be tempted to
actually step into the ring again with
Bob. Corbetts offers of money to Fitz
to sign articles Of agreement, money to
enter the ring. money to stay ten rounds
and more money after he has been beaten
sounds funny coming as it does from a
man who did little bat run away the last
time he fought. Corbctt was always On
his toes or on the retreat, while Fitz
bored in from start to finish The blow
which knocked Corbett out was only
one OF u hundred delivered. and one Of
"iiiSiI IIdNV toIlt llN
just as we'll as the now famous solar
plcxus punch had Corbett stood his
ground. BY continually breaking
ground Corbctt took off much Of the
force Of Fitzsimmons' blows, and I'itz
by perpctually advancing added matcri
ally to the force Of Corbctt's weak slaps.
But even with this advantage Corbett
hut once hit Fitz hard enough to hurt
him, and then he could not get home
with Il second blow on the same place
or on any vital spot, although for few
seconds he had things all his own way.
Before that sixth round was over Cor
bctt was fought ont, and the foxy l'itz-
simmons was master OF the situation.
That Corbctt is II wonderfully clever
boxer, however, is shown from the fact
that it took Fitz eight more rounds to
get home with the finishing smash.
Riot in u Court Room.
CuArT\NooG\. Tenn, Jan. 5.-Whcn
the Hamilton county court convened