The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-11

they found him not the big, unwieldy
giant, of tremendous strength, but slow
Of motion and minus the knowledge Of
the art of self-defense, but a finished
boxer, as well, due to the lessons he had
received at the hands of such professors
as William Delaney and Tommy Ryan.
Jeffries won his title because he is the
superior fighter. That is all there is to
the argument. His merit was unknown
up to the hour that he wrested from
Fitzsimmons the championship of the
world
REMARKABLE RECORD.
Robert Fitzsimmons has a most re-
markable record as fighter. He has in
his career in the ring sent fourteen ia
nous gladiators to dreamland in brief
battles and only in one-that with Cor
bett-was he ever the recipient of punish
ment that was worthy of consideration.
And yet Fitzsimmons is middle weight
fighter. Nature has allowed him just
sufficient weight to make him the most
remarkable fighter of. the age at the
| middleweight figure. He was so far su-
perior to all the men in the world at
1853 pounds that he was led to seek greater
glory by going out of his class and meet
ing the men who had beaten the best at
the heavyweight fgure-and he was so
successful in that class that he came to
be regarded as invincible.
AN HONORABLE DEFEAT
Fitzsimmons surrenders the champion
ship to Jeffries as an honorable expo
nent of the art of self-defense. 1t is not
to his eternal discredit that he was beat
en- by the young giant He simply met
his master as all pugilists who go the
limit in the ring eventually do. 1t is
fo nd tod
theory that the fighter begins to deterio-
rate after he passes the thirty-year mark
He may be as good as ever for a few
years beyond thirty, but the memorable
law of nature is against him. Jeffries
has before him six to eight years of tri-
umph. If he then retires he will do what
no other fighter has done in all the an
nails of the prize ring. He possibly like
all who have preceded him, will go on
until he, too, meets his master in some
young giant with the ally of youth on
his side. And Jeffries few years of tri-
umph are dependent upon himself. He
must turn his back upon the temptations
that will beset his pathway, for with all
the objections that are raised to the pugi-
list, it must be admitted that his calling
compels him to become and remain a
man Of exemplary habits, or pay the
penalty in defeat.
NO EXCUSES TO OFFER.
I have no apologies to make / be-
lieved that Fitzsmnons would win, basing
that belief upon form, or performance
Were the battle to be due a week hence
Fitzsimmons would still be my pick on
the same lines. Not after the battle has
been decided, as it was, but before the
prowess of the young Californian was
knowrs The Jeffries of Friday night
and today is not the -Jeffries who fought
Jackson and Rubin, but a finished fight
er who was first developed for his battle
with Robert -Fitzsimmons. While the
new champion lacks the fierceness of
Sullivan, he possesses advantages in
height, weight and reach that would
have made the only John L. even great
er than he was in his palmy days
Ergo: Jeffries is a greater pugilist than
was John L. Sullivan.
INTEREST IN THE FIGHT.
There was perhaps never ring battle
IN which so great interest was manifest
ed as was shown in the fight between
Fitzsimmons and Jeffries. The world
was onlooker. Those who were not
fortunate enough to witness the struggle
from the ringside, scanned the bulletins
as they came off the telegraph wires, or
awaited the arrival of their morning
paper to read the details of the great
battle. Even the men who are openly
opposed to pugilism in any form eagerly
perused the accounts Of the fight There
Is not mana real man-blessed with
the health and strength that makes the