The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29
PlTZ VERSUS SHARKEY
BLACKSMITH AND SAILOR WILL
LIKELY MEET IN BATTLE AR
RAY IN THE RING
MATCH is NOW PROPOSED
Strong Possibility That the Great
est of Living Boxers VIII He
Brought Together for n Fortune
and the Championship Title
Dan Stuart Said to Have In Con-
temptation a Boxing Carnival.

and the Championship Title
Dan Stuart Said to Have In Con-
temptation a Boxing Carnival.
There seems strong probability that
the next big boxing match that will
occur in this country will be between
Tom Sharkey, the sailor, and Robert
Fftzsimmons, the blacksmith Of Tina
ru. That it will be battle royal is
certainty. The purse will be larger
than any that has been offered in re-
cent events, even In which Jim Cor
hett was one of the principals, and
the promoters of the event will make
a fortune out of it. The Lenox Athlet-
ic club, of New York is in the field as
a bidder for the match, despite the ac-
ton taken by the directors of that or
ganiZation in resentment of the ugly
remarks about the club INDUCED in
by Fitzsimmons. Tom O'Rourke says
that the Lenox club will give $25, 200
for the match, and it is probable that
that sum win be increased, should any
other organization offer more.
DAN STUART AT WORK.
Dan Stewart, who so successfully
handled the affair in which Jim Cor
bett and Bob Fitzsimmons were the
principals, is said to be at work on a
scheme that may result in the bringing
off Of a big pugilistic carnival, with
Sharkey and F'itZsimmons as the stel-
lar attractions. There will be, it is
said, events in the various classes, in
GLIDING the heavy, welter and feather
and, perhaps, in others. Fitzsimmons
and Sharkey, Tommy Ryan and "Mys-
ferrous" Billy Smith, and George Dixon
these who have been suggested, and
the list is by no means complete And
it is added that Nevada is not the only
spot on earth where the men can be
brought together. Stuart is not the sort
of man who tells his plans in advance,
but he has said that he can find the
place, and that it need not be Car
son.
FITZ WANTS A FINISH.
There is no doubt that Fitzsimmons
will insist upon a finish fight. He may
be satisfied if it is stipulated that the
bout is to go twenty-five rounds, for
between heavyweights of the first ella s
that should be equal to finish. Tom
O'Rourke is quoted as having asserted
that he is willing to wager quite sum
of money that, when Fitz and Shar-
key meet, the bout will not last as
many as ten rounds-and O'Rourke is
possibly about right in his surmise
for twenty round battle should be a
finish where both men mean business.
If one cannot demonstrate his supe-
riority within that limit, then he is
not f1rst-class man. Add to that Ave
rounds and it looks as though the fin
ish would be assured. Upon that as
sumption is based the possibility that
the men may meet in New York There
is certainly more money for them
there than there would be in a gen.
uine finish in Nevada.
FITZ CAN DICTATE
Place and terms, SO long as they be
within reason, can be dictated by Fitz-
simmons. He is the champion, and is
entitled to that privilege. He must be
fair, Or the public will step in and veto
his decision. Yet it must be conceded
that the champion is entitled to con-
sideration, and upon that thesis it must
also be conceded that he can say
whether he will meet Sharkey in the
arena of the Lenox club or somewhere
under the auspices of Dan Stuart. Fitz
is not a quibbler, however, and when
he makes up his mind to fight it will
not be his fault if match is not made.
Sharl1ey seems willing, and even anx-
ious, to again face the Cornishman,
and 1t therefore seems prOba BILE that
the premier heavyweights Of the world
will be brought together And a great
drawing card it will be. Patrons of
the sport will willingly travel many
miles to witness such a contest as
Fitzsimmons and Sharkey will put up
METHODS OF THE MEN.
Fitzsimmors is q clever. cunning and
skillful boxer. He is also a rough
fighter. He is, perhaps, not so strong
as Sharkey, but there is very little if
any difference on that score. Fitzsim-
mons was a blacksmith in his younger
days and fully developed his muscles.
He has, perhaps, a bit the advantage
of the sailor on that score, for while
Sharkey is naturally endowed with
great strength he does not possess the
suppleness that has been attained by
Fitzsimmons in his life work The
Cornishman has engaged in all sorts of
mills He is not confined to the field
of mere boxing in his experience as a
fighter. He has met big men on the
turf, with raw 'uns, and he knows a
bit about wrestling and roughing He
can take a world of punishment and
recover from it quickly. He is alto
gether a most formidable gladiator
But so is Sharkey The sailor has
shown that he is capable of receiving
as well as giving blows, and he will
give Fitzsimmons the battle of his
career.
FITZ WILL BE FAVORITE.
Fitzsimmons will be made favorite
in the betting. That is almost fore
gone conclusion. And he should be.
He is the champion, having defeated
all the good men of the day. None of
them save, perhaps, Corbett, has given
the Cornishman really warm brush,
and his victory over Corbett was so
decisive that there is no question of
his ability to cope with the sailor.
Sharkey will be dangerous all the time,
unless Fitzsimmons is as fortunate
with him as he has been wfth~other
men he has met. Should the champion
ever land one of his pile driver blows
at any stage of the proceedings he will
reduce Sharkey to his own weight
which will he below that of the sailor
at the outset. And Fitz is ever on the
alert for just that sort of an advan-
tage.
IS A KNOCKER-OUT
That Fitzsimmons is a knocker- out is
clearly shown in his record. The ma
jority of his victories are so recorded
He is aware of the dangers Of mix
up, and never permits one, save for
the purpose of landing knockout. His
clever drawing on of Maher and Cree
don. and ChoynsN and Hall and many
other men he has faced in the ring has
demonstrated that Fitzsimmons must
be avoided by an adversary who can
not keep clear of those dream-inducine
fists. That the Cornishman is a hard
IL 49,.