The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-10
Eow IT HAPPENED.
Fitzsimmons, Jeffries, Siler and Others
Tell of the Fight


New York, June 1O.-George Si1er, who
refereed the ies-Fitzsimmons fight,
said in an interview:
1T was a nice, clean, straightaway
fight, with no attempt on either side to
foul. Both men seemed to do their best
to avoid any violations of the rules. OF
course, when big men like these get
tired there is more or less clinching. In
my opinion Jeffries had a shade the
best of it for the last seven rounds.
Jeffries is unquestionably a young man
of remarkable strength. 1t was a good
fight from start to finish and the best
man wOn.'
Ex-Champion Robert Fitzsimmons
said to a World correspondent:
I fully expected to win, but L did not.
Jeffries won because he was the best
man. L could not believe that he had
improved so much. He is young, strong
quick and clever. I have no excuse to
make on the score of condition and over
confidence. 1 was in perfect trim, bet
ter than really ever was before and /
fought the best 1 could. Whereas L
fully expected to win, did not hold my
man cheap. That is something 1 was
never guilty of. Jeffries is now the
champion of the world beyond question,
and is entitled to all the praise that
may be shOwered upon him. He won
the title fairly and squarely and he now
has a chance to make a great deal of
money. Let him go ahead and get it
and I for one will not modest him for
the present OF course, L may challenge
him but it was all so sudden that [
have not had time to decide just what
L will do. 1t is not improbable that L
will ask him for another chance"
James J. Corbett said: 1T proved
just as 1 predicted. When Jeffries was
my sparring partner at Carson, at the
time 1 prepared for my fight with
Fitzsimmons, L knew that he had it in
him though he was then immature
HltZSlmmOnS would oil mo IlJ1t
IN JeHries L got the man who, 1 knew,
could defeat him. JeffrieS was never in
danger. When l went to his room be-
fore the battle l told him to go in and
fight as soon as the gong rang [ told
him if FitZsimmons would not fight in
the first round to go at him. He did it.
In the third round he had Fitzsim-
mons going 1t was a splendid battle
and Jeffries did the fighting. This
proves what 1 have always said-that
a good boxer with a good left hand
could defeat FftZSimmOnS. JeffrieS pos
sesses all the qualities of a great boxer.
He is competent to defend his proud
title against any fighter on earth. He
does not lack ring science nor general
ship. The fight showed he was quicker
than FitZSimmOnS
Kid McC1y said: "The fight went
longer than L expected to see it. 1t
is needless to say that 1 was greatly
surprised at Jeffries' wonderful i'm
provement. He proved more scientific,
quicker and with better judgment than
mad anticipated.
"Fitzsimmons, who is one of the
cIeverest fighters and best generals in
the ring, should have won the fight 1t
was a magnificent battle, and at the
start it looked as if Fitzsimmons would
win it. I looked for shorter fight
IF were asked what made Fitzsim-
mons lose, / would say simply Jeffries.
He proved himself a great fighter and
will defend his title. The fight itself
showed the evident fact that a very
clever man at 157 pounds is no match
for a very clever man at 21O.
"I had no idea that so big a man
as Jeffries could be so fast. L was not