The times., 1899-06-09
FITZSIhMONS and
JEFFRIES Sized UP
In Prime Form for Their En-
counter Tonight.
4 Wonderful Exhibition of Fistie
Skill Anticipated.
The Champion to Go Into the Ring at
The Champion TO Go Into the Ring mt
About I5O Pounds-The CnIifor-
ninn VIII Weigh FOG.

New York. June S.-Tomorrow night, be-
tween the hours OF 8 and 10 oc,ock, Rob-
ert Fitzsimmons. the champion pugil!st OF
the world. and James JefIries, the gigantic
Californian, will meet in the ring CT the
Coney Island Sporting Club and settle their
differences according TO the Marquis of
Queensbury rules. In spite of the talk that
the battle will be stopped by Chief of Fo-
lice Devery it was confidently asserted TO-
day by some Of the big guns in Brooklyn
political matters that Referee Si,er would
be the only official to put stop to it. As
the Brooklynites all say:
we do not interfere with Tim Su l.
vans boxing clubs in New York, conse-
ileges If Chief Devery lets fights proceed
unmoIested at the Lenox aad Broadway
clubs there is no good reason why he
should not follow the same policy toward
the Coney Island Club, which has com
piled with the requirements of the law and
is in just as good standing as any other
boxing club in the State
With the confidence expressed that there
army of sporting men naturally have
turned their attention 10 the principals
who have trained well and faithfully. 10
most men it looks like victory for Fitz-
simmons. chiefly because Of his Wonderful
record in the ring, especially since coming
TO this country from the Antipodes. The
fact that he has won most OF his fights,
too, with one terrific punch, laid on tai
spot is not overlooked. The champion S
much older than Jeifries and viii enter
the ring at least Ihirty-fv pounds light
er. Jenries will tip the scales at about
206 pounds. which is the lowest he as
trained TO in his career.
In spite of the talk that Fitzsimmons will
not be over l5S pounds it is learned from
! most Trustworthy source that when the
champion got upon the scales on Wednes-
day he weighed 170 12 pounds. He has
been building himself up in training. and
yet he is not the possessor OF superfiuous
fat. In fact, there is net an ounce OF
flesh in his magnificent physique which is
superfiuous, for Fitzsimmons has made
himself as hard nails. and at the same
time has retained the speed and hitting
power which has made him the conquerer
that he is. In condition, therefore. Fitz-
simmons is rugged. powerful. fast. and ca
pab,e OF standing any roushing that he may
receive frcm his pondeTous antagonist. He
is confident that he will win, quickly, and
by no fuke. Fitzsimmons does not say
how he intends to fight Jeffries. despite
statements TO the contrary. but he has
done no end of experimenting with big
Kennedy, his spaTring partner, who is -al-
most as weighty as Jeffries.
Fitzsimmons has no equal as a ring gen
eral and schemer. He is quick witted,
shrewd. and full of tricks. For this rea-
son Jeffries will have 10 fight him warily
until he believes he has the Cornishman's &
measure. FitZsimmons has never faced a
man of Jeftries' build and makeup. He
has in the past had an advantage with
his phenomenal reach, but in this instance
he is outclassed. Jeffries has such a ire
mendous reach that il will not be at all
surprising TO see him fight Fitzsimmons
with left-hand jabs from the start, re-
serving his right-hand swings until later
on. The boiler-maker has been practicing
defensive tactics more than attack. and
believes he can keep Fltzsimmons of
The latter is expected 10 force the fight
from the start In such an event il is
believed that Jeffries will stand away and
try 20 lab his block on" as the talent
puts il. If successful in this method for
half dozen rounds or So it Is thought
in Jeffries' camp that he will receive a fine
chance TO win, as his strength and stamina
are expected TO assist him wonderfully. H.
on the other hand. Jeffries should decide
TO rush at once and mix it, il is the i'm
preston among critics that FitZsiSlmons
viii get the chance 10 land one of his dead
ly hooks, all OF which in recent fights have
been delivered at short range Jeffries
not only stood the very aggressive Sharkey
OF in twenty rounds. but also beat him on
points. This achievement is the basis for
the belief that Fitzsimmons will find it a
rather difficult matter 10 overpower JEFF
fries by main strength put into rushing
but at the same time il is pointed cut that
the champion is a different sort OF pugil-
list from ShaTkey, and will probably en-
ploy tactics which viii cause Jeffries much
more trouble than when he met the sal
lor.
Neither man is 4 SNOWY boxer, yet both
are clever. Fitzsimmons has an advan-
t2ge In this respect and has also had a
wider and longer experience in the ring.
Both are hard hitters, but unless Jeffries
springs O surprise Fitzsimmons viii prob
ably demonstrate the oft-repeated STATE
ment that he is the greatest puncher IN
the world. In leg work. shiftiness. and
speed FitZsimmons is superior to the Cal
ltornian, which counts for great deal,
but then one must not forget that Jeffries
has weight, height, reach, youth, wonder
ful physical strength. and a stout heart
Many ring followers have expressed the
opinion that Jeffries may be attacked with
stage fright as soon as he gets in front of
the champion and realizes what he is up
against. But Jeffries does not talk in a
strain that would warrant any such belief
He says he will show the big crowd what
cool-hesdedness means and that he will
also put up a fight that will either bear
Fitzsimmons or make plenty of trouble for
him before he wins. Jeffries realizes he
has the chance Of a lifetime to win fame
and fortune and he is not going 10 throw
II away.
Il know what / am undertaking." he
said the other day, and ] appreciate the
fact that Fitz can drop me with punch
on the jaw If it lands right. but when I
get in the ring I'll do my best TO keep
away from such punch and at the same
time land few hot ones myself Other
fighters have hit Fitz and had hi.n grog-
gy- Corbett had him going in the sixth
round at Carson. ! think ] can put him
out II ! get over a good waliop and put
IL on right. Depend upon it that there'u
be q real hot fight. no matter who wins"
satisfactory feature of the whole af-
fair is the absence Of mud singing and
blackguardism. Neither pugiiist has called
the other eur. yellow dog" "quitter." a"
-stin. dub" or ''hamfatter' Instead.
there appears TO be a tendency on the part
of both to indulge in Chesteraeldian po-
lsteness.