Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-11
WHAT THE TWO MEN SAY.
FitzSlmmonS and Jcffries Pass Com
piiJnents ia One Another.

NEW 1DIk JOuLUJl)
Now that the fight is over ! can say
lhat felt confident Of t.e result al
.hro1sh H. meyer ONCE LA doabt as
to how it would end. l went in with a
plan fully mapped out, and l lived up to
that plan throughout the battle
had often practiced left-hand blow
which did the trick, and at the first OPEN
ing | landed It. [ never had any real
trouble in landing my blows. Never once
in the battle did I have any doubt as to
what the final result would be. 1 don't
think l was ever IN danger, although
Fitz hit me some terrific blows In the
early part Of our battle. They did not,
however seem to affect or phase me a
bit
Considering how hard it was, 1 think
Fitz is a great fighter, and there is no
doubt that he is as game man that ever
went into a ring. He came after me con-
tinually, even after lie was almost out.
In the eighth round Fitz hit me time
and again in the face, solid blows, but
for every one he landed on me / handed
him back one.
have brought the championship back to
America, and 1 am willing to fight any
man in the world IN defence of the title.
This thought alone is the happiest one
that comes 10 me in connection with my
battle.
There is no doubt from my showing
that L was not near my best when
fought Bob Armstrong. It's Sharkey's
turn next, il he wants TO come on, and
after him, 81 / win, any other man can
have his chance. l am trying to fight.
They can all rest assured that they can
be served in turn.
/ want to thank my hackers and all the
men who have pinned their dollars TO me,
and to tell them that / am almost as
much delighted as If their money was my
own. feel sorry for Fitzsimmons, but I
would be saying what did not think was
true if | was not TO say that the best
man won.
I'm a little superstitious. and 1 am will
ing to attribute a good part OF my sue
| cess to a luck piece with a history, for
which I wouldn't take a million dollars.
This luck piece is a silver watch which
Billy Brady gave me.
COrbett had il in his corner when he
fought Sullivan, and won from him the
championship OF the world. He thought
enough Of il and its winning properties
to have it again placed in his corner
wneu ne met and defeated Charlie Nit
chcU. but when it came to his fight with
FTtz3immons the silver watch was not
there, and he lost
II the championship goes with this
watch it will be n long time before It
leaves me. JAMES J. JEFFRIES.
l TAKE OFF MY HAT TO JEFFRIES
The best man won. | fought my hard
est but ne reached me in spite Of all !
could go. Jeffries made great fight-far
greater than i believed he could ever do
/ have no excuses 10 make. ! suppose
might say l went in once too often, but
| thought / could 90 what | had done
with 80 many Of them.
1t is q hard blow, but l have nothing
but admiration for my adversary He Is
on top now, and l think he ought to have
a show 70 go ahead and make money. He
made a great fight for a young fellow.
In the light Of what has happened,
may think that perhaps Jelfries might
not have beat me in other days, but he
| has done so now, and | congratulate him.
| knew II was a hard game after the
second round. and toward the last i was
TOO much dazed to avoid him. l tried TO
win. and did my best. l take off my hat
| 10 ]. }. Jenries. heavyweight champion
OF the world.
Jeffries f. without a serious rival In the
ring. Sharkey would be a mark for him.
He could kill Sharkey i'm two punches
ROBERT FITZSIMMONS.