The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12
SHARkEY DODGES FITZ
SAILORMAN REFUSES TO MEET
THE CHAMPION, AND TAKES
ON CHARLIE MITCHELL
is OUT FOR THE MONEY
WouiJ Prefer Dollars to n Drubbing
-O'Rouri.e Admits That the
EngIishman Is Much Easier Game
Thun the Man From TimUru-
Fitzsin:n.Gs,s and Jefrfcs Sign
Articles for q Match.


Fitzsimmons and Jeffrics Sign
Articles for q Match.
Thomas Sharkey has practically ad-
mitted that he has great respect for
the pugilistic prowess of Robert Jen-
nings FitZsimmons, The sailor has
passed up the Cornishmen and entered
into an agreement to meet Charlie
Mitchell, the Briton. who gained fame
by getting as good as a draw from
the mighty Sullivan, at Chantilly, ard
lest prestige by being beaten to
standstill by James j. Corbett, at Jack
sonville Florida in three rounds Shar-
key is wise. He ought to defeat the
EEglishman with ease. He might not
get out of battle with FitZsimmonS
alive. He. has had a taste of the
prowess of the man from Timaru, and
he wants no more of it. Tom . 'Rourke
is shrewd He sees a fortune in Shar-
key if he can keep the sailor Off the
reefs of defeat for time. y Rourke
knows how dangerous is Bob Fftz-
simmons. and he is only too willing that
the public shall take a shy at his
sailorman as to his sincerity in his
talk about meeting the champion.
O'Rourke puts it plainly. He says:
I'VE are out for the money. We think
and we think we can beat him." He
is evidently not so sanguine as to
what might be the result of a go be-
tween Sharkey and Fitzsimmons, for
there would certainly be. more money
for the sailor could he defeat the Cor
nIshman.
FITZ IS A TERROR.
Sharkey realizes that FitZsimmons
is the hardest proposition i'll the pugl-
listic list. He has reason to remember
that he once met the auburn-baired
freak, and he is not over-anXious for
a repetition of what happened to him
that evening. That is the case in
nutshell. There NAV be all sorts Of
explanations Of why the match was not
made, but the truth is contained in the
above brief summing up of the situa-
ton. Fitzsimmons beat .Sharkey to
standstill in the San Francisco affair,
and there is little doubt that he did it
fairly as well as thoroughly. Sharkey
had the battle won before he entered
the ring, and it is history that the
FitzSimmGnS people were aware of the
fact. FitZ went into the ring with the
knowledge that in order TO get the de-
cision he must put Sharkey out which
he proceeded to do SO effectually that
the sailor was bed-ridden for several
days after the encounter. True, Shar-
key was given the decision on a foul.
but there are few who credit the story
that Sharkey was entitled to the YER
diet on that or any other score. With
an unbiased referee Sharkey would
doubtless have lost. He knows Fitz
is a terror in the ring, and he is un-
willing to lose all the glory he has won
from Corbett and Mccoy by being de-
feated by the Cornishman. He will
not admit it. but the public will so
believe.
Willy CHARLIE MITCHELL.
Charlie Mitchell is about the cleverest
money maker in the pugiiistic business.
He does not care for defeat. He will
make every bit as much money either
way. He will have that so stipulated
in the bond with the sailor when they
meet Mitchell had a few dollars on
C0rbett when he was defeated at Jack
sonville, And it was perfectly legiti-
mate that he should. He explained
his action at the time most Satisfac-
torily. Said the Briton: IF L win I
can afford to lose my wager. Beating
Corbett will mean fortune for me.
/ will be the champion, and | can make
more money on the road than 1 could
in the ring. On the other hand, [
take no chances. If Corbett should
win l will have a bit of money any
way. / believe in being on the safe
side. I am not in the ring for glory.
That will not buy roast beef" Shar-
key will probably beat Mitchell. The
Englishman knows he has no more
than a chance to win. He is willing to
take that chance for the small end of
ahe purse and the possibility of making
, few dollars on the side
WILL INJURE SHARKEY.
Despite the cleverness of the sailors
manager his lodging of Fitzsimmons
will have a bad effect upon Sharl1ey's
popularity in America. Excuses will
not suffice. What the American pub
lie demands is a fighter who will fight.
Sullivan was the popular idol because
he never lodged a battle. He was will
ing to make a match with any man
on any terms. Sharkey has made
capital out of the profession that he
was a second Sullivan-that he intend
ed to take on all comers. and that
FitzSimmonS was the one man that he
was most anxious to meet He could
have met the CorniShman and failed
to take advantage of the opportunity.
He must abide by the decision Of the
American public, and that will be that
he has acted in bad faith, and has for
feited his right to dictate terms In the
future. There is scarcely a possibility
that Sharkey and FitZsimmons will
ever meet in the ring now. The Cor
nishman has demonstrated his willing
ness to take on the sailor, and when
Sharkey grows better and asks a
match the public will not insist that
FitZsimmons agree to 1t unless he is
perfectly willing to do so.
FITZ AND JEFFRIES.
Fitzsimmons and Jeffries have been
matched. They are to meet some time
between April "a and the latter part
of May. The match will not attract
the attention that would have been
given a battle between F'itz and the
sailor, and yet there will be a big
purse and a big crowd to witness the
fight. for Jeffries is entitled to some
consideration and FitZsimmons and
any fairly good man would draw any
time. Jefries has a decision over
Sharkey on his record. 1t was in a
twenty round go in San Francisco, in
which the sailor was clearly bested.
That should be sufficient to quiet all
talk to the effect that Jeffries will be
too easy for Fitzsimmons. He was not
too easy for Sharkey. Jeffries receiv-
ed setback by taking on Bob Arm
strong at a time when he was in no
condition TO do battle There was
something wrong with one of his
hands. and he was compelled to fight
at that disadvantage He had agreed
to stop Armstrong inside Of ten
rounds, and he failed to do so. He is
young man, and is improving right
along. Jeffries is not a wonder, but
at that he may give Fitzsimmons
busy evening to win.
CORBETT AND SHARKEY.
Corbett and Sharkey will not meet
in Chicago next month Mayor Har-
rison. of that city. has vetoed the