The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-25
FIGHT GOSSIP.
Fitz viii Rest For Time. Sharkey
Pays Tribute to Bob.

New York, Aug. 25.-That the fight be-
tween Robert FitzsimmonS and Thomas
Sharkey last night was on the square, Is
the unanimous opinion of all the New
York morning papers and most of the
reputable sporting men who witnessed
the bout. Charley White. who refereed
the bout, when seen at an early hour this
morning, said:
THE fight was on the level. Though
short it was the best mill ever saw
and the best man won. Both men dis
played great gameness. Each man had
hard punch. It was a hard, fast, furi-
Gus fight from the first tap of the bell.
Both men were clever and kept away
from each other in the early stages. but
toward the end of the first round they
began to slug in earnest Sharkey land
ed a heavy swing on Fitz just as the
gong sounded at the end of the round
The blow knocked Fitz down but it was
a trife too high to be effective. Fitz-
simmons and Sharkey mixed it up from
the opening to the finish of the second
and last round. Fitzsimmons got in a
number of hard punches on Sharkey
that would have knocked out a less cour-
ageOuS man than the sailor. When the
end came Sharkey stood the rain of
blows like the stole he is. When nearly
gone Fitzsimmons got in his famous left
hook to the jaw that won the fight
"FitzSimmonS proved by his fight that
he is q clever. shifty man with a hard
punch No man in pugilistic circles has
anything on Fitzsimmons in any shape.
the championship. Should he and JEFF
fries come together again in the squared
circle the sport loving people of this
country will have chance to see the
greatest fighters of the age struggle for
supremacy"
Fitzsimmons dressed hurriedly and left
the building a few minutes after the
fight. He bore no marks of the contest.
He said:
Il knew all along that I would win,
but really did not think that I would
do it so quickly. I expected that Shar-
key would last about five rounds. I was
in the best condition of my life. 1 am
glad it happened as it did for it shows
that l beat him in San Francisco four
years ago. ] was willing to do anything
to wipe out that stain. am delighted
though that Sharkey is not badly hurt
for he is good fellow He fought just
the way I thought he would. He came
at me with a rush and / had no trouble
in reaching him. I cannot say what /
think of Sharkey because the fight was
too short to size him up. He is not as
good man as Rubin though. Rubin is
more clever but SharlSey depends mostly
upon PUSHES to win. He can hit harder
than Rubin and is a game fellow"
When asked about his plans Fitzsim-
mons said:
Il am going to take a rest. If they
give me enough money think I shall be
ready to fight Jeffries some time in the
next six months
sharkey accepted his defeat good nat
urediy It was just a case Of hard
luck, said he, but that is one of the
fortunes of war. Fitzsimmons is a Won
derful fighter for man of his age He
Is the greatest hitter in the world. He
landed blows ON me so fast that 1 did
not know how to fight him at ALL What
are my plans? Well, I mean to work
my way to the top again. I am still
young and strong and [ guess can win
a few fights yet Fitzsimmons is the
hardest fighter ever faced. You don't
know with which hand he is going TO
land on you first. I would like to fight
him again for this fight was too short to
suit If I had been able to go three
rounds more I think he certainly would
have tired I am not hrs<t at all All
beat EN- all. He'll whip Jeffries sure
II they ever meet.