The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-23
BE May Have to Put Up a Better
Fight to Win on Friday Than
He Did With Ruhlin.
SHARKEY SEEMS TO BE GOOD.
Sailors Greater Weight, Advan-
tage of Youth and Splendid Hit
ting and Staying Powers
Give Him Chance to Win.


AVN iuih- Aug. .G.-JutslnE from lNe
splendid work Bob Fitzsimmons has been
dong in practice at his training quarters in
Bergen Beach for his battle with Tom
Sharkey at Coney Island tomorrow night.
the former heavyweighI champion will take
a lot of beating when he meets the Sailor
Every conceivable form of exercise con-
ducire to strength and fitting one thorough
~ for contest OF skill and endurance has
been practiced by FitZsimmons since he has
| been in training.
AS a result the Australian looks more
sturdy than when he fought Ruhlin
That battle appears to have done the for
mer heavyweight champion 4 lot OF good.
In his practice bouts with Bob Armstrong
and George Dawson he has shown more
speed and better judgment in delivering and
| blocking blows than marked his efforts in
the early part of the battle with the Akron
giant.
There were periods during the Ruhlin-
titzsimmons contest when ''Lanky Bob
caused his hackers lot of uneas!ness, due
TO lack Of judgment of distance and inabil-
lty to block blows successfully.
Fitz Not Fast as He Was.
While the increase in Fi:zsimmons's speed
has been very marked. il would be an exag-
seratton to say that he is as fast with his
hands and on his feet as he ever was. He
believes he can beat any heavy weight i'll
the world. FItZsmmons says that he pol
lshed OF Sharkey when he got ready in
their battle IN California, but owing to un-
fairness on the part ot Wyatt carp, the
referee, he was not credited with victory.
Earp awarded the bout TO Sharkey on Il
foul.
AT the time FItzsimmons and the Sailor
had their famous battle, F'itZsmmons was
at the zenith OF his career as pusilist, and
II was shortly after this contest that he
won the championship OF the world from
torbett at Carson City. While FitZsmmons
| had a thorough knowledge of all the tricks
OF the prize ring, Sharkey only had crude
idea OF the elementary principles. In spite
of his deficient knowledge of the finer points
of sparrng and ring Seneralship the Sai.or
Kept F1tzslmmonS puzzieC for a conSldera-
bic period.
Sharkey Is Very Confident.
AS matters stand to-day Sharkey feels
that he has the best of things. HIS knowl-
since he fought Fitzsimmons. His hitting
Power Is also greater, and. all together, he
is much more active than his rival Is likely
TO be or Friday night. Fitzsimmons has aged
considerably, and. while he won victory
over Rubin, he is far from being as quick
man in his championship days, and
some persons are taking the short end OF
the wagers, believing that If the battle Fri
day night is fought on the same lines as the
Ruhlin-F -FitzsimnonS contest, Sharkcy will
win.
This is based on the belief that he is more
aggressive and a harder hitter than Rubin,
VINO all but had F'itZsimmons out i'll the
opening round of their mill.
Another thing in Sharkey's favor is that
he is absolutely fearless. He is always
ready To take blow in order to land one.
Australian Is in Fine Form.
FitZsimmons trains hard every day. Yes
terday the Australian put IN real hard
days work 1t consisted of bag punching,
tuggirg and wrestling with his pet pony
and boxing bouts with Bob Armstrong
and George Dawson. The bout between
Fitzsimmons and Armstrong was Of the
sluggirg variety. 1t was a three-round af-
fair, and each man smashed away during
the nine minutes of fighting in most Wig
orOUs fashion.
The exchanges in the ''go' between Daw-
son and Fitzsmmons were of the scientific
order Dawson, who is probably one of
the cleverest men that ever put on glove
kept feinting the former champion all the
while. FitzsiTnmons was on the alert dur
ing the greater part of the time he was
sparring, and only once did the former
boxing instructor of the Chicago Athletic
Club succeed in reaching the jaw with the
right .,,.
physical trim for tomorrow nights con-
test. He is looking much brighter ana
moves about with more sprlnsy acuon
than was noted prior to his contest with
RnhIin. 1t may strike some persons as
strange. but it is nevertheless fact that
Fitzsimmons now tips the beam at only
IG2 pounds He weighed two pounds less
the night he fought Ruhlin:
Unconcerned About His "eiSht.
In speaking of his disadvantage. so Tar
as weight is concerned, Fitzsimmons SAID
il cid not bother him in the least.
when I'm feeling all right added the
Australian, 81 never give my weight a
thought. If / feel we'll know my hitting
is there, and my speed also. Sharkey may
have ten or twenty pounds the best OF 1t
in weight but that advantage gives me no
concern. l am confident that l can beat
him just as easily as if l weighed 2N
pounds. III,
After I dispose of Sharkey will proha-
hlv arrange q contest with .jeffries or the
winner of the McCoy-Coroett bout. II Cor,
bett wins over Mccoy he can have first
,,,itl lyn latf
the championship. ] give Corbett the pref,
erence because he has all along claimed
that beat him through foul means at car
son.
Some people think I'm an old fellow and
that Corbett will have the best of 1T II we
were to meet now. ! can beat Corbett at
any old age, and if he doubts it let him
step up to the captains office and sign ar
ticles for fight with me-