Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-22
FRIDAYS BIG FIGHT
Boxing Experts Pick Fitz at Odds Of
Two to One.
RUNNING, qRGqqIEG, PACING RACES
English Golfer Vardon Showing Poor
Form on Mountain Links.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS

Boxing experts of prominence everywhere
pick Bob" Fitzsimmons the winner over
Tom Sharkey in their bout to take place
before the Seaside Sporting Club on Friday
night. So confident are the experts of
"Lanky Bob's'' ability to vanQuish the
sailor that they are offering odds of to
that Fitzsimmons will secure the winner s
end of the purse.
The sailor is by no means discouraged
because the experts are against him. In
spite of their confidence that Fitzsiminons
will beat him Sharkey declares he Is sure
of victory. In discussing the battle with
some friends at his training quarters in
Sheepshead Bay yesterday Sharkey said
that he would surprise those smart fellows
who are betting against him on Friday
night.
Il defeated Fftzsimmons before" added
the sailor, land I'll do the trick again.
Some persons, however, refuse to give me
credit for my victory over Fitzsimmons in
California, but after my exhibition on Fri
day night they will acknowledge that / won
on my merits. I am In fine condition now,
and in much better shape than on the night
l fought Rubin. I was away off that night,
and was therefore unable to do myself JUS
tice. My left shoulder, which 1 hurt in that
battle is stronger now than ever, and 1
can hit just as hard with the left hand as
L ever could
The sailor has been working very hard
for the battle and looks fit to fight for his
life. A feature of the sailors training has
been the attention paid to his side stepping.
In this particular the able seaman has
shown himself to be very deficient in for
mer battles, but as result OF several hours
practice each day he has devoted to this
form of exercise he can now side step quite
cleverly. He believes that the knowledge
that he has gained during the last few
weeks about side stepping will aid him
90 vtofo ~Stv
mons.
Sharkeys exercise for the battle up to
two weeks ago was of the most violent ma
ture but at the suggestion of Tom
O'Rourke, his manager, he has been doing
mild work for the past ten days. His work
in training has consisted of sprinting on
the road. boxing. wrestling and side step
ping. Sharkey's principal sparring partner
for Friday nights battle has been "Matty''
Matthews, the New York welterweight.
In his bouts with Matthews Sharkey has
shown considerable cleverness on his feet
and with his hands. The sailor believes
that the knowledge he has gained of the
finer points of boxing during the last few
months, together with his great hitting
power. assures him of victory over Fitz-
simmons.
Fftzsimmons took a lot of beneficial ath-
letic exercise yesterday. The former heavy
weight champion finished his days work In
good style. He looks better than when he
fought Rubin. Boxing with George Daw-
son, punching the bag, wrestling with At
las and road work make up the program
of F'itzsimmons exercise. ''Lanky Bob
regards a victory over Sharkey as a GER
tainty for him. He is nevertheless training
as hard as if he considered Sharkey a man
worthy of his best efforts.
1t is not improbable that Fitzsimmons
will arrange a match with Jeffries If he Is
successful against Sharkey. as the lanky
fellow is anxious to wear the pugilfSttc
crown again.
A letter postmarked Toronto and signed
"R. s." received by Fitzsimmons yester-
day caused lot Of amusement. The writer
said that he would give Fitzsimmons $500,
600 to allow Sharkey to win, and asked the
Cornishman to appoint a place of meeting
for arranging the details of the deal. Fitz-
simmons laughed heartily over the letter
and said: THE fellow who wrote that Is
crazy"