The Florence daily tribune., 1902-07-25
THE BIC FIGHT
OCCURS TONIGHT
Fitzsimmons will Try to Re-
gain Championship.
Jeffries Continues TO be the Favorite,
but Both Men are in Fine Fettle
Both Fighters are Con-
fident of Victory.

l7l4 inches Calf 1875 inches
2594 inches Thigh 20 inches
3416 inches Waist 32 inches
IL inches Chest Al inches
l7A inches Neck 10 inches
l6 inches Biceps IA inches
About 2l0 lbs. Weight About 1866 lbs.
26 Age 40
San Francisco. Cal. July 25-James
j. Jeffries of California, champion
heavyweight pugilist of the world.
and Robert Fitzsimmons, who has
hopes of regaining the championship
honors he lost to Jeffries at Coney
Island three years ago, meet in the
arena of the National athletic club to-
night to contest again for the suprem-
acy. The men are matched to box
| twenty rounds. If present arrange.
ments are carried out the boxers will
face one another shortly after nine
o. clock. According to reports from
their respective training quarters,
Jeffries and Fitzsimmons are both in
first class physical. condition.
From the hour the match was made
Jetfries has been decided favorite
over Fitzsimmons in the betting.
Those who have staked their money
on the champion have in mind the
fact that he did the trick once and can
do it again. Besides, the champion
has most decided advantage in re-
gard to age and in addition he is tall
er, heavier, and has slightly longer
reach than the Cornishman. 1t is
conceded by all followers OF the game
that Jetfries has improved in science
since he won the championship. He
is no longer the free-arm fighter of
the dashaway school His best hold
is left rip, such as Dixon used with
great execution in his paliny days.
He is also handy with the right at the
ribs. He is quick on his feet gritty
and aggressive and with his many
natural advantages it is difficult to
figure out how the Cornishman can
Withstand his sledgehammer blows.
T,,t . I,. .I1 4 T. i. l..
wholesale way, paying little regard
to pugilistic economics. He had
habit of striking with the big joints
of his thumbs. AS a consequence he
frequently crippled his hands early in
the contest, and for the balance of the
vessel wallowiDg in the trough of
| heavy sea. During the past three
years. however, he has met and defeat
ed number of good men and in ad-
dition has SPARED lot with such
past masters of the craft as Tommy
Ryan, and it is but natural that he
should derive benefit from keeping
such good company. 1t may be safe
ly assumed therefore that Fitzsim-
mons will tonight face far more
scientific fighter than the pugilist at
whose hands he met defeat at Coney
Island.
With these facts borne in mind it is
difficult to figure out how the Cornish
man has any show to lower Jeffries'
colors But those best acquainted
with ring matters know that Fitzsim-
mons is no ordinary mortal. He has
outlived, in an athletic sense, all the
middle and heavyweights of his gen
Grafton. He has reversed the rule by
building up in muscle and substance
when symptoms Of physical shrinkage
might be looked for. He is to all in
tents and purposes a late towering
plant. and il is just posi- BILE that the
respite of two years since he did any
| fighting has benefited rather than in
jured him. While shrewd betters
naturally favor the champion there