Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-12
OLD MAN FITz
RESIGNS AGAIN.
Once More He Makes the Declar-
alton That He Has Fought
His Last Fight.
He TELLS OF THE LAST ONE.
Gives Graphic Account of Fight With
Gardner aud How He Felt on
Entering the Ring

There have been many published ac-
counts of the recent championship bat
tie between Old Man Fitzsimmons and
young George Gardner, Some OF the
accounts have been pretty good, while
others range from bad to worse, but the
hest story of the fight comes from Ruby
Robert. Before telling how he felt be-
fore entering the ring, he takes occa-
sion 10 announce for the 'steenth time
that he has fought his last fight The
same declaration he made when Jetf-
res whipped him at Sal Francisco.
Fitz says his last fight was the great
eat of his career. MY last he says,
because my trusty hands have been
worn down and broken through over
decade Of active battling My great
est because in that battle I conquered
not George Gardner alone, but age and
disease.
mo other man at my age has ever
won a worlds championship from
clever young fellow, running over with
The confident spirit of youth and strong
In that strength which belongs to those
IN the early twentles.
with the championship, the light
heavyweight, and with the other cham
pion ship that | have held for these
many years, that Of the middleweight
class, / shall retire from the ring Were
my hands able 10 stand the strain |
should remain I'm the game TO defend
my titles for many more years. There
Is just possibility that the hands
n .. go hQ ~
the "old man" will be ready TO talk
fight with the younger men again.
Right here | want to- give George
Gardner credit for putting up good,
hard Sght That boy Is game all
through. | struck him hard enough to
break my hands all up and he never
fincbed for moment. He can whip all
the other light heayyweights. Jeffries
and FitZsnnmons are the only two men
In the world that he can't whip.
MARY OF my friends have asked me
how | felt The night OF the fight just
before entering the ring. In answer to
those questions i wish TO say that
never went into a fight feeling so COM
pletoly worn out and generally UNIT
ted to do battle
GO back with me to the night OF the
hattie. In another quarter of an hour |
am 10 enter tllf llliHf y NAii N'N ~ Nf'T
Ing room [ can hear the shouts of the
crowd that Is gathering TO see Old
Man Fitzsimmons score the greatest
triumph OF his career--a triumph over
nge never before achieved-or go down
10 defeat before a newcomer.
who IL this Gardner that thinks 20
defeat me, who has even boosted that
he will knock me out before eight
rounds have been hung up? Who Is he
but merl hoy that fought his first
battle the memorable night that
knocked Jim Corbett out and clnched
my ulai~' to the worlds championship
OF all weights
'They cali me an old man. Well
am not ~ Young as ] was when
whipped Jack Dempsey nor as youthful
az when | made Jim Corhett give up
all his claims to the championship. But
Is there not some virtue even In age2
NAV rot an od codger have gained
enough thorough experience - counter
act what he may have lost In the way
OF vitality and fresh strength?
Let those who say ! am too old bet on
this boy Gardner. | win show them
that there Is one more fight in the old
man.
But, after all, there is a chance My
blades may give way. and this young,
ambitious boy may slip in the blow that
he has dreamed OF landing these two
months. This is not the Fit2slmmons
that beat down all the best fighters OF
his day, bar Jelfres, that Is going Into
ba title tonight
MY muscles feet weak and stiff
raise my arms. and there Is a WEAKNESS
about the procedure that does not aug
ur we'll There s rheumatism in my
legs there is soreness in my feet: my
hands still are weak from the awful
crushing they received when ! pounded
them against the invlncible Jef'rles.
am glad that ! have advised my
friends not to bet on me. | will beat
this boy, but. well. II Is asking a great
deal 20 grant this handicap TO any
strong young fellow. and one always
feels better If his defeat does not carry
with Il loss TO his friends.
The crowd in the auditorium is cheer
ing. The preimnaries are over, and
the people are waiting for MS to appear.
In 1--WE more minutes the introductions
and all that will be over, and we viii
be on our way.
There, we are started. We are spar
ring cautiously test his guard with a
right TO the body and then come back
quickly with a left to the head, but he
is fast, this boy, and the blow cuts
through the air and falls short He IL
smiling now. I suppose he thinks he
has solved "Old Bob's" style. Well, we
VIII see about that, | try a left for tho
ribs and again | fail TO connect
The smile on the boys face broadens
lie works In, plants a good one on my
face. Then swinging, ! catch him with
my left where the smile has been how
cring. There isn't any smile now, Now
II Is grim fighting, 7 rush the boy,
send rights and lefts to his body and
then. Strengthening, deliver a hard left
direct to the eye. The blow cuts the
skin In moment a little stream OF
blood starts down the cheek. The gong
So soon. And the old man hasn't begun
TO feel the fatigue.
Now we are in The second round.
must finish the fight mp short, | feint
and when the boy dances | rush him
across the floor. but, honest I haven't
the heart TO lead Let the boy stay a
round or two more, II viii hurt him
with his friends TO be knocked out 50
early in the fight
But my friends7 Some Of them have
bet on me and thew are depending on
me TO end the fight without any delay.
I must take no chances. Later ON I
may iniure my hands Now while both
my mitts are I'm battling shape ! must
mako an end Of this boy. I 60 after
him with both hands I try my shift on
hin. pound him In the stomach and In
the face but the boy stands up and
fights back blow FOR blow. Why. he's
the gamest youngster | ever met. lie
must think he's going 10 win. lie must
think he's going 10 lfnppk mo ptIf