Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-27
Offers to Knock Him Out 10 Fou
Rounds or Forfeit $3.50,
ALSO RUHLIN AND KID MCCOY
Eitzsimmons Does Not Believe Tom"
my Is sincere In His Proposition
To Fight Him.

A recent dispatch from Buffalo, n.
Y, to Denver says that after Manager
Hermann Of the Fort Erie International
Athletic club had failed In his efforts
to make a match between Jefries ana
Corbett FOR $4,000, he telegraphed to
Tommy Ryan, present champion mid
dlewelght and offer of 60 per cent OF
the gross crate receipts for match be-
tween himself and Fltzsimmons. Ryan
wired back that he would gladly ac-
cept and authorized Hermann to make
the match Then Hermann sent the
following telegram to Fitzsimmons:
"Wlll you agree to fight Tommy Ryan
at Fort Erie, the third week In MayY
VIII give a purse Of $4,000 or 80 per
cent, Ryan Will agree to make l60
pounds Answer quick
This afternoon Hermann received the
following answer from Fitzsimmons
"Jeffries and myself are working our
way east win be in your city within
three weeks. VIII think the PROPOSE
ton over and write you soon. VIII the
authorities allow us TO fight?
BOB FITzsIMMONs."
Hermann said today that he was sure
that FitZsimmons would agree TO fight
Ryan. The latter is eager for the bout
and will sign articles as soon as "Fitz"
saya he will fight.
If "Fitz and Ryan fight at Fort Erie,
indications are that they will draw one
Of the largest crowds that ever Wit
messed a prizehght. The battle will
surely settle the dispute as TO who is
the real middleweight champion.
IL Fitzsmmons refuses to fight, Her
mann will offer Philadelphia Jack
0'Brien the same proposition
The contents of the dispatch We're
sent to Fit2sImmons at Central City
where the combination was at the time.
He was extremely angry at the state
ments attributed TO Manager Hermann,
and declared with much warmth, rein
forced with few pointed adiectlves,
that he had never sent telegram to
him nor had he received any offer
whatever TO meet Ryan or any other
man at Fort Erie.
Il have not" said Fltz been In
communication with Hermann or any
person in the east or west regarding q
vince me that Ryan wants to fight me. |
am under contract with Jeffrles to tour
the world with him and could not meet
any one until that contract expires. A
great many fighters in the east are do
ing great deal Of hot airing just now
for advertising purposes. They think
my hand is broken and that will not
be able to fight. so they continue to hurl
l.,f NJ no.
know they will be called, and then there
will be rude awakening. | do not
know that ! shall ever again fight at
100 pounds II has been several years
since | made that weight, and when ]
was fighting within the middleweight
limit | put away every man who was
pltted against me. My record at that
weight needs no explaining or apollo
gies-lt stands for what II Is and has
ever been equaled.
you can rest assured that Tommy
Ryan is not in earnest when he states
he wants 10 fight me. You could not
drag him into the same ring with me
II the contest was for a decision and
all Of the purse. II X u IN Is so anxious
TO try conclusions with me, let him APP
pear at our show when II reaches the
East anu hOttHl AiAt HlbHoolliVll VI we
management TO stay four rounds With
me- II Ryan is so cock sure that he
can best me- he can pick UP $3.50 by only
remaining four rounds. BY staying
four rounds he could not only earn
$3.50, but show the public that he Is en-
titled 10 some consideration.
Now, II Ryan Is so anxious TO try
| conclusions, | Will make this offer to
| him: II he viii appear at our show at
any time viii agree TO knock him out
in four rounds or forfeit $3.50. All he
will have 10 do Is to be on his feet
| at the end OF 70 minutes fighting. He
would probably make It a sprintlng
match, but | win agree 20 fix him good
and plenty before that time. Ryan Is
noted for his skill az defensive fight
err. but II he viii only get IN the same
ring with me | viii quickly convince
him that he was never In tie running.
"And while | am making this state
ment" continued Fltz. II also challenge
Rubin. Kid Mccoy Philadelphia Jack
O'Brlen and the rest TO meet me at our
show. ! will agree TO put them all "a
sleep or give each Of them $3.50 II some
Of these blowhards would do less chal-
longing and more fighting. they would
stand better with the sport"